Emma Withington reviews Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3…
The three-patch problem of A Study In Pink continues to unravel, in this thrilling manga adaptation of the smash-hit SHERLOCK TV series! John is pulled into a web of deceit, as he comes face-to-face with the man who describes himself as Sherlock’s “arch-enemy” – and Sherlock sets a trap for a serial murderer!
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3
Within 24 hours of meeting Sherlock Holmes, John Watson has become embroiled in a case of ‘serial suicides’, or, more accurately, serial killings. “We’ve got ourselves a serial killer, love those. There’s always something to look forward to.” Not everyone is impressed or convinced by Sherlock and his abilities, in particular Sergeant Donovan…and most of the force. Who and what has John got himself involved with..?
In Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 John answers a mysterious phone call and is summarily abducted by a man who believes himself to be Sherlock’s ‘arch-enemy’. All in all it seems John is in for much more than he bargained for if he continues to ally himself with his new, impulsive housemate Sherlock. The case of the woman in pink is a ‘three patch problem’ and Sherlock decides to shake things up. The air is thick with mystery and intrigue as Watson continues his initiation into Sherlock’s world.
Like its previous installments Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 is a lovingly crafted adaptation of the television series Sherlock and, as mentioned before, is essentially a complete transcription of the episode. Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 diverges away from the Victorian source material, A Study in Scarlet, more significantly than in the previous issues. This allows a welcome exploration into the dynamic between Holmes and Watson and their strange attraction, or gravitation, to one another. In the end, what makes Sherlock Holmes so popular is their relationship; in this we see the world through Watson – we are Watson – after all, he is planted as the audience surrogate, expressing our thoughts and feelings.
The facial expressions and reactions are lifting off of the page much more, however. this is likely to be partially due to acclimatising to the format. Sherlock in particular has quite a range in the facial gymnastics department, if anything, his representation on the page significantly dwarfs the other characters, but I suppose that is to be expected. However, I would like to see more of a range from Watson – while he isn’t as changeable in expression as Holmes, Martin Freeman delivers a much stronger performance on screen than his Manga counterpart. Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 picks satisfying spots for cliffhangers, if you are not familiar with the series. and pinpoints the various turning points in the episode – providing enough tantalising material for you to want more.
While Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 doesn’t offer anything new to the seasoned Sherlock audience – this being its main hindrance – the Manga continues to entertain and as you get used to the format it’s presented in, picks up the pace by leading you down the streets of intrigue. In Sherlock: A Study in Pink #3 Watson meets Sherlock’s ‘arch-enemy’ and phones a murderer. At least now he has something to write in his blog…
Rating: 6/10
Emma Withington – Follow me on Twitter
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Originally published August 12, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
