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Sherlock Holmes et les Vampires de Londres #1-2
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London
Sherlock Holmes died fighting Professor Moriarty in the Reichenbach Falls. At least, that's what the press claims. However, Holmes is alive and well and taking advantage of his presumed death to travel the globe. Unfortunately, Holmes's plans are thwarted when a plague of vampirism haunts Britain.
This book collects Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London Volumes 1 and 2, originally created by French publisher Soleil.
This book collects Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London Volumes 1 and 2, originally created by French publisher Soleil.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Sylvain Cordurié
129 books10 followersSylvain Cordurié is a French comic book writer who usually works in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 65 reviews
January 23, 2018
Thankfully, they kept it short. So Why does it suck?
(1) Remember Abraham Lincoln, the vampire hunter? Didn't work well, did it? (If it worked for you, check this book out).
(2) The Queen of England is weirdly chill about Vampires.
(3) The introduction of Vampires and the reaction, or lack of reaction from Holmes brothers.
(4) While boasting an unpredictable territory, the story is painfully predictable, especially towards the end.
In my opinion, art is the only redeeming quality here.
(1) Remember Abraham Lincoln, the vampire hunter? Didn't work well, did it? (If it worked for you, check this book out).
(2) The Queen of England is weirdly chill about Vampires.
(3) The introduction of Vampires and the reaction, or lack of reaction from Holmes brothers.
(4) While boasting an unpredictable territory, the story is painfully predictable, especially towards the end.
In my opinion, art is the only redeeming quality here.
December 30, 2016
In the canonical Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes and Watson have the occasional dalliance with the supernatural, but they never really get past first base with it (unlike, say, Ray Stantz in Ghostbusters, who, we presume, rounded third with that ethereal lady floating above him during a montage, but that’s neither here nor there…still, one imagines the cleanup after that encounter was a rather sticky business).
In the vast body of Holmesian pastiches, however, direct engagement with the supernatural is almost de rigueur, which makes sense when one considers the Victorian origin of Dracula, Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, Jack the Ripper, and other tales of the macabre. The foggy, gaslit streets of London make for the perfect backdrop against which to pit our ace sleuth and his man Friday against an array of otherworldly forces, and Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London does this as well as most, due in large part to the incredible art.
The story itself, a post-Reichenbach affair wherein our man Holmes maintains the charade of being deceased (without Watson’s knowledge), is solidly done, with Holmes matching wits against a sect of London vampires led by a vicious Duke. It’s the art, however, that elevates this from a serviceable tale to an atmospheric tour-de-force that will lift you bodily from your chair and fling you back across the decades to land in a time and place that, if not entirely historical, couldn’t feel more perfect.
I will now return forthwith to my place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension. Or, at least, to the place where Ray met that ghost.
(Also, let’s add Laci to the list of artists who need to be working on a graphic novel adaptation of The Camelot Shadow.)
In the vast body of Holmesian pastiches, however, direct engagement with the supernatural is almost de rigueur, which makes sense when one considers the Victorian origin of Dracula, Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, Jack the Ripper, and other tales of the macabre. The foggy, gaslit streets of London make for the perfect backdrop against which to pit our ace sleuth and his man Friday against an array of otherworldly forces, and Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London does this as well as most, due in large part to the incredible art.
The story itself, a post-Reichenbach affair wherein our man Holmes maintains the charade of being deceased (without Watson’s knowledge), is solidly done, with Holmes matching wits against a sect of London vampires led by a vicious Duke. It’s the art, however, that elevates this from a serviceable tale to an atmospheric tour-de-force that will lift you bodily from your chair and fling you back across the decades to land in a time and place that, if not entirely historical, couldn’t feel more perfect.
I will now return forthwith to my place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension. Or, at least, to the place where Ray met that ghost.
(Also, let’s add Laci to the list of artists who need to be working on a graphic novel adaptation of The Camelot Shadow.)
April 6, 2014
A graphic novel featuring Sherlock Holmes up against vampires should be a treat to read, but this book makes the cardinal sin of being simply boring.
A lot of it has to do with the artwork, I suspect. The artist tries to cram too many panels onto many of the pages, which reduces the quality of the art to the point that much of the story is incomprehensible. Added to this is the muddy quality and limited colour palette of many of the panels, and you just can't see what is going on a lot of the time. The writer must share some of the blame though, for putting so much text into those already too small panels. Much of that text is musings from Sherlock Holmes himself rather than conversation, which also strips the story of some of its mystery. The reason that John Watson writes the Holmes cases up is that Holmes himself refuses to do so. By doing this, Arthur Conan Doyle maintained much of the central mystery of who Sherlock Holmes really is. However, by being privy to so many of Holmes thoughts in this book makes him less of the mysterious superman he needs to be to solve the case and have us all wonder about how he did it.
I have no idea if this is a one-off or part of an ongoing series, but it needs to be a lot better to hold my attention. The New Deadwardians did a much better job and I would recommend reading that story instead.
A lot of it has to do with the artwork, I suspect. The artist tries to cram too many panels onto many of the pages, which reduces the quality of the art to the point that much of the story is incomprehensible. Added to this is the muddy quality and limited colour palette of many of the panels, and you just can't see what is going on a lot of the time. The writer must share some of the blame though, for putting so much text into those already too small panels. Much of that text is musings from Sherlock Holmes himself rather than conversation, which also strips the story of some of its mystery. The reason that John Watson writes the Holmes cases up is that Holmes himself refuses to do so. By doing this, Arthur Conan Doyle maintained much of the central mystery of who Sherlock Holmes really is. However, by being privy to so many of Holmes thoughts in this book makes him less of the mysterious superman he needs to be to solve the case and have us all wonder about how he did it.
I have no idea if this is a one-off or part of an ongoing series, but it needs to be a lot better to hold my attention. The New Deadwardians did a much better job and I would recommend reading that story instead.
July 13, 2018
El cómic comienza en Londres, en 1891, con Holmes contándonos que en realidad no murió en las Cataratas de Reichenbach, pero que debe mantenerse oculto por el bien de su amigo Watson y su esposa Mary, ya que los secuaces de Moriarty andan tras él. Pero la historia no va de esto. Se están produciendo brutales crímenes de nobles londinenses y todo apunta a un vampiro.
Es un pastiche holmesiano muy pulp, donde lo que más me ha gustado ha sido el detallado dibujo. La tramas, floja.
Es un pastiche holmesiano muy pulp, donde lo que más me ha gustado ha sido el detallado dibujo. La tramas, floja.
July 9, 2021
Nie, po prostu nie. Czemu tutaj są wampiry, serio, to miał być kryminał. Rozwiązanie, kompletnie nie zaskakujące, wŕęcz tak przewidywalne, że masakra. Samo śledztwo, jakby nawet tego śledztwem nazwać zbytnio nie mogę, bo najpierw nasz Sherlock poszedł znalazł jakaś dzidę, a potem morderca (ktoregk tożsamosć znamy od samego początku) po prostu do niego przychodzi.
May 8, 2019
I was all on board for reading of Sherlock's adventures and efforts in tracking down this seemingly supernatural killer, learning more of them as he proceeds, realizing that the world may not be such a rational place as he thought it was...
...and then in his first encounter he immediately exclaims "Vampires!", and I knew what I was really in for. A farce.
He also really needs Watson to be around for him to be clever at. He's so much less interesting on his own, actually narrating himself for that matter. The comic so loses a great chunk of the appeal of the original stories.
All in all, this comic was a vast missed opportunity. It actually makes me a little bit sad, thinking of what could have been.
...and then in his first encounter he immediately exclaims "Vampires!", and I knew what I was really in for. A farce.
He also really needs Watson to be around for him to be clever at. He's so much less interesting on his own, actually narrating himself for that matter. The comic so loses a great chunk of the appeal of the original stories.
All in all, this comic was a vast missed opportunity. It actually makes me a little bit sad, thinking of what could have been.
October 1, 2019
¿Es posible combinar dos elementos trillados y armar con ellos una historia original? Supongo que sí, pero no es el caso de este cómic. Los elementos del canon sherlockiano están ahí (excepto Watson, ¿a quién se le ocurre omitir a Watson?), y los vampiros aparecen, pero nunca se consigue la sinergia necesaria entre estos dos elementos como para que la historia despegue. Como devoto de Sherlock Holmes, no creo que esté mal juntarlo con elementos sobrenaturales, pero el maridaje requiere una reflexión más profunda que la que esta historia le dedica.
March 13, 2024
2.5 stars.
The art is good, but the characters were sometimes difficult to differentiate (Sherlock does wear disguises, so...)
The story takes place during the few years that Sherlock is presumed dead. It's decent for a brief story. I had to look up who "Mary" was, because I am not familiar enough with Holmes characters to know that was Watson's wife.
The art is good, but the characters were sometimes difficult to differentiate (Sherlock does wear disguises, so...)
The story takes place during the few years that Sherlock is presumed dead. It's decent for a brief story. I had to look up who "Mary" was, because I am not familiar enough with Holmes characters to know that was Watson's wife.
October 6, 2021
Its an enjoyable Sherlock Holmes /Vampire story. A solid read for October.
May 10, 2023
It was weird reading a supernatural Sherlock Holmes story, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, it was really well told and the art is incredible.
January 4, 2014
Thanks to Netgalley and Diamond Books Distributing for sending me an ARC of this book!
This is an interesting (and welcome) addition to Sherlock Holmes lore. I’ve read other books where Sherlock and Watson have encountered vampires, but those books were done from Watson’s point of view. It was refreshing to have the chance to be inside Sherlock’s head and experience the story from his point of view.
After Sherlock’s supposed death at the Reichenbach Falls, the famous detective has remained in hiding. He is, however, tracked down by a Master Vampire of London who needs his help in catching a rogue vampire killing relatives of Queen Victoria. The narrative follows Sherlock as he gathers information on the vampire, who has a connection to Sherlock’s past. There is also a vampire doppelganger of Irene Adler who assists Sherlock.
While I found the story interesting, I felt removed from the narrative. This could be a function of its structure (Sherlock is writing down the tale after it is over) but it felt much more passive than the original novels. The artwork was detailed and not too dark. There was contrast which made the violence (immolation, staking, heads being ripped off) stand out without being too “cartoon-y”. A few times, I did have to take closer looks at the panels in order to try and distinguish which character was meant to be Sherlock and which character was his source. At times, Sherlock was indistinct from the other characters, and I do not think that was because he was in disguise.
All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Sherlock Holmes or vampires. There are some interesting takes on vampire lore, including ways to kill vampires that don’t involve weapons. Readers shouldn’t be worried about being aware of other Sherlock Holmes novels – there are some surprises for readers who are familiar with the novels – since the story still make sense without that knowledge.
This is an interesting (and welcome) addition to Sherlock Holmes lore. I’ve read other books where Sherlock and Watson have encountered vampires, but those books were done from Watson’s point of view. It was refreshing to have the chance to be inside Sherlock’s head and experience the story from his point of view.
After Sherlock’s supposed death at the Reichenbach Falls, the famous detective has remained in hiding. He is, however, tracked down by a Master Vampire of London who needs his help in catching a rogue vampire killing relatives of Queen Victoria. The narrative follows Sherlock as he gathers information on the vampire, who has a connection to Sherlock’s past. There is also a vampire doppelganger of Irene Adler who assists Sherlock.
While I found the story interesting, I felt removed from the narrative. This could be a function of its structure (Sherlock is writing down the tale after it is over) but it felt much more passive than the original novels. The artwork was detailed and not too dark. There was contrast which made the violence (immolation, staking, heads being ripped off) stand out without being too “cartoon-y”. A few times, I did have to take closer looks at the panels in order to try and distinguish which character was meant to be Sherlock and which character was his source. At times, Sherlock was indistinct from the other characters, and I do not think that was because he was in disguise.
All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Sherlock Holmes or vampires. There are some interesting takes on vampire lore, including ways to kill vampires that don’t involve weapons. Readers shouldn’t be worried about being aware of other Sherlock Holmes novels – there are some surprises for readers who are familiar with the novels – since the story still make sense without that knowledge.
February 13, 2014
SLJ review:
CORDURIÉ, Sylvain. Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London. tr. from French. illus. by Laci and Axel Gonzalbo. 96p. Dark Horse. Feb. 2014. pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781616552664.
Adult/High School–In this relentlessly silly but thoroughly fun mash-up, Sherlock Holmes finds himself in a triangular face-off against a group of semi-officially sanctioned vampires on the one hand and a rogue, apparently psychotic vampire on the other. The vampire clan, led by Selymes, has deep ties to the British government, reaching all the way to Queen Victoria, but those ties are threatened by the activities of a vampire named Owen Chanes, who has been on a feeding frenzy of low-level government operatives. So Selymes hires Sherlock to hunt down Chanes, using Watson and his wife, Mary, as hostages, but in typical Holmesian fashion, Sherlock seeks a way to play the vampires off each other and win the day for the humans. Cordurié and Laci give readers several strong reasons to suspend their disbelief: Laci’s incredibly detailed, gritty illustrations of Victorian London, featuring a Sherlock with a much more hardened, lined, and frankly old face than we’ve come to expect; Cordurié’s wry humor, as when Sherlock abruptly pivots from disbelief to belief in vampires without a backward glance; and a fun, fast-moving plot that leaves little time for second guessing. This graphic novel is probably more for Holmes aficionados than for vampire fans, but teen lovers of both will be especially pleased.–Mark Flowers, John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo, CA
CORDURIÉ, Sylvain. Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London. tr. from French. illus. by Laci and Axel Gonzalbo. 96p. Dark Horse. Feb. 2014. pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781616552664.
Adult/High School–In this relentlessly silly but thoroughly fun mash-up, Sherlock Holmes finds himself in a triangular face-off against a group of semi-officially sanctioned vampires on the one hand and a rogue, apparently psychotic vampire on the other. The vampire clan, led by Selymes, has deep ties to the British government, reaching all the way to Queen Victoria, but those ties are threatened by the activities of a vampire named Owen Chanes, who has been on a feeding frenzy of low-level government operatives. So Selymes hires Sherlock to hunt down Chanes, using Watson and his wife, Mary, as hostages, but in typical Holmesian fashion, Sherlock seeks a way to play the vampires off each other and win the day for the humans. Cordurié and Laci give readers several strong reasons to suspend their disbelief: Laci’s incredibly detailed, gritty illustrations of Victorian London, featuring a Sherlock with a much more hardened, lined, and frankly old face than we’ve come to expect; Cordurié’s wry humor, as when Sherlock abruptly pivots from disbelief to belief in vampires without a backward glance; and a fun, fast-moving plot that leaves little time for second guessing. This graphic novel is probably more for Holmes aficionados than for vampire fans, but teen lovers of both will be especially pleased.–Mark Flowers, John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo, CA
March 1, 2014
Holmes, still believed dead by the masses after Reichenbach, is enlisted by vampires to track down one of their own who has gone rogue. In short, it's largely the plot of Blade 2 with Sherlock Holmes in the lead role. As dismissive and derivative as that might sound, it's actually an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable read. Some awkward sentences here and there, likely a result of translation, but characterization is solid. The art is stunningly detailed, realistically rendered and beautiful throughout the book. I would rate this as one of the very best Sherlock Holmes comic books of recent years, sitting alongside the wonderful Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes Vs Zombies, but of course, if you don't care for stories that mix Holmes with the supernatural, your opinion will differ. Happily I love this sort of thing, especially when as well done as it was in this book.
January 7, 2014
This graphic novel has Sherlock Holmes taking on a case under duress. A vampire leader has found that Sherlock has faked his death and wants him to track down and kill a vampire that is going on a rampage killing various important people in the British Empire. He does this in order to protect Watson and his wife who neither know that Sherlock survived the falls. The story didn't feel much like a Sherlock story and I was disappointed in it. There is treaty between the British Empire and the vampires but you never get the whys or hows it came about. And the ending left lots of room for more stories but I don't think I will bother reading any more in this series.
Digital review provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Digital review provided by the publisher through NetGalley
September 29, 2018
DNF'd around 25% through. It was not making good use of the graphic novel format as most of the text was for the narrative, this Sherlock looks much more bland than any version I've seen, also the fact that the supernatural is occurring is glossed over in a single line. All his study is completely glossed over. The villains aren't scary. Sherlock is typically a very intriguing character...here he's just an annoying Mary Sue who will always be and always appear one step ahead of everyone else. And that's so boring.
February 5, 2014
I think my lack of prior knowledge might have worked against me here, but I'm not sure if it was that or the plot was just confusing. Art is detailed but overwhelmingly dull in color, and the majority of the comic is told through Sherlock's inner monologue/a letter to Watson. Not even the vampires could save this.
May 29, 2015
Giving it one star for the artwork alone.
August 12, 2015
Accepting as fact vampires are real with no background or explanation is a bit of a stretch when borrowing such a logical and grounded character as Sherlock Holmes.
July 2, 2017
Η υπόθεση ακολουθεί τον Σέρλοκ Χολμς μήνες μετά την εξαφάνιση του στους καταρράκτες του Ράιχενμπαχ και συγκεκριμένα τον Ιούλιο του 1891. Η υπόθεση είναι σε μορφή flashback όπου το τέλος είναι η αρχή και ο Χολμς σε ένα απομνημόνευμα που προορίζεται για τον Γουάτσον εξιστορεί την περιπέτεια του. Ποία είναι αυτή; Μα η εμφάνιση βρικολάκων στο Λονδίνο. Ο Χολμς εμπλέκεται στην υπόθεση προσπαθώντας να συλλάβει έναν εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνο βρικόλακα που απειλεί τόσο την κοινωνία όσο και τις σχέσεις του στέμματος με την διοίκηση των βρικολάκων. Μιας και ο Χολμς δουλεύει ιγκόγκνιτο στο Λονδίνο και ο Γουάτσον ακόμα τον θεωρεί νεκρό, τον κολαούζο του δεν τον βλέπουμε παρά ελάχιστα στο κόμικ.
Το σενάριο την παλεύει (πάλι εντός πλαισίου βέβαια) και το σχέδιο είναι καλό προς αρκετά καλό ειδικά στα τοπία. Ο χρωματισμός κάνει πολλές διακυμάνσεις μιας και σε κάποια καρέ είναι φοβερός και σε κάποια άλλα παιδικός και εκτός κλίματος. Πάντως σε κάποιον που άρεσε το Society, σίγουρα θα γουστάρει και αυτό. Γενικά ρολάρει όμορφα.
Το σενάριο την παλεύει (πάλι εντός πλαισίου βέβαια) και το σχέδιο είναι καλό προς αρκετά καλό ειδικά στα τοπία. Ο χρωματισμός κάνει πολλές διακυμάνσεις μιας και σε κάποια καρέ είναι φοβερός και σε κάποια άλλα παιδικός και εκτός κλίματος. Πάντως σε κάποιον που άρεσε το Society, σίγουρα θα γουστάρει και αυτό. Γενικά ρολάρει όμορφα.
June 18, 2023
I borrowed this from my local library because I was sceptical as soon as I saw the cover of the graphic novel. I was right. Sherlock Holmes as a confused and incompetent detective? A completely fantastical and illogical setting for the world's most rational detective? It just doesn't work. I like the artwork and the general idea of the graphic novel, but it doesn't have any Sherlock Holmes' spirit in it. It might have been any other character in his place, it wouldn't matter.
July 25, 2017
3.5
Many SH Meets vampire takes out there. This is a solid offering with nice art.
Many SH Meets vampire takes out there. This is a solid offering with nice art.
January 10, 2018
Rating: 3
December 19, 2017
So completely ridiculous...
November 26, 2018
Bellissimo fumetto
mi sono piaciuti la storia i disegni Sherlock e i VAMPIRII
lo consiglio agli amanti di Holmes e i vampiri
non vedo l'ora di inizare sherlock vs. Lovecraft
mi sono piaciuti la storia i disegni Sherlock e i VAMPIRII
lo consiglio agli amanti di Holmes e i vampiri
non vedo l'ora di inizare sherlock vs. Lovecraft
January 14, 2022
Nice but too short
June 3, 2020
Fun graphic novel featuring the Great Detective in London. I enjoyed this a lot.
December 5, 2013
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London
Release Date: April 2014
Publisher: Darkhorse Comics
Story by: Sylvain Cordurie
Art by: Laci
Colors by: Axel Gonzabo
Cover by: Jean Sebastien Rossbach
ISDN: 9781616552664
MSRP: $17.99 Hardcover
“Sherlock Holmes died fighting Professor Moriarty in the Reichenbach Falls.
At least, that’s what the press claims.
However, Holmes is alive and well and taking advantage of his presumed death to travel the globe.
Unfortunately, Holmes’s plans are thwarted when a plague of vampirism haunts Britain.
This book collects Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London Volumes 1 and 2, originally created by French publisher Soleil.” – Darkhorse Comics
When I received this copy of “Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London” I was Ecstatic! The cover art was awesome and it was about two of my favorite things, Sherlock Holmes and Vampires. I couldn’t wait to dive into this!
Unfortunately, that is where my excitement ended. The story takes place a month after Sherlock Holmes supposed death in his battle with Professor Moriarty. Sherlock’s plan to stay hidden and out of site are ruined when on a trip with his brother Mycroft, they stumble on the presence of vampires. That is about as much of Sherlock’s character that comes through the book. I can’t even tell you the story really because nothing and I mean nothing stuck with me after reading it. I never, ever got the sense of Sherlock Holmes anywhere in this graphic novel, nor any real sense of mystery or crime. It was just Sherlock somehow battling vampires that should have had absolutely no trouble snuffing him out in a fight, but somehow always surviving and holding his own against supernatural, super powerful, blazingly fast creatures.
The cover art is awesome and it truly made me excited to read this but everything else feel completely flat for me. I tried telling myself that “it’s a graphic novel, it would be hard to translate mystery, details, emotion” but then I remembered reading DC Comic’s “Identity Crisis” and realized that was a load of crap. I know it’s unfair to compare the two as “Identity Crisis” had popular mystery author Brad Meltzer writing it right? Yeah….no. The standard was set that day and there is more than enough talent out there to create a great story in a graphic novel.
That being said, it wasn’t a horrible story, it just didn’t grip me for feel anything like Sherlock Holmes to me. It was easy enough to follow but I felt no sense of tension, stakes or compassion for any of the characters.
As far as the vampires go, it’s hard to know what to expect anymore as there are so many different versions these days. This was the more classic version which I personally prefer, but again I didn’t find anything that portrayed their dominance, calm confidence or sexuality. There was definitely a presence of their physical prowess but somehow that was lost on me as easily as Sherlock was able to defend himself. I know it, wouldn’t do to kill of the main character, but this would have a been a great opportunity to build around the experience and beguiling nature of a vampire that had lived so many years of experience. Another chance to showcase Sherlock’s intellect in a battle of wits over strength in something more suitable for this sort of story as apposed to trying to make it feel like an action movie.
Maybe I expected to much and hoped to have at least a gripping premise or some sort of interesting plot or mystery but I didn’t find it here. This may be a must have for serious Sherlock Holmes fans that have to collect everything about him, but if you are looking for a great story inside a graphic novel, I would have to say pass on this one.
That artwork is good, cover is great, story is lacking so I am giving it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Release Date: April 2014
Publisher: Darkhorse Comics
Story by: Sylvain Cordurie
Art by: Laci
Colors by: Axel Gonzabo
Cover by: Jean Sebastien Rossbach
ISDN: 9781616552664
MSRP: $17.99 Hardcover
“Sherlock Holmes died fighting Professor Moriarty in the Reichenbach Falls.
At least, that’s what the press claims.
However, Holmes is alive and well and taking advantage of his presumed death to travel the globe.
Unfortunately, Holmes’s plans are thwarted when a plague of vampirism haunts Britain.
This book collects Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London Volumes 1 and 2, originally created by French publisher Soleil.” – Darkhorse Comics
When I received this copy of “Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London” I was Ecstatic! The cover art was awesome and it was about two of my favorite things, Sherlock Holmes and Vampires. I couldn’t wait to dive into this!
Unfortunately, that is where my excitement ended. The story takes place a month after Sherlock Holmes supposed death in his battle with Professor Moriarty. Sherlock’s plan to stay hidden and out of site are ruined when on a trip with his brother Mycroft, they stumble on the presence of vampires. That is about as much of Sherlock’s character that comes through the book. I can’t even tell you the story really because nothing and I mean nothing stuck with me after reading it. I never, ever got the sense of Sherlock Holmes anywhere in this graphic novel, nor any real sense of mystery or crime. It was just Sherlock somehow battling vampires that should have had absolutely no trouble snuffing him out in a fight, but somehow always surviving and holding his own against supernatural, super powerful, blazingly fast creatures.
The cover art is awesome and it truly made me excited to read this but everything else feel completely flat for me. I tried telling myself that “it’s a graphic novel, it would be hard to translate mystery, details, emotion” but then I remembered reading DC Comic’s “Identity Crisis” and realized that was a load of crap. I know it’s unfair to compare the two as “Identity Crisis” had popular mystery author Brad Meltzer writing it right? Yeah….no. The standard was set that day and there is more than enough talent out there to create a great story in a graphic novel.
That being said, it wasn’t a horrible story, it just didn’t grip me for feel anything like Sherlock Holmes to me. It was easy enough to follow but I felt no sense of tension, stakes or compassion for any of the characters.
As far as the vampires go, it’s hard to know what to expect anymore as there are so many different versions these days. This was the more classic version which I personally prefer, but again I didn’t find anything that portrayed their dominance, calm confidence or sexuality. There was definitely a presence of their physical prowess but somehow that was lost on me as easily as Sherlock was able to defend himself. I know it, wouldn’t do to kill of the main character, but this would have a been a great opportunity to build around the experience and beguiling nature of a vampire that had lived so many years of experience. Another chance to showcase Sherlock’s intellect in a battle of wits over strength in something more suitable for this sort of story as apposed to trying to make it feel like an action movie.
Maybe I expected to much and hoped to have at least a gripping premise or some sort of interesting plot or mystery but I didn’t find it here. This may be a must have for serious Sherlock Holmes fans that have to collect everything about him, but if you are looking for a great story inside a graphic novel, I would have to say pass on this one.
That artwork is good, cover is great, story is lacking so I am giving it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
March 4, 2022
Wasn't the biggest fan of this, maybe because I'm a bit bored with vampires in general. But what was a good idea on paper, wasn't that well put together in execution.
Like suddenly there are vampires and otherworldly things and Sherlock who has always been a man of logic and reasoning just seems to think it's no big deal. There is no explanation, no questioning, and no investigating. It just doesn't feel like Sherlock to not try and call bs on vampires suddenly being in his life and using him for their nefarious plans.
Though the art was still nice, especially in the action moments.
Like suddenly there are vampires and otherworldly things and Sherlock who has always been a man of logic and reasoning just seems to think it's no big deal. There is no explanation, no questioning, and no investigating. It just doesn't feel like Sherlock to not try and call bs on vampires suddenly being in his life and using him for their nefarious plans.
Though the art was still nice, especially in the action moments.
January 26, 2014
Cross-posted at: http://mgbookreviews.wordpress.com/20...
Synopsis
After the events at Reichenbach Falls, Sherlock Holmes goes into hiding. By convincing everyone that he is dead, he hopes to avoid any reprisals for his part in Moriarty’s death. However, he finds himself drawn back to London for a case from a very strange client. Individuals linked to the royal house are being brutally killed, and it is not the queen that has sent for him, but a demonic master vampire who needs Holmes to track down a rogue monster. With Watson and his wife being threatened, how can Holmes crack this case without handing over his soul to the proverbial devil?
The Good
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London is a solid graphic novel, though I am not personally all that fond of it. However, even though it was not one of my favourite reads, I can easily see how many others would really enjoy this piece, so I am going to give a brief review that highlights some of the good points of this volume, as well as some of the reasons as to why I wasn’t all that enthused.
The art in this volume is stunning. All of the panels are extremely detailed, and the colouring is beautifully done. My only complaint was that some of the characters had too similar in face structure, and there were times when I was unsure of exactly who I was looking at on a page. However, this was a very minor complaint in a sea of excellence. Laci is a fantastic illustrator, and I will be seeking out some of his/her other work.
The story itself is interesting. Holmes has been “hired” (in other words, compelled into working when Watson and his wife are threatened) to find a rogue vampire. Known to the British powers that be, there is a powerful group of these supernatural beings in Europe, and they were left largely alone until one of them starts killing people close to the queen in very public and brutal ways. This is certainly not Holmes’ usual type of opponent as vampires are not being constrained by the limitations of mortality.
The Bad
The most significant flaw in this book was Holmes’ lack of detecting. It is not that he doesn’t engage in his usual patterns of deduction, but that this work was often overshadowed by the paranormal aspects of this story. It is a challenge to try and blend the traditional Holmes mysteries with demonic vampires, and I understand why the balance was off. However, I would have preferred to see a piece much more similar in tone to Gaiman’s A Study in Emerald which was a great pastiche that combined the paranormal with one of the world’s most beloved detectives. For Holmes fans, this is probably the part of the book that will bother them the most, though his intellectual manner and abilities are certainly not absent. They just don’t take center stage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London is an entertaining story utilising characters and tropes that many people enjoy. Just don’t pick it up expecting detecting to be the center of the narrative. It’s also worth a read for the art alone.
Synopsis
After the events at Reichenbach Falls, Sherlock Holmes goes into hiding. By convincing everyone that he is dead, he hopes to avoid any reprisals for his part in Moriarty’s death. However, he finds himself drawn back to London for a case from a very strange client. Individuals linked to the royal house are being brutally killed, and it is not the queen that has sent for him, but a demonic master vampire who needs Holmes to track down a rogue monster. With Watson and his wife being threatened, how can Holmes crack this case without handing over his soul to the proverbial devil?
The Good
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London is a solid graphic novel, though I am not personally all that fond of it. However, even though it was not one of my favourite reads, I can easily see how many others would really enjoy this piece, so I am going to give a brief review that highlights some of the good points of this volume, as well as some of the reasons as to why I wasn’t all that enthused.
The art in this volume is stunning. All of the panels are extremely detailed, and the colouring is beautifully done. My only complaint was that some of the characters had too similar in face structure, and there were times when I was unsure of exactly who I was looking at on a page. However, this was a very minor complaint in a sea of excellence. Laci is a fantastic illustrator, and I will be seeking out some of his/her other work.
The story itself is interesting. Holmes has been “hired” (in other words, compelled into working when Watson and his wife are threatened) to find a rogue vampire. Known to the British powers that be, there is a powerful group of these supernatural beings in Europe, and they were left largely alone until one of them starts killing people close to the queen in very public and brutal ways. This is certainly not Holmes’ usual type of opponent as vampires are not being constrained by the limitations of mortality.
The Bad
The most significant flaw in this book was Holmes’ lack of detecting. It is not that he doesn’t engage in his usual patterns of deduction, but that this work was often overshadowed by the paranormal aspects of this story. It is a challenge to try and blend the traditional Holmes mysteries with demonic vampires, and I understand why the balance was off. However, I would have preferred to see a piece much more similar in tone to Gaiman’s A Study in Emerald which was a great pastiche that combined the paranormal with one of the world’s most beloved detectives. For Holmes fans, this is probably the part of the book that will bother them the most, though his intellectual manner and abilities are certainly not absent. They just don’t take center stage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London is an entertaining story utilising characters and tropes that many people enjoy. Just don’t pick it up expecting detecting to be the center of the narrative. It’s also worth a read for the art alone.
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