I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

"Dark Rumours Gathered Round Him" [FINA]

<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4181732741_724a46fc2d_m.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4181732741_724a46fc2d_m.jpg" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 191px;" /></a>Many of us are aware of the events of Reichenbach Falls - of that final clash between Holmes and Moriarty as chronicled in <a href="http://sherlockholmes.stanford.edu/readings12.html">"The Adventure of the Final Problem" [FINA]</a> and <a href="http://sherlockholmes.stanford.edu/2007/notes1_1.html">"The Adventure of the Empty House" [EMPT]</a>. But for many Sherlockians, there is a darker variation that they will not - or dare not - consider:<br />
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<i>What if Moriarty was the victor at Reichenbach Falls? What if the Great Detective fell that fateful day and the Napoleon of Crime stood triumphant?</i></div>
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That is the premise behind <a href="http://www.imagecomics.com/">Image Comics'</a> new <b><a href="http://www.professorjamesmoriarty.com/">Moriarty</a> </b>series, written by Daniel Corey and drawn by Anthony Diecidue, and is now three issues into its inaugural arc, "The Dark Chamber".  It is also, for Sherlockians, a great modern style "what if" take not on Holmes, but on his nemesis.</div>
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We begin the story twenty years after Moriarty's triumph - he is living in relative seclusion, preferring to remain in the shadows. He is recruited by British intelligence on a unique mission - to locate the missing Mycroft Holmes....and if you think this is going to be another Holmesian pastiche, think again. Corey's writing provides a great mix of modern storytelling style with a working knowledge of the canon, creating a fully plausible "what if" scenario. (There is a scene of deduction in the first issue that not only connotes Moriarty's standing with Holmes, but is also one of the best written sequences I have read in awhile). There are some interesting twists and turns (without spoiling, there's a surprise cameo in # 2), and although the series takes a more science fiction-style turn, this is a pretty solidly written comic. For traditional Sherlockians, it may not have an easy appeal, but may be good for transitioning younger members into the canon.</div>
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My only real objection is with Diecidue's art - perhaps it's a bias on my part, but it looks <i>too</i> modern. (Moriarty appears to have jumped out of modern production). It tends to have a slightly jarring effect - unlike Moffatt's Victorian-character-in-modern-times, a modern-take-on-Victorian-character, art wise, doesn't quite seem to fit. It is a slightly acquired taste, admittedly, but Diecidue does have a great ability to drive atmosphere forward in his art.</div>
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Writer Corey is no stranger to the canon - for more information, please listen<a href="http://comicrelated.com/news/12534/panel-discussions-10"> his podcast interview with my fellow Comic Related scribe Russell Burlingame.</a> With <b>Moriarty, </b>he uses the canon as a jumping-off point to tell a more modern story....and quite frankly, it's one of the better Holmes pastiches.</div>
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The first three issues have been released, and can be found at your local comics store.</div>
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<i>Editor's note: Gordon regularly covers the intersection of Sherlock Holmes and the entertainment industry. You can also find him at <a href="http://www.blogthispal.com/">Blog THIS, Pal!</a> and <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/">Comic Related</a>.</i></div>
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004ZQRL0C&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0055FKDQG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B005AV91HM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  </div>

"Dark Rumours Gathered Round Him" [FINA]

Many of us are aware of the events of Reichenbach Falls - of that final clash between Holmes and Moriarty as chronicled in "The Adventu...

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by Scott Monty

"Where the Prospectors Had Been at Work" [SIGN]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktjEedyqHRo/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAk/kcRlchiVqu8/photo.jpg?sz=200" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktjEedyqHRo/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAk/kcRlchiVqu8/photo.jpg?sz=200" /></a></div>News from the southwest: Irregular Bob Stek, BSI ("The Mysterious Scientist") moved to Tucson, Arizona a few years ago and naturally took with him his love of Sherlock Holmes.<br /><br />In doing so, he founded the Desert Prospectors of Arizona and has led them on a regular cadence of meetings. In Bob's own words (submitted as a tip to our site - see the mail icon to submit yours):<br /><br /><blockquote>Still less than a year old, the DPA’s have met three times, but have already heard papers about deerstalker caps, Edith Meisner, seeing and observing, the violin in the Canon, Lillie Langtry as the model for Irene Adler, and have heard two violinists with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra play the theme to the BBC Jeremy Brett series – transcribed for two violins by ear!   At our last meeting we heard from the artistic manager of the Arizona Theater Company who informed us about the world premiere of “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club” to be presented in Tucson on September 23rd and later in Phoenix.  Naturally the Prospectors will attend the opening night en masse.</blockquote><br />Bob was kind enough to share <a href="http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2011/07/13/tucsonweeklytvcom-the-sherlock-holmes-scion-society">an article from the Tucson Weekly</a> which also incorporated this video featuring an interview with Bob and other members:<br /><br /><br /><center><object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dYBQ8eDPkZg?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dYBQ8eDPkZg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></center><br /><br />Is there a society near you that has recently done something you'd care to share? Please feel free to submit an item or sign up as a correspondent by <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/about-me.html"><b>filling out the short form on the About tab</b></a>.<br /><br />If you're looking for an organization near you, there are a few resources you might want to check out:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.sherlockian.net/societies/index.html">Sherlockian.net has a complete set of resources</a> about societies</li><li><a href="http://www.sh-whoswho.com/">The Sherlockian Who's-Who</a> is a global directory</li><li>Peter Blau's <a href="http://members.cox.net/sherlock1/three.txt">comprehensive list of societies can be found on Sherlocktron</a>.</li></ul><br />We also have a number of other links available on the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/resources.html"><b>Resources tab</b></a> at the top of the page and an ever-growing list of <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/holmes-on-facebook.html"><b>Sherlock Holmes entities on Facebook</b></a> which you might want to check out, not to mention the <a href="http://sherlockholmes.ning.com/">Sherlock Holmes Social Network</a>. You're not alone in your singular pursuit; there's lots of support from like-minded individuals.<br /><br /><i>Please consider visiting our sponsors (in the right column and footer of the site) from time to time. It helps defray the costs associated with running this site.</i> <br />--

"Where the Prospectors Had Been at Work" [SIGN]

News from the southwest: Irregular Bob Stek, BSI ("The Mysterious Scientist") moved to Tucson, Arizona a few years ago and natural...

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by Scott Monty

"His Head Girt with Bloody Bandages" [ILLU]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4181736553/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="illu-08 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="illu-08" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4181736553_7e85ce0f5a_m.jpg" width="215" /></a><b><i>BREAKING</i></b>: We're all familiar with sight of Holmes appearing with his head bandaged, standing in a triumphant manner before Baron Gruner in "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Illustrious-Client/dp/B0037FNAVQ?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Illustrious Client</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0037FNAVQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />."<br /><br />But now we have news that our more recent Sherlock<b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004132I20" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>, Benedict Cumberbatch, is being shown as bloody and being rushed to the hospital.<br /><br />As reported by the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2016767/Sherlock-Benedict-Cumberbatch-rushed-hospital-scenes-new-series.html"><i>Daily Mail</i></a>, the filming was taking place for the upcoming second season of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Season-Blu-ray-Benedict-Cumberbatch/dp/B004132I20?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Sherlock</a>, which you may recall last saw Holmes meeting his archenemy Professor Moriarty face to face at St. Bart's Hospital. The scenes reported in the <i>Daily Mail</i> took place 70 feet up on the roof of the building being used as the hospital, when Sherlock fell (or was pushed?) off the roof to the street below. According to the paper:<br /><blockquote>Pictures taken on set of the new series, due for broadcast this autumn, show actor Benedict Cumberbatch with a bloody head as he is put on a stretcher and taken away by paramedics.</blockquote>And here you can see one of the images:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM61kTKP7kB1Uw4qcdQwnF6eIXwS3M_rb1PR8h5d8qQYWGZ4orBFMs1Vm188Rwyk7LfkEG5DVFB7KEchl6hvPY65tdhZmokcOmxaadX1-OgEYLloHyeAbf8WqcMl6laVI3r-yblUjkIy4/s1600/bloodybenny.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM61kTKP7kB1Uw4qcdQwnF6eIXwS3M_rb1PR8h5d8qQYWGZ4orBFMs1Vm188Rwyk7LfkEG5DVFB7KEchl6hvPY65tdhZmokcOmxaadX1-OgEYLloHyeAbf8WqcMl6laVI3r-yblUjkIy4/s1600/bloodybenny.PNG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Screen capture of the Daily Mail website.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>What will become of Sherlock in this next season? Will we see him return to active practice after such a devastating injury? We've seen it before in "The Illustrious Client" and "The Dying Detective." But since this particular episode, titled "A Scandal in Belgravia" is based on "A Scandal in Bohemia," we'll simply point out what happened to the non-conformist clergyman when he was "injured" by the crowd at Briony Lodge...<br /><br /><br /><i>Please consider visiting our sponsors (in the right column and footer of the site) from time to time. It helps defray the costs associated with running this site.</i> <br />--

"His Head Girt with Bloody Bandages" [ILLU]

BREAKING : We're all familiar with sight of Holmes appearing with his head bandaged, standing in a triumphant manner before Baron Gruner...

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by Scott Monty

"Collection of Strange Episodes" [WIST]

<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4182466190_3865d233f7_o.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4182466190_3865d233f7_o.gif" style="float: left; height: 293px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a>Sometimes, the best thing you can do to a treasured character is to show them in their worst light - to take an unflattering look at a character and in doing so, and show how much you revere them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.omahaperez.com/">Omaha Perez's</a> graphic novel <span style="font-weight: bold;">Holmes: Haydn's Head</span> (published by <a href="http://www.ait-planetlar.com/holmes.shtml">Ait/PlanetLar</a>) does precisely that - it takes a darkly humorous look at Holmes and Watson, and tells a very compelling (if rather unique) Holmes story.<br />
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Imagine, if you will, Holmes as a high-functioning addict, with Dr. Watson as his willing enabler. A high profile theft that is meant to be kept secret (and based on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haydn%27s_head">actual historical events</a>). A collection of strange episodes that somehow reach an inevitable climax....Although much of this sounds sacrilegious to the canon...it's actually quite a humorous tale that juxtaposes canon (and canon-sounding) narration with "real" events that make this a pretty solid read.<br />
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(Of course, let me be very clear - much of the humor is definitely adult-oriented, and the book contains much profanity and nudity. This may not be the best gift for those Sherlockians who are more sensitive or thin-skinned. But I happen to like adult-oriented humor, and even Perez himself admits that there is <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&old=1&id=10617">a specific 20th century influence on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Haydn's Head</span></a>).<br />
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Perez's story - and his art - really drive home the Victorian period setting without seemingly forced, and his woodcut-style covers are extremely evocative. (Interior art is similar to Eddie Campbell's work on Alan Moore's <span style="font-weight: bold;">From Hell</span> graphic novel.) The narrative is relatively straightforward, and the book is a very simple read. Quite frankly, it's a pretty solid addition to any collection of Holmesian pastiche.<br />
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However, the humor is not for everyone, but quite frankly, Perez's  unique take on the Holmes/Watson dynamic is well worth checking out. It may not be everyone's Holmes, but for a small group (like myself) it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">their</span> kind of Holmes.<br />
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<i>Editor's note: Gordon regularly covers the intersection of Sherlock Holmes and the entertainment industry. You can also find him at <a href="http://www.blogthispal.com/">Blog THIS, Pal!</a> and <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/">Comic Related</a>.</i><br />
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