The collected edition of Sherlock Holmes: Victorian Knights gathers the story of the Sidney Street Spectre and the Dancing Demon, two new Sherlock Holmes stories imagined by Ken Janssens. Originally released in four volumes, it follows the investigation of a murdered prostitute in what appears to be a haunted boarding house.
After being mistaken for the Black Spectre and attacked on the way home from another case, Holmes and Watson learn of a murdered woman whose body has just been found. Arriving on the scene even before the authorities have been called, Sherlock quickly proves it wasn’t a ghost that killed the woman of fright, but something much more sinister. From there, we get to go to the countryside to investigate a young man’s death, supposedly at the hands of the dancing tree demon.
Revolution Aisle 9 Written By Brady Sullivan
Art By Andrea Shiavone
Letters By Bernie Lee Back Row Comics
Release Date: July 18, 2012
Cover Price: $3.00
Digital Download: $0.99
Back Row Comics have started a series that will take place in a fictional town called Kent. An opening quote tells us “In a small town, past and present stand side by side, almost too close to tell the difference.”Revolution Aisle 9 takes this quote very seriously.
This first story, by Brady Sullivan, starts with a Revolutionary War soldier running from some British Redcoats. Due to some crazy voodoo, our soldier finds himself transported to our modern day 2012. The setting of our story from here on out takes place at a Wow-Mart, a bulk item style superstore. We are presented with every example of convenience and material obsessed American consumers. Our soldier, terrified, takes over the store. When confronted by the boys in blue he wages war with a number of inventive booby traps and weapons made from items available throughout the many departments.
I have long been a fan of all things Holmesian, even the ridiculously overzealous films of the last few years. I’ve read everything I could get my hands on for decades and comics are no exception. It seems like Bluewater Comics is trying to build a library of literary figures and who better to add to that collection than the world famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes: Victorian Knights #2 drops us into the plot right after Angela Farrell, a local “working girl” has been murdered. Much action ensues… We have a royal carriage being vandalized by local anti-monarchists, which turns out to be less than what it appears. Even the death of the prostitute is not what it seems. The twisting plot is definitely an homage to the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Logan’s Run: Aftermath #4 Written by Paul J. Salamoff
Art by Mike Dorman
Colors by Aurelio Alfonso
Letters by Bernie Lee
Graphics by Jason Brock, William F. Nolan, Paul J. Salamoff
Logo Design by Patrick Foster
Cover by Mike Dorman Bluewater Comics
Release Date: December 21th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99
I have to admit, Logan’s Run: Aftermath #4 took me by surprise. It was actually a really good science fiction story, that, like all good Sci-Fi stories, is routed in humanity.
This issue is basically the story of Tara, the main character’s long-time rival. Instead of making her a villain just for the sake of having an antagonist, writer Paul J. Salamoff gives her a very credible “origin” story that shows her slow descent into conflict with Logan. And it’s a great story, one that builds slowly, not just a “he embarrassed me so I’m going to make him pay” kind of tale. Very entertaining read and I’m actually looking forward to the next issue.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
