125. A Study in Scarlet Graphic Novel by Ian Edginton

A Study in Scarlet by Ian Edginton. Illustrated by I.N.J. Culbard. Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Foreword by Paul Johnson (Canada) - (US)
A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel (2)

Pages: 129
Ages: 12+
Finished: May 23, 2011
First Published: Feb. 100, 2010
Publisher: Sterling
Genre: YA, graphic novel, mystery, classic
Rating: 5/5



First sentence:

In the year 1878, I took my degree as Doctor of Medicine at the University of London before proceeding to Netley and the course prescribed for Army Surgeons.

Acquired: Received a copy from Sterling.

Reason for Reading: This was a Cybils '10 nominee and I hadn't read it by the time judging was due as it was not a contender by that time and I'm just now getting to it.

I was a young teenager when I read through all of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and since then I've only reread the occasional short story as it appears in anthologies that cross my path so my memory is dim on the book. A bit brighter on the various movie versions but that is still some time ago as I don't watch much TV anymore; all this to say I can't really compare to the original. What I can say though is that this was a wonderful read that certainly had the atmosphere of Doyle's Sherlock down pat and the both Holmes and Watson came across as genuine. This is the very first Sherlock Holmes story, so it is a treat to watch how the famous pair meet up and begin their detecting together. I think the author may have gone just a little soft on both Sherlock, making him just not quite that bit as egotistical and Watson, is just a little bit less awestruck and aware of Holmes' faults. This adds just a touch of originality to the adaptation as does the artwork which depicts Holmes in the familiar tall, long angular-faced personage (that both Rathbone and Irons brought to his character) but with a more frequent smile on his face. Watson is not a typical depiction at all, as he is suitably dressed, slim, fit and an expert in his own fields. This is an enticing murder case which brings two cultures together and starts off with a perplexing murder. Edginton & Culbard have done a wonderful adaption of this classic bringing it to a new generation of readers through the graphic medium. Highly recommended. I will try to read the others in the series as well.