The scarlet thread of murder

This month we published A Study in Scarlet, a graphic novel adaptation of the mystery detective novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although the adaptation is the second in our series of four, it was the first story to feature Sherlock Holmes and the reminiscences of his companion, Dr Watson, when published in 1887.

The action takes place in two places: in and around 221b Baker Street, London and on the ‘Great Alakali Plains’ of Utah. In both adaptation and original, the London investigation is related by Dr Watson and the American-set back story is narrated by Mr Jefferson Hope, whom Sherlock and Watson meet in the course of their enquiries.

In Holmes’ first outing with Dr. Watson in his role as ‘consulting detective’ he assists the hapless Scotland Yard Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade with a baffling murder. The pair are confronted with an unmarked body in a heavily bloodstained, Brixton tenement. Holmes must use his trademark ‘science of deduction’ to follow the ‘scarlet thread of murder’ through the capital to find the culprit before he strikes again. Their only clues are a woman’s wedding ring and the word “RACHE” written on the wall in blood.

As the plot thickens, Holmes correctly deduces that the reason for the Brixton murder lie far from London in the American Wild West. In the scene below, we see the beginning of the second part of the adaptation, where John Ferrier and his daughter wander the Utah salt plains – the last survivors of a caravan of migrants who ran out of water under the baking sun…

The Country of the Saints – John Ferrier approaches the Mormon stronghold, Salt Lake City

After The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet is perhaps Conan Doyle’s best known novel. The reason for this is not just the investigation itself, but because it’s where we find out lots about Holmes through Watson’s first impressions of him, after a mutual friend suggests that the two men share lodgings in Baker Street.

Location, location, location… the duo decide on shared lodgings at 221b Baker Street

Having just returned from a military tour of service in Afghanistan, Watson spends what little he has on listlessly entertaining himself in London before being introduced to Holmes. Watson’s opinion of Holmes is entirely positive, which allows Edginton and Culbard to show off Conan Doyle’s sense of humour and why Sherlock might need an educated sidekick (see below). At the end of the page below, we find out that Holmes is ‘an expert singlestick player, boxer and swordsman’, something that Lionel Wigram and Guy Ritchie turned to their advantage in their 2009 Sherlock Holmes blockbuster, where Holmes develops something of a monomanical desire to bare-knuckle box and scrap in the back streets.

Like the film adaptation, Edginton and Culbard’s adaptation has been given a warm reception. Mark Billingham was kind enough to say the following: 

In similar vein, Richard Bruton, got the first review in over at the Forbidden Planet International blog:

Thanks to both Mark and Richard for their support and we’ll keep you posted on when and where you can hear Mssrs. Edgington and Culbard speak about the Sherlock series at festivals and expos this year.

The Sherlock Holmes series is available from lots of places, for example, the “SHOP” page on the SelfMadeHero site (with a little help from Amazon!). If you prefer to flick through the pages of your comics before buying, then our books are generally available from the following independent retailers Dave’s Comics (Brighton), Page 45 (Nottingham), Gosh! and Forbidden Planet International (London),  Forbidden Planet International (Edinburgh) and Travelling Man (Leeds).