Review - Holmes & Houdini: The Curse Of Moriarty
From Zenescope Entertainment
A new one-shot comic from Zenescope Entertainment is out this week. Holmes & Houdini: The Curse Of Moriarty examines this new(ish) team and guest stars Van Helsing.
Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini return for another supernatural case of mayhem. But this time their investigation leads them to Victorian England, where the world’s most famous detective (and Spencer’s ancestor), Sherlock Holmes, was ensnared in a deadly game of his own, against his most malevolent nemesis, Professor James Moriarty. What secrets lie in this dark tale, and what could Moriarty be dabbling in that brings in the famed vampire hunter— Liesel Van Helsing?
Story: Dave Franchini & David Wohl, Writer: David Wohl, Artwork: Renato Rei, Massimiliano La Manno & Allan Otero, Colors: Maxflan Araujo, Letters: Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor: David Wohl, and Production & Design: Christopher Cote
This new team-up of Holmes and Houdini is still beginning, and I think this was an excellent way to get to know the characters and build on their upcoming adventures.
There is still a bit of tension between Holmes and Houdini, and this works out well until the slight link between the two and this adventure kicks in. Their communication and appreciation of their powers and skills still have to click, but it works well, and it’s good to see it grow between them.
The addition of Van Helsing to this story also works well, bringing a level of experience to the team-up and adding some history to the story. I would like to see more of the adventures of the original Sherlock Holmes in this world, but the links to the modern-day ancestor are well done.
I hope we get to see more of the original Houdini. He is mentioned a lot, but it has more to do with his reactions and interactions with others.
Even so, this story has a lot of good things going on. Moriarty is an interesting character, and his new blood makes an interesting and challenging team to battle against. The addition of Van Helsing creates some new aspects—especially when it comes to monsters…
I enjoyed the artwork here, and there is some good action and adventure in this story.
"Erica" Houdini must be a round-the-way reference to Houdini's real name (Erich Weiss).