Watson and Holmes is an innovative and entertaining new take on the characters
Watson and Holmes succeeds because it takes the iconic characters of the intelligent, brave, and observant Dr. Watson and the idiosyncratic Holmes with his unconventional, obsessively inquisitive mind and places them in current Harlem with the problems and crimes of that community. The writer is faithful to the feel of the characters so that the reader can jump in without caution knowing who these two are and enjoy the different setting. I am surprised other writers have not done this more. I know the two occasionally get modernized but these two are modernized in another country and in a community that suffers more than its share of racism, crime and gang warfare. Therefore, Watson and Holmes will get mysteries reflecting the setting in a more violent and impoverished world of urban America.
The writer is true to the characters background so far. We don’t know much about Holmes yet, but Watson is a former army paratrooper who served in Afghanistan. He now is a medical intern. We do not yet know where he is going to medical school but he is working at a clinic emergency room. There he runs into Holmes for the first time. And although he is an intern, Watson is a natural take charge guy who is used to using initiative and taking chances. This character makes him a good compliment to Holmes.
Holmes exudes the confident, opaque, logical private detective and we even get to hear “elementary” dropped into a conversation. We get to see him using deduction to work three steps ahead of everyone else and see that he is ready to mix it up physically if he has to. Watson, of course, being a veteran of Afghanistan, is no stranger to gun play and is properly brave and thinks quickly under pressure. He also serves as the narrator as he finds himself swept up in this first mystery. So far, the writer does a good job using Watson’s curiosity about Holmes’ ability and startling reactions to Holmes’ incongruous behavior.
The mystery itself has the two trying to rescue a woman taken captive by a gang of ruthless, well armed ex mercenaries now drug dealers. So the issues ratchet up the danger and the chance for combat pretty quickly. But while combat occurs, it is Holmes’ intellect that propels the plot. Watson is there to aid him and fire off some rounds when needed. So far, the two are early in their partnership so the chemistry is still young but Watson finds himself drawn to Holmes and his desire to solve this crime and protect the community.
I have read the first two issues now so have not gotten too far into the mystery. But what I have read is great. The art is fine and once you get used to seeing these two guys as Holmes and Watson, you really get immersed in the plot and enjoy the ride.
4 Stars.