SHIN - Advance Review, . . . but not by me.

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Advance Review: In stores today!

SHERLOCK HOLMES VS. HARRY HOUDINI #3

Writer: Anthony del Col & Conor McCreery
Artist: Carlos Furuzono
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Reviewer: Lyzard

My relationship with Anthony del Col and Conor McCreery as a critic of theirs has been a rocky one. There are the times that I am praising their works, and then others when I am left shaking my head and crying “why, why” when things go ever so utterly wrong in their narratives. Then there is the snickering over Twitter when those two somehow take a story from a-okay to awesome. Our rapport is hardly consistent. Their work on SHERLOCK HOLMES VS. HARRY HOUDINI, however, is.

This comic hinges on the back and forth between the asshole detective and pompous magician. Though there is a mutual respect between the two men, it is their constant need to one-up the other, to be the smartest man in the room, to beat the other to the punch (sometimes literally) that drives this comic along. The series has potential far beyond the current mystery, but only because of how del Col and McCreery have written these two characters. While their artistic depictions are much too similar, their voices are keenly distinct. A line said by Houdini could not be mistaken for spoken by Holmes. Even though in issue #3 they spend the least amount of page time together, their contesting natures drive the story. They could be searching for a dognapper for all I care, I’d still read this comic.

But Holmes and Houdini have their sights set on someone more villainous than Cruella DeVille. After Houdini’s London premiere ended in a “suicide,” the two rationalists have been looking for the flesh and blood murderer who caused the incident and who has also threatened to create more chaos unless the American bows down to his awesome powers. Sound familiar? Perhaps I was so taken by the comic’s conceit that the similarity escaped me for the first two issues, but the climax of this book veered eerily close to the first Robert Downey Jr. SHERLOCK HOLMES flick. I am in no way accusing anyone of plagiarism. Parallels are bound to be found in material based on the same literary source. But if I were to find fault with the storytelling in this issue it would be how the plot felt more like del Col and McCreery’s other works, perhaps more “Killing Conan Doyle” rather than a clear focus on their original pairing of Houdini and Holmes, two jackass geniuses fighting against rather than with each other.

The artwork, same as the writing, has changed very little since the first issue. There is a lack of detail resulting in characters with nearly identical features. When Houdini and Holmes are on the same page there is enough to distinguish, but when both men go their separate ways to solve the crime, it can take a panel or two in order to decide whose footsteps we are following now. There was little in the way of action for the first book, so it is not inconsistent for the artwork to improve now that we get some punches being thrown. Much of the physical drama is drawn tight and up close, where Furuzono’s penciling improves in detail. It is when a panel has depth or scope that the over-simplification stands out.

SHERLOCK HOLMES VS. HARRY HOUDINI #3 does exactly what a midpoint issue should do. The stakes are raised ever so high, pushing the characters to their breaking points, and the reader to the edge of their chair in anticipation for what will happen next. I’ve learned my lesson in trying to predict what del Col and McCreery are trying to do, so I will leave the deduction to the experts. However, I doubt even Houdini or Holmes could guess how this story will end.

Lyzard is Lyz Reblin, a graduate student at the University of Texas pursuing a master's degree in Media Studies... which is just a fancy way of saying she plays a lot video games, watches far too many horror films, and then tries to pass it all off as "research."

I did not know this!

• General Motors Theatre presented a live telecast of Billy Budd in 1955, starring a young William Shatner as Billy Budd, with Douglas Campbell as Claggart, and Basil Rathbone as Captain Vere. Britten's "Four Sea Interludes" was included as background music.
• 
  

Holmes and Stapleton together again!

'Elementry' S3E9 - 'The Eternity Injection' - An eternity waiting for Holmes to appear

Once again Sherlock takes one of Watson's cases.
This one, a plea for help from one of Watson's co-workers, comes as a request to find a missing nurse who worked with Watson's friend.

Most of the evening once again resolved around Holmes' addiction and how he is dealing with it.

The case ends up revolving around and experimental drug that allows one to experience more life in a shorter period of time. . . . I think.
But it doesn't matter, once again the case really wasn't that important. Other than a slight similarity to CREE where both involve a drug that in some ways, mentally or physically gives one more energy.

Watson had very little to do, and Kitty even less. And although I like the fact that, other the the bugle blowing, most of the annoying habits of Holmes were nonexistent.
So, however, was any likeness to a Canonical Holmes.
For me this was the most police procedural of any of the tales so far.

Also, where last season we seemed to dwell most on Holmes relationship with Watson, this year so far it seems to be on his drug habit.

Where last week I found the show very good, and very Canonical, there was none of that this week.

I can only fairly give it;

mostly just because it wasn't bad.

I guess if he can spar with Bruce Lee. . . .

. . . he can write a book about Sherlock Holmes if he wants.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Publish a Novel About Sherlock Holmes’s Brother Mycroft

By ALEXANDRA ALTER

 JANUARY 8, 2015 4:12 PM January 8, 2015 4:12 pm

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first novel, “Mycroft Holmes,” which stars Sherlock Holmes’ brainy older brother, will be published this fall by Titan Books.

Set in England and Trinidad, the story centers on Mycroft, a recent university graduate working for the British Secretary of State for War. Mycroft learns from his best friend of troubling events occurring in Trinidad — mysterious disappearances, dead children and strange, backward facing footprints in the sand. Mycroft goes to Trinidad to investigate and to follow his fiancée, Georgiana, who was raised on the island. Sherlock has a cameo as a King’s College student.

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, a 19-time N.B.A. All-Star, began reading Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories more than 40 years ago, during his rookie season. “I was fascinated by Holmes’s ability to see clues where other people saw nothing,” he said in a statement released by his publisher. “Mycroft Holmes” was written with the screenwriter and producer Anna Waterhouse.

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar later read “Enter the Lion: A Posthumous Memoir of Mycroft Holmes,” a 1979 novel that was written by Michael P. Hodel and Sean M. Wright, and features Sherlock’s older brother. He was taken with the character, who appears in several of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories and works for the British government.

“I realized more could be done with this ‘older, smarter’ character and his window onto the highest levels of British government — at a time when Britain was the most powerful country in the world,” Mr. Abdul-Jabbar said in a statement.

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, who has published an autobiography, as well as nonfiction and children’s books, will also release his third children’s book, “Streetball Crew – Stealing the Game,” in February.

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Seven Degrees of Sherlock Holmes #59 - Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor died today at the age of 84 (1930-2015) Just a couple days short of 85.

I will always remember him in 'The Birds' and 'The Time Machine'

He was also in a movie called 'Young Cassidy' 1965

Which also featured Sir Michael Redgrave (1908-1985)

Who was in 'The Browning Version" (1951)

Which also featured TV Sherlock Holmes Ronald Howard (1918-1996)

So, there you have it, there you are.

While we wait - our January reading list.

Well, 'Elementary' is on hiatus.
And 'Sherlock' is on an even longer hiatus
'A Slight Trick of the Mind' isn't due out for a while.
And RDJ and Jude Law still aren't sure when they will be at their third installment.

And till we get a report from the BSI weekend, we are left to our own devices.

So. . . until  'insert favorite Sherlock Holmes show here' comes back or  'Forever' changes it's name to 'Duncan Holmes, Highlander Sherlock Holmes' we will just have to make due with the Canon, or, of course, 'I hear of Sherlock Everywhere'. That doesn't sound so awful does it?

Here is our January reading list from the Canon, thanks to Baring-Gould and Brad.

REDC

VALL

ABBE

CHAR

BLAN

Put your feet up and enjoy.

For the Anglophile in all of us . . well, some more than others.

Top Ten Anniversaries

And, after all, it is always 1895 (120 years)

Elementary S3E8 - 'End of Watch' - a little late, but still my review - I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Holiday activities made it impossible for me to catch this episode till last night, but I finally did.
The last couple of episodes I have been watching on the CBS app for IPAD and I have really been enjoying that method.
But I digress.

This episode opens with police lights flashing and pans out to a dead police officer laying on the ground.

It then cuts to Holmes attending his support group meeting and offering, for us Sherlockians, a really good Sherlockian quote; "My mind rebels at stagnation. . . .".
Rather well delivered by Miller and a good explanation to his group of one of the reasons he has trouble staying sober or clean. It turns out however that someone has been using his comments at these meetings and posting them on a web site to help other addicts. This he finds intrusive. The web site is of course named after his own phrase 'Brain Attic'.
Needless to say, Holmes is not happy.

While leaving the meeting Holmes gets paged by Gregson to come to the scene of the police shooting.

Quick recap; An officer is found dead. With the help of Joan it is determined that cop had been a drug addict and that his death was a result of that time in his life and his need to sell police guns to pay for his habit. He was found with a fake gun in his holster which leads to the discovery of missing guns at the police armory.
Another officer is murdered and Holmes determines it is a murder needed to cover up a robbery being planned for the same time as the officers funeral.

I thought this was probably the best episode of the season and one of the better ones of the whole show.
I think this was Millers most Holmes-like portrayal yet, and made him out to be very human without the stupid little quirks the show has become known for.
The case, although flawed in a couple of places was still very good and held my attention.
Although having key observations throughout the episode, both Joan and Kitty had more comfortable secondary roles.
The whole episode was really about addiction, whether it was Holmes or societies. And it made some very good points how addictions can destroy just about everything one holds dear.
The story examined how close Holmes will always be to his old habit and how he is always at a balancing point to maintain his equilibrium.
The wonderful quote found near the beginning of the episode, from SIGN, reminds us, Canonically, how close Holmes always was to this skeleton.
The fact that these addictions can also effect careers and families was also made clear in this episode.

The Holmes represented in this episode was a flawed yet likable Holmes, who has his skills and habits that confound most of us, yet make him who he is. There was no absurd. We saw a Holmes who reacts in ways we don't always understand yet is balanced out be the results. (most of the time)
I liked the fact that Millers Holmes, near the end, wrestled with his decision in making his fellow addict remove his quotes from the web site. Once again he was taken out of his comfort zone and was forced to examine whether or not his needs came first or the needs of others.

Millers Holmes was irritable and impatient. But not so much so that the slight Canonical shadow of Holmes was unnoticeable . I think this was a Holmes that even maybe Brad could come to like.

This episode made me hope that maybe the writers have found their stride and are now building a better modern Holmes.

We saw a Holmes who was not above self incrimination for mistakes he thought he had made.

He showed weakness in his fear of not being able to control his habit.

There were also several Holmes like references throughout.

There was no childish bickering between the principles.

I enjoyed this episode very much and can easily give it;

Canonical things to think about.

Did Holmes find Watson's writings, especially in the beginning, to be not only intrusive but a detriment to his career? We find in several cases, (SCAN for one) where Holmes reputation proceeded him. And we also have the quote, "Holmes the busy-body . . . ".

Did Holmes later enjoy the reputation the writings gave him and the invasion on his privacy, or would he have preferred to remain, publicly unknown?

Was the Canonical Holmes as uncomfortable out of his comfort zone as 'Elementary's' is?

I don't usually believe most of the things I see on facebook, but when it's from another site. . . say it ain't so!

A lot of what I see on face book lately shows an almost daily battle between Britain's and radical Muslim's on the streets. I usually take most of what is on facebook with a grain of salt and consider the sources. But are these things true. . .?

LONDON (Reuters) - The soldiers who stand guard outside Britain's royal palaces have been moved behind metal fences because of fears of a terror attack, local newspapers reported on Monday.

The Royal Guards, a popular tourist attraction outside royal residences because of their ceremonial uniforms, have been separated from the public, with armed police providing additional protection.

The Telegraph newspaper said Buckingham Palace and the police feared that militant Islamists could see the Royal Guards as high-profile targets. Although the guards carry weapons fitted with bayonets the guns are not loaded.

The Metropolitan Police and Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the reports.

Britain raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level in August and last month said it was facing the biggest terrorism threat in its history because of radicalised Britons returning from fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Earlier this month Britain's top policeman said the country had thwarted a 'lone wolf' style attack just days before it was due to happen, and that authorities had foiled five terror plots in the last four months.

Two months ago a soldier on ceremonial sentry duty was shot dead in the Canadian capital Ottawa by a man who then charged into the parliament building.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce and William James; editing by Susan Thomas)

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Do you agree?

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