Murder, explosions, kidnappings! Just another day in Mycroft Holmes’ life.

Writers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colors: Luis Guerrero
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Creator: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Titan Comics

We explore the younger years of Sherlock Holmes’ crafty big brother Mycroft via Mycroft Holmes and The Apocalypse Handbook, an exceptionally wild and clever ride. Adapted from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Mycroft Holmes’ novels, our story picks up as Mycroft is flitting about going from one school to the next. Bored out of his mind with being the smartest person in the room, he is driving his professors and fellow students up the wall. Of course, Mycroft is destined for greater things and a violent attack in the heart of London forcibly shoves him onto his path, kicking and screaming the whole way.

Joshua Cassara’s artwork is utterly amazing, every panel popping with life and vibrancy. Each character’s personality and quirks come through loud and clear and each scene makes London as much of a character as the people themselves. A special nod must be given to the aforementioned attack as well as Sherlock’s introduction scene. I actually gasped aloud at several points, when I wasn’t cackling with laughter, the dialogue and personalities are just so on point and so well supported by the art that this was a joy to read.

This adventure has just begun taking us down not so familiar paths with one of literature’s most well known families and I’m ready for book two.

Five out of five masks