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Sherlock Holmes: Dynamite Comics #3
Sherlock Holmes Moriarty Lives (SHERLOCK HOLMES TP
His name was Professor James Moriarty, known to many as -The Napoleon of Crime- and the master of a vast association of thieves, extortionists, smugglers, fences, and ladies of questionable virtue. And, over Reichenbach Falls in 1891, he fell to his doom alongside his arch rival, the glory-seeking detective Sherlock Holmes... or did he?
Washed ashore in a strange town in Switzerland, Moriarty is alone, penniless, and lacking his network of thieves. Will his cunning and guile be enough against Baron von Hohenheim, a foe whose ruthlessness rivals his own? Driven by a solemn promise to a dead woman, Moriarty begins a clever campaign of murderous revenge. It's one of the most notorious villains of all time as you've never seen him!
Washed ashore in a strange town in Switzerland, Moriarty is alone, penniless, and lacking his network of thieves. Will his cunning and guile be enough against Baron von Hohenheim, a foe whose ruthlessness rivals his own? Driven by a solemn promise to a dead woman, Moriarty begins a clever campaign of murderous revenge. It's one of the most notorious villains of all time as you've never seen him!
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2016
6 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
David Liss
148 books1,258 followersI am the author of thirteen novels, most recently The Peculiarities, a historical fantasy out in September 2021. I've also written numerous novellas and short stories. My previous books include A Conspiracy of Paper which was named a New York Times Notable Book and won the 2001 Barry, MacAvity and Edgar awards for Best First novel. The Coffee Trader was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year’s 25 Books to Remember. Several of these books are currently being developed for television or film. I have also worked on numerous comics projects, including Black Panther and Mystery Men for Marvel, The Spider and Green Hornet for Dynamite, and Angelica Tomorrow.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 9, 2016
Ah, Professor James Moriarty—the tabula rasa of tabula rasas. A plot device cooked up by Sir Conan Doyle to rid himself of burdensome task of having to write those pesky Sherlock stories, Moriarty has since become Holmes’s evil doppelganger, a nefarious genius whose insidious network of crime is responsible for a disproportionately large amount of the world’s ills. He’s also a genius mathematician, which makes him a hit at parties and with the ladies, and I heard that this one gang kept wanting him to join because he’s pretty good with a bo staff.
No character in the Holmes canon has sparked the imagination like Moriarty, perhaps because he appears so little in those canonical stories. He’s a blank canvas that Holmes pastichers can paint large upon, and David Liss turns him into something akin to the Robert Downey, Jr., movie version of Holmes—equal parts brains and brawn, a highly skilled martial artist who uses his genius to take down foes while also dispassionately commentating on and occasional cracking wise about fights in progress. I hear he also makes a mean lemon meringue, by which I don’t mean a delicious lemon meringue, but rather a lemon meringue that will point to an alleged spot on your shirt and, when you look down to inspect said spot, flick your nose and chortle with malicious glee—and then kick you in the giggleberries (if you have giggleberries; I mean, it’s mean, but it’s not unchivalrous, so it probably won’t kick you if you’ve got the other kind of plumbing).
Liss is a fantastic writer of historical fiction, and if you haven’t checked out The Coffee Trader or his Benjamin Weaver books, you should (if you’re into that sort of thing). But, I wasn’t wild about this take on Moriarty, primarily because of the Captain America-level fighting skills. I get that Holmes displayed some pugilistic talents, but that doesn’t mean his equally brilliant professor of mathematics arch-nemesis should have the same skillset. The best parts of this story occur when the ruthless Moriarty uses his wits to outsmart the book’s ridiculous (and ridiculously named) villain, Baron von Hohenheim (and, man, does that cat have some issues, not the least of which are his “scientific” efforts to grow a human baby inside of a cow because, well, that’s what evil mad scientists do), not when he’s pounding thugs into submission with his fists.
Not great, not bad. I’d give Liss another go if he gets another go at the world of Sherlock.
No character in the Holmes canon has sparked the imagination like Moriarty, perhaps because he appears so little in those canonical stories. He’s a blank canvas that Holmes pastichers can paint large upon, and David Liss turns him into something akin to the Robert Downey, Jr., movie version of Holmes—equal parts brains and brawn, a highly skilled martial artist who uses his genius to take down foes while also dispassionately commentating on and occasional cracking wise about fights in progress. I hear he also makes a mean lemon meringue, by which I don’t mean a delicious lemon meringue, but rather a lemon meringue that will point to an alleged spot on your shirt and, when you look down to inspect said spot, flick your nose and chortle with malicious glee—and then kick you in the giggleberries (if you have giggleberries; I mean, it’s mean, but it’s not unchivalrous, so it probably won’t kick you if you’ve got the other kind of plumbing).
Liss is a fantastic writer of historical fiction, and if you haven’t checked out The Coffee Trader or his Benjamin Weaver books, you should (if you’re into that sort of thing). But, I wasn’t wild about this take on Moriarty, primarily because of the Captain America-level fighting skills. I get that Holmes displayed some pugilistic talents, but that doesn’t mean his equally brilliant professor of mathematics arch-nemesis should have the same skillset. The best parts of this story occur when the ruthless Moriarty uses his wits to outsmart the book’s ridiculous (and ridiculously named) villain, Baron von Hohenheim (and, man, does that cat have some issues, not the least of which are his “scientific” efforts to grow a human baby inside of a cow because, well, that’s what evil mad scientists do), not when he’s pounding thugs into submission with his fists.
Not great, not bad. I’d give Liss another go if he gets another go at the world of Sherlock.
January 8, 2024
Wow! This was unique in the fact that Sherlock Holmes was never even in it! We get a complete story focused around Professor James Moriarty! It was fun! Moriarty taking in an orphaned teen named Udo and turning him into an apprentice in crime was fun! I’d love to see more of Udo! This story was fantastic! 5 stars!
May 3, 2021
The villain takes center stage and shines in the spotlight, showing why is he a worthy foil for Sherlock where all to often we are just told of his reputation.
November 4, 2018
James Moriarty has Holmes-level intelligence and powers of observation, but has used his skills to forge a criminal empire. After plumetting to their apparent deaths in the Reichenbach falls, both Holmes and Moriarty survive. Neither knows of the other's survival, though. We all know what happened to Holmes and this story explores how Moriarty handled his second chance.
Moriarty stops at an inn to gather his thoughts with food and drink. The innkeeper is visited by goons who throw everybody out, except Moriarty who stands up to them. Soon after their employer and skilled alchemist, the feared Baron Bombastus von Hohenheim, makes an appearance. He knows of Moriarty and uses uncanny electrical abilities to defeat him. He then kills the innkeeper and leaves, certain that the police will blame Moriarty. With her dying breath, the innkeeper begs Moriarty to protect Udo, her son.
Moriarty stops at an inn to gather his thoughts with food and drink. The innkeeper is visited by goons who throw everybody out, except Moriarty who stands up to them. Soon after their employer and skilled alchemist, the feared Baron Bombastus von Hohenheim, makes an appearance. He knows of Moriarty and uses uncanny electrical abilities to defeat him. He then kills the innkeeper and leaves, certain that the police will blame Moriarty. With her dying breath, the innkeeper begs Moriarty to protect Udo, her son.
October 20, 2020
This story was certainly a wonderful idea
Making Professor Moriarty an anti hero.
instead of an all out villain.
His influence corrupts the other seemingly good characters he uses and any one thinks be his equal is eventually taken down
I'd like to see more of him
A better effort in the world of Sherlock Holmes than the previous 2 volumes which were lackluster
A very good read
Making Professor Moriarty an anti hero.
instead of an all out villain.
His influence corrupts the other seemingly good characters he uses and any one thinks be his equal is eventually taken down
I'd like to see more of him
A better effort in the world of Sherlock Holmes than the previous 2 volumes which were lackluster
A very good read
April 28, 2022
In contradiction of the title, Sherlock Holmes does not appear in this comic. Instead, it's all Moriarty, taking on a local neighborhood bully. I didn't buy that he was that great a fighter; there's more action than brainwork here. Kind of an entertaining period heist story, but I wouldn't have read it without the Holmes branding.
June 29, 2022
Almost disappointing
Nope.
Story wise, I enjoyed it. But I think I'd have enjoyed it more if a real hero had been involved.
It's nice the author kept certain diabolical aspects of Moriarty's character, but I've seen other authors do the same, almost making him good.
Again, nope.
I only finished it to see what happened to the boy...
Christa
Nope.
Story wise, I enjoyed it. But I think I'd have enjoyed it more if a real hero had been involved.
It's nice the author kept certain diabolical aspects of Moriarty's character, but I've seen other authors do the same, almost making him good.
Again, nope.
I only finished it to see what happened to the boy...
Christa
June 18, 2025
This was ok...Sherlock Holmes was not in it....Focus was all on Moriarty and what happened to him after the fall from the Reichenbach (sp?) Falls.
July 7, 2020
Para hacer una historia cuyo protagonista sea claramente un villano tan Moriarty, hay que tener claro que tendremos un héroe por las razones equivocadas. Cada personaje aquí tiene su propia agenda y su propio enfoque en cuanto a alcanzar esas metas. Un buen trabajo que fácilmente se añadiría al canon principal de Sherlock Holmes. Eso es lo bueno y lo malo de un personaje en el dominio público, pueden aparecer joyas como está o bueno, lo contrario.
El dibujo y coloreado fueron buenos, pero nada sobresalientes, me hubiera gustado ver un coloreado más arriesgado, que juegue con la superstición del pueblo. Pero no se puede tener todo.
El dibujo y coloreado fueron buenos, pero nada sobresalientes, me hubiera gustado ver un coloreado más arriesgado, que juegue con la superstición del pueblo. Pero no se puede tener todo.
May 3, 2016
The book began with abundant possibilities. I kept hoping that Professor Moriarty would emerge as a heroic character in this battle against a greater evil. Unfortunately, it was his brawn and not the brain that proved decisive, in this book. While that may look good in the Robert Downey Jr's films, they NEVER look good in a book. Ian Edginton had achieved a very fine balance in his Victorian Undead books, which the author failed to achieve here.
Nevertheless, it's readable. And the author should have another go at it, before either he or we decide to quit.
Nevertheless, it's readable. And the author should have another go at it, before either he or we decide to quit.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews