The Baker Street Peculiars

Baker Street Peculiars #1-4

by Roger Langridge, Andy Hirsch (Illustrations)

The Baker Street Peculiars is a supernatural twist on the beloved world of Sherlock Holmes.

When a giant lion statue in Trafalgar Square comes to life and wreaks havoc on 1930s London, it seems like the perfect case for the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. With an overwhelmed caseload, however, Holmes recruits the help of three precocious young detectives-in-training (and one cunning golden retriever) to solve the mystery. Molly, Rajani, Humphrey, and Wellington (the dog) will have to work together and use all their wits if they are to uncover the truth behind the living statues and save London. But on the legendary Baker Street, nothing is as it seems and their biggest mystery might be the real identity of the famous detective who brought them together.

Written by Eisner Award winner Roger Langridge ( The Mighty Avenger, Abigail and the Snowman ) and illustrated by Andy Hirsch ( Adventure Time, Regular Show ), The Baker Street Peculiars is a heartfelt and supernatural twist on the beloved world of Sherlock Holmes.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Mystery, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Childrens

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2017

About the author

Roger Langridge has been producing comics for over twenty years. Most recently, he has attracted critical attention for his work on the Harvey Award-winning Muppet Show Comic Book (Boom! Studios) and Thor: The Mighty Avenger (Marvel Comics); other works of note include Marvel's Fin Fang Four, Fantagraphics' Zoot! and Art d'Ecco (in collaboration with his brother Andrew), and the NCS, Ignatz, Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated comic book Fred the Clown. He currently lives in London with his wife Sylvie, their two children and a box of his own hair.

Reviews

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun supernatural mystery/adventure kids' graphic novel, set in 1930s London, with three very different junior detectives. Molly is a Jewish girl living with her strict grandparents, Humphrey is a posh white boy from a rich family who was sent off to boarding school early, and orphaned girl Rajani, of Bengali descent, has been living on the street. When giant statues in London start coming to life, the three kids get involved with a mysterious detective who's trying to solve the case. The villain is hilarious without losing his menace, and the kids really do have to be smart to get out of some bad situations. I also loved how they don't just automatically become friends, but have to negotiate how they each have different life experiences. For kids into weird happenings and detective stories, this is a must-try.

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, who is up for an entertaining jaunt through the streets of London, seeing not only the sights; but also a bit of the seedier side of London town? Actually, I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels; but I did grow up reading Archie, Rich and Scooby Doo. This took me back in time more than a few years or two! It took me awhile to get used to the English street lingo; but I’m a rather quick for a grandma so all is good! This is a great modern tale of three unsuspecting and hardly compatible comrades in crime solvers. However, it just goes to show that whatever is lacking, one of the partners most likely excels to fill the need. There is a side angle of Sherlock Holmes being involved as well! What could be cooler than that??? The characters are diverse and have the beginnings of complexity. I simply love Molly. She is the brains. Raj is the street wise character and Humphrey, with his wealthy connections and his dog, Wellington, are thrown in for good measure. What a mix this foursome are…and will be! They are captivating and will hold you prisoner to the very end! The graphics are to die for. Well, not really die; but definitely to be enjoyed. Art, and I mean this literally, is displayed on every single page! I thouroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more. I’m sending this book to my favorite grand nephew of mine, Canyon. Enjoy!!!!! Because I did! Oh, to be 10 years old again….

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Baker Street Peculiars' by Roger Langridge with illustrations by Andy Hirsch is a fun romp through the streets of London with a new group of young detectives.

It's the 1930s and many of the large statues around London are going missing. Sherlock Holmes can't take on the case, but asks three kids in the streets (plus one dog) to help out. Humphrey is going to a private school, Molly is living with her grandfather, and Rajani is a homeless girl living on the streets. They don't know each other before Sherlock hires them. The mystery involves a Cockney golem and the kids find themselves in all kinds of trouble. They also find out that there may be more to Sherlock than they've been led to believe.

It's a cute enough story. Although the setting and story involve Sherlock, the timeframe and the type of story don't feel much like an actual Sherlock Holmes adventure. This won't be for the purists, but it's fine for younger readers who like stories with diverse characters. I like the message that females can solve crime and have adventures just like the males can.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is aggressively bland. A group of children come together in a Scooby gang as they face a supernatural menace in old-time London. Sherlock Holmes is referenced in an unsatisfying way to justify the title. Tepid humor. Tepid scares. Nothing here distinguishes it from the all too numerous competition in the category of mild children's horror.

[Myst]

This was quite funny from the first page. Truly enjoyed this, always love when authors turn Sherlock on it's ear with such a diverse gang and fighting the gender norm of that period (The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer comes to mind). The running away from the copper was really funny & enjoyed the truth behind Sherlock. Great for the younger generation to dip into Sherlock.

This is a voluntary review via BOOM! Comics on netgalley, my thoughts are my own!

[WyrmbergSabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern version of the Baker Street Irregulars, with a good healthy supernatural twist. Very cartoon in style, but a neat little tale.
Glad I borrowed it.

[Radwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

a lot of missed opportunity to do a fantastical twist on sherlock holmes that doesn't even feature him!

loved the cartoony art stle, but the writing and pacing and humor didn't really work for me

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about three very different kids living in the days of Sherlock Holmes, one is an Indian girl named Rajani who grew up on the streets, Molly is a girl who has very strict grandparents, and Humphrey is a rich kid "posh boy" with a dog. Together they roam the streets of London, trying to save the city from the mysterious statues that came to life.

Andy Hirsch's drawing style is really beautiful, it's very cartoonish but has a grimness to it that makes the atmosphere of the story seem really 20th century. The story is funny and original, and if you like adventure you're definitely in the right place with this book.

I loved how the story was diverse and had a strong feministic message: everybody can be a detective, even a girl. Molly was definitely my favourite character but the chemistry and struggle between the three kids made the story worthwhile. All of them were struggling with different things in life and together they made a great dynamic friendship.

I am giving this book 4 stars, because it was highly entertaining, funny and the artwork was great! I would definitely recommend this book if you like adventure and Sherlock Holmes!

[Skjam! · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1933 in the city of London, and what appears to be a stone lion from Trafalgar Square is running wild in the streets. Three children from different walks of life (and a dog) have separately decided to chase down the lion to learn what’s going on. They eventually lose the trail, but meet the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, who engages them for a shilling each to be his new Irregulars. They’ll investigate the supposed living statue while he’s busy with other cases.

But wait; assuming Sherlock Holmes wasn’t just made up by Arthur Conan Doyle, didn’t he retire to a bee farm in Sussex before World War One? There’s more than one odd thing going on here!

This volume collects the four issues of last year’s children’s comic book series of the same name. As a modern period piece, it’s a bit more diverse than the comic papers that would have been published back in the day.

Molly Rosenberg is a whip-smart girl, who wants to be a detective. Her kindly but conservative tailor grandfather has forbidden her formal education as he’s afraid she’s already too learned to attract a good husband.

Rajani Malakar is an orphan of Bengali descent who was raised (when not confined to juvenile institutions) by professional thief Big Jim Cunningham. Big Jim had an alcohol-related fatality a bit back, and she’s had to make her way alone with petty theft. Rajani is probably the oldest of the children, as she’s hit puberty.

Humphrey Fforbes-Davenport is the youngest son of a large upper-crust family. Evidently he was unplanned and unwanted, as he was shipped off to a harsh boarding school as soon as possible, with only a golden retriever named Wellington as a valet. (Wellington doesn’t talk, so his level of intelligence is difficult to gauge.) Over the course of the story, Humphrey learns to weaponize his class privilege (within his own class, of course, it’s never done him any good, so he didn’t even realize he had it.)

As it happens, Molly’s cultural background is especially useful in this case, as the villain is Chippy Kipper, the Pearly King of Brick Street, a self-willed golem. Chippy has the mind of a small-time protection racketeer, but has realized that the ability to bring statues to life gives him an army with which he could take over the city–maybe the world!

The kids are on their own through most of the adventure. The sole representative of the law enforcement establishment is PC Plank, who’s intellectually lazy, and would rather arrest known riffraff Rajani than investigate any other possible criminals. Sherlock Holmes is…elsewhere…much of the time, and Daily Mirror reporter Hetty Jones is well behind the children in her investigations.

The art is cartoony, with several Sherlockian in-jokes hidden in the background. This serves to soften somewhat the several off-screen deaths.

This volume should be suitable for middle-schoolers on up. Parents may want to be ready for discussions on period sexism and ethnic prejudice. (There’s also a subplot about dog farts.)

It appears that this may be the first in a series about the kids–I should mention that despite the Holmes connection, this and potential future volumes seem more about the “weird adventure” than mysteries.

[Milou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kindly received a copy via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, but with a few twists. These are in the case itself, Sherlock Holmes, and the wonderful cast. Molly, Rajani, Humphrey and the lovely Wellington have to team up together to help Sherlock Holmes to solve the case of the statues coming to life and stop the evil Golem before he takes over London. The cast is very diverse, in gender and in race, which makes the story all the more fun. These kids come from diverse backgrounds, yet all have their personal struggles (which makes working together a bit of a struggle at times). Sherlock Holmes' secret is great and ties in very well with the overall message that girls can do anything they want (like be a detective).

The story is fast paced and a lot of fun. This is perfectly complemented by the art style which is fun, vibrant and full of energy. I did now and then struggle to read the text however.

Overall, this was a fun graphic novel suited for all ages, and is a great addition or introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger Langridge has a way of telling a story that feels classic and almost old-fashioned, but without aping the storytelling styles of previous eras or descending into pastiche. Here, he tells the story of three young kids (two girls and one boy) and a dog who are apparently recruited by Sherlock Holmes to uncover the mystery of statues disappearing throughout London. However, all is not what it seems, and the answer is a great deal more fantastical than mere thievery. What really makes the book special is the diversity of the cast, in gender, in race, and in religion (even leaving aside the fact that one of the characters is a dog). Also special is Andy Hirsch's artwork, which is fun and energetic and captures the mood of the story perfectly. I love it when Langridge illustrates his own work, and had honestly been a little sad to hear he wasn't drawing this one. That sadness disappeared as soon as I saw Hirsch's art here. Overall, this is a fun mystery/adventure/fantasy/historical story that adds a new twist to the Holmes legend. It is truly appropriate for all ages; both children and adults will find much to love here.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half goodread stars for a book that's really quite daft at times, probably a bit racist about East End London Jews, and has quite a few more problems with it. It concerns a new gang of 'street kids', here much more ethnically diverse than the Irregulars of old, of course, and a mysterious spate of moving London statues. They bump into a most unusual Sherlock Holmes, who adduces their life stories at a glance, but can't see what the main plot is, leaving them to face all the dangers it concerns. Lively, yes, and certainly too childish at times, it's not horrendous, but I wouldn't really recommend it to all either.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and cutely illustrated book that runs more akin to Bad Machinery or Scooby-Doo than a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Or perhaps like an episode of Doctor Who... I'm sure kids will enjoy its fast pacing and the trio of sympathetic characters, even if they did feel a bit too familiar.

[KP · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review originally posted on the John H Watson Society website.)

General Review

I love stories that center around the Baker Street Irregulars. I especially love them when they come in comic book form. I have an entire shelf devoted just to such books, and I’m very pleased to be able to add this one, especially as it has a fairly new, fresh take on the Irregulars mythos. Despite my personal disinterest in most Holmesian stories that incorporate supernatural elements, I found this one utterly charming.

The story is fairly straightforward. Statues are coming to life all around London, wreaking havoc wherever they go. Molly, Humphrey, and Rajani (as well as dog Wellington) are drafted by Sherlock Holmes to look into it, as Holmes is busy with several other cases and doesn’t quite believe the tales of walking statues. Using their very different backgrounds, the children (not quite Irregulars in the traditional sense) piece together the clues, find the culprit, and save the day. It’s a common formula, found in many different Irregulars stories, but Baker Street Peculiars manages to find its own unique twist on the formula.

One of the first things that makes this Irregulars story stand out is that, rather than take place in the Victorian era (and often right around the Hiatus), this takes place during the 1930s. There are vehicles on the streets, electricity instead of gaslight, and slightly different social norms. It gives the comic a different look, brighter and more colorful, helping it stand out from its predecessors.

Then there are the main characters. While their personalities are largely told in broad strokes, without a great deal of depth, each of them brings their own set of talents and strengths, as well as unhappiness and baggage, to the investigation. Molly steps forward as the leader, although her Jewish grandfather would rather she stay home and work towards becoming good wife material; she desperately wants to become a detective in her own right. Rajani is a foundling, raised by a criminal that she viewed as a father, who ultimately died and left her to fend for herself; she is the most reluctant of our investigators. Humphrey is the youngest son of a wealthy family, neglected and ignored, sent to a boarding school with a dog valet; Humphrey is naïve and well-intentioned. They end up working well as a team, with some friction because of their very different backgrounds, in a way that is believable and engaging.

Rather than taking itself too seriously, the book is more comic than dramatic, with cartoonish reactions, villains, and physics. Despite the comedy, though, it still manages to be touching and sweet at places in the story (watching Molly and her grandfather reconcile their different ideas on what her life should be; Humphrey and Rajani finding a point of connection).

The art, as mentioned earlier, features bright colors and bold lines. The illustrations are very simple in many ways, but still satisfying. The backgrounds are largely just shaded in, without a great deal of detail, while the characters receive most of the attention. There are, however, a number of delightful Easter eggs hidden in the art, references to the Canon that made me guffaw. Pay particular attention to the first big two-page illustration.

Overall, I thought this comic was an incredibly fun read. I haven’t yet been able to find out if it will get another run, but I do hope it will, as the ending lends itself to further adventures.

What About Our Watson?

As a Watsonian, I try very hard to focus my attention on books that feature Watson or have him showcased in a particular way. Occasionally, though, there are books that I very much want to review that lack a Watson entirely. This is, unfortunately, one such book. Not only is there no Watson, there isn’t even a Watson figure. The end of the book hints that a reporter character may end up working with Holmes, fulfilling a similar role to the classic Watson. However, that happens in the last two pages of the book, as is hardly a major feature of the plot.

Though there is no Watson, which is disappointing, it was still a fun little book.

You Might Like This If You Like:

Scooby Doo (particularly A Pup Named Scooby Doo); comic books; parodies; children protagonists

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone is bringing the statues of London to life. But who and why? Sherlock Holmes is busy with another case so he charges three kids to the case. Rajani is a girl who has had to survive on the streets. Humphrey is well to do but desperately lonely at boarding school, and Molly is being raised by her grandfather who is a tailor. The unlikely trio set out to hunt down the culprit if they can work together and survive the case.

This pokes a bit of fun at Sherlock Holmes. It reimagines just who Sherlock is, and this version refuses to see spectacular things in plain sight and comes up with a logical explanation nowhere near the truth. This is a golem tale, and it talks a little bit about the Jewish folklore behind the story. It also highlights a lot of the famous statues in London. I enjoyed Humphrey's overuse of odd slang (his lines could've come straight from a Jeeves and Wooster book/show). So there were many fun elements, but overall I just wasn't thoroughly enchanted. It's quirky, definitely, and reminds me a bit of Michael Caine in Without a Clue in that it kind of brings Sherlock down a couple notches (and I'm not sure Mrs. Hudson deserves the derision but it does also point out how the media can blow things out of proportion from reality). I did like the multicultural cast of kids and seeing them work things out.

Notes on content: One or two mild swears. No sexual content. Violence threatened but only statues hurt.

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Baker Street Peculiars is a kid-friendly detective story with shades of Sherlock, but also magic. Three kids meet in downtown London, following one of the Trafalgar lions that seems to have suddenly come alive. They are recruited by "Sherlock" to help him deal with an excess of mysteries. The kids end up having to contend with a golem with a rather unfortunate shem trying to take over the city with other statues. It's an action-filled romp with fun characters. It didn't hold my attention particularly well, but I think it would be quite popular with younger readers.

[Oak Soe]

I would say this is a book just right for children. This book goes through a story of a aristocrat, a girl who has financial problems and a urchin. This book leads children through a tale set in a 1930s style city full and the story takes a twist when a famous detective reveals who he really is. Perfect for children who likes detective stories but that doesn't mean that fantasies lovers can't love this.

[connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so cheesy and over the top and I LOVED it. Such a fun little detective mystery, although I use mystery very loosely, as you pretty much know what's going on from the get go. Love the setting and the characters, very compelling. I'm sad thinking this might be the only volume we get, seeing as this would make a brilliant series!

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read that the author was an Eisner winner so I was looking forward to something with more heft. This belongs in the dumb fun category. The story of the statue/golems is moderately diverting but probably more at the middle school level than for adults. The artwork is also more juvenile than not.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon this on my kindle recs. I love Sherlock things and am just getting into graphic novels. This was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed the gender reversal of Holmes and the illustrations were great.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diverting enough for an evening, but, man, the lettering is small.

[Nancy Newton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel and not my thing. Too silly and not Holmes-like at all.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

all right comic, good women characters

[Mr Osowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what it is.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whot, whot. Statues being stolen by thugs. Sherlock Holmes is too busy but has just the kids for the case. Scooby-Doo in early 1900's basically.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story wasn’t awful I just had a hard time getting into it. I’m still trying to navigate this new world of graphic novels so maybe this just isn’t my niche.

[Charlie Easterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little YA graphic Novel with an entertaining premise. Probably not one I’d read over and over but worth a go at least once.

[Dana Crouch (Callaway) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun, Sherlock stuff felt forced which is saying something coming from me since I’ll eat up any dumb reference to Sherlock like it’s candy.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golems!

[San Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good whodoneit for the littles. Great story line, great use of characters. Building friendships and saving the world. Some of my favorite things. So much mischief! Yes please!