Written by Joel Meadows and illustrated by Andy Bennett
When Watson leaves Holmes to help Crick unravel the DNA helix and finds himself in the employ of England’s most evil man, Holmes is forced to team up with an unlikely group to defeat this monstrous figure and return England to its status quo. But can he defeat the machinations of the man at the rudder of the country?
Review by James Bacon
“The Gene Genie”, published late last year, now also available as part of the recently published Complete Collection, is a superb instalment of the ongoing Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders saga. In this thought provoking adventure, we return to the ongoing challenge faced by an ageing Sherlock Holmes, which builds on the quite brilliant story set up in the first Volume.
I was impressed with how “The Gene Genie” speaks to readers in that inspired way that sometimes stories can be, both prophetic and fortuitous, as fictional matters help us reflect on our contemporary time and the allegorical elements one might draw from story and art to the issues of the day.
Joel Meadows and Andy Bennett return and continue in their comic craft, as we enter the dystopian story which feels so much more tangible, as we live in the year 2026, where truth and reality are bent out of shape to suit whoever wants it, and whomever is reporting it.
Oswald Mosley is running Britain, the “Empire Endures” a motto uttered in subservience and loyalty. The subtlety of the first volume, released in 2024, reviewed here, is not required: Mosley’s troops are wearing the distinctive coal scuttle styled helmet, a homogeneous army, bent out of Doctor Watson’s and Doctor Crick’s work on the unwinding of DNA: a monstrous set of creations, that were not what science was meant to be about.
We also see a number of players coming together: Franklin Miller, of the Mohocks, rebels on motorcycles, Six, who was an agent and killer for Mosley, and who killed John Watson, but who has atoned, and seen the error of his ways, and those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines, some men of the Royal Flying Corps, who are aligned with Franklin; and of course, Sherlock Holmes who is brought out of his depression over the loss of his great friend, Watson, and so they begin vectoring in on a plan to attack Mosley.
Mosley is an utter despot, murdering subordinates who fail him, imprisoning the families of those who are enemies, and sending people to the Reeducation Camp at Feltham. The “Leader” demonstrates how corruption and a demented desire for power is so dangerous, and frightful, all consuming, inhuman and without a shred of empathy. The power of the press, in his control, portray matters not as they are, but as he desires.
The story is quickly paced, as we see fighting and danger, escape and a member of Royalty imprisoned. There are some lovely elements within the story, just as with the first volume, where there were adeptly placed elements to excite the Sherlockian. Here we see the comic references, such as the single “England Prevails”, the Mohocks Biker gang, who were quite the juxtaposition, in my mind to Bryan Talbot’s Cromwellian bikers; and we get to see the development of Franklin Miller, and learn more about this rebel and his biker gang, although at times only offering further intrigue and questions about his past. His thin features, intelligence and actions resonating for readers, perhaps reminiscent of a similarly named comic professional.
The story sits well, offering a lovely ending to this adventure, although there is another Sherlockian aspect that will excite readers as this story concludes.
Andy’s art continues its strong style, with a delicate and fine line. I was very impressed with the portrayal of aircraft and architecture, giving a real sense of place and his adept, brilliant technical ability helps the readers’s immersion into the story.
I was delighted overall by the story, and, just like the first volume, am now keen to see what happens next, as we see an old Sherlockian foe potentially entering the fray.
It leaves one wishing for more, wondering what direction this tale will now follow, how Holmes will resolve the issues at hand and what part Franklin will play.
The Dan Panosian cover is superb, but what is especially nice, again in this volume, is the selection of pin ups. It’s lovely to see work by Mike Perkins, Tomm Coker, John K Snyder III, John Charles, Frazer Irving and George Pratt. I thought the George Pratt painting was particularly stunning.
The additional material was nice, too: I do like to get a behind the scenes look.
Unexpected was “The Game of Chance”, a prose story, also by Joel Meadows and illustrated by Andy Bennett, which was a superb addition, a follow-on story, demonstrating the great detective’s skill and ability in a fascinating way. I was impressed by this extra piece.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable story, and it continues the good work of the first story, and with the promise of more to come, definitely something to look forward to.
James Bacon
• Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders Volume 2 (Dan Panosian cover)| ISBN: 9781738548057 | Forbidden Planet Affiliate Link
• Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders Volume 2 (Frazer Irving Cover)| ISBN: 9781738548019 | Forbidden Planet Affiliate Link
• You can also still order Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders Volume 2 from your Local Comic Shop, distributed by Lunar Distribution | Tripwire Catalogue here
• Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders: The Gene Genie – The Complete Collection by Joel Meadows and Andy Bennett, cover by Laurence Campbell, introduction by J.M. DeMatteis is available to pre-order | ISBN: 9781545824283 | AmazonUK Affiliate Link | Bookshop.org Affiliate Link
Head downthetubes for…
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
James Bacon (he/him) is an Irish fan, a train driver living in London. A Hugo Award-winning editor of the fanzine “Journey Planet”, he is a comic fan and enjoys comic art, war Comics, Star Wars, Irish aspects to comics and railways in comics or otherwise. He has been writing about comics for over thirty years.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Features, Reviews
In Review: The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor by Bryan Talbot
Leave a Reply