HomeComics/MangaMANGA REVIEW | "Moriarty the Patriot" - Volume Ten

MANGA REVIEW | "Moriarty the Patriot" - Volume Ten

MANGA REVIEW | "Moriarty the Patriot" - Volume Ten

All of the little pieces of evidence are starting to come together in Moriarty the Patriot. While it’s no secret to us that William James Moriarty is the Lord of Crime, Sherlock Holmes is still hypothesizing on his involvement. Yet even with the stories being well over 130 years old, Ryosuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi still find ways to breathe new life into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s works. In its tenth volume, Moriarty the Patriot begins to plot the big reveal.

For this all to work, House of Commons member Adam Whiteley must play an instrumental part. As Whiteley aims to create laws that protects everyone in London, his mannerisms make him an easy target for the rich, the richer, and the politically corrupt. That’s when Milverton conjures up a plan to ruin Whiteley’s reputation, soon after park dedication places a bad look on him. But despite the mudslinging, seeing the less fortunate kids play in the park makes Whiteley feel good about the whole situation.

So how does Moriarty the Patriot prepare for Whiteley to work with the Lord of Crime? It’s all in the art of blackmail. On one side, Whiteley is given a massive envelope with all of the corrupt things his fellow House of Commons members has done. With this evidence, his plan to pass laws that better society seems full-proof. However, under the Whiteley household is a man who’s also a victim of blackmail themselves. And what he must do to get out of it…well, it’s not a pleasant sight, whatsoever.

In fact, seeing what occurs in the Whiteley household forces the House of Commons member to break down and feel helpless. But once the culprit begs for forgiveness, the cracks in Whiteley’s well-being begin to show. It’s a moment that brings forth plenty of sympathy and empathy, with Moriarty’s means of lending a hand to it all the more shocking. And yet, for Whiteley to do what he needs to do to protect the common people, it’s a plan that’s both noble and tragic.

The situation places the Lord of Crime now in the eyes of every person in London. For the first time in Moriarty the Patriot, the population now sees the villain the way we saw him in the beginning. Although Sherlock Holmes compared the Lord of Crime to Robin Hood, he falls short of calling him a true hero. After all, committing crimes to stop crime is not necessarily a good way to make the streets safer.

It’s a battle of wits between Sherlock and Mycroft when the pieces of the puzzle start coming together. Sherlock looks to have been off his game recently, especially when seeing him lose to Mycroft in a game of observation. However, it leads to Sherlock giving his true thoughts on the entire Lord of Crime manner. What Mycroft didn’t count on was Sherlock naming the possible Lord of Crime himself!

Moriarty the Patriot has done a great job adapting the original Sherlock Holmes stories. It adds new tension and a unique look into the crimes that took place in Doyle’s works. Volume Ten sets the stage for what could be the ultimate confrontation between Moriarty and Holmes. But the question remains: will London change in time before the Lord of Crime is revealed, or will it all be for naught? Only time will tell, but Moriarty the Patriot will no doubt deliver that final hammer blow with plenty of tenacity!

FINAL GRADE:

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt and Mandy Earles of VIZ Media.

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The J-POP king of America, Evan has been bringing the hottest sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun to the English-speaking public since his college radio days. He's also an expert in the gaming, anime, & manga realms, never afraid to get critical when the times call for it. Born & bred in Boston, he achieved his biggest dream yet by making the big move to Tokyo, Japan in Summer 2023! For personal inquiries, contact Evan at evan@b3crew.com. For press/band inquiries, write to us at thebastards@bostonbastardbrigade.com. (Drawing by AFLM of Wicked Anime)