MANGA REVIEW | "Moriarty the Patriot" - Volume Sixteen
I’ll admit: I was worried for Moriarty the Patriot for a moment. While its last volume was good, it did find itself in a weird transitional period. The canonical stuff from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stuff is all but done, so where was this manga adaptation to go? Volume Sixteen not only answers that question, but it also gives us the story’s next destination: Redemption Road.
Many of Moriarty’s comrades have felt lost since their leader had seemingly kicked the bucket. Moran and Albert have both felt odd in life without Moriarty there to either console or command them. It’s why Moran pushes himself to try to do an assassination job in the name of his leader & friend, one that could aid in keeping France of all places away from British rule. But like a good hero does, Sherlock Holmes is a few steps ahead and keeps the assassination from happening. (Don’t worry, France is safe, too!)
It’s in a heart-to-heart chat between Holmes, Moran, and even Louis where we see what should come to pass for Moriarty the Patriot. The time for chaos has long since passed, giving way to the next step of Moriarty’s plan: a better Britain. Although there will always be corruption within the wings of the law, the tactics to fight them have become better thanks to all the key players of this narrative. No longer is it a battle with fire and anarchy; it is now the time for delegation, something this story is so far doing a fine job showcasing.
Of course, the one most hit hard with Moriarty’s absence is Albert. A flashback showcases everything that led Albert to bringing William and Louis under his initial wing. Although very early volumes (and the anime adaptation) have shown us many of these moments, how they’re framed here are done in a way that truly makes Albert a sympathetic character. From seeing his good-natured self cause more damage than good to how he finally deals with his selfish family, everything on display demonstrates the whys and hows of Albert’s mentality in a beautiful and violent way.
And then, he arrives. We all know Moriarty wasn’t dead, and his appearance to Albert is truly touching. One of the strongest moments in this entire volume is how Moriarty just puts his feelings and emotions onto a platter for Albert (and us) to see. For a guy who was dubbed “The Lord of Crime”, Moriarty truly does come off as a sympathetic character. His words to his adopted brother are exactly what Albert needs to hear, and it goes to show the level of maturity that Moriarty has obtained in the last three years.
However, it’s Holmes reuniting with Watson that is the most delightful in this volume of Moriarty the Patriot. Although it’s been three long years, they and Miss Hudson joke, bicker, and argue like the old chums they truly are. Perhaps the funniest thing about it is how Watson’s readers reacted to “The Final Problem”, which — if you know your Sir Arthur Conan Doyle history — is exactly how the old fandom initially responded! (And well over a century later, said fandom is just as insufferable now!)
So yes, Moriarty the Patriot feels like it’s back! The snag it hit was all it was, with the deep storytelling and terrific character development delivering one magical moment after another. However, the main problem still remains: what sort of stories will Ryosuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi conjure up for our heroes and villains? Perhaps a little conversation over dinner will refreshen the heroes, villains, and creators of Moriarty the Patriot in a way that’ll benefit everyone...
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
