A Study In Pink #6 is the heart-pounding finale to the first Sherlock manga adaptation!
Issue #6 picks up where issue #5 left off. With a 50/50 chance to either live or die, Sherlock must determine which offered pill will save him and which will kill him. However, with Watson racing to the scene and the killer cabbie sitting adjacent, both Sherlock’s time and luck are quickly running out.
Pulse Pounding Tension
The discourse between Sherlock and the killer is on the surface, a fight to stay alive. However, the excellent dialogue allows readers to look deeper, unearthing a sense of social power politics. Selecting the pills isn’t a deductible possibility. It is but a topic in a conversation that both participants are vying to steer. A sense of control is to be ascertained by two men who are used to commanding those around them. It’s an exciting clash of two titans, with the third revealed by a surprise trump card at wits end.
Excellent Artistry
Consistent with prior issues, the panel work provides meticulous details for the proceedings. First person perspectives are once again employed, creating a sense of uneasiness as Sherlock and his killer battle for their fates. Readers are not merely bystanders, but seemingly active within the narrative. Furthermore, entire panels are reserved for names and facial expressions, heightening the drama and highlighting the key pillars of the narrative.
A Grisly Finale
For all of their cunning wits and disarming charm, Sherlock and Watson are by no means squeaky clean. Their way of handling things can be just as messy as the murderers, but they stand on the right side of the moral line. However, this does not sedate their dark sides. Furthermore, secrets are kept from the police for favour of friendship, and a distrust toward the government is revealed. The finale destabilises as much as it resolves, providing lots of great teases moving forward.
A Series of Origins
A Study In Pink #6 is the final part of the first batch of Sherlock stories, yet provides many famous firsts also. Answers provide more questions, setting up the foundations of a lore stretching many years across both prose and screen. From the teasing of nemesis’ to complicating brotherhood, A Study In Pink #6 is the definitive beginning. The origin of Sherlock and Watson’s partnership is effectively established here as they take their places in the modern world and in each others own.
Final Verdict
All things considered, A Study In Pink #6 is an excellent adaptation that boldly wraps up the case whilst simultaneously setting the stage for the future.
Blogtor Rating: 10/10
Holmes and Watson return soon with the next manga adaptation, The Blind Banker.
Sherlock: A Study in Pink #6
- Writer: Steven Moffat
- Artist: Jay
- Cover A – Claudia Ianniciello
- Cover B – Photo Cover
- Cover C – Antonio Fuso
