An interesting start to the series. At times it stumbled by acting like it was more clever than it is, but there are a few very good mystery set-ups here, and I really enjoyed Sherlock's introduction. The art's okay and I like the cast. It's a bit of a slow start, but when it gets into it, it gets into it. Looking forward to the rest. ( )

OMG! It gripped me since the first pages, I am always turning the page to see what is happening next. This series needs to become part of my collection. ( )

Final do século 19, estamos na Londres no auge do Império Britânico. Albert, filho mais velho do conde Moriarty, tem aversão ao sistema social enraizado no império. Tem início a história desconhecida do professor Moriarty, o pior inimigo do famoso detetive Sherlock Holmes! Brinde especial: um marcador de página!

A physical copy of MORIARTY THE PATRIOT was provided via the Goodreads' giveaway program. I am not being compensated for this review, and my review is not influenced by receiving the book for free.

Full disclosure: I am not well versed in the Sherlock Holmes canon, so my knowledge of Moriarty does not run deep as others. Regardless, this didn't have to be a Sherlock series. They could have easily filed off the numbers of the IP-based characters and made it a fully original story about class conflict and the morality behind the main character's actions as he punishes 'evil nobles'. I didn't feel like the main character being Moriarty really had a huge impact on the story.

The 'cases' themselves are rather simple and black and white in terms of 'working class good, nobles bad', except it can't even get that right all the time (does Moriarty et al. really think all the servants who died in the first chapter deserved to die, despite being working class?). I don't think the author has a good grasp on the class system in England during this time period, and it's definitely lacking any nuance on that front.

The characters are . . . fine, I guess? I know it's only the first volume, but I feel like I don't have a great grasp of them beyond their mission to rid the world of evil nobles. It doesn't help that the book introduces a bunch of new characters at the very end, and they all seem to be destined to be reoccurring characters, so that's three more people I have to suddenly become invested in if I want to continue reading. The most interesting character, naturally, is Moriarty, and he does seem very charismatic and cunning, befitting his eventual role as Sherlock Holmes' greatest adversary. Everyone else rather acts as his support, without any internal motivations or desires of their own.

The art is good though! The action flows very well on the page, and Takeuchi knows how to keep the readers' attention with beautifully drawn moments of drama and horror. Takeuchi also does a lot of interesting things with POV angles in panels that made scenes very fresh and interesting.

Overall, MORIARTY THE PATRIOT kept reminding me of a non-supernatural BLACK BUTLER, only not as good or inviting to read. I will probably not go out of my way to read more of this series, unless I'm told it gets better in the second/third volume. I am, however, thankful to Viz for giving me a free copy, as it let me experience a new series I would not have picked up on my own. ( )

This has to be the most interesting take I have ever read on a Sherlock Holmes character. We get to see Moriarty not as an evil villain, but as someone who wants to make the world better and bring societies to live as one. He uses dastardly ways to do it, but his heart is in the right place. This is supposed to take place at the same times as Sherlock Holmes stories which would be turn of the century 1890s. But one character uses a gun way too modern for that, even though the rest of the story does fit. I thoroughly enjoyed this manga, and I really want to keep reading the adventures of Moriarty, just to see what he does next. How does he come in contact with Holmes, and as he calls himself a consulting detective, what will Holmes think of Moriarty’s use of his term. Vol. 2 can not get here soon enough. ( )