Sherlock Holmes: The Final Problem

Gr 3-6–A new graphic novel adaptation of Sherlock Holmes’s final confrontation with his archnemesis is in Binder’s capable hands. Our narrator, Dr. Watson, has not seen Sherlock Holmes in quite some time when the brash detective bursts into his dining room and asks him to join him on another mystery. He has been tracking Professor Moriarty, a dangerous individual who has set his sights on destroying Holmes. Watson and Sherlock travel to Switzerland to discover the villainous professor’s intent, which ends with the infamous disappearance of Holmes. While the story is interesting to view in a visual format, this would not be the ideal introduction to the detective’s tales, as some back matter is necessary to enjoy. In addition, the story is not designed as a typical graphic novel; Binder has made the choice to set panels of illustrations alongside paragraphs of text, which may lead to some confusion when presented to patrons. What does make this graphic novel stand out is Binder’s extraordinary artwork. Utilizing scratchboard, Binder gives this final tale of Holmes a moody atmosphere that is stunning to behold.