Thank you NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for a copy of Manga Classics: Sherlock Holmes. I enjoy all stories of Sherlock Holmes and this did not disappoint. Sherlock and Watson were good and the murder was just okay, though! Overall good manga!

Unfortunately, this manga adaptation of A Study in Scarlet didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While it followed the original story fairly closely, a few essential pieces were missing, which made parts of the story feel disjointed and a bit confusing, especially in the middle. The art style, though beautiful and vibrant in full color, sometimes felt out of place with the story’s darker, more mysterious atmosphere.

It was also interesting to note that the artist seemed to lean into a more romantic undertone between Sherlock and Watson through their interactions, which isn’t something present in the original. However, that was cute, and I liked it.

Overall, while this adaptation may visually appeal to some readers, I’d recommend it more for established fans of Holmes who are curious about seeing the story in manga form than for new readers.

This was a pretty good "retelling"
Retelling probably isn't the right word since it didn't add anything new to the story, but I think it's a great fun way to get kids into classics.

Really enjoyed this interpretation of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. The pacing was good and kept me engaged with the story. Looking forward to seeing more mysteries.

I love the idea of manga versions of Classics! This was my first one, and I'm interested in picking up more! It makes intimidating classics accessible to more readers.
I've seen the BBC Sherlock so I was kinda familiar with the characters,the story, and Johnlock's dynamic. I liked the art style and seeing some in-progress character sketches at the end.
I would reccomend!
arc provided by Netgalley and Edelweiss

Sherlock Holmes gets summoned to consult on a mysterious case the police can't seem to solve. From red herrings to an elusive killer, we follow Sherlock Holmes and his roommate John Watson while they attempt to snare a murderer.

"From a drop of water, a logician could infer the possibility of the ocean."

When I read an adaptation of a classic I'd like for it add something new. Something that can make me see the classic story in a new light. With a manga adaptation I expect it to add an interesting visual component.

Manga Classics: Sherlock Holmes is characterized as a manga adaptation of a classic, but I would argue that while it is in a manga format (read right to left), it has many characteristics that don't fit that classification. The art style itself is much more reminiscent of Korean manwha, while the panelling favours the comic format. Sadly the art in general was quite disappointing. From bad anatomy to a lack of backgrounds in many panels, the art added very little to the original story.

"Excuse my rudeness. You interrupted while I was thinking."

A Study in Scarlet must also not be the easiest book to adapt. It's a story where we moreso follow along with the adventures of Holmes and Watson, and do not get invited to engage much with the story. The part featuring Lucy is overly long in Doyle's version, and I was glad to see that be a more appropriate length in this adaptation. I also enjoyed Watson's devotion to and support of Holmes.

"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what you can make people believe that you have done."

For new readers I would suggest reading the original, but if you want a quick summary or to refresh your memory this manga will probably suffice.

This is such a fun read! I generally love manga classics and this one doesn’t disappoint.

This keeps satisfyingly close to the original with some fun tweaks. Although it’s not overt, I can tell there’s a hint of a romantic connection between Sherlock and Watson that only adds to the appeal of this retelling. There’s little missing from the original but what is is not noticeable.

The absolute best part of this read was the illustrations. Such fantastic art that made reading this a treat.

*ARC thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment*

This manga adaptation of A Study in Scarlet is a more accessible form for people who don't like reading classics since the story is faithful to the original book

I didn't appreciate the artistic choice of putting steampunk accessories here and there and some other physical traits of the characters

I love Sherlock Holms so I liked to read another adaptation of this charachter

Thanks to the author and publisher for making it available on NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy.

This was fine. I've read better renditions of Sherlock Holmes's story though. Artwork was really well done.

This was a full-colour manga edition of Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet, which made it even more enjoyable to read. It was a little short and I actually like the art too.

Love the art style! This one is super accessible for younger readers. I am excited that it may bring this dynamic duo to a whole new generation. I hope you do more of their stories.

This is a wonderful companion to the classic by Arthur Conan Doyle. If you like manga and the classics definitely check it out. It gives all the best parts of A Study in Scarlet without sacrificing anything of the details. If you have never read Sherlock Holmes and want an easy entry, check this out. I will definitely be checking out the other Classic Manga.

I’ve always loved Sherlock movies and retellings but have never been super interested in the classics. This manga followed the original story and kept me interested the whole time. It follows John Watson coming back after war who ends up sharing a home with Sherlock so they end up working together. It’s a story about a couple of mysterious deaths and an interesting case of revenge. I enjoyed it and will continue if there are more written.

Love the art! The story is not one I am familiar with but it was super easy to follow and a fun way to read Sherlock Holmes. I can't wait to recommended this as an alternative to a traditional book.

4 stars

Another classic brought to new life, this time in the format of Japanese manga. The characters are recreated faithfully according to the source material and given the twist that can only be found in manga. The coloring of the panels was excellent, the drawing very well done, and the dialogue updated as well to further accommodate a modern audience. I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition of Sherlock Holmes and look forward to the next volume.

I can confidently say that this is a loyal adaptation of the story "A Study in Scarlett". Not being a fan of the original work because it builds as a mystery that doesn't let its readers in on it, one thing that I highly appreciated about this "manga" was that it made the story more easy to digest.

However, let's talk about my main issue: the art. Not only the anatomy was pretty weird on many panels, but the characters' design was very... lacking. Both Sherlock and John seemed way too young for two men that were in their late twenties, for example. I understand this is an adaptation, but since for the rest the story follows closely to its original, I'd expect the same from the portrayal of the characters through the art. There were also some instances that the panels looked like they could be taken straight out of a Sherlock/John yaoi... So that was a bit weird as well...

I would hardly call this a manga as well. More like a graphic novel that follows some manga characteristics... but that's it.

To sum up, a faithful adaptation with bad art. Although, If the art improves I'd be more than happy to keep on going with the series.

*Thank you NetGalley to provide me this e-arc in an exchange of an honest review.

An excellent adaptation of a classic story, Holmes and Watson's character designs were perfect and their characterizations were spot on. Can't wait for the next story!

This is a good intro manga for readers who might like a familiar classic storyline. It took a little bit to get used to the different look of the main characters after seeing them in so many film and tv adaptations. I really enjoyed Julien Choy's sensual artwork in this; the obvious erotic tension between Holmes and Watson added a fun spicy element. I would actually love seeing an animated adaptation in this style!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Manga Classics for this book!

I always quite enjoy the Manga Classics interpretations of a number of classic tales. I think overall they do a good job of bringing a new audience to these stories through manga. This story in particular gives a close showing of the original story with only a few minor things left out. Given there are quite a few Sherlock Holmes stories out there, I really hope they continue transforming those also into manga. Would definitely recommend to others.

A beautiful manga adaptation of the 1st Sherlock Holmes series
Wonderful art work and a perfect visual for the novels
Dr John Watson joins ranks with Scotland Yard/Metropolitan Police to solve a murder mystery
Along the way, Watson is introduced to Holmes and his extraordinary mind
Watson gets to be a first hand witness to Holmes' eccentric ways of solving the crime and the twist ending will leave you broken hearted
I have always loved Sherlock Holmes adaptations and this was amazing!