REVIEW: ‘Moriarty The Patriot,’ Volume 3

I’ve been taking in a lot of Sherlockian content. From the manga from Titan, Enola Holmes, and The Irregulars, I’ve had Sherlock and his world, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, on the brain. But nothing has lived rent-free like Moriarty the Patriot, which features storyboards by Ryosuke Takeuchi and art by Hikaru Miyoshi. Published in English by VIZ Media via the publisher’s Shonen Jump Imprint, Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 is translated to English by (‘・∀・`)サァ? and features touch-up art and lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman.

Moriarty the Patriot is a new story based in Doyle’s Sherlockian world but focused on Moriarty, Sherlock’s greatest rival. Last volume, Moriarty found himself in Sherlock’s crosshairs after executing a noble who hunted poor people. With Sherlock’s interest piqued and Moriarty curious to see if he can bring the detective into his fold, Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 picks up with a test. One made to see if Sherlock is up to snuff for Moriarty and his group.

Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 opens with Sherlock being arrested for a murder he didn’t commit in a plot orchestrated by none other than Moriarty – as we saw alluded to in the last volume.  He soon escapes police custody and sets out to clear his name, discovering that the Count that was murdered is far from an innocent man. In these first two chapters, named “A Study in S,” act 2 and 3, we get to see who Sherlock is when written by Takeuchi.

In this section of the volume, we see Sherlock work under pressure and be pushed to the edge of his curiosity. Does he choose to take a life to solve a mystery? Of course, not, he opts to solve it himself, and he finds himself pulled closer to the man who planned his demise.

But the back half of Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 focuses directly on Moriarty, his push to punish the nobles, and is the most violent section of the series yet. While these last two chapters, “The Hunting of the Baskervilles” Act 1 and 2 up the violence, it also takes the time to ground the story in Moriarty’s goal to take down and punish the nobles of England and his relationship with his brother Louis. While also investigating the fact that Moriarty and his brother are now nobles themselves.

While the emotional notes in the back half of Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 hit, it’s not an easy read and should be entered with caution. Especially with Miyoshi’s art which makes gorgeously attractive characters but their ability to draw violence is equally as well done, which makes it hard to read. In this portion, Moriarty and his team hunt nobles who have taken up hunting humans, more specifically children. This element of the volume is frustrating because of how graphic the violence is. While there has been violence in the series so far, this feels like too much. Now, there is catharsis, but it’s hard-won.

Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 is a volume that dives into elements of the characters that we haven’t seen before, but it also pushes the boundary on violence in a way that makes it hard to read. But, I’m going to keep reading, for the characters and for the catharsis of reading someone take down the rich.

Moriarty the Patriot Volume 3 is available now wherever books are sold.