Doyle, C., Edginton, I. (2009). The Hound of the Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel.
New York, NY: Sterling.
ISBN-13: 9781402770005
•Plot Summary
London's most famous crime-fighting pair open the novel by discussing the elements that make up the man that visited the flat at 221B, the same man who left behind the cane they are analyzing. A few minutes later, the very same man rings the bell, a avid scientist who has come due to a strange death in his own neighborhood in Devonshire. Dr. Mortimer's friend (Charles Baskerville) and neighbor passed away after waiting some ten minutes at his own gate after dinner, a look of terror remaining on his features. Rumors have surrounded Baskerville Hall for decades, about a strange series of hounds that violently attack people out on the moor beyond the residence. Since the last surviving heir of the family is due to arrive in a few days, Mortimer hopes to find out the reason behind Charles's death and the hounds, if possible. What Watson and Holmes reveal is a plot by a previously unknown heir, who has established himself as Mr. Stapleton, and presented his own wife as his sister for the ruse. Knowing that Charles had been helping Laura Lyons, a woman undergoing a divorce, Stapleton let her believe he was going to marry her. The new heir, Henry, has developed an attachment to Stapleton's wife, but risks his life to walk across the property at night as Holmes and Watson lay their trap. Henry's butler and housekeeper have been protecting the woman's brother, an escaped convict with mental problems, and he is attacked by the hound right in front of the investigators' eyes. After giving the truth to Laura, and setting the trap via Henry, the men are joined by Lestrade from London, shooting the hound that Stapleton had been priming to keep control. Stapleton had intended to return to Costa Rica, and claimed his inheritance with the British officials there, wanting only the money. He'd brought the dog with him, intentionally finding one that was large and malicious, then contrived his plot to kill Charles and Henry.
•Critical Evaluation
A fine adaptation of the original novel, and while some of the artwork is simplistic, the moods are well set by the use of color (such as with the initial tale of the hound, and an instance of a cigar being lit at night), and the occasional subtle uses of pattern (as in the wallpaper design in Baskerville Hall).
•Reader’s Annotation
Good introduction to the Holmes and Watson series of stories, and recommended for reluctant readers in particular.
•Information about the author
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a physician and writer, born in Scotland in 1859. He attended a Roman Catholic prep school, but became an agnostic before even graduating from Stonyhurst College. He was married twice, the dying from tuberculosis, and the second being a childhood sweetheart. Between them, the wives gave Conan Doyle five children. He'd studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, was very much involved in trying to free the Congo from rule, and became interested in spiritualism due to the deaths of his wife and one son.
Ian Edginton has worked for Lucas Films, Paramount Pictures, and 20th Century Fox on comic adaptations of Star Wars, Alien, Predator, and Terminator. He has also done adaptations of works by H.G. Wells, D'Israeli, Edgar Allen Poe, and Steve Yeowell. At the Eisner Awards in 2007, his graphic novel Scarlet Traces was nominated for two awards: Best Limited Series and Best Writer.
•Genre
Graphic Novel
•Curriculum Ties
English Literature
•Booktalking Ideas
Sherlock Holmes, graphic novels, illustrations to encourage reading
•Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 10-12/Ages 15-19
•Challenge Issues
N/A
•Why did you include this book in you’re the titles you selected?
I received this as a gift, because I have always been a Sherlock Holmes fan. I hadn't had the chance to read it though, so this seemed ideal.
