A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman

Illustrated and adapted by Rafael Albuquerque
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The Neil Gaiman Library is a series of graphic novels by Dark Horse Comics that partners fantastic artists who adapt a short story by Gaiman.  Every Comic Con, I see a shelf full of new ones and I scoop them all up.  Gaiman has appeal to comicbook readers thanks to his creation of The Sandman, and he also appeals to novel readers thanks to Coraline, American Gods, Stardust, The Graveyard Book (which was adapted into a fantastic graphic novel), and many others.  The books in this series are that same blend of gothic and fantasy that readers enjoy from Gaiman's other works, and they showcase art by some fantastic creators.

​Fans may know Albuquerque from his run of various characters in the DC franchise, but most recently, Albuquerque has been tapped to work on a Dark Horse art book for The Witcher 3, an increasingly popular video game.

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​I believe that it is a rite of passage for every English author to do some sort of homage to Sherlock, and this is Gaiman's (if you couldn't tell from the title).  However, this is more of a mashup between Doyle and H. P. Lovecraft.  There are several twists to the classic tale, as one can imagine, and I really can't talk about anything else in this storyline other than that!

​This adaptation is fairly faithful to the short story by Gaiman, and the illustrations add even more to the horror elements of the story. The artistic style is haunting and interesting.  The running theme of green is splashed throughout a mostly muted color palette of browns and grays.

Sara's rating: 8/10
Suitability grade: 9-12

​Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Graphic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Adaptations