Review – The Baker Street Peculiars #3 (of 4) (BOOM! Studios)

Publisher: BOOM! Studios (KaBOOM! Imprint)
Writer: Roger Langridge
Art: Andy Hirsch, Fred Stresing
Release Date: 11th May 2016

At the end of issue two, our three heroes Molly, Rajani, and Humphrey (make that four if you count Wellington, the smelly bottomed hound) found themselves in a pretty pickle, caged by the villainous Golem, Mr Kipper. This was all after Mrs Martha Hudson gave the Peculiars the job of seeing what was might happen to the statues of Lord Nelson and Boadicea in London. As it turned out, Mr Kipper wanted them to augment a Golem Army to help him run every racket in town. The problem was he had the bright idea of dunking the trio in concrete and turning them into golems too.

This issue begins with the still caged heroes persuading Mr Kipper that they wouldn’t make for very good golems whilst they try to make good their escape. After some angst and conflict due in main to class differences and Rajani’s reaction to Humphrey, all three finally use their innate skills to fashion their Houdini act, only to head straight into another fine mess.

Roger Langridge has an easy writing style and a fine feel for dialogue which makes this entertaining tale fly along. At times there’s a little ‘mockney’ mixed in with some marbles, but this works well in the context of a kids comic about disenfranchised children from different financial and ethnic backgrounds. It’s a little on the nose, but the stereotypes do add some substance to the contrasting dialogues.

Andy Hirsch has an exceptionally expressive cartoon style, and some of the stuff he has Wellington get up to in the background is delightfully entertaining. He is ably abetted in his efforts by Fred Stresing, who does a fine job in vibrantly colouring what are mainly night scenes.

When I reviewed the first issue I noted that there were some peaks and troughs, and that I didn’t really know what the Peculiars’ initial motivations were. That has all since been tidied up and explained with a deft hand, and what started as merely a solid story has found its feet and stepped up a notch into something thoroughly enjoyable. As a tale for all ages, this is a pleasantly nuanced and worthy read.

Rating: 4/5.

If you want to find out more about The Baker Street Peculiars, make sure to check out our interview with Roger Langridge and Andy Hirsh by CLICKING HERE.

PREVIEW ARTWORK
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