Sherlock Holmes Crime Alleys #1

A brooding, fog-drenched London waterfront sets the stage for this 2015 Belgian edition of Sherlock Holmes: Crime Alleys, with cover art by Ronan Toulhoat depicting a lone, silhouetted figure in a fedora and overcoat standing beneath a shadowy arch — a crumpled form visible on the ground nearby, tall ship masts looming in the misty background. The atmosphere is richly evocative of Victorian-era mystery, promising the kind of dark, gaslit intrigue that suits the world's greatest detective perfectly. Writer Sylvain Cordurié and artist Alessandro Nespolino launch their take on Holmes with "Probleem nummer 1," and if this moody cover is any indication, their vision is both stylish and compelling.