Manga Review: Sherlock Bones, Volume 3, by Yuma Ando and Yuki Sato

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: January 2014

Volumes: 7

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

MURDER ON THE GREEN At Takeru's first game at a real golf course, he has the fortune of meeting Hanabusa, a pro golfer who just won the Japan Masters. He agrees to play a round with Takeru and his father. Little do they know he is there for more than a game of golf.

Review:

I’ve been slowly trying to collect this series, but I must say that my attention is waning.

There were two cases to solve in this volume, with the start of a third. One about a golf-player who kills a competitor, and another about a teacher who kills one of her students. Then they start one about two students running for president, only for the guy to make a slanderous poster about his female competitor.

The characters are all right. Takeru is okay as a hero, but Sherdog is definitely a bit more gullible, or maybe just written to be a little dumber, than I think he should be. I like Miki, or at least I like the possible romance with Miki. The artwork is good, and I like the way they draw the villains, the murderous looks they give are a nice contrast to the rest.

My biggest problem is the actual mysteries and detective work. The stories are okay, but a lot of the time they’re written rather cheesy, maybe because Sherlock is a dog. And mostly, the way that Takeru interrogates the suspects—for one, he doesn’t really have a leg to stand on, being a high school kid, but for another, every point he brings up to make them slip-up just seems like he’s pulling at straws. Most of his points are so unnecessary, with clear excuses to be made for them. It made it hard to believe, especially with how fast the suspect gives in. Plus, they aren’t very intense or exciting.

I really want to like this series, but I’m not sure if I do at this point. I think I’d rather be reading Case Closed.

Manga Review: Sherlock Bones, Volume 1, by Yuma Ando and Yuki Sato

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: September 2013

Volumes: 7

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

DEDUCTIVE DOG DETECTIVE

When Takeru adopts his new pet, he's in for a surprise—the dog is none other than the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective. What's more, this "Sherdog" has decided that Takeru is the reincarnation of his long-time assistant, Dr. Watson. Takeru may think Sherdog (or he himself) is crazy, but with no one else able to communicate with Holmes, he's roped into becoming the canine's assistant all the same. Using his exceptional sleuthing skills, Holmes uncovers clues to solve the trickiest crimes.

Review:

When I found out that this series was only seven volumes long, I jumped on board. I’d been feeling the need to read a manga mystery, and maybe that’s just cause it’s been so long since I watched Case Closed (or Detective Conan). Which means that, invariably, I will be comparing this to Case Closed. But I just love that series, and it’s one of the only manga mysteries I’ve read/watched.

This sounded like a cute series, a new take on Sherlock Holmes. And the artwork is very pretty, which is always a grab for me.

It is a cute series, what with Sherlock reincarnated as a dog and talking only to Watson, now known as Takeru, a boy in high school. We get a mystery pretty early on, which goes through the whole volume. It’s a bit dark, and the artstyle changes to construe the psychotic urges form the murderer, and it’s also emotional for Takeru. There’s a hint of romance, and I do hope that grows throughout the series.

This was a very good first volume. The mystery was good, if a little obvious from the beginning, but overall pretty impressive. I look forward to reading more.