Interview: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Introduces You To The World Of Mycroft Holmes
Most are more familiar with the Sherlock side of the Holmes family, but if you haven't met Mycroft [...]
Sherlock, Lark, The Queen, And More
While Mycroft is the star of the show here, Sherlock still plays an important part in the story. Mycroft's regrets don't stem from himself, but rather his inability to guide his brother through tragedy.
"He feels guilt that he wasn't able to guide Sherlock through his isolation from humanity," Abdul-Jabbar said. "His failure is part of what makes Mycroft so disillusioned with himself. What's the point of his intelligence if he can't help his brother? Part of his journey as a hero is to channel that need to protect to cover the rest of humanity. Where he failed his brother he might not fail society."
Sherlock informs Mycroft's journey but doesn't overshadow it. That carves out a spot for the delightful Lark Adler to enter the picture, who in many ways becomes Mycroft's version of Watson.
"I like that she's Mycroft's equal in most ways and superior in other ways. She has his wit and adventurousness, but surpasses him in grit, weapons skills, and espionage savvy," Abdul-Jabbar revealed.
Those aren't the only positive aspects she brings to the story either, as much of Mycroft's endearing qualities surface thanks to her presence. That said, she's worth getting to know on her own merits.
"She brings out Mycroft's humanity, which he has tried so hard to suppress," Abdul-Jabbar said. "Yet, she has her own backstory that embodies America's missteps regarding slavery and the treatment of Indians. Despite that, she still believes in the promise of America and that inspires Mycroft to step up."
Fans will notice a few familiar faces from history show up, including some unexpected royalty. "Queen Victoria is a major part of the story," Abdul-Jabbar revealed. "I did a lot of research on her life, most of which I had to cut out because it cluttered the story. Instead, I went with some historical facts about her and used that to craft the tough, intelligent woman I imagined her to be."
Fair warning, but we are about to get into some spoiler territory, so if you don't want that spoiled for you feel free to hit the next slide.
With that out of the way, there is a surprising twist towards the end that brings a familiar name into Mycroft's life. Granted, the name doesn't quite mean what it will in the future, but it wasn't introduced by accident either.
There are several allusions to the Sherlock canon. The Moriarty factor is one, so is the fact that Lark Adler has the same last name as Sherlock's only love, Irene Adler. This is groundwork for future stories that will develop the connection that binds the brothers together.
Hit the next slide to find out what comes next!
prevnextWhat's Next?
The world of Mycroft Holmes is brought to life by Joshua Casara, and delivers an inspired world full of insane technology that still feels grounded in reality.
"When I first saw Josh's art, I was shocked because it didn't just capture what I had imagined as I wrote it, but it surpassed my imagination," Abdul-Jabbar said. "There's so much texture to his work that it brings the time period alive. His art created a dynamic feel that made the story even more exciting. We inspire each other to think of the characters in new ways. And that opens new doors for the imagination!"
The creators have built quite a world in a matter of a few issues, and the book ends with plenty of hope for more adventures with these characters. So, what's next?
"I'm looking forward to more adventures for Mycroft," Abdul-Jabbar revealed. "I have a storyline I've been working that I think is even more exciting and outrageous."
That bodes well for future issues, as the Apocalypse Handbook wasn't lacking in either of those factors. Those future adventures will also benefit from the lessons Abdul-Jabbar learned along the way on Mycroft Holmes.
"Unlike a novel, the comic book is a very regimented format," Abdul-Jabbar said. "You're limited by the number of pages per issue and the number of panels per page. It's much more like writing a sonnet than a story. I had to learn to pare back on dialogue and plot in order to make everything fit. But, as with a poem, this actually gave the work more power."
While you wait for his next adventure, fans can check out Mycroft Holmes and the Apocalypse Handbook, which is in comic shops now.
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