Reading: MORIARTY THE PATRIOT, VOL. 1 - Ryosuke Takeuchi (author), Hikaru Miyoshi (illustrator)

Prose (Story): In 19th-century Britain class division has never been more pronounced, with nobles making money from and feeding off of the working class to maintain their lifestyle, while treating those who work to the death for them worse than animals. But for once, a noble is noticing the injustices of his class; first-born son Albert James Moriarty is disgusted with his nobility - even more with his own family's penchant for greed, and cruelty for the sake of fun - and when he talks his parents into adopting a pair of orphan brothers, noticing the more-than-unique level of intelligence of one of them who shares Albert's hatred of the rich and desire to level the playing field of the rich and the poor, a plan is set in motion. A plan that includes the destruction of Albert's own family ... and gives rise to the birth of the manipulative and highly-intelligent sociopath who would eventually become the arch-enemy of none other than the one and only Sherlock Holmes.

Don's (Review): A beautifully-illustrated manga tracing the rise of a young orphan with a hatred for nobles and desire for equality for all, who would become a professor while still in his teens and a Crime Consultant not above murder (execution?) of members of the piggish upper class as a means to an end. Just the start of a new series, readers are treated to Professor Moriarty as a young boy, manipulating a young noble tired of his life into aiding in the slaughter of his entire family, only to claim the orphaned Moriarty and his brother as his own blood to authorities afterward, securing their futures. It's only the beginning of the now-Moriarty brothers rise to destroying the rich and elevating the poor, and while this volume feels as if it only gives readers a bare-bones beginner's view of what our young professor is capable of doing - in terms of serving his country and making a better future, no matter how - the underlying genesis of the mad genius he would become before coming across Sherlock Holmes is there. Side characters and other villains - including Sebastian Moran - add dimension to the story, and by the end as a reader you really have a flavor for just how creepy one skinny like blond guy can be - and why he commands respect and fear from those who serve him. Wonderfully done, darkly funny at times, violent and edgy, and a delicious treat for anyone who ever wanted to see the one-percenters get what they deserve - even in 19th-century England. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.