Sherlock Holmes has been invited by an old university friend to investigate a mysterious break-in at a high-powered international bank. Nothing was stolen, but a mysterious symbol was daubed across a wall and painting. Sherlock believes the message was intended for a bank employee, Edward Van Coon, and so he heads to Van Coon’s apartment. Sherlock finds him dead in his locked apartment…

The television version of The Blind Banker did not feature Sherlock’s usual police contact, Detective Inspector Lestrade. Instead, the investigating officer in this story is one DI Dimmock – who, appropriately enough, Sherlock shows up to be a right Charlie: “This investigation might move a bit quicker if you were to take my word as gospel.” Artist Jay. duly depicts Dimmock in this manga adaptation. Nevertheless, the likeness of Rupert Graves as Lestrade appears on one of this issue’s alternative cover designs.

Almost inevitably, some aspects of the story come across better in its original television medium than they do in the static images presented on the printed page. An example of this occurs around the halfway point of this second instalment, when it is less than clear who a certain frantically huffing and puffing bald gentleman is and what is happening to him. Hang on in there, though, as this makes more sense towards the end of the episode, as Jay. guides us towards a sobering cliffhanger ending…

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Richard McGinlay