Posted in: Comics | Tagged: arthur conan doyle, Comics, david liss, Dynamite Entertainment, moriarty, sherlock holmes, tony lee

Tony Lee Interviews David Liss About Sherlock Holmes: Moriarty Lives

Published Thu, 17 Oct 2013 12:30:40 -0500

by Dan Wickline

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Tony Lee talks to David Liss about writing Sherlock Holmes: Moriarty Lives for Dynamite Entertainment

TONY LEE: David, Moriarty is one of the best known villains of the last century, which is strange considering that he's actually only been mentioned in a couple of Conan Doyle novels. Why does he call to you?

DAVID LISS: Moriarty is interesting in large part because he is hardly mentioned at all in the original story. All we know about him is that he is a very intelligent and a true rival of Holmes. He's been fleshed out over the years in stories by other writers, in film, television, comics, etc., but at the character's core is a big enigma, and that makes it fun material with which to work.

TL: With so many 'Moriarty after the fall' stories out there already, including Image's 'Moriarty' series – what does your Moriarty story bring to the table?

DL: Honestly, I haven't seen any of these other stories, so I can't compare mine to anyone else's. But Moriarty looms large in the mythos surrounding one of the most iconic figures in literature, so it's hardly surprising other writers have taken up this project. I can tell you that this is a story that tries to put Moriarty into perspective, and to show him as a balanced character, not someone who is pure evil. Basically, I tell a story about a criminal who meets someone far worse, and he finds himself forced to play the good guy — or at least the less bad guy. I was also interested in telling the story with a lot of over-the-top black humor.

TL: You've said that Sherlock Holmes isn't in the story, but do any other familiar faces appear?

DL: No, this is a story about Moriarty, and it exists separate from the regular Holmes cast of characters.

TL: Your Moriarty is penniless and defeated as he finds a new nemesis to fight. Was that always the plan?

DL: No, in the first issue he stumbles upon a situation that draws him in. Things quickly spiral out of control, and before he knows it, he's at odds with a local crime lord. He finds himself bound by a promise, desirous for revenge, and also looking to make a big score.

TL: Comics are a recent addition to your wheelhouse – why did you decide to do this as a comic, rather than the more traditional novel of the original canon style?

DL: I like writing comics. It's a medium that offers a lot of possibilities, and I have a great deal of fun exploring those possibilities. I still write novels, of course, but I have a good relationship with Dynamite, and they do Holmes comics, so this felt like a great fit to me.

TL: Even though Moriarty is only ever seen in one book, he's referenced in several others – how much research went into this before you started plotting Moriarty's return? Do you solve the conundrum of the 'Two James's'?

DL: No, this isn't a deep venture in the Holmes universe. It takes place right after "The Final Problem," the story in which both Holmes and Moriarty are presumed to have died, and then I run with it. I deliberately chose not to make this a major research project.

TL: Can you see your Moriarty story continuing into new adventures in the way that the Sherlock Holmes stories did?

DL: I'm not planning on writing a sequel, but the way I'm telling the story there is no reason why it can't be continued.

TL: Your recent work has been very much in the 'pulp' arena. Did that affect the way you told this story?

DL: Not at all. I write pulp comics, historical fiction, horror, science fiction, urban fantasy. I approach each project in the way that seems to make the most sense for that project.

TL: What else are you up to at the moment?

DL: Besides doing The Spider, The Shadow Now and Moriarty for Dynamite, I have a book called Jinnrise at IDW, a creator-owned book called Angelica Tomorrow launching in November, and I'm currently working on my first graphic novel. I also have a historical novel called The Day of Atonement out in late 2014, and a young adult space opera, called Randoms, out in early 2015. Plus I'm working on a bunch of other short stories, a novella, and my next novel. Hey. You asked.

In an amazing coincidence, Tony Lee is also working on a comic for Dynamite, Starbuck, with issue 1 shipping next month.. Sherlock Holmes: Moriarty Lives goes on sale this December written by David Liss and art by Daniel Indro.