By Rodrigue & de Groot
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 9781849181983
I was really pleased to see another Clifton book was coming out – it's been a while now. If you've not come across him before, Clifton is a British ex-Secret Service operative who now offers regular assistance to Scotland Yard in the solving of its more complicated mysteries and misdemeanours. As the driver of an MG convertible himself, Clifton’s adventures often involve some sort of road-based transport, all brilliantly illustrated by the respective artists, and in this case by Rodrigue.
This particular adventure concerns Clifton and Jade running afoul of a reckless driver on a one-way street resulting in a head injury for Clifton, the smashing up of the MG, and the abduction of Jade. Clifton is able to mobilise the emergency services and more in the search for Jade before returning home to rest and heal, but no sooner does he awaken then he’s confronted by a mysterious individual in his own home who is seeking help and just might be one Doctor Watson. Clifton is told of an outlandish time travel plot by a contemporary of Watson’s that has set the Doctor on the path of pursuit, but also that Sherlock Holmes himself has disappeared.
Initially disbelieving Watson as a fruitcake, Clifton is swiftly swept along on a time-travelling odyssey that involves mistaken identity, theft, and Baden Powell.
I like Clifton because it strikes an interesting balance of humour and adventure that can have slightly darker moments. True, he’s a bit of a pastiche of British secret service fictional characters and perceived English character traits, but that’s more the fault of the James Bond franchise and its ilk than misapplied stereotyping. He’s certainly a hero, albeit a flawed one, and so quite endearing for it.
My only gripe was the final page, which was either every school-child’s get-out clause for finishing a fantastical story, or the result of the time-machine resetting matters. It’s not made clear, so for the sake of good storytelling I’ll plump for the latter. Otherwise, all good fun.
And if you liked that: More Clifton coming soon!
No comments yet.