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Ruse #1
Ruse, Vol. 1: Enter the Detective
Emma Bishop works to both help and protect her investigative partner, Simon Archard, as they look into the connection between a dockman's death and a shipment of a mysterious narcotic powder, leading them to newcomer Miranda Cross.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,081Ìýbooks1,214ÌýfollowersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 11, 2021
Giving this a reread after 20 years and delighted that it still holds up (unlike Joey Lawrence’s music career…hey-oh!).
More Victorian-flavored detective comics, please and thank you (I think I’ve read all of them, which is why I am going back to previously drilled wells).
Maybe I just need to write one. Artistic types, please let me know if you want to collaborate (and yes, I’m serious).
More Victorian-flavored detective comics, please and thank you (I think I’ve read all of them, which is why I am going back to previously drilled wells).
Maybe I just need to write one. Artistic types, please let me know if you want to collaborate (and yes, I’m serious).
January 15, 2014
This is like a smarter Sherlock Holmes set in a fictional Victorian London which changes the name of the city to Parkington. Magic exists though on a tiny level and all of the main women seem to be amazingly dressed and close to beautiful.
Detective Simon Archard is the grim “know it all� detective who sometimes gets moody and leaves his assistant, Emma Bishop (a woman with powers linked to a wizard but only able to use them in dire circumstances) who isn't too bad herself. Obviously, there's romantic tension between the two but it's on a tiny level.
Artwork is brilliant and there's a reason it got best coloring from the Eisners. I like how the top of two pages sometimes encapsulate a scene and just remember to read the very top of those two pages and then the bottom section or you'll get confused. I found the artwork in the last chapter to be the weakest as it seemed lazier.
Written by Mark Waid (“Kingdom Come�). A number of artists were involved and some of them were: Butch Guice, Mike Perkins and Laura Depuy.
The series has been nominated for five Eisners and has won a number of awards, including: 2002 Eisner Award for best coloring (Wiki). Rumors are that a script was shopped to Disney but nothing has come of it so far.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B plus; STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B to B plus;
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; SETTING/ERA FEEL: B plus to A minus; CLUE TRAILS: B plus; WHEN READ: early to mid March 2013; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
Detective Simon Archard is the grim “know it all� detective who sometimes gets moody and leaves his assistant, Emma Bishop (a woman with powers linked to a wizard but only able to use them in dire circumstances) who isn't too bad herself. Obviously, there's romantic tension between the two but it's on a tiny level.
Artwork is brilliant and there's a reason it got best coloring from the Eisners. I like how the top of two pages sometimes encapsulate a scene and just remember to read the very top of those two pages and then the bottom section or you'll get confused. I found the artwork in the last chapter to be the weakest as it seemed lazier.
Written by Mark Waid (“Kingdom Come�). A number of artists were involved and some of them were: Butch Guice, Mike Perkins and Laura Depuy.
The series has been nominated for five Eisners and has won a number of awards, including: 2002 Eisner Award for best coloring (Wiki). Rumors are that a script was shopped to Disney but nothing has come of it so far.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B plus; STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B to B plus;
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; SETTING/ERA FEEL: B plus to A minus; CLUE TRAILS: B plus; WHEN READ: early to mid March 2013; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
December 4, 2013
I've really been into Sherlock Holmes lately. Well, at least more than usual. Yes, you can rightly blame that on the BBC series Sherlock. So when I saw this graphic novel series at my library, based on a super-sleuth along the lines of Mr. Holmes, and his trusty sidekick (in this case, a woman), I couldn't resist. After finishing this book last night, I would definitely recommend it to Holmes fans.
Similarities:
*Simon Archard is arrogant, has poor people skills, and extremely well-developed deductive reasoning skills like Holmes. His flaws nearly balance out his strengths, and he manages to be endearing because his sidekick clearly thinks so much of him. That sympathy brings you along for the ride.
*His assistant, Emma Bishop, is long suffering and often mal-treated by her friend, although her skills do come in handy in solving their little cases. Bishop is also the narrator.
*And yes, there is a Moriarty-like arch-nemesis in the making.
Differences:
*Emma is far from ordinary. She has some very special powers that she must hide or suffer dire consequences. It provides for hairy moments because she has to resort to her instincts and intellect to get Archard and herself out of tight situations instead of using her powers.
*Unless you're a Johnlock (Sherlock and John Watson shipper), there is a subtle undercurrent of romantic tension between Simon and Emma that the story plays on. Of course, this isn't a romance, but I think that there's a 'will they or won't they' question hanging around.
*In this situation, the world is a created Londonesque city that has a potential for supernatural happenings.
I enjoyed this graphic novel. Good adventure and good mystery stories. The illustrations are gorgeous. The detail of the characters' features kept my eyes drawn to the page. Each story had some good plot twists. On the negative side was the fact that it was hard to read. Normally, the graphic novel panels go from left to right and down the page. In this book, their progression varied, even from page to page. I got confused a few times and had to retrace my steps. Also, the lettering for the character thoughts was too small, hard to read. That's the main reason I didn't like this more, was the confusion I felt in its organization and setup. Overall, it's good for fans of action-adventure comics, and of course Sherlock Holmes fans. I liked the fact that in this case, Mr. Watson's role is taken by a woman, who has something yet to pull out of the rabbit hat. Like Watson, her narrative voice kept me pulled into this story and inspires more sympathy for the arrogant Archard that I probably wouldn't have felt otherwise. I will continue this series.
Similarities:
*Simon Archard is arrogant, has poor people skills, and extremely well-developed deductive reasoning skills like Holmes. His flaws nearly balance out his strengths, and he manages to be endearing because his sidekick clearly thinks so much of him. That sympathy brings you along for the ride.
*His assistant, Emma Bishop, is long suffering and often mal-treated by her friend, although her skills do come in handy in solving their little cases. Bishop is also the narrator.
*And yes, there is a Moriarty-like arch-nemesis in the making.
Differences:
*Emma is far from ordinary. She has some very special powers that she must hide or suffer dire consequences. It provides for hairy moments because she has to resort to her instincts and intellect to get Archard and herself out of tight situations instead of using her powers.
*Unless you're a Johnlock (Sherlock and John Watson shipper), there is a subtle undercurrent of romantic tension between Simon and Emma that the story plays on. Of course, this isn't a romance, but I think that there's a 'will they or won't they' question hanging around.
*In this situation, the world is a created Londonesque city that has a potential for supernatural happenings.
I enjoyed this graphic novel. Good adventure and good mystery stories. The illustrations are gorgeous. The detail of the characters' features kept my eyes drawn to the page. Each story had some good plot twists. On the negative side was the fact that it was hard to read. Normally, the graphic novel panels go from left to right and down the page. In this book, their progression varied, even from page to page. I got confused a few times and had to retrace my steps. Also, the lettering for the character thoughts was too small, hard to read. That's the main reason I didn't like this more, was the confusion I felt in its organization and setup. Overall, it's good for fans of action-adventure comics, and of course Sherlock Holmes fans. I liked the fact that in this case, Mr. Watson's role is taken by a woman, who has something yet to pull out of the rabbit hat. Like Watson, her narrative voice kept me pulled into this story and inspires more sympathy for the arrogant Archard that I probably wouldn't have felt otherwise. I will continue this series.
July 17, 2011
When I was a teenager I bought , and then proceeded to read it over and over and over again. I loved those stories! Heck, I wanted to be Sherlock Holmes...minus the opium cocaine (sorry, Robert) addiction, of course. Looking back, it seems a little strange that I was so addicted to Doyle's character 'cause otherwise I was fairly normal for my age (I swear!).
Anyhoo, you can see why I liked Ruse so much, since it combines three of my favorite things:
1)A Sherlock-like character
2)Supernatural forces at work
3)Graphic novel format!
So, while this may not be for everyone, I certainly did enjoy it!
Anyhoo, you can see why I liked Ruse so much, since it combines three of my favorite things:
1)A Sherlock-like character
2)Supernatural forces at work
3)Graphic novel format!
So, while this may not be for everyone, I certainly did enjoy it!
May 5, 2024
Fun! I wish I liked this more, but it's just a little too superficial. Certainly Waid and Guice pull of this Holmes pastiche in fine style. The artwork is lovely, hardly surprising given Guice's past work--I've been a fan since the days of Southern Knights. The writing is where this falls down for me, which is a shame because I generally enjoy Mark Waid's work. The biggest weakness is that we're not given many examples of Holmesian detective work. There are a few attempts at it, but, for the most part, it's glossed over. We're told what the conclusion is, but not all of the clues and inferences that led to it. I can sympathize. It's hard to write Holmes. Conan Doyle makes it look easy. The characters and action and relationships are the real focus of this series, but don't tease us with a Holmesian character and then not have him explain his deductions in Holmesian fashion.
July 5, 2016
Good introductory volume to RUSE, a now defunct series from a defunct publisher (Crossgen, which was bought out by Marvel, which was in turn bought out by Disney), written by and illustrated by . But, folks,the real star of this book is colourist Laura Martin (or Laura Depuy - same person), who did a fantastic job! People tend to only think of writers and pencillers when they talk about comic books, but the inkers and the colourists really influence the end result (on that note, let's not forget inker Mike Perkins!)
Mark Waid has written a lot of good - some even great comics, whether for the Big 2, or for other publishers. RUSE was one of these. The mysteries are clever and involving, but anyone who is a fan of the mystery genre will pick up on clues left by the writer.
Art-wise, I think this was my first exposure to Jackson 'Butch' Guice, and his stuff looks great here. Also, because I liked his art in this book so much, I think that is why I felt a bit disappointed by his stuff in 's Captain America run, which I found wasn't as intricate (he also did with ).
The sixth and final issue collected here was pencilled by Jeff Johnson, inked by Paul Neary, and coloured by Jason Lambert, and that's why it looks different than the rest of the book. It's still well done, though. Stylistic dfferences between Guice and Johnson are minimal and the transition is smooth.
Mark Waid has written a lot of good - some even great comics, whether for the Big 2, or for other publishers. RUSE was one of these. The mysteries are clever and involving, but anyone who is a fan of the mystery genre will pick up on clues left by the writer.
Art-wise, I think this was my first exposure to Jackson 'Butch' Guice, and his stuff looks great here. Also, because I liked his art in this book so much, I think that is why I felt a bit disappointed by his stuff in 's Captain America run, which I found wasn't as intricate (he also did with ).
The sixth and final issue collected here was pencilled by Jeff Johnson, inked by Paul Neary, and coloured by Jason Lambert, and that's why it looks different than the rest of the book. It's still well done, though. Stylistic dfferences between Guice and Johnson are minimal and the transition is smooth.
June 26, 2009
Had the publisher not gone out of business, I think this series could have been one of its best books.
Highlights: 1) Guice's numerous double-page spreads breaks traditional comic book boundaries. A welcome change in story-telling. 2) Mixing Sherlock Holmes-type detective stories with the supernatural. Just plain cool.
Lowlights: 1) Simon Archard seems flat and a little predictable (could have grown as a character had the series continued, I'm sure). 2) Despite the beauty of Guice's interesting spreads he, like so many others before him, populates his book with only the super-beautiful. Every woman is a swimsuit model and every man a Roman statuary, making his characters less believable, less real.
All in all an entertaining read. Too bad CrossGen closed. They had some great stories going when they did.
Highlights: 1) Guice's numerous double-page spreads breaks traditional comic book boundaries. A welcome change in story-telling. 2) Mixing Sherlock Holmes-type detective stories with the supernatural. Just plain cool.
Lowlights: 1) Simon Archard seems flat and a little predictable (could have grown as a character had the series continued, I'm sure). 2) Despite the beauty of Guice's interesting spreads he, like so many others before him, populates his book with only the super-beautiful. Every woman is a swimsuit model and every man a Roman statuary, making his characters less believable, less real.
All in all an entertaining read. Too bad CrossGen closed. They had some great stories going when they did.
November 17, 2017
Probably the most intriguing of the CrossGen line. Fantasy Sherlock Holmes, check. Steampunk, check. Evolving hints of something with girl Watson, check. And then magic and adventure. Kicka**.
December 27, 2013
If you appreciate Sherlock Holmes, like I do, this graphic novel might be something fun to try. The mysteries in this volume were pretty good, the graphics outstanding and the world created therein interesting.
I like how all the 'birds' resemble gargoyles, the Victorian flavor, how each major player has their own power of deduction and play - for the most part - well off each other, though sometimes pride got in the way, but with partners that is probably par for the course.
The only quibble I have is the layout of the book. Sometimes I had to read across one page, sometimes across two, sometimes up and down one page or two and other times in all different directions. It would have been easier to follow if the author created it to be read one way or other, not combined.
I like how all the 'birds' resemble gargoyles, the Victorian flavor, how each major player has their own power of deduction and play - for the most part - well off each other, though sometimes pride got in the way, but with partners that is probably par for the course.
The only quibble I have is the layout of the book. Sometimes I had to read across one page, sometimes across two, sometimes up and down one page or two and other times in all different directions. It would have been easier to follow if the author created it to be read one way or other, not combined.
October 12, 2021
Take Holmes and delete all social skills. Then you have Simon Archard.
Mark Waid's take on the world's greatest detective came years before Sherlock and Elementary. There are elements in Ruse that appear in both TV series. Did the producers rip him off? I doubt it, but it does make for an interesting conversation with Holmes fans who enjoy Waid's character and storylines.
This is a collection of the first story arc from the Crossgen series; issues 1-4, now published in conjunction with Marvel. Simon's archenemy has begun dismantling the detective's network with the eventual goal of blackmailing the British Empire into giving him what was considered its crown jewel.
A definite read for fans of Waid, Holmes, comics, and detective fiction.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
Mark Waid's take on the world's greatest detective came years before Sherlock and Elementary. There are elements in Ruse that appear in both TV series. Did the producers rip him off? I doubt it, but it does make for an interesting conversation with Holmes fans who enjoy Waid's character and storylines.
This is a collection of the first story arc from the Crossgen series; issues 1-4, now published in conjunction with Marvel. Simon's archenemy has begun dismantling the detective's network with the eventual goal of blackmailing the British Empire into giving him what was considered its crown jewel.
A definite read for fans of Waid, Holmes, comics, and detective fiction.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
March 11, 2021
I love to think that Mark Waid took the money from the eccentric entrepreneur to help kick start his comic company and just did whatever he wanted. Which apparently was a historical fantasy about an insufferable Holmes archetype and his exasperated "assistant." Sure, there's the obligatory tie in to the Cross Gen universe, but only just enough to get the editor off his back.
September 13, 2012
So it is no secret I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes. Knowing that my mother found this and ,and gave them to me as birthday presents. This is a close approximation to Sherlock Holmes in comic form. As well as being a fan of Sherlock Holmes I am a big fan of comics so was pleased to have two of my favorites rolled into one.
In Ruse Simon Archer is the worlds greatest detective, with his assistant Emma Bishop. The only comparison to Holmes is the character personalities. Otherwise this is a separate world with it's own secrets and comic wonders. The mysteries are well written and I attribute that the the profound writing of Mark Waid who has written some of the best Graphic novels which include . The feel of the stories is similar to Conan Doyle's own style of writing an engaging mystery. The art work if very well done as well so not only was this a joy to read but also quite impressive in the visual sense.
In my opinion the character of Simon Archer feels almost like a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Batman. He relies heavily on building gadgets to pass time and has created his own base of operations from a converted chapel. So it is not an apartment on 221 Baker Street, or a secluded cave, but it seems to mesh the two characters very well into one. Archer's assistant is not a doctor or really has any vocation other than trying to keep up with Archer. In the first issue of this graphic novel we are lead to believe she has an underlying mission which keeps her with Archer but that fails to develop so don't hang on that little bit of information for now. Enjoy the mysteries as they happen. She also is hiding a bit of a secret from Archer, she has super powers. Where these powers come from and exactly what she is capable of are still a mystery to the reader after finishing Vol 1, so I hope a little more light is shed in volume two.
The only thing, for me, that kept this from being a 5 star review is the supernatural aspect of the story and lack of resolution or development for Miss Bishops powers. I felt that the mystery would be just fine without pulling in to play these secret powers that she is troubled with keeping from her partner Archer. After doing much research on this project I found that Mark Waid didn't want to write a supernatural aspect to the story but was pressured into it by the publishing company. That is clearly evident as the powers of Miss Bishop seemed to disappear three issues in. The company also went Bankrupt after the series had wrapped and only had published 2 of the potential 4 volumes this series will encompass. I fear I will never know the true secrets Miss Bishop his hiding from Archer and us the reader. I'll just have to read on.
In Ruse Simon Archer is the worlds greatest detective, with his assistant Emma Bishop. The only comparison to Holmes is the character personalities. Otherwise this is a separate world with it's own secrets and comic wonders. The mysteries are well written and I attribute that the the profound writing of Mark Waid who has written some of the best Graphic novels which include . The feel of the stories is similar to Conan Doyle's own style of writing an engaging mystery. The art work if very well done as well so not only was this a joy to read but also quite impressive in the visual sense.
In my opinion the character of Simon Archer feels almost like a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Batman. He relies heavily on building gadgets to pass time and has created his own base of operations from a converted chapel. So it is not an apartment on 221 Baker Street, or a secluded cave, but it seems to mesh the two characters very well into one. Archer's assistant is not a doctor or really has any vocation other than trying to keep up with Archer. In the first issue of this graphic novel we are lead to believe she has an underlying mission which keeps her with Archer but that fails to develop so don't hang on that little bit of information for now. Enjoy the mysteries as they happen. She also is hiding a bit of a secret from Archer, she has super powers. Where these powers come from and exactly what she is capable of are still a mystery to the reader after finishing Vol 1, so I hope a little more light is shed in volume two.
The only thing, for me, that kept this from being a 5 star review is the supernatural aspect of the story and lack of resolution or development for Miss Bishops powers. I felt that the mystery would be just fine without pulling in to play these secret powers that she is troubled with keeping from her partner Archer. After doing much research on this project I found that Mark Waid didn't want to write a supernatural aspect to the story but was pressured into it by the publishing company. That is clearly evident as the powers of Miss Bishop seemed to disappear three issues in. The company also went Bankrupt after the series had wrapped and only had published 2 of the potential 4 volumes this series will encompass. I fear I will never know the true secrets Miss Bishop his hiding from Archer and us the reader. I'll just have to read on.
October 1, 2024
Cool free find on Oceanofpdf it was much better than I was expecting
October 18, 2022
This graphic novel reminded me of a mashup between Sherlock Holmes stories and the TV series Penny Dreadful. It seems like an odd mix at first but it absolutely worked for me. I liked that the narrator of the story is a woman who is not all that she seems to be. I'm very curious to know more about her. The Sherlock character, Simon Archard, was an arrogant SOB who doesn't really see everything that Emma does for him. I love the artwork with one caveat--the buxom ladies with the wasp waists. We have a strong female character in Emma but that's undermined a bit with this very stereotypical comic treatment of women. This was published in 2002 so there's really no excuse. *sigh*
There's also a fantasy element in the first storyline that really disappears in the following chapters. I'm curious if it will come back. Also, my copy was almost impossible to read when the text was just on either side of the spine. It disappeared into the fold. The book didn't appear to be damaged and repaired but that is a possibility. Other copies may not have this problem.
This was a fun graphic novel and I hope to come across the sequel one day.
There's also a fantasy element in the first storyline that really disappears in the following chapters. I'm curious if it will come back. Also, my copy was almost impossible to read when the text was just on either side of the spine. It disappeared into the fold. The book didn't appear to be damaged and repaired but that is a possibility. Other copies may not have this problem.
This was a fun graphic novel and I hope to come across the sequel one day.
February 4, 2008
Well, this series is essentially magical Sherlock Holmes- with Holmes replaced by a supermodel and Watson replaced with a bombacious blonde babe. Not exactly the most mind-shattering comics around, but they're well drawn, the stories and action is entertaining.
Good to read when you want something light and action-filled.
Good to read when you want something light and action-filled.
September 15, 2008
Reprints Ruse #1-6. Archibald and Emma work to solve murders in a world where the supernatural is commonplace. The Ruse series was interesting and had great art. The ties to the Crossgen line were probably its weakness, but it never got the chance to develop fully so who knows where the series would have led.
June 11, 2007
Excellent first collection of a good comic book character. If you like Sherlock Holmes or Batman, Ruse is definitely for you. The detective is much like Holmes and The Dark Knight, but there's an added edge of magic to add some flair.
May 29, 2009
Ah, it's the perfect comic! Fantastical Victorian setting, witty dialogue, abounding clever mysteries, a fair dose of exciting action, and a romantic bouquet. I can't believe it ended prematurely when the publisher went out of business. :-(
April 12, 2008
I really enjoyed this beautifully-illustrated blend of Sherlock Holmes meets the otherworld. Too bad Crossgen went under; I would've liked to see more of this kind of story.
May 13, 2008
Butch Guice's art, mostly made up of giants two-page spreads, is the highlight.
August 12, 2009
A Sherlock Holmes type detective with a partner who is able to stop time.
June 20, 2008
Extra 1/2 star.
November 16, 2017
I liked a lot of the elements here -- the Sherlock-ness is interesting without being too much, the dialogue is good (though very modern, which I know bothers some readers). The most interesting part is Emma though, and her magical abilities. Unfortunately that thread completely disappears in the second half, and the plot of that second arc is much more derivative. It was good but I don't know if it's good enough to keep reading, especially since other reviewers say volume 2 is all about that second arc and nothing about Emma.
December 6, 2018
El dibujo realista de Butch Guice junto con el excelente guión de Mark Waid dan como resultado a Ruse. Tal como anuncia su portada, el detective protagonista es prácticamente todo lo que imaginamos de Sherlock Holmes. Con una deducción por encima de lo normal, solventa diversos casos.
Pero en este caso, con o sin su conocimiento, sus misiones estarán relacionadas con lo sobrenatural.
A pesar de los años transcurridos, este es probablemente el mejor (o uno de los mejores) tÃtulos de la extinta editorial Crossgen.
Pero en este caso, con o sin su conocimiento, sus misiones estarán relacionadas con lo sobrenatural.
A pesar de los años transcurridos, este es probablemente el mejor (o uno de los mejores) tÃtulos de la extinta editorial Crossgen.
February 27, 2022
En ombearbetning av Sherlock Holmes i en värld av magi. Simon (Sherlock) är en än mer dryg person än sin föregångare. Emma (Whatson) är en vackrare och mer kompetent version som (Sherlocks) assisten (partner). Det är vackert illustrerat. Naturtroget och magiskt. Lite tröttsamma monologer. Tyvärr inte lika klurigt som originalet men ett bra försök till att göra något nytt av en klassiker. En verklig fröjd för ögat.
February 13, 2019
I read this series when I was a kid, working as a shelver in my local library. I loved it because I loved Sherlock Holmes (whom Simon is aptly like, but not entirely the same, of course), and I enjoyed the main female protagonist in this quite a bit. (I forget her name, unfortunately.) A good, quick read. (I re-read it two years ago and still enjoyed it.)
April 16, 2019
Take a pinch of arrogant detective, add a female assistant with tenacity, brains and grit. Add to the fictional city of Partington mix in some humour and you have Crossgen comics premiere detective. The comparisons to Holmes are inevitable, and probably was intended by the creators. But there is a different sensibility to the whole thing. The start of multi-chapter mystery.
July 15, 2017
What if Sherlock Holmes had a female assistant who could stop time? Waid turns in a clever script, with many clues hidden in the artwork. Seems to be building toward a larger plot, so I am eager to read the second volume!
Read
December 22, 2022*sigh* I keep trying to make more episodes of Ruse appear, and they just don't. I really love this comic book series, so this one is a reread. I may have to dig out the other copies we have upstairs and finish what there is of the series again.
Want to read
January 7, 20182018 Read Harder #18 - Read a comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image
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