M.O.R.I.A.R.T.Y #2

The second volume of Delcourt's stylish reimagining of the Moriarty mythos closes out the "Empire Mécanique" arc with a striking cover: a poised woman in a red qipao stands atop a heap of gears and machinery, cigarette in hand, while an enormous hulking figure looms behind her amid glowing paper lanterns and smoky shadows — an image that balances menace and elegance in equal measure. Duval, Pécau, Subic, and Scarlett bring a distinct Franco-Belgian sensibility to the world of Holmesian villainy, blending steampunk machinery with an unmistakably East Asian atmosphere. If the 2019 French comics scene had you hungry for something with grand ambition and visual flair, this concluding half of the arc delivers a cover that's hard to look away from.