Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 1

Late nineteenth century. Great Britain rules a quarter of the world, and London's class system keeps nobles in comfort while the working class labours for them. Albert James Moriarty is born into that nobility and comes to despise it.

His upper-class family adopts two orphans from the lower class. The boys suffer cruelty at the family's hands, and what Albert sees of it settles his hatred of his own birthright.

Albert turns to the elder of the two adopted boys, who has a genius mind and a killer instinct. He asks for help in ridding the world of evil, and the first target is Albert's own family.

The book is a historical manga that reimagines the man who becomes Sherlock Holmes's great rival. Before that rivalry, he works against the caste system by making sure corrupt nobles pay for their crimes. His plans risk slipping out of his control, and the open question is whether his dream of a just and equal world makes him a hero or a monster.