MORIARTY #1 introduces us to a Moriarty as every bit of an equal to his archenemy Sherlock Holmes. After Holmes' death, he's discovered that he's lost his purpose and has settled for a life that doesn't really excite him. This may may be about to change as the events of this issue bring him a little too close to the past he left behind.

 I generally don't care for stories that put villains in a sympathetic light, but here Moriarty is shown more as the character he truly is: a nemesis of Shelock Holmes. A chess player who no longer has an opponent. Now he finds himself playing at a new table and we get to see what makes him a worthwhile foe for Holmes. They very well could be two sides of the same coin, both almost equally matched at solving problems and deductive reasoning. 

 Daniel Corey does a fine job of mixing enough backstory with the main adventure in "The Dark Chamber" to give readers an idea of where Moriarty stands. Over the course of the issue, he delivers an enthralling mystery tale that displays a firm understanding of both the character and the genre. His choice of dialogue does well to set apart the various personalities in the book and is full of Victorian flavor. 

 The art by Anthony Diecidue took a while to adapt to. He has a genuinely unique style but after a few pages it's clear that he is a talented artist. While the opening scene was probably not the best sampling of his work, he really shines later on as Moriarty is conducting his investigations. Often-times his art struck me as the perfect match for the suspenseful tale and his artsy layouts accentuated the moody feel. 

 While I highly recommend MORIARTY for fans of Sherlock Holmes, even non-fans will not be disappointed. This is a very satisfying mystery tale that is worth checking out.