Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders: The Gene Genie - by Joel Meadows (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is an epic alternate world sci fi adventure featuring The World's Greatest Detective as people have never seen him before.

When Watson leaves Holmes to help Crick unravel the DNA helix and finds himself in the employ of England's most evil man, Holmes is forced to team up with an unlikely group to defeat this monstrous figure and return England to its status quo. But can he defeat the machinations of the man at the rudder of the country?

Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders The Gene Genie is perfect for fans of Michael Moorcock (Elric, Jerry Cornelius) and Bryan Talbot (The Adventures Of Luther Arkwright, Grandville). Winning a Comic Scene award for Best Crowdfunder in 2025, it has already garnered quite a following since its debut in 2020 as a short comic story in the pages of Tripwire.

Review Quotes

As a lifelong Sherlock Holmes devotee I'm very happy to add this to my collection of the master of 221 B Baker streets adventures! Meadows and Bennet have accomplished a small(but important!) miracle in capturing the spirit and mystery of Conan Doyle's Holmes in their great imagining in this new story with the eccentric and brilliant private consulting detective. Meadows has written a tale full of mystery and he draws you in with his mastery of the detective tale. Bennett's art is just wonderful as it has all the atmosphere a Holmes tale would require and yet has a fresh approach and graphic charm that makes this an instant classic. If you love Holmes you will love this, if you are new to Sherlock Holmes you could have no betterintroduction.--Kelley Jones, artist, Batman, Dracula

Drawing from the wonderful classic that is Sherlock Holmes, Joel Meadows and Tripwire have once again delivered an electrifying story in a dynamically driven comic spread.--Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop (Lord Of The Rings films, Planet Of
The Apes)

If you thought nothing new could be done with the Great Detective, check out Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders, a labour of love by by Joel Meadows and Andy Bennett.--Bryan Talbot, writer/artist Grandville, Luther Arkwright

Joel Meadows and Andy Bennett have delivered a rare treat for fans of
Sherlock Holmes - tantalising new stories that stay true to the tone and
aesthetic of the canon.--Frank Quitely, Batman, All-Star Superman

Meadows and Bennett have done the impossible: they've found a rich, dark, brilliant new solution to the mystery of Sherlock Holmes, that ties him to the darkest secret histories of the 20th century.
--Lev Grossman, author, The Bright Sword, The Magicians

The game is indeed afoot! It's no small feat to take on the works of Conan Doyle, and yet Joel and Andy have done a neat job of it. Holmes feels quite like the Sherlock we know and love -- except he's found himself out of his element. Meanwhile, like every great heroic story, there's a villain who... well, you'll just have to read it for yourself. Gorgeous artwork by Andy that captures the mood and the spirit of Joel's page turner. Enjoy it all!

--Jeph Loeb, writer of Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: The Last Halloween, Batman: Hush

When you think there is nothing more to be said or done with Sherlock Holmes, along come Meadows and Bennett to breathe fresh life into the great detective. Bravo! I'm thoroughly enjoying this original tale!
--Michael Moorcock, fantasy writing legend (Elric, Jerry Cornelius)

About the Author

Joel Meadows is a journalist and writer with over three decades of experience in newspapers, magazines, and books. His CV includes some of the most renowned publications in the world, including Time magazine, the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Observer. He has also written extensively about comics, film, TV, and culture for publications such as Variety, Empire, Big Issue in the North, and Comic Heroes. He is the editor-in-chief of Tripwire, a preeminent publication that covers comics, film, TV, and related subjects. he was one of the founders of the successful Portsmouth Comic Con.

Andy Bennett was born in southern Ohio. He is a graduate of Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, and The Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus. Today he serves as a digital media designer at Highlights for Children in Columbus, as well as offering freelance design and illustration work for a wide range of clients. He currently lives in Columbus with his wife Lisa.