Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: The Interconnectedness of All Kings

May 15, 2016

As the quirky "holistic detective" enshrined in popular Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) novels, Dirk Gently takes on multiple crises by pursuing random leads with the confidence that the "interconnectedness of all things" will bring about resolution. Now Dirk has relocated to San Diego, where his crises du jour include reincarnated Egyptians, serial killers, and (as with the first novel) a time traveler with an agenda. The result is great fun, largely because of the idiosyncratic personalities. Everyone has peculiar aspects beyond central casting, from Dirk and his married lesbian sidekicks to the Egyptians, the serial killers, the time traveler, and a homeless man with a golden cell phone. The art somewhat resembles Rob Guillory's work for Chew but less grotesque, and Guillory contributed several of Gently's single issue covers. Adams enthusiasts, however, may feel that the plot develops too straightforwardly and that this Dirk bears minor visual resemblance to the original character description. VERDICT Not all aficionados of the novels may find this Dirk caper up to their expectations, but others will enjoy Ryall's goofy mix of alliances, diverse characters, time-and-space bending, and synergy of all parts at the end.--MC

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