Zombies, supplanting vampires in popularity these days, are cropping up everywhere. It's no surprise they are now appearing in Victorian London, always a ripe setting for creepy violence.

Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes vs. Zombies gives readers much of what they seek: a brave and analytical detective, his stalwart friend by his side, with the fate of England resting on his shoulders. Art by Davide Fabbri is crisp and clean and suitably gore-streaked. And the story by Ian Edginton is ... well, it's pretty good.

The success of this story depends largely on what readers expect. If you're looking for a good zombie yarn in Victorian England, well, tally-ho, matey, you'll find it here. But, while Edginton gives Sherlock (along with his brother, Mycroft) a worthy foe with whom to match wits, the story lacks the depth of analytical logic many fans will expect from a Holmsian story.

Shortcomings aside, I enjoyed the book. Unless you're a complete purist on the subject, you probably will, too.