Decades before superhero investigators such as Jessica Jones or Batman graced comic book pages, mystery/thriller readers enjoyed the tales of a Victorian-era sleuth who relied on sheer intellect and detective skills to help solve mysteries and foil violent crimes. Sherlock Holmes held the title of "World's Greatest Detective" long before the Dark Knight.
In many ways, Holmes's literary creation helped lay the foundations for the archetypal detective work seen in today's pop culture. Sherlock Holmes was initially created as a short story character but grew in popularity, earning his own comic series. Holmes also made several comic book cameo appearances, coming face-to-face with heroes like Superman and Booster Gold and villains like the Joker.
10 Sherlock Holmes Battles The Clown Prince Of Crime In Joker #6
One of Sherlock Holmes's most iconic comic book cameos of the 1970s happened in Joker #6 by Denny O'Neil, Ernie Chan, and Irv Novick. In the Bronze Age storyline, Holmes hunts for the Joker, sort of. The issue opens with a local theater play about the life of Sherlock Holmes. During the performance, Professor Moriarty, played by the Joker, shoots Holmes with a boxing glove gun and flees.
The actor playing Holmes emerges from his unconscious state believing that he really is Sherlock. The Holmes actor apprehends Joker with the help of the police. Once captured, Joker reveals that he attacked the actor to send a pointed message to all detectives seeking to hinder his life of crime.
9 The Scarlet Speedster Teams Up With The Consulting Detective
Sherlock Holmes was 100 years old when he was first joined the DC universe in the pages of Flash #69 by Gardner Fox and Everett Hibbard. In the historic issue, the Golden Age Flash and Hawkman contact an extremely elderly Sherlock Holmes to help solve a series of fires by a suspected arsonist.
Holmes never explicitly says that he is the one true Sherlock Holmes. However, his mannerisms, appearance, and detective skills give him away as the iconic investigator. The Consulting Detective even deduces Hawkman's alter-ego by the end of the issue.
8 Booster Gold Meets A Sherlock Holmes Apparition
In Booster Gold Vol. 2 #6 by Geoff Johns and Dan Jurgens, Booster travels back in time to stop Maxwell Lord from killing Blue Beetle. Ted Cords's death could cause an avalanche of trouble for the multiverse and villain Maxwell Lord is hellbent on killing any Blue Beetle he can get his hands on.
The issue features a ton of cameos by Blue Beetles Jaime Reyes and Dan Garrett as well as Batman, Starman, and Black Canary. Sherlock's cameo comes in the form of an apparition when Booster meets the legendary detective.
7 Sherlock Holmes Teams With Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe Annual #2 by Keith Giffen and Gerard Jones sees members of the Justice League displaced throughout time. The issue is part two of the Armeggedon 2001 storyline in which Superman enlists the help of Waverider to track down and capture Monarch.
The two-part story is action-packed with tons of appearances by Justice League staples as well as more obscure heroes such as Merlin and Crimson Fox. The issue ends with a final search for Captain Atom led by the one and only Sherlock Holmes. Elongated Man even impersonates the detective on the cover, sporting his famous cap and magnifying lens.
6 Sherlock Holmes Meets Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. #2 is iconic for the mere fact that it is the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes in a standard U.S. comic book story. Published by Fawcett Comics, Captain Marvel Jr. prevents Captain Nazi from killing a young boy. Although the young boy lives, he remains in critical condition.
With time ticking, Captain Marvel races to retrieve much-needed medicine for the hospitalized boy. Captain Marvel ends up in Britain where he meets the iconic Sherlock Holmes who helps him dismantle Captain Nazi's black market operation to get the life-saving drugs.
5 The World's Greatest Detective Meets Batman
Sherlock Holmes made dozens of comic book appearances in Marvel and DC. One of his most notable cameos occurs in Detective Comics #572 by Mike W. Barr, Carmine Infantino, and Dennis O'Neil. In the "Doomsday Book," Batman and Robin head to London to rescue hostages.
Once in London, the Dynamic Duo surprisingly meet Elongated Man who is also on the hunt for a person taken hostage by Edgar Moriarty, the great-grandson of Sherlock Holmes's arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty. The heroes foil an elaborate plot to assassinate the Queen of England, and the legendary Sherlock Holmes thanks Batman for his services.
4 Sherlock Holmes Meets Superboy
Superboy #110 by George Papp is a very interesting issue that features both historical people and fictional characters trying to kill Superboy. Lana Lang is telepathically told to destroy Superboy. Unknown forces control Lana to hunt down magical flowers and ancient masks that could give her telepathic power over anyone, living or dead, for one hour.
The issue turns into a battle royale with cameos by George Washington, Edgar Allen Poe, Hercules, Samson, and more. Superboy breaks Lana's telepathic control with the help of Sherlock Holmes.
3 Sherlock Holmes Returns In World's Finest
Batman and Superman team up to solve a series of mysterious kidnappings and missing men in Gotham in World's Finest #279 by Carey Burkett and Keith Pollard. The issue included four different stories. The first featured Superman and Batman, the second and third featured Green Arrow and Hawkman, and the final starred the Marvel family.
The final story calls back to Captain Marvel Jr. #2 where Sherlock first appeared in Fawcett Comics. Freddy recalls meeting the famous investigator for the first time, and several panels of that original story were redrawn for this World's Finest issue.
2 Sherlock Holmes Saves The Last Son of Krypton
Action Comics #283 by Robert Bernstein and Curt Swan follows Superman's race against the clock to stop two time-traveling criminals from building a machine that captures kryptonite from space and transports it to Earth.
The Last Son of Krypton enlists the help of Supergirl along the way, but even their combined efforts aren't enough. In a moment of desperation, Superman mentally summons Sherlock Holmes to Earth and explains the dire situation. With the famous detective's brains and Superman's brawn, the pair defeat the two villains and prevent more kryptonite from reaching the planet.
1 Batman Battles Lucifer With The Help of Sherlock Holmes
Batman's quest to find a serial arsonist leaves him with more questions than answers in DC Special Series #8 by Bob Haney and Ric Estrada. When criminals steal a statue of the Caped Crusader, Batman travels to London where he learns that Sgt. Rock and Easy Company have also been dispatched to investigate a missing statue.
Batman and Sgt. Rock team up to investigate how the two crimes are connected. Later, Deadman possesses Sherlock Holmes to warn Batman that this case involves a spiritual element. Batman identifies Lucifer as the arsonist and thief by the end of the issue.