The Disoriented Express

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Graphic Novels #10

by Stefan Petrucha, Sho Murase (Illustrator)

On its journey to Professor Hinkley's research facility, Nancy Drew must protect an amazing creation that could possibly end the world's energy crisis. Unstable and dangerous, the super fuel-efficient engine must be transported by a private train. But dark forces are at work, attempting to shanghai the miracle machine – literally at every turn by using computers to jam the switches! But while Nancy, and her friend George, attempt to determine which sinister suspect is behind these despicable acts, they soon realize that if their adversaries can't succeed at stealing this miraculous machine, they'll destroy the train, along with everything, and everyone on it! "The Disoriented Express" is the second in a series of three Nancy Drew adventures entitled "The High Miles Mystery."

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mystery, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Comics

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2007

About the author

Stefan Petrucha (born January 27, 1959) is an American writer for adults and young adults. He has written graphic novels in the The X-Files and Nancy Drew series, as well as science fiction and horror.
Born in the Bronx, he has spent time in the big city and the suburbs, and now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, fellow writer Sarah Kinney, and their daughters. At times he has been a tech writer, an educational writer, a public relations writer and an editor for trade journals, but his preference is for fiction in all its forms.

Reviews

[Wasim Mahmud · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I have to admit something. I have never gone through any original stories of Nancy Drew, the detective.

Since I am a big sucker when it comes to Comics or Graphic Novels, the decision of mine was to go through Nancy Drew's Comic Book adaptation.

So I am not really aware of Nancy's deduction prowess or the best stories.

The story takes off as Nancy, her friends and Boyfriend Ned got invited to this train journey.

In her previous action-adventure packed 'Ghost in the Machinery' story, Nancy, Millionaire Ralph Credo, Scientist Roy Hinkly and others found out the source of tremendous energy. From the WWII tank engine came out some incredibly powerful magnets. These symbol of attraction actually are capable of revolutionize the car industry.

While inside the super-fast choo choo, everyone's luxury and comfort perishes as some unknown people or group has conspired to hijack the train.

Is Nancy trouble-prone or it's the other way around? In this fast paced adventure Nancy and her friends got to solve another mystery in order to save the super-energy source away from mischievous foes and also to save their lives.

The Comics art is less than above average. Doesn't give the readers that comics vibe which is hard to explain with words. Also some of the aspects of the art / story seemed silly to me.

Nonetheless, for kids these Comics could be recommended. Some girl power wording is there. Could have been better if there were more elements of mystery involved in these stories.

Book Review

Name : The Disoriented Express
Writer : Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney
Artist : Sho Murase
With 3d CG elements and color by Carlos Jose Guzman
Letterer : Bryan Senka
Editor in chief : Jim Salicrup
( Based on the series by Carolyn Keene )
Reviewer : Wasim Hasan Mahmud.

[Aya Esther Hayashi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to be critical of this in a way that might seem to some to be unfair/unwarranted.

The story was cute. Nancy Drew was one of my favorite spunky girl characters when I was growing up. In many ways, she was a welcome, forward addition to her genre before this most recent renaissance of children/YA fiction.

That being said, this graphic novel addition was disappointing. I jumped into the middle of the story. This was the second of a trilogy, but as others have noted, this could have stood alone with some tweaks to the initial premise.

I think, overall, I just expected more from this than I got. All of the characters are white. Additionally, Nancy has these throwaway lines that are so regressive (e.g., Male character: "Why are you so nosy?" Nancy: "I'm a girl detective!" Why couldn't she just have said, "I'm a detective!")

I'm a believer that children's lit strongly shapes our imaginations. I realized recently how much I automatically assume characters (when minimal description is given) are white. That's largely because of what I read as a kid. There are so many subtle ways that children's lit shapes our imaginations. This Nancy Drew novel was disappointing because of what it could have done, especially in its graphic novel form, and the little subtle things that the authors chose to do. I believe they can do better.

[Yna Paez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is only my second time reading Nancy Drew outside of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories . I’ve read some of the Nancy Drew Files novels as a child but I can’t remember those anymore.

Early on I already realized I wasn’t a fan of this graphic novel with it’s hip and updated version of Nancy. The theme reminds me of Totally Spies and Kimpossible. It felt like I was reading a different story with different characters altogether and it’s hard for me to get my head around this new concept even if the story was great and exciting. I’m really more in love with Nancy as she was in the original novels even though her character and the plot in its entirety is old-fashioned and no longer up to code.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one way better than the last few I've read.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great surprise to learn about and see that Nancy Drew was carrying on as a graphic novel now. While I wasn't too keen on the art style, I still sucked it up and enjoyed it. The story was good, but Nancy was a bonehead! She was so absent minded and forgetful, this was nothing like the real Nancy Drew in the main series. I was disappointed about that, but it was still a fun read.
One other thing I am wondering about is where the heck is Helen Corning? Nancy seems to only be hanging out with Bess and George now. Don't get me wrong, I like Bess and George, but I liked Helen too. I really liked this one, this was one of the books that got me into the knowledge of Agatha Christie.

[Raja99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining but average for the series. It's nominally the second part of a three-parter ( Ghost in the Machinery came first), but it would have worked just as well if Nancy were taking a train on vacation or something. I joined the library's waiting list for the third part, which is way overdue.

(Finished 2009-08-03 23:53:14 EDT)

[Shonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy and friends are invited to transport the tank engine to a research facility to be studied. The tank is being delivered on Ralph Credo’s privately owned train. Unfortunately Nancy’s archenemy, Deidre, has also been invited. The trip starts out fine until weird things start happening. Obvious that the train has been tampered with, Nancy immediately jumps on the case to ensure a safe journey.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a three-manga story. In the first, a tank that got 200 mpg is found. In this one the tank is being transported on a bullet-train which is then taken over by someone and diverted and nearly crashed.

A lot of the story time is taken up by Nancy's personal nemesis, Diedre, and that does make for some funny moments. It's a fairy decent addition to the storyline.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have found that I enjoy reading the Nancy Drew graphic novels much more than I ever thought I would. I found out though that this one was part of a 3 volume series and I should have read #9 first. It still was fun- I like seeing Nancy Drew and chums as 21st century characters.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and solidly entertaining. There were a few places where I had to roll my eyes (picking up free wireless for a few seconds while a train is passing through a town is pretty unrealistic) but just like in the last book, I really enjoy Nancy's no nonsense practicality and level head.

[Erin]

GN FIC PET; Graphic Novel; Mystery; Sept.18/12

[Book Thrift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be looking forward for the next comics. Haven't got a copy yet :(

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Nancy Drew mysteries, and I also loved the graphic novel of Nancy Drew.