What do you think?
Rate this book
Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #1-6
Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys The Big Lie
Volume collects issues 1-6
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery unlike any other you've ever read! When the teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are accused of the murder of their father - a detective in the small resort town of Bayport - they must team up with Nancy Drew to prove their innocence (and find the real guilty party in the process) in a twisting noir tale, complete with double-crosses, deceit, and dames.
Writer Anthony Del Col (Assassin's Creed, Kill Shakespeare) and artist Werther Dell'Edera (Batman: Detective Comics, House of Mystery) bring the iconic teen detectives into the modern age, and redefine noir for a new generation of readers!
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery unlike any other you've ever read! When the teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are accused of the murder of their father - a detective in the small resort town of Bayport - they must team up with Nancy Drew to prove their innocence (and find the real guilty party in the process) in a twisting noir tale, complete with double-crosses, deceit, and dames.
Writer Anthony Del Col (Assassin's Creed, Kill Shakespeare) and artist Werther Dell'Edera (Batman: Detective Comics, House of Mystery) bring the iconic teen detectives into the modern age, and redefine noir for a new generation of readers!
162 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
35 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Del Col
122 books47 followersAnthony is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/producer of podcasts and comics. His stories include KILL SHAKESPEARE, ASSASSIN'S CREED, the controversial graphic novel THE DEATH OF NANCY DREW, and the award-winning Insider comic I ESCAPED A CHINESE INTERNMENT CAMP, a first-person exploration of one Muslim Uyghur woman’s imprisonment by the Chinese government (2022 Pulitzer Award for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary).
His 2020 audio drama ASSASSIN’S CREED: GOLD, starring Oscar-nominee Riz Ahmed, was Audible’s top-rated release of the year. HIs first project with Audible, the found-footage thriller UNHEARD: THE STORY OF ANNA WINSLOW, hit #1 on Audible and broke download records.
Other projects include the Ringo Awards-nominated graphic novel SON OF HITLER (“few war stories are this much fun” - NPR); LUKE CAGE: EVERYMAN (Marvel), three seasons of Wondery’s hit podcast AGAINST THE ODDS, over 50 episodes of the Army Matters podcast and a series of acclaimed and award-winning comics for Insider that explore subjects such as anti-Muslim policies in India, filtration camps in Ukraine and migrant workers in Qatar.
A proud Canadian, he lives in Brooklyn with his lovely - and patient - wife Lisa, son Dashiell and daughter Siena.
His 2020 audio drama ASSASSIN’S CREED: GOLD, starring Oscar-nominee Riz Ahmed, was Audible’s top-rated release of the year. HIs first project with Audible, the found-footage thriller UNHEARD: THE STORY OF ANNA WINSLOW, hit #1 on Audible and broke download records.
Other projects include the Ringo Awards-nominated graphic novel SON OF HITLER (“few war stories are this much fun” - NPR); LUKE CAGE: EVERYMAN (Marvel), three seasons of Wondery’s hit podcast AGAINST THE ODDS, over 50 episodes of the Army Matters podcast and a series of acclaimed and award-winning comics for Insider that explore subjects such as anti-Muslim policies in India, filtration camps in Ukraine and migrant workers in Qatar.
A proud Canadian, he lives in Brooklyn with his lovely - and patient - wife Lisa, son Dashiell and daughter Siena.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
September 14, 2022
New Review 2022
I decided to re-read this when it popped up as a Hoopla Bonus Borrow in August. I actually liked it even more the 2nd go-around. It is terrific. It hits a few of the right nostalgia notes of reading these books as a kid. At the same time, this is a kick-butt noir version of the characters taking on grown up cases when Joe and Frank are accused of their father's murder. Werther Dell'edera, now of Something Is Killing the Children fame, gives the book the feel of a pulp cover. It's gorgeous and seedy looking.
Original Review 2017
Given that the last time I read a Hardy Boys book, I was probably 10, I didn't expect to be reading new stories in my 40's and digging them. Del Col has definitely turned the series on its ear with the kids all grown up now even though they are still in their teens. Joe and Frank's dad has been murdered and they are the prime suspects. So Nancy and the boys go undercover to find the real murderer. The end of the book also hints at bigger conspiracies to come. Del Col definitely steers the story into the crime noir genre. Dell'edera provides Tim Sale like retro art that looks like an extension of one of those pulp covers.
Received an advance copy from Dynamite and NetGalley.
I decided to re-read this when it popped up as a Hoopla Bonus Borrow in August. I actually liked it even more the 2nd go-around. It is terrific. It hits a few of the right nostalgia notes of reading these books as a kid. At the same time, this is a kick-butt noir version of the characters taking on grown up cases when Joe and Frank are accused of their father's murder. Werther Dell'edera, now of Something Is Killing the Children fame, gives the book the feel of a pulp cover. It's gorgeous and seedy looking.
Original Review 2017
Given that the last time I read a Hardy Boys book, I was probably 10, I didn't expect to be reading new stories in my 40's and digging them. Del Col has definitely turned the series on its ear with the kids all grown up now even though they are still in their teens. Joe and Frank's dad has been murdered and they are the prime suspects. So Nancy and the boys go undercover to find the real murderer. The end of the book also hints at bigger conspiracies to come. Del Col definitely steers the story into the crime noir genre. Dell'edera provides Tim Sale like retro art that looks like an extension of one of those pulp covers.
Received an advance copy from Dynamite and NetGalley.
February 15, 2018
I was in grade school when I first had the chance to read books of Nancy Drew Files and Hardy Boys Casefiles. It was my older sister who purchased them and I only borrowed them from her. It's over 2 decades and I've already forgot what particular books I'd read.
Reading this graphic novel of the Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys really takes me back to my childhood. I'm really grateful that I'd read this; reading Nancy, Joe and Frank's sleuthing skill and crime solving ability is both thrilling and fun to read.
Reading this graphic novel of the Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys really takes me back to my childhood. I'm really grateful that I'd read this; reading Nancy, Joe and Frank's sleuthing skill and crime solving ability is both thrilling and fun to read.
March 11, 2018
I’m not quite sure how this happened but I made it through my entire childhood without reading a single Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. I began to rectify this glaring hole in my bookish experience two years ago when my library bought the first few Nancy Drew books. I read and enjoyed the first two before getting distracted by another book. Here we are two years later and I’ve been distracted by so many other books that I haven’t read the third book or beyond. I’m yet to read a Hardy Boys book.
I was excited to have the opportunity to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie but when I tried to get into it the first time I was concerned that my lack of inside information about this trio would mean I would be lost before I started. I needn’t have worried. Finally giving up on getting to know Nancy better and the Hardy Boys at all first I dove into this graphic novel today and it was surprisingly awesome!
When I originally met book Nancy she came across to me as fitting a tad too well in the ’practically perfect in every way’ box but I loved her character in this noir graphic novel. This story shows Nancy, Frank and Joe with an edge that I’m guessing they never had in the novels.
In this story we find ourselves in postcard perfect Bayport. The Hardy Boys are suspects in their father’s murder and together with childhood friend and fellow mystery solver Nancy Drew, they need to find a way to clear their names and identify the real murderer. Along the way there are fist fights, suspicion thrown around some shady and not so shady characters, police brutality, flashbacks, meetings in the middle of the night and a good ol’ fashioned secret passageway left over from the Prohibition era.
I’m not sure how people who grew up loving Nancy, Frank and Joe will fare with what appears to be a hardening of their characters and a less innocent bunch of mystery solvers. I enjoyed the grittiness of the investigation and it probably says something about the feel of the graphic novel that in my head the male narrator/voice over had the same voice as Mickey Rourke’s Marv in Sin City.
I loved the front cover image, combining the trio and providing a hint of what’s to come. The illustrations matched the style of the story; dark, murky at times, with plenty of shadows to add to the ambience.
While one part of the mystery is solved in this graphic novel there’s an overarching mystery that remains to be solved another day, and it will definitely be a follow up I’ll be looking out for.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
I was excited to have the opportunity to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie but when I tried to get into it the first time I was concerned that my lack of inside information about this trio would mean I would be lost before I started. I needn’t have worried. Finally giving up on getting to know Nancy better and the Hardy Boys at all first I dove into this graphic novel today and it was surprisingly awesome!
When I originally met book Nancy she came across to me as fitting a tad too well in the ’practically perfect in every way’ box but I loved her character in this noir graphic novel. This story shows Nancy, Frank and Joe with an edge that I’m guessing they never had in the novels.
In this story we find ourselves in postcard perfect Bayport. The Hardy Boys are suspects in their father’s murder and together with childhood friend and fellow mystery solver Nancy Drew, they need to find a way to clear their names and identify the real murderer. Along the way there are fist fights, suspicion thrown around some shady and not so shady characters, police brutality, flashbacks, meetings in the middle of the night and a good ol’ fashioned secret passageway left over from the Prohibition era.
I’m not sure how people who grew up loving Nancy, Frank and Joe will fare with what appears to be a hardening of their characters and a less innocent bunch of mystery solvers. I enjoyed the grittiness of the investigation and it probably says something about the feel of the graphic novel that in my head the male narrator/voice over had the same voice as Mickey Rourke’s Marv in Sin City.
I loved the front cover image, combining the trio and providing a hint of what’s to come. The illustrations matched the style of the story; dark, murky at times, with plenty of shadows to add to the ambience.
While one part of the mystery is solved in this graphic novel there’s an overarching mystery that remains to be solved another day, and it will definitely be a follow up I’ll be looking out for.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
November 13, 2017
+Digital arc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
Despite the introduction of this comic as 'noir' and sort of gritty, I fail to see those changes, but how should I know, afterall, I'm not really a what you could call a real fan of the series, because I've never even see a book of the Hardy Brothers (kind of all american boys it seems) or Nancy Drew. Only watched some old movies of Nancy -that would explain why I'm not part of the 'Nancy was so cool' of the old crowd.- , and old episodes of the HB series, and okay I used to have a bit of crush over Sean Cassidy.
No so much now.
In this comic adapted to modern times , we have cell phones and the net, and the old themes of greed, envy, murder, suspicion, bad cops, beatings, drugs , nasty business and ostracism. Yeah, small town - big hell. Frank and Joe are accused of the murder of their father and are the pariah of Bayport.
Meanwhile Nancy appears as a manipulative... person. Intend in get one over her old man
-The thing that irked me more was the cop beating a minor (they are still in school according to this) during the interrogation.
-Not the most original plot or development but is written within the genre I guess.
-The drawing have a 50s feeling.
----------------
Dentro de la corriente de re-re-introducir viejas historias y comics viene esta nueva introducción de los Hardy Boys y de Nancy Drew. Debo confesar en este punto que nunca he leido ningún libro de dichos aspirantes a detectives, sino que solamente he visto algunas las películas de Nancy y que vi en algún punto algunos episodios de los Hardy Boys (versión años 70s). Sigue los típicos temas de un asesinato donde culpan a los hijos, el padre estaba bajo sospecha de negocios sucios, y ellos deciden investigar por su cuenta. No hay argumentos muy originales bajo esto, siguiendo las conclusiones de una historia de detectives con unas pocas desviaciones en el camino.
Molesta el temita que los dos hermanos estan peleando por impresionar a la chica. Mientras que ella no esta ni ahi con ellos, pero parece agradarle que ellos sigan haciendolo.
No es el tipo de historia que seguiria leyendo. (y quedan cosas pendientes para la próxima entrega)
>
Despite the introduction of this comic as 'noir' and sort of gritty, I fail to see those changes, but how should I know, afterall, I'm not really a what you could call a real fan of the series, because I've never even see a book of the Hardy Brothers (kind of all american boys it seems) or Nancy Drew. Only watched some old movies of Nancy -that would explain why I'm not part of the 'Nancy was so cool' of the old crowd.- , and old episodes of the HB series, and okay I used to have a bit of crush over Sean Cassidy.
No so much now.
In this comic adapted to modern times , we have cell phones and the net, and the old themes of greed, envy, murder, suspicion, bad cops, beatings, drugs , nasty business and ostracism. Yeah, small town - big hell. Frank and Joe are accused of the murder of their father and are the pariah of Bayport.
Meanwhile Nancy appears as a manipulative... person. Intend in get one over her old man
-The thing that irked me more was the cop beating a minor (they are still in school according to this) during the interrogation.
-Not the most original plot or development but is written within the genre I guess.
-The drawing have a 50s feeling.
----------------
Dentro de la corriente de re-re-introducir viejas historias y comics viene esta nueva introducción de los Hardy Boys y de Nancy Drew. Debo confesar en este punto que nunca he leido ningún libro de dichos aspirantes a detectives, sino que solamente he visto algunas las películas de Nancy y que vi en algún punto algunos episodios de los Hardy Boys (versión años 70s). Sigue los típicos temas de un asesinato donde culpan a los hijos, el padre estaba bajo sospecha de negocios sucios, y ellos deciden investigar por su cuenta. No hay argumentos muy originales bajo esto, siguiendo las conclusiones de una historia de detectives con unas pocas desviaciones en el camino.
Molesta el temita que los dos hermanos estan peleando por impresionar a la chica. Mientras que ella no esta ni ahi con ellos, pero parece agradarle que ellos sigan haciendolo.
No es el tipo de historia que seguiria leyendo. (y quedan cosas pendientes para la próxima entrega)
>
February 18, 2019
Why is the entertainment industry bent on ruining originally clean-cut characters?
It was bad enough when nameless, faceless individuals on the Internet were doing it, like when a website I stumbled upon as a kid called the Mystery, Inc., gang "four drug addicts and a dog" and then some...but, now, actual licensed material is messing up my childhood favorites, which would make their creators turn in their graves!
Seriously: Scooby Apocalypse? Riverdale? Why is this necessary?
As if the bigwigs hadn't already jacked up enough kiddie favorites, now, they're doing it to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys!
True, the original books weren't always G-rated; the scenes of peril and action in many of them would have likely earned a "PG" from the MPAA, were they films instead of novels.
Also, Nancy's immodest dress here is actually something I've encountered before; I recall at least one print novel where the teenaged sleuth is said to be wearing a bikini, which she thankfully doesn't do here.
However, the makers still messed things up quite a bit. Seriously: Bloody violence? Profanity? Nancy's father, who is reputable in all of the other books, treating her mother badly before her death? Drug content? Even the more modern adaptations don't veer into that territory; I know, because I've read many of them. (If you don't believe me, look at my list of books and see how many are credited to either Franklin W. Dixon or Carolyn Keene.) Maybe they might have occasional language, but, they're not "PG-13" like this mess.
The one thing I can give the makers credit for is that the artwork was fabulous; it's a shame it was wasted on a "jump the shark" moment. I'll stick to the old-school books from now on; there's so many of them, I know there are still plenty I haven't read.
It was bad enough when nameless, faceless individuals on the Internet were doing it, like when a website I stumbled upon as a kid called the Mystery, Inc., gang "four drug addicts and a dog" and then some...but, now, actual licensed material is messing up my childhood favorites, which would make their creators turn in their graves!
Seriously: Scooby Apocalypse? Riverdale? Why is this necessary?
As if the bigwigs hadn't already jacked up enough kiddie favorites, now, they're doing it to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys!
True, the original books weren't always G-rated; the scenes of peril and action in many of them would have likely earned a "PG" from the MPAA, were they films instead of novels.
Also, Nancy's immodest dress here is actually something I've encountered before; I recall at least one print novel where the teenaged sleuth is said to be wearing a bikini, which she thankfully doesn't do here.
However, the makers still messed things up quite a bit. Seriously: Bloody violence? Profanity? Nancy's father, who is reputable in all of the other books, treating her mother badly before her death? Drug content? Even the more modern adaptations don't veer into that territory; I know, because I've read many of them. (If you don't believe me, look at my list of books and see how many are credited to either Franklin W. Dixon or Carolyn Keene.) Maybe they might have occasional language, but, they're not "PG-13" like this mess.
The one thing I can give the makers credit for is that the artwork was fabulous; it's a shame it was wasted on a "jump the shark" moment. I'll stick to the old-school books from now on; there's so many of them, I know there are still plenty I haven't read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley, as always, for providing digital copies of these tomes.
We live in a time where everything old is new again! Comics like Archie, Star Trek and Star Wars are experiencing a resurgence (both through their Classic and "New Riverdale" lines), and TV and Cinema are rife with revivials/remakes/remaginings of classic fare.
While not everything they're bringing back stands the test of time, unfortunately, I'm pleased to report that this collection both respects the time-honored elements that we love about our intrepid heroine and her steadfast colleagues, and brings a modern take to the trappings and characters.
By necessity due to the age we live in, this books is a bit darker in tone than the classic novels of the times, but to my mind, that's not a bad thing. There's more of an gradual escalation of scale in this arc, where the characters genuinely seem to be in danger throughout, which I appreciated, as it befits the genre (I think.)
I'd highly recommend this title, and am looking forward to the resumption of the next arc sometime after November.
We live in a time where everything old is new again! Comics like Archie, Star Trek and Star Wars are experiencing a resurgence (both through their Classic and "New Riverdale" lines), and TV and Cinema are rife with revivials/remakes/remaginings of classic fare.
While not everything they're bringing back stands the test of time, unfortunately, I'm pleased to report that this collection both respects the time-honored elements that we love about our intrepid heroine and her steadfast colleagues, and brings a modern take to the trappings and characters.
By necessity due to the age we live in, this books is a bit darker in tone than the classic novels of the times, but to my mind, that's not a bad thing. There's more of an gradual escalation of scale in this arc, where the characters genuinely seem to be in danger throughout, which I appreciated, as it befits the genre (I think.)
I'd highly recommend this title, and am looking forward to the resumption of the next arc sometime after November.
November 24, 2017
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had never read anything Nancy Drew before.
But it didn’t bother me when reading this. The story was well constructed, the characters complex and interesting.
I really enjoyed getting to know Nancy as well as both Joe and Frank.
This was such a fast read, the intrigue just took me and left me wanting more... I hope a sequel comes out soon!
I had never read anything Nancy Drew before.
But it didn’t bother me when reading this. The story was well constructed, the characters complex and interesting.
I really enjoyed getting to know Nancy as well as both Joe and Frank.
This was such a fast read, the intrigue just took me and left me wanting more... I hope a sequel comes out soon!
October 25, 2017
In his introduction to the trade paperback collection of Dynamite Entertainment's Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie, Francesco Francavilla states, "These are the Hardy Boys like you have never seen them before. This is Nancy Drew like you've never seen her before. And this is to say that the book is not your grandparents' NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS books."
Thank God!
Please don't misunderstand me. Growing up, I voraciously read the yellow-spined Nancy Drew and blue-spined Hardy Boys books. I quickly discovered that some of the books I was reading were revised editions of books originally published between 1927, when the first Hardy Boys books hit the market, and about 1957. Thanks to a dear friend I was able to read most of the original text versions of the Nancy Drew books. I've since read the original versions of the first 34 Drew books, and a good number of the first 38 Hardy Boys books.
A change in both series took place in 1959. In addition to a new volume in both series, the first couple of books in each series was revised to eliminate negative stereotypes, shorten the stories, and to increase the amount of action. The Hardy brothers and Nancy Drew had been known to work outside of -- and in competition with -- law enforcement. With the revisions, the characters became pro law-and-order types. In Nancy's case, she also became practically perfect in every way. She could step into a role on the stage at a moment's notice having memorized the lines or play the bagpipes after one lesson or speak a dialect of a language having heard it once or twice. By 1977 the early books in both the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series had been revised, and the first 58 Hardy Boys and first 56 Nancy Drew books continue to be in print to this day. Even though new series for the characters are currently being published, it is the blue-spined Hardys and yellow-spined Nancy Drews that most people remember and pass on to their kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews.
But writer Anthony Del Col, artist Werther Dell'Edera, and colorist Stefano Simeone have brought Nancy, Frank, and Joe into the 21st century, changing their external circumstances -- we find out that Fenton Hardy was murdered, for example, on the second page of the story -- without changing the essence of what makes Nancy, Frank, and Joe who they are. Bayport Police Chief Ezra Collig is here, but is now a person of color. Carson Drew is now a federal prosecutor. Nancy, Frank, and Joe are friends with or acquainted with other familiar series book characters such as Tom Swift, Bert and Nan Bobbsey, the Rover Boys, etc.
Dropping Nancy Drew and Frank and Joe Hardy into a noir setting, a setting definitely more hard-boiled than they usually find themselves, would seem to be an odd choice except for the fact that they manage to take it all in stride. Readers soon discover that this isn't the first time Nancy, Frank, and Joe's world has been rocked by secrets better left hidden. Del Col ends the story with a cliffhanger, promising that this is only "The End . . . For Now," suggesting that there is far more to the story than what is told in The Big Lie.
Del Col writes succinctly, allowing Dell'Edera's art and Simeone's colors to convey mood and demeanor and move the story forward. Dell'Edera's art is loose and sketch-like in places but emphasizes at the same time the idea that things are constantly in motion. Simeone's colors manage to make Bayport look like the perfect vacation spot that visitors see, as when he uses bright color tones like those used in comics 35 years ago and more, and also reveals the seedy side of the town through the use of darker tones when America's favorite teen detectives move into areas where perhaps they shouldn't be.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys who only want to read stories involving Nancy, Frank, and Joe as they appear in the books from 1957-1979 may be reluctant to give this a try, but if they do I think they'll find that the same things they like about the characters in those books are still here.
I understand Dynamite Entertainment has green-lighted the second arc of Del Col's story for release in 2018. I can't wait! (And I hope that Simon and Schuster, owners and publishers of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, considers a prose companion series for teens/young adults featuring the characters.)
Rating: 5 Stars
I received a copy of the trade paperback from Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thank God!
Please don't misunderstand me. Growing up, I voraciously read the yellow-spined Nancy Drew and blue-spined Hardy Boys books. I quickly discovered that some of the books I was reading were revised editions of books originally published between 1927, when the first Hardy Boys books hit the market, and about 1957. Thanks to a dear friend I was able to read most of the original text versions of the Nancy Drew books. I've since read the original versions of the first 34 Drew books, and a good number of the first 38 Hardy Boys books.
A change in both series took place in 1959. In addition to a new volume in both series, the first couple of books in each series was revised to eliminate negative stereotypes, shorten the stories, and to increase the amount of action. The Hardy brothers and Nancy Drew had been known to work outside of -- and in competition with -- law enforcement. With the revisions, the characters became pro law-and-order types. In Nancy's case, she also became practically perfect in every way. She could step into a role on the stage at a moment's notice having memorized the lines or play the bagpipes after one lesson or speak a dialect of a language having heard it once or twice. By 1977 the early books in both the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series had been revised, and the first 58 Hardy Boys and first 56 Nancy Drew books continue to be in print to this day. Even though new series for the characters are currently being published, it is the blue-spined Hardys and yellow-spined Nancy Drews that most people remember and pass on to their kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews.
But writer Anthony Del Col, artist Werther Dell'Edera, and colorist Stefano Simeone have brought Nancy, Frank, and Joe into the 21st century, changing their external circumstances -- we find out that Fenton Hardy was murdered, for example, on the second page of the story -- without changing the essence of what makes Nancy, Frank, and Joe who they are. Bayport Police Chief Ezra Collig is here, but is now a person of color. Carson Drew is now a federal prosecutor. Nancy, Frank, and Joe are friends with or acquainted with other familiar series book characters such as Tom Swift, Bert and Nan Bobbsey, the Rover Boys, etc.
Dropping Nancy Drew and Frank and Joe Hardy into a noir setting, a setting definitely more hard-boiled than they usually find themselves, would seem to be an odd choice except for the fact that they manage to take it all in stride. Readers soon discover that this isn't the first time Nancy, Frank, and Joe's world has been rocked by secrets better left hidden. Del Col ends the story with a cliffhanger, promising that this is only "The End . . . For Now," suggesting that there is far more to the story than what is told in The Big Lie.
Del Col writes succinctly, allowing Dell'Edera's art and Simeone's colors to convey mood and demeanor and move the story forward. Dell'Edera's art is loose and sketch-like in places but emphasizes at the same time the idea that things are constantly in motion. Simeone's colors manage to make Bayport look like the perfect vacation spot that visitors see, as when he uses bright color tones like those used in comics 35 years ago and more, and also reveals the seedy side of the town through the use of darker tones when America's favorite teen detectives move into areas where perhaps they shouldn't be.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys who only want to read stories involving Nancy, Frank, and Joe as they appear in the books from 1957-1979 may be reluctant to give this a try, but if they do I think they'll find that the same things they like about the characters in those books are still here.
I understand Dynamite Entertainment has green-lighted the second arc of Del Col's story for release in 2018. I can't wait! (And I hope that Simon and Schuster, owners and publishers of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, considers a prose companion series for teens/young adults featuring the characters.)
Rating: 5 Stars
I received a copy of the trade paperback from Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 22, 2017
This is not your grandma's Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys! It's a gritty, violent, crime-ridden world where people are murdered in bloody ways. Nancy is brilliant and kick-ass as expected and she's a real babe too! The Hardy brothers are good foils with complimentary personalities but I was a bit shocked at how much they physically fought with each other. I have never read the original series so I can't compare but this one is definitely for teens and adults. I'm really interested to see where this conspiracy goes!
The retro graphic style and colouring suited the darkness of this noir detective story while still keeping it fun, since these are teenagers. Nancy Drew is very femme fatale in this series and it's kind of awesome. The depictions of the Hardy boys remind me a bit of Jughead and Archie which fits with their personalities too.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributors for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
The retro graphic style and colouring suited the darkness of this noir detective story while still keeping it fun, since these are teenagers. Nancy Drew is very femme fatale in this series and it's kind of awesome. The depictions of the Hardy boys remind me a bit of Jughead and Archie which fits with their personalities too.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributors for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
December 1, 2017
Brings back Drew and the Hardy Bros for the contemporary world. I enjoyed this so much and look forward to the next volume. Fantastic crime noir story, incorporating characters from both series. I also just love the inclusion of other Stratemeyer Syndicate characters: The Rover Boys as the villains, Tom Swift helps out and the Bobbsey Twins are hanging in the background. The ending lets us know they will play a bigger part next time around.Great story in which Frank and Joe are being framed for the death of their father. Nancy helps them to find the truth but in the end, she has to face some unpleasant facts, too.The art's atmospheric tone adds to the noir feeling of the story.
March 27, 2023
3.5 stars
Review to follow
Review to follow
October 18, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
First I just want to say that I have never read anything with the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew in my entire life, but this looked fun so I thought I would give it a try. That being said I'm not sure how similar this is to the rest of the franchise, if everyone is more or less in character, or whether die-hard fans will enjoy this. But if you're just looking for a fun mystery comic with some noir influences I would definitely recommend this. The art has a classic feel that really helps set the whole mood and the plot is interesting and moves along at a good pace. There are some bits where the dialogue or inner monologue feels a little bit cliched but I understand what they were trying to do with turning it into a noir detective story and I still enjoyed it overall.
First I just want to say that I have never read anything with the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew in my entire life, but this looked fun so I thought I would give it a try. That being said I'm not sure how similar this is to the rest of the franchise, if everyone is more or less in character, or whether die-hard fans will enjoy this. But if you're just looking for a fun mystery comic with some noir influences I would definitely recommend this. The art has a classic feel that really helps set the whole mood and the plot is interesting and moves along at a good pace. There are some bits where the dialogue or inner monologue feels a little bit cliched but I understand what they were trying to do with turning it into a noir detective story and I still enjoyed it overall.
December 14, 2020
I didn't really like this very much. Didn't feel like Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys to me. Leave out their names and it could be any mediocre mystery in a seaside town.
March 9, 2024
Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie is a modern graphic novel incorporating classic characters many readers grew up following. From page one, you know this isn't one of those little hardback books at the end of the dime store toy department. Frank and Joe Hardy's father was murdered in what looks like a suicide. The boys are suspects and Nancy Drew helps clear them. The Bobbsey twins are there too, hosting the party that is their alibi. The story is drawn in comic book style and features violence on almost every page. The story features the Rover Boys as bad guys and a slightly more complex plot than this description suggests. Nancy is motivated to help because her father is also a suspect. The characters also have more sophisticated flaws than the children's books that spawned the characters. Think fathers with affairs, police brutality, gambling, and drug dealing. The text at the end explaining the different roles in creating a graphic novel was as interesting as the story. Although I enjoyed this book, I don't think I will become a big fan of graphic novels.
February 17, 2024
A graphic novel, noir update of femme fatale Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.
October 26, 2017
I always liked Nancy Drew. Injecting her and the Hardy Boys into a gritty, noir-tinged mystery works really well. Hardly surprising, Nancy has been investigating murders for decades. It's a good mystery, though it felt like it was wrapped up a bit too quickly. The art is great, reminiscent of Sean Phillips's work on Criminal without looking like an imitation. Certainly a more adult incarnation of classic characters, but it isn't a wild jump for them, either.
January 31, 2018
I really really liked this, I have read and re-read the Hardy Boy books countless times since I was 4 or 5.
The boys are a little more grown up now, and I did miss some of their friends, like where in the hell is Chet?? I did enjoy the additions of the Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew and Tom Swift. There's even a tiny cameo from Callie.
This a gritty, fast paced, thrill ride for anyone who loved the Hardys and Nancy Drew.
Stop wanting them to be just like they used to be, just enjoy the update!
There's a to be continued, I hope more of the old crew arrives.
The boys are a little more grown up now, and I did miss some of their friends, like where in the hell is Chet?? I did enjoy the additions of the Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew and Tom Swift. There's even a tiny cameo from Callie.
This a gritty, fast paced, thrill ride for anyone who loved the Hardys and Nancy Drew.
Stop wanting them to be just like they used to be, just enjoy the update!
There's a to be continued, I hope more of the old crew arrives.
November 4, 2017
This was a very dark version of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I'm used to the middle-grade take on the famous girl slouth so the dark setting were a surprise to me. But it actually suited me better now that I'm all grown up.
December 6, 2017
I loved the Hardy Boys growing up, both the books and later, the TV series. Yes, I'm that old, lol. I was less of a Nancy fan but I read and enjoyed some of those books too. Still, when I saw this on NetGalley, I was intrigued. The blurb was a little off-putting with it's talk of noir style but I decided to give it a try.
This story radically revises the Hardy boys mythos - killing off their dad, reviving their late mother, and absolutely no mention of Aunt Gertrude nor is their any mention of any of their friends, Chet, Tony, etc. Additionally, they've been friends with Nancy and her family for years. There are changes to Nancy's mythos as well but not as radical. One nice little touch was the inclusion of other famous teen sleuths such as Tom Swift and the Bobbsey twins.
The story starts shortly after Fenton Hardy was killed. Nancy, Frank, and Joe have teamed up to solve Fenton's murder. Nancy is definitely the brains of the outfit and quite a master manipulator. Frank and Joe have sibling issues and argue, and fist fight, often. Joe is impetuous and Frank is sulky; actually, they both are. Like other teens, they argue, and whine, and got on my nerves. But together they find a killer, crack a drug ring, and discover a conspiracy. They were smart, clever, impulsive, and annoying and made a good team.
If you are a hard-core fan of the original Hardy Boys, or Nancy Drew, you may want to skip this. Not only is it very noir, complete with dark illustrations, but it radically updates Frank, Joe, and Nancy's stories. It's a much more current theme and storyline. The story wandered a bit, or so it seemed at first, before settling into the investigation. I have to say, I didn't always like Frank, Nancy, or Joe but they weren't boring or predictable. The art, as I mentioned, was dark, sometimes blurry, and not as detailed as I like. But the facial illustrations were excellent and added depth to the story. The story found Fenton's killer but left open other threads. Not a great story but a decent, if dark, very dark, update.
This story radically revises the Hardy boys mythos - killing off their dad, reviving their late mother, and absolutely no mention of Aunt Gertrude nor is their any mention of any of their friends, Chet, Tony, etc. Additionally, they've been friends with Nancy and her family for years. There are changes to Nancy's mythos as well but not as radical. One nice little touch was the inclusion of other famous teen sleuths such as Tom Swift and the Bobbsey twins.
The story starts shortly after Fenton Hardy was killed. Nancy, Frank, and Joe have teamed up to solve Fenton's murder. Nancy is definitely the brains of the outfit and quite a master manipulator. Frank and Joe have sibling issues and argue, and fist fight, often. Joe is impetuous and Frank is sulky; actually, they both are. Like other teens, they argue, and whine, and got on my nerves. But together they find a killer, crack a drug ring, and discover a conspiracy. They were smart, clever, impulsive, and annoying and made a good team.
If you are a hard-core fan of the original Hardy Boys, or Nancy Drew, you may want to skip this. Not only is it very noir, complete with dark illustrations, but it radically updates Frank, Joe, and Nancy's stories. It's a much more current theme and storyline. The story wandered a bit, or so it seemed at first, before settling into the investigation. I have to say, I didn't always like Frank, Nancy, or Joe but they weren't boring or predictable. The art, as I mentioned, was dark, sometimes blurry, and not as detailed as I like. But the facial illustrations were excellent and added depth to the story. The story found Fenton's killer but left open other threads. Not a great story but a decent, if dark, very dark, update.
March 17, 2018
This is not they Nancy Drew that you grew up with!
Nancy is back, and much more grown up than ever before. She knows that the world is dangerous, not everyone can be trusted, how to manipulate a situation, and how to read a situation. In other words, Nancy was a badass! Seriously, this girl. I would read a book series about her just like this now as an adult. I grew up completely in love with the Nancy Drew mysteries, and this version is a more grown-up Nancy I can get behind. I can't wait for more of her story.
I had never read a Hardy Boys book, but I think I can easily make the assumption that these are the angsty, hardened version of the boys, almost all grown up. I really liked the strained dynamic between the brothers as well as how they battled for Nancy's attention.
This is just the beginning of this messed up, totally noir feeling mystery and I can't wait to see where the book will go next. These characters are capable of so much more than their previous version were, but things are much darker now. The art work fit the plot perfectly, making it dark and noir-ish while still keeping things with a modern feel. Overall, I found this to be a really interesting graphic novel.
** Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
Nancy is back, and much more grown up than ever before. She knows that the world is dangerous, not everyone can be trusted, how to manipulate a situation, and how to read a situation. In other words, Nancy was a badass! Seriously, this girl. I would read a book series about her just like this now as an adult. I grew up completely in love with the Nancy Drew mysteries, and this version is a more grown-up Nancy I can get behind. I can't wait for more of her story.
I had never read a Hardy Boys book, but I think I can easily make the assumption that these are the angsty, hardened version of the boys, almost all grown up. I really liked the strained dynamic between the brothers as well as how they battled for Nancy's attention.
This is just the beginning of this messed up, totally noir feeling mystery and I can't wait to see where the book will go next. These characters are capable of so much more than their previous version were, but things are much darker now. The art work fit the plot perfectly, making it dark and noir-ish while still keeping things with a modern feel. Overall, I found this to be a really interesting graphic novel.
** Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
November 28, 2018
Schade, aber die Noir-Version von Nancy und den Hardy Boys war einfach nicht meins, auch beim zweiten Lesedruchgang nicht. Nancy bleibt mir zu schattenhaft, obwohl sie doch die Strippenzieherin ist. Und irgendwie sind mir die klassischen Versionen dieser teen sleuths einfach sympathischer.
May 16, 2018
I grew up reading lots of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, so I was a bit leery of how they would be updated for today's readers. I was quite taken with this noir approach that portrayed the heroes as flawed characters. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the various con games and subterfuges the trio played on their adversaries. I also enjoyed seeing cameos by the Rover Boys, the Bobbsey twins, and Tom Swift, albeit in substantially different forms. The solution to the mystery was pretty clear despite the many red herrings, although there was a larger mystery revealed at the end that I hope will be resolved in another series. The artwork is good; I especially liked the coloring that enhanced the mood of the story.
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
October 3, 2017
Although I read the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, as a kid, I also read the Alfred Hitchcock series of the Famous Three, which I liked better. Actually, I found that even though my grandfather wrote mystery novels, I was never that big on them, and preferred fantasy, or historic novels.
Saying this, as a way to explain that although I am familiar with the original Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, I have no idea what Frank or Joe are known for, what sets them apart. I was hoping, because this was a modern version of these stories which are at least created 60 years ago, that I wouldn't have to.
Unfortunately, all I felt I got from this was a typical bad ass girl (Nancy) with two teenage boys who were just there to argue and fight.
This is the first six issues of this series of comic books, and does not complete the story, so we still don't know how this will end.
This is an ok story, a bit of back and forth, a lot of posing of Nancy, with her tight jeans, but not high heels, at least.
And why, oh why, did the artists, who are trying to give an updated version of this story, show the only woman of color, as dressed up in a traditional Chinese outfit, when everyone one else is contemporary. And why oh why, is guy, a young man of color, Tom Swift, who is helping the boys with their hacking, only a bit character?
So, perhaps this is more for fans of the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, but if they liked them, they might not like seeing them updated.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Saying this, as a way to explain that although I am familiar with the original Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, I have no idea what Frank or Joe are known for, what sets them apart. I was hoping, because this was a modern version of these stories which are at least created 60 years ago, that I wouldn't have to.
Unfortunately, all I felt I got from this was a typical bad ass girl (Nancy) with two teenage boys who were just there to argue and fight.
This is the first six issues of this series of comic books, and does not complete the story, so we still don't know how this will end.
This is an ok story, a bit of back and forth, a lot of posing of Nancy, with her tight jeans, but not high heels, at least.
And why, oh why, did the artists, who are trying to give an updated version of this story, show the only woman of color, as dressed up in a traditional Chinese outfit, when everyone one else is contemporary. And why oh why, is guy, a young man of color, Tom Swift, who is helping the boys with their hacking, only a bit character?
So, perhaps this is more for fans of the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, but if they liked them, they might not like seeing them updated.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 14, 2018
This was a nice modern update to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. And the artwork was pretty great too. I'm hoping they continue with further issues along these lines.
September 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
I'm not that familiar with the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories (I'm a Three Investigators guy) but I know enough about them to know this was a much darker story for the characters then usual. The Hardy Boys father commits suicide because he's found out to be a dirty cop, but foul play is suspected. Nancy Drew teams up with the brothers in order to get to the bottom of things. There's more murder and we even see the trio go undercover as criminals in order to sort things out.
I personally thought the characters didn't quite work in this noir type tale. It just seemed too dark for them. That being said, it was still an entertaining story with good art so if you're a fan this is at least work giving a look.
I'm not that familiar with the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories (I'm a Three Investigators guy) but I know enough about them to know this was a much darker story for the characters then usual. The Hardy Boys father commits suicide because he's found out to be a dirty cop, but foul play is suspected. Nancy Drew teams up with the brothers in order to get to the bottom of things. There's more murder and we even see the trio go undercover as criminals in order to sort things out.
I personally thought the characters didn't quite work in this noir type tale. It just seemed too dark for them. That being said, it was still an entertaining story with good art so if you're a fan this is at least work giving a look.
April 11, 2018
I really enjoyed the gritty spin on these classic characters. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
January 7, 2019
I read issues 1-3 when they first came out, then lost track of this for a bit. But wow, this is a well-done, darker take on the various Stratemeyer characters. For it isn't just Nancy and the Hardys: The Rovers, Tom Swift, and the Bobbseys all get a shoutout. It makes me wonder who else would make an appearance if another story was published. There is a hook at the end, leaving the way open for a sequel...
If you like noir or pulp, this is for you. If you don't mind seeing your beloved fictional characters acting a bit jaded, cynical, or dark, this is for you. Nancy and the Hardys have not been twisted beyond recognition - they've simply grown up a bit. And for me, personally, it was enjoyable.
If you like noir or pulp, this is for you. If you don't mind seeing your beloved fictional characters acting a bit jaded, cynical, or dark, this is for you. Nancy and the Hardys have not been twisted beyond recognition - they've simply grown up a bit. And for me, personally, it was enjoyable.
May 14, 2018
This graphic novel revisits the legendary characters of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew and recasts them in a dark, edgy glib, modern tale. There is a snarkiness and an edginess that gives this story a bit of grit and nastiness. It, as advertised, is not the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew as you remember them. They are among the cool kids now with Nancy getting a femme fatale air about her. Some of the best artwork is saved for the bonus panels at the end. As someone who is not a huge graphic novel fan, I found this one to be tremendous fun, although there were a few places where the storyline was not clear. Recommended.
October 11, 2020
This graphic novel is about Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, Joe and Frank Hardy are accused of the murder of there dad. The brothers team up with Nancy to try and prove their innocence and really find who killed there dad.
This graphic novel had a little bit of everything, mystery, suspense. I really liked it. I loved the illustrations and the darkness. this was my first time reading anything Nancy drew and I thought it was pretty good. I will be reading the others. I see it getting even better.
This graphic novel had a little bit of everything, mystery, suspense. I really liked it. I loved the illustrations and the darkness. this was my first time reading anything Nancy drew and I thought it was pretty good. I will be reading the others. I see it getting even better.
November 12, 2017
Just finished ‘Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie’.
Reading this brings back memories during primary school days. I couldn’t get enough of Nancy Drew back then. To see it reincarnate into a graphic novel and in a current modern setting, is a very good thing. I cannot recommend it enough.
Reading this brings back memories during primary school days. I couldn’t get enough of Nancy Drew back then. To see it reincarnate into a graphic novel and in a current modern setting, is a very good thing. I cannot recommend it enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews