Nancy Drew #1

Nancy Drew #1

by Kelly Thompson, Jenn St-Onge (Artist)

Nancy Drew is seventeen and good at everything...ESPECIALLY solving crimes. But her totally-in-control-and-obviously-running-perfectly-smooth-(but-not-really) life hits a snag when a mysterious message drags her back to the hometown she left behind. There she’ll have to find out which of her friends are still her friends, which are enemies, and who exactly is trying to kill her...and (hopefully) stop them before they succeed. KELLY THOMPSON (Hawkeye, Star Wars, Rogue & Gambit) and JENN ST-ONGE (Giant Days, The Misfits) team up to present an all-new modern spin on a classic mystery icon!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Crime

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

KELLY THOMPSON has a degree in Sequential Art from The Savannah College of Art & Design. Her love of comics and superheroes have compelled her since she first discovered them as a teenager. Currently living in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend and the two brilliant cats that run their lives, you can find Kelly all over the Internet where she is generally well liked, except where she's detested.

Kelly has published two novels - THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING (2012) and STORYKILLER (2014) and the graphic novel HEART IN A BOX from Dark Horse Comics (2015). She's currently writing ROGUE & GAMBIT, HAWKEYE, and PHASMA for Marvel Comics and GHOSTBUSTERS for IDW. Other major credits include: A-Force, Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps, Jem and The Holograms, Misfits, Power Rangers Pink, and the creator-owned mini-series Mega Princess.

Kelly's ambitions are eclipsed only by her desire to exist entirely in pajamas. Fortunately pajamas and writers go hand in hand (most of the time). Please buy all her stuff so that she can buy (and wear) more pajamas.

Reviews

[Ahmed Ejaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I would like it. But it isn't my cup of tea.
Liked the beginning. But the mystery isn't enough for me to keep reading this.
By the way, graphical work is amazing

So I'm not continuing this series.

[Kristin Lansdown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes and Veronica Mars shaped my youth. They are the reason I am as information saavy as I am today (and a librarian). So when I read this was coming out and that George would be Queer and Bess full-figured I was an instant fan! Not sure what this art style is called but it’s very full and colorful. Reminds me of Archival Quality. I love the art in this, love how real George is with Nancy (sis you been gone 7 years and just gonna pop up?!) love the diversity and interested to see where the story goes! Also points for Hardy Boys appearance. Very nostalgic!

[Brandi Murphy-Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m hooked! Off to add these to my pull list immediately.

[Emily✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 ★★★★☆
#2 ★★★★★
#3 ★★★★☆
#4 ★★★★☆
#5 ★★★★★
TPB #1-5 ★★★★★ (4.5)

A fun beginning to a new iteration of Nancy Drew. I really like the art style, and I'm already loving the diversity. Fat Bess! Queer George! Nancy's new friends Noah and Mia are POC! And there's a surprise cameo by the Hardy Boys! So far, the vibe is giving me some Fillmore!-esque realness. I've already got #2 pre-ordered, and I'm looking forward to getting a better idea of the storyline going forward.

I will say that I'm already getting more of a college-age feel than a 17-year-old feel for this Nancy, but we'll see how that develops.

Note: I bought the St. Onge variant cover.

[Aspen Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I'll definitely be reading more of this. This modernized Nancy Drew fits the girl in my head better than any other story. She's tough, she's clever, and she's confident. When Nancy has to travel to her own hometown and reunite with Bess, George, and the Hardy Boys to solve a cold case involving her mom, I felt like grown up me was returning too. Things had changed and yet, in a way, nothing had changed. It was both new and comforting. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and playing every single Her Interactive Nancy Drew game (you know, before they betrayed all the fans) so this issue was perfect for me.

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been a reader of actual comic books. They're always surprisingly short! I liked the way the girl characters are drawn, and the comic was fun to read. I wonder what I'm missing given that I've never read actual Nancy Drew books (I was a big fan of Trixie Belden though)

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover art is killer! So so good! The story like is interesting but didn’t hook me. This is just issue 1, but I don’t care to know what happens next.

[Ceili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally. A modern Nancy Drew story with the butch lesbian George Fayne we DESERVE! *hallelujah chorus plays in background*

[Puzzle Bean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would love this since I really enjoy the other comics I've read by Kelly Thompson and I've been super into Nancy Drew lately, but unfortunately this didn't do it for me. This version of Nancy wasn't it for me. I think I missed some elements that usually make me love Nancy.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy Drew #1
How can she be 17 and yet have years of experience?
Cartoonish images but intense story of attempted murder.
“Are cold water ad deadly falls a theme?”
3/5
.

[Gabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Gang!

I talk about Nancy Drew all the time, as one of my favorite fictional detectives I am always on the lookout for new material. I've currently been reading through her Case Files Series. so when I found out that Dynamite was giving us a Nancy Drew series written by Kelly Thompson and illustrated by Jenn St-Onge, I, A knew I had to read it and B, definitely wanted to pick Jenn's brain about the series. You can read that interview here.

I just finished the review for Issue 2 on Comicosity which went out last Wednesday, so I thought I would write about the first issue here. As soon as I saw the cover in Previews, I knew this was a comic I was going to want to read. Now that I’ve actually read it, I can’t wait to tell you why I was right.

This issue is great at introducing the cast of characters that are going to be in the series. So even if you’ve somehow never heard of Nancy Drew and her friends, you will not be lost in the shuffle. We find Nancy Drew, hanging on a rope, holding onto a goat, I was already hooked.

The art is bright and vibrant without being overtly peppy, which isn’t this Nancy’s vibe. I think St-Onge did an amazing job of bringing Nancy into a more modern time. I love her style and think it will inspire quite a few cosplays in the future.

The story doesn’t take long to take off like a locomotive, so I was very excited about that. Nancy receives a very ominous anonymous letter made of magazine cut outs on the anniversary of her mother’s death which brings her back to a place, she didn’t think she would visit again.

I give this issue a 10 out of 10, it gave us a bit of backstory, introduced new characters well, and has intrigued me to get the next issue for the rest of the mystery. I can’t wait.

Are you a Nancy Drew Fan? Let's Fangirl on Twitter!

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Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel,

[Emelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited when I heard this was coming out. The gritty ND/HB comics that came out last year were cool (honestly I'm still finishing them) but didnt really work for me.

I've been a Nancy fan for 20 years now. I've collected Nancy Drew since I was 7. So I'm kind of a big fan of hers. I've enjoyed nearly every version of hers from the 1930's blue backs to the Her Intersctive game series. I have a few hundred books and Nancy merch. So that's where I'm coming from.

I love that Nancy has red hair. I'm a redhead and Nancy was my representation growing up. I also love that Bess is curvy! one of the books described her as "pleasantly plump" and I've held onto that for most of my life.

This is a completely new version of Nancy Drew. If you are an established fan you have to throw away your established view of Nancy Drew. This new version is a very modern teen who wears skinny jeans and has thick black makeup. She's fashionable and cool and says things like "douche canoe" She comes with two new friends Noah and Mia and all traces of her no nonsense personality is gone. She also now originates from Frank and Joe Hardy's hometown, Bayport. River Heights who?
they've made some other minor changes as well.

It's up to the reader to decide if they like this version.


The art style is very cool and fun. There are some cute little Easter eggs for fans (check out Nancy's address on the letter for example).
Frank and Joe Hardy make an appearance which is awesome! I'm a fan of them teaming up with Nancy.

This was just the first one, so it was a very short intro to the series. For now I'm giving it a 3/5, because I'm a bit conflicted with all the changes. I've got the second one on it's way in the mail though, and I can't wait to see where this goes!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been more than a few years since I last read Nancy Drew, but… this character didn't feel like her to me. I don't know whether it's because it's not in that vaguely '50s/'60s America from before I was born or because they've aged her a little older, or because the writers see Nancy Drew differently than I did, but… my biggest complaint is that it doesn't feel like the Nancy Drew I know.

That said, I feel like there's potential here. And I wonder whether Nancy Drew is old enough now that younger readers may come to this series without the "baggage" of familiarity with her. (Or whether the decades have twisted my remembrances of the series.)

I am not running out to subscribe to this, but if I see #2 on the shelf when I am in the store, I will definitely pick it up and probably bring it home with me to see where it is going.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD!!

Kelly captured the essence of Nancy Drew while modernizing it perfectly. Bess Marvin was always hinted at fat and I'm so happy to see her portrayed that way while also not demeaning her for it (and she has a conventionally attractive love interest?! Amazing) and George has always been a queer icon, let's be real! Happy to see her out and proud, she deserves a girlfriend.

I tried watching the new cw show and got super annoyed they erased what was clearly canon (I'm talking especially about Bess but George too, honestly). I had to come back to this comic to center myself and wash my brain of that show.

[Simeon Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who knows very little about Nancy Drew and mainly picked this up because the incentive cover looked really cool, I was completely lost during this even though it takes time to explain things a lot, I still found myself going "Ok, this is nothing like what I've heard about the books and this doesn't seem nearly as interesting to be" a lot. So yeah, probably gonna skip this and leave it for die hard fans who hopefully liked it.

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know nothing about Nancy Drew except the saying ''Don't be such a Nancy Drew''. I got sucked in by the pretty cover.

I liked the characters interactions. Very non-judgemental.
But it did felt like she switched her new friends for the old ones and I'm curious if her new friends will show up again.

I think if you grew up with Nanacy Drew stories you would enjoy it more. For me it was an okay and quick read but in the end I will forget about it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I just stare at this GORGEOUS cover for the rest of the day? I’m SO INTO the art, which is by a different artist than the artist who does the rest of the issue. I’m into all of it. Their new designs are fresh and relatable, we have some fun cameos, and of course a perilous cliffhanger. It’s ND for Gen Z and I’m here for it ❤️

[kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what I think of this yet. 25 pages really isn't enough to make my mind up. I loved the original Nancy Drew books growing up, and the PC games. I'm all for reimaginings but I'm going to reserve judgement on this one until I read more.

Which I'll... probably do? I don't know yet. We'll see.

Also two Taylor Swift references? Really?!

[TurningPages · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you'll pardon the pun, this "modern" take on Nancy Drew was comically bad. Filled with unnatural and desperately quirky dialog, underdeveloped and useless characters, terrible grammar, and plot holes aplenty, this ill-conceived attempt to turn Nancy Drew into a Veronica Mars knockoff is more embarrassing than edgy. Do yourself a favor and avoid this title.

[Peggy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was never a huge fan of the original Nancy Drew series, but I did enjoy this graphic novel re-imagining. Good art, decent story... I particularly liked the captions (I had to look that word up - it's words that appear in a box separated from the rest of the panel or page, usually to give voice to a narrator). It was a fun, quick read.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the art style (although my cover looks different to this one and honestly, better) and the colouring.
I can't say much about plot - after all the first issue is so short and only gets us introduced to the main characters. But I can say I'm definitely gonna love this new version of Nancy.

(Review copy given at the London Book Fair)

[Lauti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acabo de terminar este prime tomo de esto comic de Nancy Drew y me gusto ya quiero ver cómo sigue cómo es una introducción a de mundo de Nancy ( que amor gracias a la peli con emma Roberts como Nancy y a la serie de the cw) que lo muestran personajes importantes de mundo de Nancy y quiero saber cómo sigue a ver si mañana puedo leer de sgeundo

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a very casual fan of Nancy Drew as a kid, I enjoyed the books when I remembered to read them. That being said I was pretty excited for this comic and it did not disappoint! I will definitely be continuing.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I can see the appeal of this take on Nancy Drew, very fun. Personally I was hoping the interior art would match the feel of the cover art, edgier and grittier. Inside the art is way more whimsical and comical but so is the tone of the book so in the end it’s still a fun read.

[Kiara Formilleza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a modern take on Nancy Drew. I wasn't initially a fan of the art style, but the cover art is fantastic and it's what made me want to read this in the first place. The story is quite interesting, especially after the appearance of the Hardy Boys.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean...it's Nancy Drew. Of course I loved it.

[Izabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally digging this but I think I'm going to wait for the trade to come out - such a short issue!

[Allison Ketchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun addition to the Nancy Drew canon. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be longer.

[connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

I can see myself ending up with a crush on all of these characters as the series progresses and I'm ready

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Quite boring til the unexpected crossover with the Hardy Boys and the appearance of George. We'll see but I'm not that excited about this, story- or illustrations-wise.