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geekwayne's review
3.0
'Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie' by Anthony Del Col with art by Werther Dell'edera is, according to the author, an updated, noir version of these classic detectives.
Frank and Joe Hardy are no slouches at solving crimes, but when their father is found dead and they are accused of the murder, they may be in over their heads. Thankfully, they are friends with Nancy Drew and she has some ideas how to help, if only she can stop the Hardys from fighting each other.
I thought the characters and story were fine. I bristle when "updated" means the characters are borderline criminals. It's like being good is what dated them. They do still feel like the characters I know and the outcome feels like a familiar one, so I can't complain too badly. The art is decent too.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dynamite Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Frank and Joe Hardy are no slouches at solving crimes, but when their father is found dead and they are accused of the murder, they may be in over their heads. Thankfully, they are friends with Nancy Drew and she has some ideas how to help, if only she can stop the Hardys from fighting each other.
I thought the characters and story were fine. I bristle when "updated" means the characters are borderline criminals. It's like being good is what dated them. They do still feel like the characters I know and the outcome feels like a familiar one, so I can't complain too badly. The art is decent too.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dynamite Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
pizzamyheart's review
2.0
August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recomendation
Normally I enjoy the gritty reinvention of classic characters. In this case, I didn't know too much about Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys except that they solved mysteries. I thought I'd give a graphic novel a chance as a new way to get introduced to the characters. Unfortuantely this one doesn't do a good job at setting up the storyline. I'm thrown into a town and a mystery with no real frame of reference or context.
Normally I enjoy the gritty reinvention of classic characters. In this case, I didn't know too much about Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys except that they solved mysteries. I thought I'd give a graphic novel a chance as a new way to get introduced to the characters. Unfortuantely this one doesn't do a good job at setting up the storyline. I'm thrown into a town and a mystery with no real frame of reference or context.
fireth's review
4.0
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.
rdyourbookcase's review
3.0
Well, there are no words.
Literally. There are no words on some of the pages in the e-galley that I got. One of those pages was crucial to the storyline and I had no idea what was going on! It was a bookish nightmare! I plan on checking out The Big Lie from my library as soon as possible to find out what I missed. Other than the blank spaces, I liked the graphic novel. The mystery and darkness was on an adult level, which was nice, but it still had the nostalgia of the old books that I read as a kid. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the art, but it fit the storyline so well that it was fine. The main mystery is solved at the end of the book, but it sets up for the next mystery (very Veronica Mars - love it!) which I am looking forward to reading.
Literally. There are no words on some of the pages in the e-galley that I got. One of those pages was crucial to the storyline and I had no idea what was going on! It was a bookish nightmare! I plan on checking out The Big Lie from my library as soon as possible to find out what I missed. Other than the blank spaces, I liked the graphic novel. The mystery and darkness was on an adult level, which was nice, but it still had the nostalgia of the old books that I read as a kid. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the art, but it fit the storyline so well that it was fine. The main mystery is solved at the end of the book, but it sets up for the next mystery (very Veronica Mars - love it!) which I am looking forward to reading.
hifurfur's review
5.0
When I picked up The Big Lie I was a bit uncertain, but I dove in remembering the many adventures I have taken with my beloved Nancy Drew and let me tell you: this reworking was done so right.
In a way, it feels like a continuation of everything that happened in the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. It is almost as though those books were their imaginative games played out as children, and brought into their reality through this story. It is gritty, but also funny and 100% riveting. The characters you remember are there, but they are not the straight-laced, upstanding citizens of the original series. There is just enough darkness added to make them feel more like real people.
In a way, it feels like a continuation of everything that happened in the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. It is almost as though those books were their imaginative games played out as children, and brought into their reality through this story. It is gritty, but also funny and 100% riveting. The characters you remember are there, but they are not the straight-laced, upstanding citizens of the original series. There is just enough darkness added to make them feel more like real people.
spookysoto's review
3.0
Rating: Good, I liked it 😊
Recommended: If you like detective stories, are familiar with Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.
2018’s Marvel-A-Thon: Phase II: Thor Dark World- a book with siblings.
Will I continue with the series? Probably no.
I had heard of Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys but never read the books or watch the series, so I don’t know how faithful this new rendition is.
I liked it, but it is the kind of mystery I’m not that interested in because is more about drugs and police conspiracy and crime stuff. They’re investigating the murder of Fenton Hardy, Joe and Frank’s father. Nancy’s father is involved somehow
I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels because to me they’re too short, and this one doesn’t end and has a lot of loose ends. I’m not that interested in the story to continue with it.
I liked the graphics and the contrast in the drawing style between the present and the flashbacks. The flashbacks are like old school comics.
I think this can be a fun and interesting series, but it wasn’t for me.
Recommended: If you like detective stories, are familiar with Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.
2018’s Marvel-A-Thon: Phase II: Thor Dark World- a book with siblings.
Will I continue with the series? Probably no.
I had heard of Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys but never read the books or watch the series, so I don’t know how faithful this new rendition is.
I liked it, but it is the kind of mystery I’m not that interested in because is more about drugs and police conspiracy and crime stuff. They’re investigating the murder of Fenton Hardy, Joe and Frank’s father. Nancy’s father is involved somehow
Spoiler
It appears to be a conspiracy, where both men were framed. Fenton may be a crooked cop and Drew a corrupt Lawyer, involved with a criminal organization called the syndicate. They may be innocent but that’s not clear in this volume.I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels because to me they’re too short, and this one doesn’t end and has a lot of loose ends. I’m not that interested in the story to continue with it.
I liked the graphics and the contrast in the drawing style between the present and the flashbacks. The flashbacks are like old school comics.
I think this can be a fun and interesting series, but it wasn’t for me.
ruby_roo's review
4.0
I received a free e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this graphic novel. It was really interesting to see Nancy, Frank and Joe in a more modern setting and with a grittier story. I really liked that each character had a different colour of box for their inner monologue. I loved that Frank felt authentic and true to the book series, as I treasured those growing up.
I was disappointed that Aunt Gertrude and Hannah weren't mentioned, I would have loved to see those characters modernised. The reason I can't give this the full five stars is that I was really disappointed in how some of the characters were portrayed. Nancy came across flat and petulant, she didn't feel like the smart, resourceful, capable amateur detective we know and love. Joe was really just a guy who talked with his fists and didn't have much going on upstairs. Fenton, Carson, and Collig were the worst, they felt like completely different characters, I could not reconcile their behavior with what I was used to seeing from them.
Overall I am aware that my issues may stem from the fact that I haven't read many graphic novels, and I certainly know even less about noir. I enjoyed the read, I flew through it and would love to read more of the story. If you enjoyed the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, definitely give this a go, but be aware this is not the books we grew up with, in much more than just the setting.
I really liked this graphic novel. It was really interesting to see Nancy, Frank and Joe in a more modern setting and with a grittier story. I really liked that each character had a different colour of box for their inner monologue. I loved that Frank felt authentic and true to the book series, as I treasured those growing up.
I was disappointed that Aunt Gertrude and Hannah weren't mentioned, I would have loved to see those characters modernised. The reason I can't give this the full five stars is that I was really disappointed in how some of the characters were portrayed. Nancy came across flat and petulant, she didn't feel like the smart, resourceful, capable amateur detective we know and love. Joe was really just a guy who talked with his fists and didn't have much going on upstairs. Fenton, Carson, and Collig were the worst, they felt like completely different characters, I could not reconcile their behavior with what I was used to seeing from them.
Overall I am aware that my issues may stem from the fact that I haven't read many graphic novels, and I certainly know even less about noir. I enjoyed the read, I flew through it and would love to read more of the story. If you enjoyed the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, definitely give this a go, but be aware this is not the books we grew up with, in much more than just the setting.
octobertune's review
3.0
I used to be a fan of Nancy Drew back when I was a kid, read some of the books and I believe I even reread a couple of my favourites. I've been meaning to pick up some of the books recently, but couldn't remember which ones I had read in my youth. When I saw this graphic novel on here, I thought it would be perfect as I love graphic novels to bits. Unfortunately, it's been too long since I've read any Nancy Drew, so I had no idea what to expect. While I liked this novel, I thought the art style was not really my thing, and the story just felt different from what I remembered ND to be like. I missed the characters that I read about years ago, and even though the Hardy Boys are supposed to have been around since the beginning, I had no idea how they were. Then again, this graphic novel did make me want to pick up some more Nancy Drew books, so, all in all, it wasn't a bad read!
hidingzeus's review
3.0
3.5. I liked this much more than I thought I would. It's a departure from the old Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys books, but it was still quite an interesting take.