#the hardy boys

[werezolft]

The Dead Boy Detectives (and crew), have been occupying my thoughts the past few weeks. I’ve watched the show on repeat, rewatched Sandman, actually started reading the Sandman graphic novels (currently on Seasons of Mist, the introduction of the Dead Boys), and I’ve started drawing the episodes in the style of old teen detective novels.

I started these before getting super into behind the scenes details. I went down a bit of a rabbit-hole last night, and was delighted to learn that show-runner Steve Yockey wanted the show to be reminiscent of The Hardy Boys, one of the main influences of these covers.

The accuracy of their depictions varies, I don’t think they always really look like themselves. But I had a lot of fun.

I hope to continue designing these for a bit while the obsession holds, and maybe I can properly bring in purples, Crystal’s hero color.

[Alt Text:

Image 1: A series of covers on a white background. From left to right, "The Case Of The Dandelion Shrine", "The Case Of Devlin House", "The Case Of The Dandelion Shrine" (alt cover), "The Case Of The Hungry Snake", and "The Case Of The Lighthouse Leapers".

Image 2: Three teenagers, Charles, Crystal and Edwin explore a blue green cave with a skull covered in dandelions on a center shrine. Charles holds a flashlight, Crystal is climbing in while her eyes have gone white during a psychic episode, and Edwin is playing lookout. At the top of the page in yellow italics is the text “Dead Boy Detectives” and below in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE DANDELION SHRINE”.

Image 3: Edwin, Charles and Crystal peering around the corner of a yellow-green wooden hallway, looking at the silhouette of a man swinging an axe. They have varying worried expressions. At the top, in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives” and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF DEVLIN HOUSE”.

Image 4: Crystal and Niko stare at each other across a green hallway. Niko has her left hand raised and is surrounded by glowing images, stars, hearts, moons, butterflies, rainbows, and sparkles. The cast a faint pink light. At the top in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives”, and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE DANDELION SHRINE”.

Image 5: Charles and Edwin tied to chairs in a golden yellow room. Charles has an iron collar chained to his neck, and his wrists are bound. Edwin is in a white tank top, and his mouth is gagged with a clothe. On the wall is the shadow of the witch Esther, with her cane. In the corner is a large cabinet, Niko peers out of. On top of the cabinet is perched a crow, Monty. At the top, in yellow italics “Dead Boy Detectives” and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE HUNGRY SNAKE”.

Image 6: Edwin, Charles and Crystal stand on stairs overlooking the gray sea and red sky. A giant angler fish, Angie, is staring at them. In the corner, on top of the hill is a classic red and white striped lighthouse. At the top, in yellow italics “Dead Boy Detectives” and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE LEAPERS”.

Image 7: A series of book covers on a white background: “Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators in The Secret of Skeleton Island”, “Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, The Ghost of Blackwood Hall”, “Nancy Drew, The Mystery at Lilac Inn”, “The Hardy Boys, While the Clock Ticked”, and “The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Coughing Dragon”.

[edmcmayonnaise]

That Edwin and Charles have placed Minor Arcana Vol. IV on the bookshelf right next to their collection of Hardy Boys books speaks to me. Ancient magical text and "mystery stories for boys" hold the same level of respect and importance just says so much.

[andstuffsketches]

loose johnny cakes.... loose jammy dodgers....

[oldshowbiz]

Canadian author Leslie McFarlane wrote the Hardy Boys mysteries under the the nom de plume Franklin W. Dixon.

His son Brian McFarlane was a longtime Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster and creator of the cartoon character Peter Puck.

[anim-ttrpgs]

"Hardy," investigator Trait from Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy. Every investigator has 3 to 6 Traits!

[thenancydrewtimes]

Cleaning today, I found this ad in the back of my old Hardy Boys book 😍 It even features some concept art specifically for TRN that I’ve never seen before. They appear to be in the mines towards the game’s end sequence? I see they’re wearing the same clothes, which makes me wonder if they were suppose to have more presence at the end? 🤔

ALSO!!! Where is all this wonderful concept art?!?!?! Petition for @nancydrewpcgames to open the vault and release it allllll muhahaha! There’s no telling how much we haven’t even seen 😁

[blowflyfag]

BILL APTER’S WOW XTRA magazine : VOL 1 / NO. 8

[joestdogsofmoonlake]

i am ONCE AGAIN singing the praises of the SEA soundtrack. god, it’s so good

[papenniesandbentoboxes]

[werezolft]

Pt. 2 of my Dead Boy Detective covers inspired by teen detective novels. More info and reference photos under the cut

I’ve continued watching this series on repeat while creating the novel covers. I really didn’t think I would get through all the episodes, I often stop projects part way through. I might do another post of the covers in chronological series order, as opposed to the order I drew them in.

Style, colors, and very often the actual poses are pulled from covers featuring The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and The Three Investigators.

I don’t know if you can tell, but I struggle pulling the concentration to add details to make forests look realistic. Something about trees takes more energy than I normally have, haha.

I don’t really have a lot more to add, but thanks for all the love on the first collection, it’s been very fun.

Also, happy pride month 🌈🌈🌈

[ Alt Text

Image 1: An orange-red spiral staircase descends down into darkness. Charles Rowland is higher up, wearing his typical hero outfit; red shirt, black trousers and coat with pins. He’s holding a yellow lantern, and looking behind him anxiously. Edwin Payne follows behind, shrouded in shadow, wearing white nightclothes. At the top in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives”, and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE IF THE VERY LONG STAIRWAY”.

Image 2: A blueish green forest at night, a full moon peaking over the trees in the top left corner. In the foreground to the right stands Crystal in her purple varsity jacket and floral turtleneck, hair half up in buns. Next to her Charles is wearing his hero outfit, polo shirt is fully black. They both look on hesitantly. In the mid ground Edwin, wearing his long brown coat is looking up at the furious glowing blue ghost of Shelby. At the top in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives”, and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE TWO DEAD DRAGONS”.

Image 3: Crystal and Charles sit inside of a sigil circle on the blue floor of a green subway car. She’s wearing a red jacket, yellow shirt, and tan pants. He’s wearing his hero outfit. Charles is facing Crystal, while she’s angled away from the viewer, both are looking at sheet-ghost David the Demon, who is covered in the same sigils as the circle they sit on, running out the open subway door. At the top in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives”, and in off-white bold lettering “The Case Of Crystal Palace”.

Image 4: A green forest, and brown earth, illuminated by the light of a magically summoned golden chandelier. Under it is The Cat King, brown hair angled into cat ears, wearing a white turtleneck sweater and sparkling black overcoat with red stripes. His arms are folded behind him, and his yellow cat eyes are gazing with feigned disinterest at Monty Finch and Edwin. Edwin is wearing his long brown coat, complete with brown vest and trousers, white shirt and blue bow tie. His cat bracelet is visible on his wrist. Edwin stands in an apprehensive crouch. Behind him Monty, long black hair, red scarf, and black coat, is glaring at The Cat King over his shoulder. At the top in yellow italics is “Dead Boy Detectives”, and in off-white bold caps “THE CASE OF THE CREEPING FOREST”.

Image 5: A series of covers on a white background. From left to right, "The Case Of The Dandelion Shrine", "The Case Of Devlin House", "The Case Of The Dandelion Shrine" (alt cover), "The Case Of The Hungry Snake", "The Case Of The Lighthouse Leapers", “The Case Of The Two Dead Dragons”, “The Case Of The Very Long Stairway”, “The Case Of Crystal Palace”, and “The Case Of The Creeping Forest”.

Image 6: A series of book covers on a white background: “Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators in The Secret of Skeleton Island”, “Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, The Ghost of Blackwood Hall”, “Nancy Drew, The Mystery at Lilac Inn”, “The Hardy Boys, While the Clock Ticked”, “The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Coughing Dragon”, “The Hardy Boys, The Disappearing Floor”, “Nancy Drew, The Hidden Staircase”, “The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Laughing Shadow”, “The Hardy Boys, The Secret Panel”, and “The Hardy Boys, The Haunted Fort”.

[stephnetwork]

Nancy Drew PC Games 3x3 Grids - Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon

Cheeseburger.

[wronghands1]

[divination1330]

My family is currently binging The Hardy Boys reboot on Hulu, and personally I rly enjoy it so far.

SPOILERS BELOW

For starters, the mysteries all connect throughout the seasons (so far)

There’s plenty of humor, the stakes aren’t super grim, and the plot is very interesting. The friendships are realistic and the show isn’t driven fully by issues in the friendships. The family relationship with all of the Hardy’s is great. In fact, it’s their ultimate strength between them.

Also, this entire family being a riot.

Frank - finds the sweetest girls, gets his heart broken anyways, gets his head bashed in during adventures. Top pick to be groomed to lead your local secret society. Ends up with prophetic powers, messed up nightmares, and a sweet Cadillac. Constantly looks like he’s gonna cry. Is very serious, until he’s near his younger brother. All he wants back in the world is his mom (also him and Callie’s relationship is so sweet and soft, rly love how nothing older was pushed on them. They’re 16, and they act like it. If they give each other one more adoring look I SWEAR)

Joe - can’t talk to girls for the life of him UNLESS ITS FOR THE CASE (no other reason), absolutely no morals, best friend is a wanted criminal, will be the first to suggest trespassing, thinks walking into a trap knowing it’s a trap gives him the upper hand, doesn’t know how to talk on the radio. Will get his brother in trouble for letting him escape the house to pursue a case. Will always have the upper hand, with slight of hand

Fenton - his nickname from his old partner is FENT. NEED I SAY MORE. Absolutely loves his kids. Family is a little dysfunctional, because they just let the boys do these crazy cases, but I think Fent and Trudy got into the same messes as kids. Gloria just had Eye stuff to deal with instead. Solving crime is his love language. Will critique your adventuring skills. Frank gets his “I keep getting whacked over the head” skills from him. Utterly devoted to his wife, always knows a guy, and trusts his older sister. King of dropping news on his kids at the last minute

Trudy - When we said fuck the cops, WE DIDNT MEAN POLICE CHIEF JENNY HOOPER. Queen of procrastination and the demon day dress. Will always help the boys, even if they want their space. Coolest school counselor and had the best hippie van. Gets a little too excited about adventuring. Will never hold her family backs (even from swinging at someone, will probably join in). Queen of comforting people as well, and making a home for the rest of her crazy family. Knows NONE OF THOSE ANIMALS know how to do laundry, uses it to hide an ancient relic. Hair is always amazing, and disheveled.

SPOILERS BELOW

When Frank gets body swapped, I love that Callie and Joe still have a great relationship, and they both try to save Frank in their own ways. Also, Joe being able to sense that Frank got body snatched, and the scene where it’s revealed, are both awesome.

The relationship between the police chief and Trudy is also so sweet. No one bats an eye at it, and everyone just treats them like they should.

Also, I live for Joe being the gremlin. Frank is the moral backbone of their partnership, AND IT SHOWS

Frank is the sensible, responsible, older brother who is initially burdened with protecting everyone. He gets the power of the eye, and suffers through it alone at first. Wherever Joe goes, he follows. His little brother will never go alone.

Joe is the die hard detective, determined to search for the truth for whoever deserves it, no matter the cost. The minute Frank is in danger? When he gets body snatched? All bets are off. Fuck morals, that’s Joe’s older brother.

They’re both great separately as well, and we get to see it. We also get to see them both completely lose it while looking for the other.