Graphic Novel #7 & Box Set Artwork

Due in October, now available for pre-order from Amazon.com.



7: The Opposite Numbers Hardcover - Paperback
Vols. 1-4 Box Set Volumes 1-4

"Sea You, Sea Me!" now shipping

Graphic novel #5: Sea You, Sea Me! is now shipping from Amazon.com:
Hardcover - Paperback
Frank and Joe go undercover to investigate a series of suspicious mishaps on deep sea fishing boats.
I'll post a review as soon as I get my copy...

Undercover Brothers 12 & 13

The final two 2006 releases for the Undercover Brothers series are available for pre-order from Amazon.com:

Trouble In Paradise (#12) - Available late September

The Mummy's Curse (#13) - Available late November

Graphic Novel Library Editions

Paul Mular reports:
A second publisher has gotten involved in the Papercutz Graphic Novels!
Spotlight Publications, the School & Library distributor for Papercutz, is now publishing their own textured-hardback versions.
These versions lack the book number on the covers and have the "Spotlight" name on the back cover.
A Table of Contents page has been added listing the chapter numbers and the pages are now numbered.
The ads in the back for other Graphic Novels & Aladdin books have been deleted.
Volumes 1-3 are available in a shrinkwrapped set from Amazon.com

Applewood #19 "The Disappearing Floor" Announced

19: The Disappearing Floor - Coming 9/06
The Hardy Boys smash Duke Beeson's robbery gang using the weird inventions of Aunt Gertrude's former classmate, Eben Adar.

Many fans consider this one of the worst written stories in the canon yet it remains a favorite due to its dream-like surreal atmosphere.


UPDATE: Applewood has ceased reprinting Hardy Boys stories and this volume will not be released. :(

Undercover Brothers Cover Art Revisions

Simon & Schuster has revised the cover art to be used on the upcoming Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers Blown Away (#10), and Wanted - Super Mystery #1.

Graphic Novel Boxed Set Announced

The Hardy Boys Boxed Set: Volumes 1-4 Hardcover by Papercutz has been announced for an October 2006 release.
Available for pre-order from Amazon.com.

90s TV series coming to DVD

Ian Regan reports that Amazon Canada has begun taking orders for the DVD of the 90s Hardy Boys starring Colin Gray and Paul Popowich.
The Nancy Drew adventures will also be available.
Amazon USA has not yet listed these items.
More to follow...

HB Graphic Novel #7: "The Opposite Numbers" Announced

The Hardy Boys Graphic Novel 7: The Opposite Numbers is now available for pre-order from Amazon. com: Hardcover - Paperback
No art or description is available yet.

Disney "Applegate Treasure" coming to DVD

Paul Mular reports:

"UltimateDisney.Com" has posted that DISNEY will be releasing the HARDY BOYS serial "APPLEGATE'S TREASURE" on DVD this coming December 2006! Here is their posting:

"Last Friday, we passed along information that the first season of "The Mickey Mouse Club" serial The Hardy Boys was expected to be making its way to DVD in this year's wave of Walt Disney Treasures. We've now gotten confirmation of this, as well as new information on the three other Treasures sets that are due, from a forum post made by someone involved in their production. The post hints that follow-up sets Silly Symphonies, Volume 2 and The Complete Pluto, Volume 2 are definitely in place, while the fourth set, tentatively titled Your Host, Walt Disney is currently in the process of having anthology episodes selected which prominently feature Walt himself beyond the introduction. Read the post and share your thoughts right here on the UD forum. Click here for more on the expected Wave 6 Treasures."

New Undercover Brothers Titles

Bob Nelson reports that the following titles for the new Undercover Brothers have been announced:
12. TROUBLE IN PARADISE (10/06)
13. THE MUMMY'S CURSE (12/06)
14. HAZED (2/07)

The Secret of the Stratemeyer Syndicate

The Secret of the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Carol Billman starts with a good, if brief, overview of the Stratemeyer Syndicate and its founder, Edward Stratemeyer.
It then moves on to examine in detail four mystery series created by the Syndicate: Ruth Fielding, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and the Happy Hollisters.
Of the four, the Ruth Fielding chapter is the most detailed but all contain valuable information on their respective series.
There are a few minor factual errors, such as the author's claim that Edward wrote the early Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, among other minor gaffs.
Despite this, this book remains a valuable resource to researchers of the Syndicate and is a good read for fans of the series mentioned.
RATING: 4 1/2*

Burned (U.B. #6)

Burned, the sixth volume of the Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers, is a letdown from start to finish.
Not only do the Boys have to investigate the somewhat dubious "crime" of illegal CD burning and music downloading (haven't these guys ever heard of iPods?) but it finds them almost eagerly finking on their classmates - even their buddy Chet Morton!
Of course, this being a Hardy Boys story, there is plenty of action. Unfortunately, there is very little detecting.
So far, I've enjoyed the new Undercover Brothers series and I hope this poor story is just a bump in the road and not a harbinger of things to come.
Rating: 2*

Casefiles 3 in 1 Hardcover Book!

Paul Mular picked up the Hardy Boys Casefiles HARDCOVER 3 in 1 book at Borders.
It is in the "File Folder" cover style of the Digest books and uses the cover art of digest #152.
The Casefiles Stories used are:
Beyond the Law
Spiked
Open Season
Like the hardcover copy of the Digest 3 in 1 "Collector's Edition", this seems to be available only at Borders.

Upcoming Releases - 2006

Undercover Brothers
Top Ten Ways to Die (#8)
Martial Law (#9)
Blown Away (#10)
Hurricane Joe (#11)
Wanted - Super Mystery!

Graphic Novels
4: Malled Hardcover - Paperback
ATAC sends Frank and Joe undercover to investigate murder, arson and vandalism at a new Mall opening in Bayport.
5: Sea You, Sea Me! Hardcover - Paperback
6: Hyde & Shriek Hardcover - Paperback

Applewood Books
17: The Secret Warning
18: The Twisted Claw

Motocross Madness (Digest #190)

Motocross Madness, the latest (and, sadly, last) Hardy Boys Digest story finds Frank and Joe at a motorcycle rally held to benefit a disabled young woman.
Of course, this being a Hardy Boys story, there are plenty of thrills and mystery.
Someone breaks into the rally sponsor's office, there's a mysterious fire, the Boys' friend has his motorcycle stolen, all in addition to plenty of motocross action!
Naturally, Frank and Joe are deeply involved in the case and pursue the criminals right up to the exciting conclusion!
RATING: 5*

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season One

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season One
I was very happy to see Season One of these great 70s series finally released on DVD.
Although I'm primarily a Hardy Boys fan, seeing the Nancy Drew shows was a nostalgic blast from the past.
It's great to see Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson portraying the famous boy detective duo in these pristine, uncut versions of the show.
The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is due to the lack of "bonus" extras. Hopefully if seasons 2 & 3 are in the works, bonus background extras will be added.
RATING: 4*

A Figure In Hiding - Applewood Books

A Figure In Hiding - Original text edition by Applewood Books.
The Plot: The Boys and Chet go to the movies and the theater is robbed. They pursue the crook but lose him. They run into Mr. Hardy, who is tailing two members of quack Dr. Grafton's "Eye Syndicate". Spying on the crooks from adjoining hotel rooms, they overhear a contretemps between one of the baddies and his adopted daughter, Virginia Sinder. She flees the hotel and is pursued by Frank and Joe, who, after discovering the unconscious theater robber on the way, save her when she drives her car into the river. The cops show up and Ginnie takes a powder, leaving Frank and Joe to go back to town in the thief's car. Chet is questioned at police HQ for his alleged involvement in the theater stick up and then is mysteriously dispatched to Boston by a phony note purporting to come from the Boys. Things really get cooking when Mr. Hardy enlists the aid of one of Grafton's intended victims to bait a trap for the quack. Grafton manages to get away by gassing the Boys but not before they realize that Grafton is actually the long-lost neer-do-well son of the intended victim! After trailing Grafton's henchmen, the Boys encounter Virginia hiding out on a farm. At the same time the two henchmen come looking for her and she escapes, only to seek shelter at Grafton's country hide out. She's held prisoner so Frank, Joe and Chet help her escape. Once again, she runs away from the Boys and they are re-captured and almost buried alive! They manage to escape, Fenton arrives with the cops, Grafton's syndicate is smashed and Virginia is reunited with her real family.
Comments: Really good story! Another winner by Leslie McFarlane! The action never lets up from beginning to end. The sub-plots tie together nicely (except for Chet being sent to Boston, which is never adequately explained) and nobody does anything particularly stupid (except the inexplicable behavior of Virginia Sinder and her grandmother which borders on idiocy, proving the old adage of the apple not falling far from the tree!) The Boys show plenty of guts, quick thinking and some decent detecting. Grafton is one of the meanest, slimiest villians ever! Aunt Gertrude is annoying, ill-mannered and ill-tempered as usual. Definitely in the top 10 of all the stories in the original canon.
RATING: 5*

Extreme Danger (U.B. #1)

In Extreme Danger, the first volume of the Undercover Brothers series, we find Frank and Joe entering a new era of more mature adventures as agents of A.T.A.C. (American Teens Against Crime). In addition the story is written in first person narrative style with Frank and Joe alternating chapters.
This story has the Boys investigating the sabotaging of an Extreme Sports meet in Philadelphia. Suspicious accidents and even a murder are centered around the meet and it's up to Frank and Joe to find out who is behind them! There's plenty of exciting adventure and mystery to be had in the course of the investigation.
Many of the characters from the older stories show up here: Mr. & Mrs. Hardy and, of course, Aunt Gertrude who is now called Aunt Trudy. Naturally, it wouldn't be a Hardy Boys story unless Chet Morton showed up and he makes a cameo appearance late in the story.
I enjoyed this story and if it is a sign of things to come, the new series should be a hit!
RATING: 5*

Running On Fumes (U.B. #2)

Running On Fumes finds Frank and Joe investigating possible eco-terrorists living in a hippie-like commune in the California desert.
They infiltrate the group to investigate the charismatic group leader Arthur Stench (take off a half a star if you find that name ridiculous too!).
There's plenty of action taking place in this story, right up to the surprising conclusion!
I enjoyed this story and like the new Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series so far. I just hope the stories will remain as good.
RATING 5*

Boardwalk Bust (U.B. #3)

Boardwalk Bust finds Frank and Joe down at the New Jersey shore investigating a rash of jewelry store robberies.
Along the way they are almost buried alive and drowned!
Nevertheless, the Boys overcome all obstacles in tracking down the culprit amid a slew of likely suspects.
Plenty of action and some decent detecting make this story another winner in the new "Undercover Brothers" series.
RATING: 5*

Thrill Ride (U.B. #4)

Thrill Ride finds Frank and Joe in Massachusetts investigating the mysterious death of a woman at Uncle Bernie's Fun Park.
During the course of their investigation it seems like every ride in the park is a death trap waiting to kill them.
Is it sabotage or just bad luck?
Finally the Boys are trapped in the dungeon of the haunted house by their mysterious enemy and...
This is another good story in this new series with plenty of action, mystery and good detective work.
RATING: 5*