my favorite thing about the mystery genre is that we all accept the concept of "world famous detective" without hesitation even though that is absolutely not a real category of celebrity
the struggle i had....with drawing men's hair is embarrassing 💦
also been enjoying some fics and got curious about Callie when she's included, looked into her and also loved Iola! they're now Mine to play with in the future LOL
I've mentioned before that I'd write Callie as an aspiring reporter. She probably dips into investigative reporting, which is basically detective work. A challenge with that is justifying a reason they wouldn't bring her on every case (I want there to be a rotating supporting cast).
One way I thought of solving it is, with her being a local reporter, I imagine she wouldn't be interested in cases outside of Bayport. Something else I thought would be cool is if some of her investigations led to her working against the Hardy Boys.
For instance, if they're working on a case clearing the name of some prominent figure in Bayport of a crime, she might be digging up dirt on that same figure, leading to a better understanding of the truth than either her or the boys working on the case from one angle.
Frank does not mind this. He likes seeing Callie work in her element, and it gives him a challenge. Joe, I can see having the utmost belief in his clients and feeling hurt by her working against them. But otherwise, there's no hard feelings between Joe and Callie. In fact, his appreciation of her as a friend is what makes it hurt so much when she's working against him.
An idea I'm growing fond of is Aunt Gertrude being so critical and concerned about the boys going into detective work because she used to be a bigtime private investigator or spy and cut all ties from that life after a really bad case. Maybe she has an old rival that she's worried is still out there somewhere.
The boys don't know (maybe Laura either) because Fenton doesn't bring it up out of respect. Maybe he used to be her partner in crime-busting, the Joe to her Frank, so to speak. She knows he's too stubborn to turn away from the life. He's his own man, even if he's her baby brother. But maybe she can save those boys.
I feel like it would add an interesting dimension to her character beyond "nagging old spinster." There could be subtle hints that she knows more than she lets on or has a skillset a civilian wouldn't normally have. She might handle her cooking knives with a little too much finesse.
It could turn into a fun mystery in its own right.
I feel like if I end up getting into writing the Hardy Boys more, how smart and serious I write them will be heavily dependent on the tone I decide to go with. A few things will hold true regardless, though:
Some amount of comedy needs to be there. These boys need shenanigans to thrive. How much is the question.
Related: They need to have some lapses in judgement. For every two or three clever moments they have, they need to screw up in some way. That's how you get the shenanigans. Depending on how its done, it can allow whichever brother isn't having a silly moment to shine.
The reality of certain injuries (namely head injuries) has to be ignored. Every character is made of some amount of steel. Not enough where there aren't any stakes, but they need to be able to survive falling off of a cliff a little bit.
Recurring cast members are a must. The boys bounce off of each other well, but having buddies that can tag along from time to time can open up some really fun dynamics, as well as some interesting routes for the cases.
Women. They don't all have to be action girls, but them being husks of characters feels like such a waste.
Now if only I were more confident in writing mysteries, I might be able to do something with this.
After being refreshed on some of the Original/Blue Spine books and some of the questionable decisions the boys make during them, I got an idea for... whatever this is.
I tried to make it ambiguous what time period this was set, but it probably comes off most like a chapter of the 1950's rewrites. This also functions a little bit as an exploration of Frank's relationship with Fenton and Frank in general. Enjoy?
CW: Drugging (It's nothing worse than what would be in the books.)
Just as the boys were about to flag a taxi, a mid-sized sedan pulled up beside them. Lowered windows revealed a man who looked to be in his forties with cropped brown hair, steely eyes, and a goatee.
“You Fenton’s boys?” the driver questioned.
“Yeah,” answered Joe. “Are you a friend of Dad’s?”
“He told me you two might be here. If it weren’t for his accident, he’d pick you up himself, but that’s why he sent me.”
“Thank you Mr…” Frank paused long enough to let the man give him a name.
“Just call me Rudy.”
“Thanks Rudy.” A wave of uncertainty overtook him. “It’s weird, though. I don’t think I’ve heard Dad mention a Rudy before.”
“Oh yeah, we’ve only known each other for a few days. I took him in after the landslide.” Rudy dug something out from his back seat. “He told me you might like these.”
His hand returned holding two candy bars, Choco-Chuckles, a chocolate bar filled with nougat, nuts, and caramel, and Coconutter, a peanut-filled peanut butter bar coated in coconut flakes.
Joe swiped the Choco-Chuckles. “These are my favorites, thanks a lot!”
Frank turned around the Coconutter in his hands, staring at it intently.
“What’s the matter, son?” asked Rudy.
“I’m not a big fan of Coconutters,” Frank responded, then smirked, “but Dad probably didn’t know; he has more important things to worry about. Thanks.”
Rudy’s face faltered some, then settled back into a friendly smile. “Of course. Now why don’t you go and load your luggage in the trunk? Then we can be on our way.”
Once the brothers stowed their belongings, they took their places in the back seat.
“So, how’s Dad?” Joe opened the candy bar in his hand. “He didn’t have to go to a hospital?”
“No, he just needs to lay down for a while, and he’ll be right as rain.”
“Good to hear.” He took a bite and swallowed. “I’m guessing you live up on the mountain, right? Must not get visitors often, huh?”
“You’re right about that. Detective genes must run in the family.”
“Dad told you he’s a detective?” Frank spoke up.
“Not in those words, but I’m aware of the famous Fenton Hardy. I gotta say, it was quite a surprise to see him show up near my cabin.” Rudy’s eyes shifted towards him in the rearview mirror. “You must be his older son—Sorry, I’m bad with names.”
“Frank.”
“And I’m Joe.”
“Frank and Joe.” Rudy bobbed his head. “Nice to meet’cha. By the way, Frank, what is your favorite candy bar if you don’t mind me askin’?”
“Oh no, you don’t have to get anything for me.”
“No, I insist. It’s gonna be a while before we get to my place.”
“Probably a Krispen bar? But anything without nuts is fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Allergy?”
“Just a texture thing. You really don’t have to. I can deal with the Coconutter.”
“No need to be so polite, it’ll only take a sec. ‘Sides, there’s somethin’ else I need to buy anyway.” Soon, Rudy pulled into a gas station, and the car came to a stop. He took a step outside. “You two sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
Frank took advantage of his leave to discuss the mystery. “I wonder if that landslide was foul play. Maybe Dad was onto something.”
“You think Rudy did it?” his brother yawned.
“What? No. Why would he leave us here alone if he was part of the counterfeiting ring?”
Joe shrugged with an ‘I don’t know’ sound, then laughed. “Yeah, I can’t imagine a real crook going out of his way to get you your favorite candy. Thank goodness he was there to help Dad.”
“Yeah. With him out of commission, we’ll really have to keep on our toes. There’s no telling what tricks the real culprits have up their sleeves.”
“You think? If they’re behind what happened to Dad, then I think they’ve used up all their big guns. How many landslides can they make on one mountain, anyway?”
Frank gave Joe a warning look. “Let’s not find out.”
Blue eyes stared at the unopened candy bar. “Say, if you’re not eating that Coconutter, can I have it?”
“Knock yourself out.”
Instead of opening it right away, Joe pocketed it. “We could always do with some extra rations just in case you jinx us and things go badly.” He grimaced, holding a hand over his stomach. “I’d rather not have a repeat of the last time you half-remembered Chet’s berry advice.”
“I told you not to eat a bunch at once!”
“Only after you told me that if it’s not green, yellow, or white, it’s alright.” He wagged a finger along with the pneumonic.
Frank sighed. “I’ll make sure to take notes next time.”
The front door opened, and in came Rudy with Frank’s bar. He handed it back to him. “Here’s your Krispen bar.”
“Thank you.” Hungrier than he realized, Frank tore into the candy bar just before realizing that it would probably be better if he saved it for some other time. Oh well. If push came to shove, he and Joe could split the Coconutter.
Rudy pulled out of the parking lot and onto a highway headed into the mountains. The leisurely drive lulled Joe to sleep somewhere along the way. Frank stayed up to think about the counterfeiting ring, but even he had to admit that his eyelids were getting a little heavy.
“Nice scenery.” Some small talk should keep him awake. “Do you drive into town often?”
“Only when I need somethin’. Gettin’ to see the mountain from far away like this makes it worth the drive, don’t’cha think?”
“Speaking of the mountain,” he might as well do some digging around, “I know you said you don’t get many visitors, but do people hike there often?”
“I know there’s a few people who do.”
“Have you seen anyone recently?”
“Other than your pa, can’t say that I have.”
“What about caves?” Frank stifled a yawn. “Do you know if there are any caves or mining shafts around?”
“Well, I reckon there’s some of those around, but I wouldn’t know where they are. I don’t venture too far outside of my cabin. You never know what might be lurking in those woods.” Rudy’s eyes narrowed, then softened. “Don’t feel the need to make conversation for my sake. I’m used to making this trip alone. You can take a nap if you’d like. I see your brother has.”
“It’s okay.” This conversation didn’t give Frank much to work off of, but he wanted to see what he could do with what he was given.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Me?”
“What’s it like havin’ a father like the great Fenton Hardy?”
To be honest, Frank preferred to be the one asking questions, but he supposed this one was innocent enough. “It’s great.”
“Must be proud of him.”
“Of course. I couldn’t ask for a better dad.”
Rudy’s eyebrows raised. “Well, it’s good you feel that way, I suppose. I do have to wonder, though, with him being so well-known, he must get a lot of cases, yeah?”
That was pretty obvious. “He does.”
“Do you see him often?”
“When we can.”
Rudy chuckled. “I’ll take that as a no.”
Maybe Frank was just tired and hungry, but he didn’t care for this guy’s tone. He took care not to show it. “Other people need him around more than we do. We know he’s doing important work out there, so we can’t be mad.”
“How noble. I can’t say I’d be so selfless in your shoes, but your pa–or maybe your ma in this case–must’ve raised you well.”
“Thanks, they both did.” Frank smiled.
“It’s a shame they never taught you not to take candy from strangers.”
Frank saw his own eyes widen in the rearview mirror. His thoughts snapped to Joe. He tried shaking him, calling his name, and even clapping directly by his ear, but nothing woke him up. After inspecting his candy bar wrapper, he found a puncture hole hidden discreetly by a flap. They’d both been drugged.
“He won’t be waking up for a while.” Rudy all but confirmed his realization. “And I wouldn’t jump out of a car going 70 mph if I were you,” he narrated Frank’s next one, “unless you just wanted to get things over with.”
Frank took his hand off of the car door, mentally kicking himself in frustration. There had to be a way for him and Joe to get out of this car safely.
“I dunno much about little Joey over there, or your father, despite how much time we’ve spent together–”
So he did know their father! He must’ve been holding him captive.
“–but you seem like a nice kid. Too nice for your own good. You and your brother probably just wanted to follow in your pa’s footsteps. Maybe this is your family’s weird way of bonding. I hope we can go easy on you.”
Frank stared angrily, not willing to give his captor more information than he already had.
“The silent treatment, huh? Just like your old man. You might think I’m lyin’, but I really do feel bad for you, kid. At least my pa prepared me for the job hazards before welcomin’ me into the biz. And he knew my favorite candy bar!”
His father was also a counterfeiter? Noted.
“He never left me or Ma by our lonesome for too long. Made room in his schedule to come to as many of my track and field meets as he could. And when he couldn’t? Well, the son of a gun who held him back would hafta pay.”
Too bad Joe wasn’t awake. He’d get a kick out of this. Tragically, it was up to Frank to sass him on his own. “Gee, mister, that sounds really nice. I wish my dad could come to our track meets and buy us lots of candy. Unfortunately, he’s too busy saving lives.”
“You really think you’re slick, don’t’cha? Of course it’s not about the games or the treats.” Rudy’s face grew oddly sincere. “It’s about spendin’ time with your family. And he’s suckered you into thinkin’ that you’re less important to him.”
Frank could almost hear his brother whining ‘Gimme a break!’ “Question: If your dad cared about family so much, why risk going to prison making fake money when he could just get a legal job making legal money and still be able to spend time with you?” He fought against his eyelids. “Why even involve you?”
“I dunno, but followin’ in his footsteps is workin’ out better for me than it is for you two. Night-night, Frankie Boy.”
Where was Rudy taking the Hardys? Would their father be there, alive? How would they escape? Frank tried to keep himself awake with these questions and more, but despite his best efforts, his eyes came to a close, and the sounds of the road drifted away.
ive seen a lot of unintentionally VERY funny interpretations of Cain & Abel but portraying them as a couple of mid-1950s schoolyard boys having a “WHY I OUGHTA” fight is realy just splendid
Me, yesterday: "I'm going to do something not-Hardy Boys related today."
Hyperfixation: "No you won't."
Unlike the others, the Casefiles is a weird spinoff and not considered "canon," but I feel like each iteration of the Hardy Boys is a separate canon by virtue of taking place in a different time period and appealing to the audience of that time. Also, I haven't read any of the Digests (the "canon" version that spans the gap of 1979 to 2005).
I have no idea if I convincingly drew a 2010's-2020's anime style for Adventures.
(Casefiles #12: Perfect Getaway) Just finished. This one was fun! I really liked how Frank and Joe were written. They had fun banter, both of them got to have their fair share of clever moments and goofy mistakes in ways that played to their characters, and it was a lot of fun seeing them slip into different personas depending on the situation. Not to mention that the mystery itself was intriguing. It had some great usages of set up and payoff as well.
If I had to recommend a Casefiles story to anyone, it would be this one.
(Casefiles #12: Perfect Getaway) Did they tell anyone where they were going? I just imagine that they left the house without a word and Fenton, Laura, and Gertrude are just used to it.
(Casefiles #12: Perfect Getaway) Frank is pretending to be someone using a pseudonym around an obvious group of criminals and decides to use his and Joe's real names.
I've heard some people joke about how jarring it is that the boys go through things in the Original books that should mess them up big time and end up completely fine.
To me, it's more jarring when the Casefiles tries to acknowledge the lasting damage because they can't fully commit. They still have to be lighthearted by the end, so you end up with incidents like Joe spending a book going in and out of traumatic flashbacks only for Frank to close things off by jokingly warning him not to bump his head.
Because the last time he did, he tried to murder him.
(Casefiles #11: Brother Against Brother) Just finished. Not really much of a mystery, though I didn't mind. I enjoyed seeing the characters do their thing.
The real mystery here is why didn't Fenton do this job himself to begin with? Yeah, the bad guys might recognize him, but if they still had to keep an eye out for hitmen anyway, why send his most reckless and kidnappable son? Why not just put on a disguise? They had those in the 80's, I'm pretty sure.
And I know he was worried about losing Frank too, but why not search for Joe himself? While I'd normally be poking fun at Joe for being a hothead and deviating from his dad's plan, I found myself mad at Frank for not disobeying him. It didn't seem like anyone else wanted to search for his missing brother.
Anyway, Joe gained three (3) new traumatic experiences! I'm surprised at how many he already has by 11 books in. The fact that he's still able to function is a miracle.
I wish the story didn't cut off before Fenton picked them up. The drive home had to have been something.
"Daaaad, he tried to kill me twice."
"Well, I wasn't the one who stole two trucks and blew up a cop car."
(Casefiles #80: Dead of Night) After reading #15, my gut instinct about this one being over the top even for Casefiles standards feels correct.
Dead of Night really asked "How many women can we fridge to make one or two boys lose their minds?" (It's on the back cover, so not really much of a spoiler)
Frank and Joe get drugged with hallucenogenics and acknowledge that the effects could linger in their system. Then Frank immediately decides to fly a plane.
Joe gets hit with so many psychological horrors that by the end he's fighting the air in a graveyard only to then turn around to make a joke about Halloween candy like everything's fine.
Both of them witness things that no amount of logic or "um, actually"s could reduce the traumatic impact of, and seeing Frank try to do that had me shaking my head. They should not take another case after this. They should go to therapy for a long, long time.
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