The Death of Nancy Drew #2
Writer: Anthony Del Col
Artist: Joe Eisma
Cover: Joe Eisma
FC | 32 pages | Mystery | $3.99 | Teen+

Has the death of Nancy Drew shocked you? Now her best friends Frank and Joe Hardy are investigating what exactly happened on the night of Nancy’s death.

Spoilers ahead.

Death doesn’t discriminate

Dynamite Entertainment‘s The Death of Nancy Drew #2 had me hooked from the start. And I’m not even really a fan of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. But I’m enjoying this noirish tale that Anthony Del Col (Kill Shakespeare, Luke Cage) has crafted, which Eisner Award winner Joe Eisma (Morning Glories, Riverdale) is bringing to gritty life.

And if you think Nancy, Frank, and Joe are the only Stratemeyer Syndicate characters in this fascinating series, think again.

How can the world’s greatest teen detective be dead?

This is the question that is tearing Frank and Joe apart. In fact, Joe actually punched his brother in the face last issue.

Joe, however, must now deal with Nancy’s biggest lie.

Joe: “You’re supposed to be dead, Nancy.”

Nancy: “I know.”

Joe: “And you’re supposed to be at school, Frank.”

Frank: “I know.”

If ya don’t know, now ya know

So now both Frank and Joe know what they know. Which is that Nancy is still alive, even though, as she tells Joe, she actually should be dead.

In order to find out who tried to kill her, however, Nancy had to make the criminals think they’ve succeeded. Now the whole town thinks she’s dead. Including her father.

After taking down the major crime organization known as the Syndicate, Nancy had worried for weeks that they would take revenge.

But then she let her guard down. And now she’s dead.

I love Del Col’s take on these beloved characters, as well as the Stratemeyer Syndicate Easter eggs. Yes, the Syndicate heh. And how about Flo and Freddie Bobbsey?

I’m also amused by the constant bickering between Joe and Frank.

Frank: “Can’t get into the bank’s system. I even got Tom Swift to help out. No dice.”

Joe: “Did you really think you could hack a bank?”

Frank: “I’ve done it before.”

Joe: “Yeah? When?”

Frank: “…”

The plot thickens. And this comic book geek who never thought he would like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys is now invested in this mystery. I can’t wait for next issue!

(Editor’s note: This review is based on an advanced review copy provided by Diamond Entertainment. The Death of Nancy Drew #2 will come out on July 8.)