Here’s a crazy idea: create a new comic book series with a female lead, then kill said female lead before the first issue hits shelves so the whole story will revolve around the supporting male characters trying to solve her death.
Seems a little strange, but that’s how Dynamite Entertainment plans to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Nancy Drew this April.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew, is the sequel to the 2017 noir series Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie — though Dynamite states that they’re both standalone series that don’t need to be read together. Written by Anthony Del Col and drawn by Riverdale artist Joe Eisma, the series follows the Hardy Boys as they investigate the mysterious circumstances of Nancy’s death.
“Over the years, there have been a lot of difficult mysteries to solve in the lives of Nancy Drew as well as the Hardy brothers,” said writer Anthony Del Col. “But I wanted to top them all, and so put together the ultimate case – solving Nancy’s death! Joe Eisma and I have had a blast really coming up with some twists and turns that all fans – new and old – of Nancy, Frank and Joe will enjoy.”
Artist Joe Eisma, also doing covers for the series, added, “Anthony and I have crafted a white knuckle ride of twists and turns for Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Whether you’re new to these characters or a long time fan, you won’t want to miss this book!”
Do I believe Nancy Drew is really dead? No — even the “Disposable Women/Women in Refrigerators” trope is that powerful. What’s really upsetting about all of this is…how do I put thus?
Comic books, movies, television shows, novels, etc. can be a subtle yet very powerful form of activism. They can change the way we perceive we look at certain groups of people, how we should feel about them, the way they act, the spaces they’re allowed to occupy, and Nancy Drew was a prime example of that. She redefined the type of roles a female could portray in a male-dominated world, and has influenced countless women across the globe — including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Hillary Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey.
Using her anniversary and her death — whether it’s real or faked — used as a promotional tool to shine a spotlight on the Hardy Boys shows that even characters as iconic as Nancy Drew struggle to get the respect they deserve.
