ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘The Death of Nancy Drew,’ Issue #1

Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew #1 is published by Dynamite Comics, written by Anthony Del Col, with art from Joe Eisma, colors by Salvatore Aiala, and letters by Crank!. The Death of Nancy Drew #1 follows high school senior Joe Hardy, mourning the death of his close friend and sleuth, Nancy Drew. Police reports indicate that Nancy’s car had a faulty part, resulting in her skidding into the river and drowning. Seeing her body fished out of the wreck, Joe doesn’t believe it and can’t come to terms with this horrifying revelation.

This issue is a great starter for readers who’ve heard of Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys but never dived into their world. I know the names of the characters and not much else. We have all lost someone close to us in life, no matter the relationship, and writer Del Col captures that. With the help of lettering by Crank!, Joe Hardy is releasing his thoughts to the readers. We get a sense of the type of person he is and the man he is becoming. We’re also witnessing Joe spiral out of control, becoming irrational, and navigating through the stages of grief. As mentioned before, Joe can’t believe his friend is dead, and it was an accident. Instead, he believes she was murdered. Friends and family try to look out for Joe and help him come to terms. However, Joe isn’t having it. He’s sad, angry, and depressed.

With a story that’s easy to follow and interesting dialogue, it is nice to see the art by Eisma, and the colors from Aiala in this issue are nearly perfect. The design of the characters is great, giving each one their distinct look and personality. At times, they do look cartoony. However, their expressions in different panels help readers feel every emotion displayed. Overall, each character fits and doesn’t feel out of place. Aiala’s coloring is on the money; nothing is dull, and nothing pops out, but you can feel a sense of sadness and mystery, which is perfect for the themes within the issue.

Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew #1 grips you from the beginning and keeps you at the edge of your seat until the very end. It has you emotionally invested in its main character and the mystery to solve. This issue has a destination, and it stays the course. When reaching the said destination, it ensures that readers are in for a wild and mysterious ride.

Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew #1 is available now in comic book stores and online.