Comic Review: Nancy Drew #2

Nancy Drew #2

Dynamite Entertainment

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist: Jenn St-Onge

Confession time: I’ve never read a Nancy Drew book. It’s true. I think I may have read a few Hardy Boys books when I was in first or second grade. But that was forever ago. I had no idea what to expect going into this series. So far, with only two issues out, I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I’m enjoying it.

To briefly recap the first issue, after receiving a cryptic letter taunting her about her mom’s death, Nancy Drew returns to Bayport. She reunites with her old friends Bess, George, and the Hardy Boys. As she’s descending into a cave, a shadowy figure appears and cuts the rope she’s climbing down on.

This second issue starts with a flashback. A younger Nancy Drew and her friends are exploring the same caves when Nancy gets a call. Her mom was in an accident. Back in the present a stranger, Pete, is in the cave helping her after she fell. Once everyone is awake, Bess, George, and The Hardy Boys are mad at Nancy for refusing to share the letter that brought her back to Bayport. The next day, going back to the caves with Pete, the issue ends with Nancy and Pete finding a dead body.

Kelly Thompson really nails dialogue. Nobody speaks in clunky, unnatural sentences. Any exposition comes mainly from Nancy’s inner thoughts, and when it doesn’t, it’s worked organically into conversations. The story itself is interesting. Nancy came home because of an anonymous note containing clues, and in this issue, we find out who sent the note. Even with that revealed, there’s still more mystery to uncover. With the ending, we get more questions than we did answers, and it’s enough to have me waiting for the next issue.

The art, by Jenn St-Onge, is very… cutesy. It’s not bad, it’s just not a style I’m used to reading. The character designs are all pretty good. There’s no over-the-top kind of outfits on anyone. They all wear clothes you’d expect from a group of late teen/early 20-year-olds, with everyone having a distinct style. I think the colors could pop a little more. There’s for sure color, it’s just all muted. It’s muted in the way a movie of a specific genre has a filter on it. It works on film, but not so much in a comic.

I’m not going to go out and read every classic Nancy Drew book ever written. They stretch back almost 100 years and that’d be insane. I will keep reading this series though. If you have children, I’d recommend this book. Even if you don’t, I’d still recommend it. It’s an interesting “modern” take on a classic character.  The characters and dialogue are well written. The art is enjoyable and fun. And the story gives enough and answers and provides more questions to keep us interested.