The Hardy Boys Adventures (general discussion)

[SDLagent]

We don't know much about the series, yet, but for me there's two specific things I've been wondering about. Will this be another reboot or a modern take/continuation on the originals? I'm hoping for a modernized version of the Hardys but without any of gimmicks they've tried to work into recent series to make the Hardys "cool". I'd like some unadulterated Hardy boys! We'll probably end-up with a new continuity of some kind but I'm betting it won't be as drastic as the UB universe (with ATAC, Aunt Trudy, and co). Maybe something akin to what the Casefiles were to the Originals.

And will the books really only be 160 pages long? I was hopping they'd be a bit longer than the UB and more inline with the original series. Plus, $15.99 seems a bit much for a 160 page hardcover. Considering The Case of the MyFace Kidnapper also "has" 160 pages, I'm guessing this is just the default page count they list for a lot of books before release.

[JoeHardyRocks]

Well weren't the casefiles around 160 pages also?

I'm also hoping for that. No gimmicky corny, "OMG's" or mentioning current pop culture icons to try and make them relate-able. Just awesome teenagers solving mysteries/fighting crime.   I hope they're more like casefiles.

[MacGyver]

Well, the Casefiles does have a few references here and there that can be considered dated. And so does the Originals- but these are usually more because of technology and not because of random pop culture references- that approach may have worked to make the UB books more accessible to kids today but it will definitely not give it a lot of staying power because pop culture outdates itself so quickly.
So yeah- I like SDLAgent's description- pure, unadulterated Hardy Boys action and adventure with Frank and Joe being the virtuous role models and heroes they've always been.

[SDLagent]

Well, the Casefiles does have a few references here and there that can be considered dated. And so does the Originals- but these are usually more because of technology and not because of random pop culture references- that approach may have worked to make the UB books more accessible to kids today but it will definitely not give it a lot of staying power because pop culture outdates itself so quickly.
So yeah- I like SDLAgent's description- pure, unadulterated Hardy Boys action and adventure with Frank and Joe being the virtuous role models and heroes they've always been.

Sometimes people forget Frank and Joe weren't always the perfect role models. Of course, the Hardys were always good kids but they actually got in to more trouble before the Originals were revised. They and their chums even played pranks on the cops sometimes!

[MacGyver]

Yes, that is true. But I generally look to the Revised books as more the standard canon at this point. And I don't mean to make out like the Hardys are little angels all the time- but for the most part, they do the right thing.

[tomswift2002]

Well, the Casefiles does have a few references here and there that can be considered dated. And so does the Originals- but these are usually more because of technology and not because of random pop culture references- that approach may have worked to make the UB books more accessible to kids today but it will definitely not give it a lot of staying power because pop culture outdates itself so quickly.
So yeah- I like SDLAgent's description- pure, unadulterated Hardy Boys action and adventure with Frank and Joe being the virtuous role models and heroes they've always been.

I still remember that in Dead On Target the James Bond film franchise and Sean Connery in it.

[MacGyver]

Yeah- Joe makes a reference to Kojak in that book too and I don't know how many kids would get that reference today.... (Of course, I don't know how many would've gotten it in 1987 either, for that matter...)

[SkyWarp]

I'm a firm believer that putting references that not everyone will understand (as long as they don't confuse) is something that helps with the stories.  If we understand everything, there is nothing to learn. 

Larry Hama of GI Joe comic writing fame does this all the time.  He never wrote the GI Joe comics for kids.  He wrote them for all ages and for himself to be surprised.  There are TONS of things in GI Joe comics that that kids will never understand.  Hama's GI Joe probably has more editor notes than all other modern comics combined.  Acronyms, historical people and sayings, military jargon, cultural and political references, literary and philosophical ideas, etc. fill the stories.  Yet, even as one looks back over the outdated technology, clothing, and cultural references, the books still are great because they focus on the characters.  Story, character development, and learning something new, always helps give media a chance to have longer lasting success. 

I hope the HBAdventures take this path.  Hopefully they don't water down the story line for the "ideal" age group.  Kids, especially those that like to read, want to have something that makes them feel more grown up.  And reading something that has stuff in it that they don't fully understand goes to help this.

[MacGyver]

That's a good point, Skywarp and I think there is a lot of merit to that idea. I myself enjoy reading about things I don't understand to learn more and be challenged. It was definitely true as a kid too. I was just pointing out that it can be possible to go overboard in some regard to the point where you can't hardly understand the story without getting all the various references. As long as the focus remains on the characters and main basic plot, then yeah- I think that's fine.

[SDLagent]

I'm a firm believer that putting references that not everyone will understand (as long as they don't confuse) is something that helps with the stories.  If we understand everything, there is nothing to learn. 

Larry Hama of GI Joe comic writing fame does this all the time.  He never wrote the GI Joe comics for kids.  He wrote them for all ages and for himself to be surprised.  There are TONS of things in GI Joe comics that that kids will never understand.  Hama's GI Joe probably has more editor notes than all other modern comics combined.  Acronyms, historical people and sayings, military jargon, cultural and political references, literary and philosophical ideas, etc. fill the stories.  Yet, even as one looks back over the outdated technology, clothing, and cultural references, the books still are great because they focus on the characters.  Story, character development, and learning something new, always helps give media a chance to have longer lasting success. 

I hope the HBAdventures take this path.  Hopefully they don't water down the story line for the "ideal" age group.  Kids, especially those that like to read, want to have something that makes them feel more grown up.  And reading something that has stuff in it that they don't fully understand goes to help this.

Agreed. I remember when I was little I always hated it when I felt like I was being talked down to. It's why I usually preferred National Geographic to National Geographic Kids.

[SkyWarp]

National Geographic Kids.

Is that the magazine that use to be called "National Geographic World"?   Both use to come with maps.  Neither do now. 

[MacGyver]

Definitely- I don't like kids (or anyone else for that matter) being talked down to either. Give us something to challenge us and make us think a little and maybe even (gasp and begorra!) pick up a dictionary and look up a new vocabulary word! (Just make sure it's not a 4 letter one like the ones kids were learning in the UB books...)

[SDLagent]

I kinda of doubt any kids were learning new words from the UB but I get what you're saying.

[MacGyver]

Yeah, unfortunately you're right there...   (but that's just the way of the world)

[Hardy Boys UB Fan]

Definitely- I don't like kids (or anyone else for that matter) being talked down to either. Give us something to challenge us and make us think a little and maybe even (gasp and begorra!) pick up a dictionary and look up a new vocabulary word! (Just make sure it's not a 4 letter one like the ones kids were learning in the UB books...)

What four latter words were these? I got my eight year old cousin into the UB series, and I hope she's not expanding her vocabulary.  My mom asked if there was sex in them. I just about died from laughing.