Mr. Pizza's Hardy Boys Forum

Hardy Boys Casefiles Discussion => Hardy Boys Casefiles => Topic started by: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 11:20:48 AM

Title: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 11:20:48 AM
I wasn't totally sure where to put this at first but it seems to fit well here as I basically wanted to have a thread to talk some about The Network. I was thinking on this the other day and made a few observations. For starters, though The Network was first introduced in The Hardy Boys Casefiles series, it also makes appearances in the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Supermysteries series (1988) and also in the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thrillers series. (And of course, both series are set in the Casefiles continuity for The Hardy Boys and the Files continuity for Nancy Drew and the IV series continuity for Tom Swift.)
    However, I was wondering if anyone knows if The Network ever showed up anywhere else? I can't think of any other place where it would have except perhaps for The Nancy Drew Files. Does anyone know if any mention was ever made of it in any of those books? In the Supermysteries series, we see that Nancy Drew has knowledge of The Network (though I don't know that she's technically an agent for them or anything) and I'm thinking Tom probably has knowledge of The Network as well though also not an agent.  (And I would imagine The Network is the kinda group that would keep tabs on all its enemies, suspects and possible resources- like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Tom Swift. So certainly it's aware of all three of these sets of folks. And definitely I'm sure they would be well aware of Fenton Hardy, Carson Drew and Tom Swift, Sr.)
        I also noted that in Buried in Time, Nancy is aware of The Network, but apparently George is not- though I think perhaps both she and Bess are shown to have knowledge of The Network and run into them in the Operation Titanic book, but my memory may be off.
        The Network and the Gray Man was always an exciting addition to The Hardy Boys Casefiles for me. I love the books where they show up. However, I still enjoy the other books without them. I think this is a key difference for The Hardy Boys Casefiles versus The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers.
Most times when The Hardy Boys work with a government agency of some sort, they seem to get locked into solely working for them on every case. And there have been quite a few instances: The Secret Agent on Flight 101 would probably be the earliest, but that was a one-off thing with SKOOL and UGLI (obviously inspired probably more from Get Smart and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. than say the James Bond movies or Mission: Impossible ;D).  Then there's the whole of Season 3 from The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (although technically in "Last Kiss of Summer" (Parts 1 and 2), they're not really working for the Justice Department at this point, but rather with and at times against them as they've only just met them in this episode.)
     And then we have The Network in The Hardy Boys Casefiles series and ATAC in The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers series as well as the graphic novels. And I still enjoy the times Frank and Joe do get tied down to working solely with an agency. All of Season 3 of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries was great! Though I do think if the show had continued, it might have been nice to have some cases that were not always dictated directly from Harry Hammond. (On a side note, The A-Team fell into this same sort of thing during its 5th. Season when the whole dynamic of the show changed- even so, I still enjoyed it as it did resolve some long-standing storylines and made it a little different from the status quo.)
         The big difference with The Network and ATAC is that the Hardys are more of on a part-time basis with The Network. They have a loose association with them, it seems, to where they are called on every so often when the group feels they have a case they can use Frank and Joe on (Ring of Evil trilogy)- or when they feel they can use Frank and Joe (Too Many Traitors). And sometimes The Hardys wind up intercepting a Network case as well. (Evil, Inc. and The Borderline Case).
      And I know The Hardys were working fulltime with The Justice Department on the '70s show so that makes a difference. (I get the feeling that they are perhaps in their early 20's at that point of the show, with college perhaps on the backburner at the moment or their college time just not shown at all and skipped over. From Season 1, it seems like they could still be in high school as in the books, but it also seems that perhaps they could be living at home and attending college. The show was always kinda nebulous on their ages, but that's okay.)
        Anyway, what I was trying to get to is the fact that ATAC always seems to have The Hardys on a case in the UB books as well as the graphic novels. Now in The Ocean of Osyria (#1 in the Hardy Boys graphic novels series), after finishing a case for ATAC, the Hardys get embroiled in a case by trying to rescue Chet. So we do get a separate case there. I don't know that any of the other ones are really separate from ATAC that I can recall right now.
      But all of the UB books and spinoffs seem to always be ATAC missions. And by the way, I presume since we have the 2007 Nancy Drew GD and Hardy Boys UB Supermystery crossover series that Nancy Drew has knowledge of ATAC's operations? Is she also an agent of ATAC in the series? Is ATAC mentioned in the Nancy Drew Girl Detective series?
       So I mainly just think that the UB books could use a little shakeup every now and then and I'd like to see some cases that are not always mandated by ATAC, which I think would be getting back to the root and core of the original Hardy Boys books. The Casefiles always seemed to maintain a good balance with different kinds of cases coming to The Hardy Boys.
     
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 17, 2011, 06:06:18 PM
There's a lot in your post and I'll respond to more of it later but I just thought I'd mention that in Papercutz's original summary of the The Hardy Boys comic book series, the Grey Man is mentioned. In the final version of The Ocean of Osyria , however, the Hardys are pursued by unnamed government agents. Also, ATAC is never mentioned in the book and at that point Frank and Joe are still only amateur detectives. Iola even cracks a joke about the boys becoming secret agents when they "grow-up" and Joe laughs at the idea. I bit of ironic humor from Scott Lobdell anticipating the boys secret agentization by the next volume.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: tomswift2002 on August 17, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
As well as having the Gray Man as their ATAC operative, the Graphic Novels by Scott Lobdell were also going to show, originally, how Fenton Hardy set up ATAC and Frank and Joe's transition from amateur detectives to ATAC agents; that never happened.

But in Best of Enemies (probably my favorite cover of the entire SuperMystery'88/Casefiles series) Nancy does work with the Network, along with George and Bess, since her murder investigation ends up dovetailing into the Hardy's top-secret Network mission.

Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 07:44:41 PM
QuoteAlso, ATAC is never mentioned in the book and at that point Frank and Joe are still only amateur detectives. Iola even cracks a joke about the boys becoming secret agents when they "grow-up" and Joe laughs at the idea. I bit of ironic humor from Scott Lobdell anticipating the boys secret agentization by the next volume.
Okay- I remember that joke from Iola now. That was a neat little inside joke. But I thought rescuing the horse at the start of the story was wrapping up an ATAC mission? Maybe I'm just remembering wrong- it has been a while since I've read it.
Didn't realize that the Gray Man was actually mentioned originally- I suppose I would have to go back and get the original comic book to find that. Or is it also in the first printing of the graphic novel?
   Yeah- sorry to bombard you all with so much at once. These are some of the things I ponder when I have nothing else to do- lol. ;D
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 07:48:05 PM
QuoteAs well as having the Gray Man as their ATAC operative, the Graphic Novels by Scott Lobdell were also going to show, originally, how Fenton Hardy set up ATAC and Frank and Joe's transition from amateur detectives to ATAC agents; that never happened.

But in Best of Enemies (probably my favorite cover of the entire SuperMystery'88/Casefiles series) Nancy does work with the Network, along with George and Bess, since her murder investigation ends up dovetailing into the Hardy's top-secret Network mission.
Do you recall where that bit about the Gray Man was mentioned? It's funny to me to think of the Gray Man jumping from The Network to work for ATAC, but I guess it could happen.... I guess it doesn't really matter now though as apparently it was scrapped as you said. Was this only in initial press releases or was there something in the comic or graphic novel itself to indicate this?
Thanks for the info on that and for the tip on Best of Enemies- I've read that one a while back and I do recall Nancy and The Hardys' cases correlating (okay, they pretty much always do, but I mean as far as being connected with the Network.) But I guess I was wondering if Nancy actually directly interacts with the Gray Man or another Network operative?
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: tomswift2002 on August 17, 2011, 07:54:18 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 07:48:05 PM
Do you recall where that bit about the Gray Man was mentioned? It's funny to me to think of the Gray Man jumping from The Network to work for ATAC, but I guess it could happen.... I guess it doesn't really matter now though as apparently it was scrapped as you said. Was this only in initial press releases or was there something in the comic or graphic novel itself to indicate this?
Thanks for the info on that and for the tip on Best of Enemies- I've read that one a while back and I do recall Nancy and The Hardys' cases correlating (okay, they pretty much always do, but I mean as far as being connected with the Network.) But I guess I was wondering if Nancy actually directly interacts with the Gray Man or another Network operative?

I remember that it was someone like Paul Mular or James Keeline who reported that they had been talking to Papercutz just after the initial announcement of the series and it was told to them by Papercutz that the Gray Man was going to be involved, most likely starting in book 2, but that the comic books/graphic novels were going to tell the stories "in between" the actual books that S&S was releasing, and The Ocean Of Osyria was written to "bridge" the gap between the Original Continuity and the Undercover Brothers series with book 2 continuing on to tell how Fenton founded ATAC.  Now then that is not what ultimately happened and the series went in a completely different direction with book 2.

In Best of Enemies Nancy, Bess and George do interact with the Gray Man near the end, since the help the Hardy's work surveillance.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 18, 2011, 12:01:04 AM
Quote from: tomswift2002 on August 17, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
As well as having the Gray Man as their ATAC operative, the Graphic Novels by Scott Lobdell were also going to show, originally, how Fenton Hardy set up ATAC and Frank and Joe's transition from amateur detectives to ATAC agents; that never happened.

But in Best of Enemies (probably my favorite cover of the entire SuperMystery'88/Casefiles series) Nancy does work with the Network, along with George and Bess, since her murder investigation ends up dovetailing into the Hardy's top-secret Network mission.



I don't think the Grey Man was ever going to be an ATAC agent but he was one of the government agents who thought that Chet stole the Ocean of Osyria.

Quote from: MacGyver on August 17, 2011, 07:44:41 PM
Okay- I remember that joke from Iola now. That was a neat little inside joke. But I thought rescuing the horse at the start of the story was wrapping up an ATAC mission? Maybe I'm just remembering wrong- it has been a while since I've read it.
Didn't realize that the Gray Man was actually mentioned originally- I suppose I would have to go back and get the original comic book to find that. Or is it also in the first printing of the graphic novel?

No, ATAC wasn't mentioned at all in the first title. As tom mentioned, the second story was originally intended to introduce ATAC but instead it just started as if ATAC had been around forever.

To answer your question about Nancy Drew status as an ATAC agent, she learns about ATAC in Terror on Tour and at first wants to join but by Danger Overseas decides that she wouldn't enjoy working for the government.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 18, 2011, 12:49:19 AM
Thanks for the answers to the questions, guys. :)
Any word on a mention of The Network in the Nancy Drew Files? I just haven't read any of those to know...  Maybe Dinosaur Dan will see this thread and might could weigh on this- he seems to be pretty up on Nancy Drew, particularly the Files series...
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Bigfootman on August 23, 2011, 12:06:59 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on August 18, 2011, 12:49:19 AM
Thanks for the answers to the questions, guys. :)
Any word on a mention of The Network in the Nancy Drew Files? I just haven't read any of those to know...  Maybe Dinosaur Dan will see this thread and might could weigh on this- he seems to be pretty up on Nancy Drew, particularly the Files series...
Nope, the network isn't mentioned in the Nancy Drew Files, or at least the ones I've read. It's surprising considering that the books in the Nancy Drew Files series would often have characters from earlier books in the series appear (Like Marilyn Kilpatrick who appeared in #7 and #29) , and the books would often have references to earlier books too. Plus, apparently there was a reference to the Supermysteries in one of the Nancy Drew Files books. The Hardy Boys were mentioned in #4.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 23, 2011, 02:05:07 PM
QuotePlus, apparently there was a reference to the Supermysteries in one of the Nancy Drew Files books. The Hardy Boys were mentioned in #4.
Really? That's cool!  You should add that info to The Hardy Boys Wiki, if it's not already there.
Thanks for answering my question. 8)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 23, 2011, 03:01:57 PM
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on August 23, 2011, 12:06:59 PM
Nope, the network isn't mentioned in the Nancy Drew Files, or at least the ones I've read. It's surprising considering that the books in the Nancy Drew Files series would often have characters from earlier books in the series appear (Like Marilyn Kilpatrick who appeared in #7 and #29) , and the books would often have references to earlier books too. Plus, apparently there was a reference to the Supermysteries in one of the Nancy Drew Files books. The Hardy Boys were mentioned in #4.

It's kind of weird how there was so little crossover between the crossover series and the solo series. Like you say, past books were mentioned but hardly ever books from the crossover.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 23, 2011, 05:50:23 PM
Also interesting is that The Hardy Boys don't seem to mention Nancy Drew. I've read all of The Hardy Boys Casefiles and I don't recall any of them referencing Nancy Drew or making any mention of Supermysteries cases- though there are certainly flashbacks to previous cases within the Casefiles series.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Mattie on August 24, 2011, 09:42:07 AM
Hey, I was wondering does Fenton ever find out that Frank and Joe worked with the Network? :/
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 24, 2011, 10:50:41 AM
I'm pretty sure Fenton is aware of Frank and Joe's activities with The Network (though I'm pretty sure Laura and Aunt Gertrude and their friends outside of Nancy Drew definitely are not.) In Dead on Target, Frank and Joe first meet Arthur Gray, who is introduced as an associate of their father's. So the connection between Fenton Hardy and The Network is established from the first book- though I don't think Fenton really has much interactions with them after that.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Mattie on August 24, 2011, 11:02:23 AM
Oh. Thanks. :)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: tomswift2002 on August 24, 2011, 04:51:39 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on August 24, 2011, 10:50:41 AM
I'm pretty sure Fenton is aware of Frank and Joe's activities with The Network (though I'm pretty sure Laura and Aunt Gertrude and their friends outside of Nancy Drew definitely are not.) In Dead on Target, Frank and Joe first meet Arthur Gray, who is introduced as an associate of their father's. So the connection between Fenton Hardy and The Network is established from the first book- though I don't think Fenton really has much interactions with them after that.

Yeah, but after Dead On Target that association with Fenton Hardy and the Network seems to get dropped.  Plus, how do we know that by "associate", the Gray Man didn't mean that Fenton Hardy only knew of him being connected with another government agency (ie. FBI)?
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 24, 2011, 06:24:35 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on August 23, 2011, 05:50:23 PM
Also interesting is that The Hardy Boys don't seem to mention Nancy Drew. I've read all of The Hardy Boys Casefiles and I don't recall any of them referencing Nancy Drew or making any mention of Supermysteries cases- though there are certainly flashbacks to previous cases within the Casefiles series.

Frank mentions Nancy Drew in the UB book Operation: Survival. But, in this continuity, the Hardys don't even meet Nancy until Terror on Tour, the first book of the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery series. I guess one could say that even though Terror on Tour was published after Operation: Survival it doesn't necessarily mean that it takes place after. Chronology and publication dates don't need to relate to each other but Hardy fan (including myself) have always assumed that they do.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: tomswift2002 on August 24, 2011, 08:16:57 PM
Quote from: SDLagent on August 24, 2011, 06:24:35 PM
Frank mentions Nancy Drew in the UB book Operation: Survival. But, in this continuity, the Hardys don't even meet Nancy until Terror on Tour, the first book of the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery series. I guess one could say that even though Terror on Tour was published after Operation: Survival it doesn't necessarily mean that it takes place after. Chronology and publication dates don't need to relate to each other but Hardy fan (including myself) have always assumed that they do.

Not to mention that Tom Swift and Swift Enterprises were never mentioned in the Casefiles either, even though Swift Enterprises appears to be a rather large corporation in the Casefiles universe.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 24, 2011, 09:39:33 PM
QuoteFrank mentions Nancy Drew in the UB book Operation: Survival. But, in this continuity, the Hardys don't even meet Nancy until Terror on Tour, the first book of the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery series. I guess one could say that even though Terror on Tour was published after Operation: Survival it doesn't necessarily mean that it takes place after. Chronology and publication dates don't need to relate to each other but Hardy fan (including myself) have always assumed that they do.
Okay- I was thinking of the earlier Hardy Boys series- I forgot about the UB reference. And I also generally assume the publication dates to mandate the chronology and continuity, at least to a large degree...
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 24, 2011, 10:41:15 PM
QuoteYeah, but after Dead On Target that association with Fenton Hardy and the Network seems to get dropped.  Plus, how do we know that by "associate", the Gray Man didn't mean that Fenton Hardy only knew of him being connected with another government agency (ie. FBI)?
Okay- I just pulled out Dead on Target to look at it again- The Gray Man introduces himself via handing his business card to Frank and Joe, which reads- "Arthur E. Gray: World Import-Export."
The Gray Man just mentions that his firm is a client of their father's. Frank says that Fenton has never mentioned him, but Gray counters by saying that Fenton has often spoken of his sons. It gives me the impression that maybe Fenton had done a little paternal bragging about Frank and Joe's detecting abilities and even mentioned them as possible recruits for The Network. Maybe that's reading too much into it, but just an idea. And in Chapter 5, The Gray Man explains to Frank and Joe some about his work with The Network and tells them that World Import-Export is a cover company for The Network. And then he says that Fenton has given them some help from time to time. And now he's called in some favors to have his family protected while he's working as head of security for the Walker campaign.
     So that passage there seems to indicate that Fenton has worked directly with The Network and has done enough good work for them that he could even call in some favors. I don't think much (if anything) is mentioned of this connection past the first book, but I'm inclined to think it must be a direct connection in place.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 25, 2011, 03:33:42 PM
I wonder if the Grey Man just said that to gain the Hardy boys trust. Is there any books where Fenton and the Grey Man actually interact?
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 25, 2011, 04:11:10 PM
good point- I'd have to research that...don't think I can recall any such interactions right now though...
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Hardy Boys UB Fan on August 25, 2011, 04:54:33 PM
Didn't they interact in #105, Law of the Jungle?
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 26, 2011, 01:20:20 AM
Okay- I can't believe I had forgotten about this one. For the record, in #100 True Thriller, The Gray Man meets up with just about all of The Hardy Boys' friends- Callie Shaw and Vanessa Bender, for sure. Chet Morton, Biff Hooper and Tony Prito all have at least some knowledge of the Gray Man and The Network as well, though I'm not positive if they actually talked with him- though Tony obviously did from waiting on him at Mr. Pizza. Chief Collig and Con Riley both show up in the book too and probably have some interaction with the Gray Man at some point as the police are pursuing him for a while. This book was actually really neat because The Network and The Assassins were both involved and it was all set in Bayport, with most all of Frank and Joe's friends showing up. I love how Frank mentions at one point that they're going up against terrorists with machine guns and all they have is a Swiss Army Knife. And Frank actually does use his knife later in the book so I'm inclined to think he was being both metaphorical and literal there. :) (which of course, makes me think of MacGyver, so I like that.) 8)
   And in all this, Fenton and Laura Hardy do actually show up, but they go off on a trip towards the start of the book before all the stuff with The Network happens...
          I should also mention #80 Dead of Night, where the Gray Man again has some level of interaction with Vanessa and Callie as well as Laura Hardy.  And in #101 Peak of Danger, Frank and Joe briefly tell their friend on the soccer team in Bayport, Carlos Capac, about the Gray Man since they just had run into him in the middle of the case. Of course, since Carlos was wrapped up in the middle of things, it couldn't really be avoided.

And thanks to Katie for reminding me about #105 Law of the Jungle- the Gray Man definitely shows up in this one and joins the Hardy Boys in trying to save Fenton's life. And after they succeed in getting the cure to Fenton, he and the Gray Man definitely interact at the end of the book. 
Coupling this with events from Dead on Target, I would say it's safe to say that Fenton Hardy is familiar with the Gray Man and the Network. (considering that most all of the rest of Frank and Joe's family and friends are apparently. ;D)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 26, 2011, 02:03:13 AM
By the way, I know that Fenton shows up in at least the first of the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift Ultra Thrillers, but I don't think he appears in the second. However, The Gray Man and the Network do. So for the record, Fenton Hardy and Frank and Joe have all met Tom Swift and his father in Time Bomb and Tom Swift has met the Gray Man in The Alien Factor.

Also, in #108 Blown Away, Chet and Callie meet up with The Gray Man again and Chet even directly addresses him as Mr. Gray. So that cat's definitely out of the bag- lol. ;D  And Phil Cohen at least briefly meets up with the Gray Man as well.
Also worth noting- in #25 The Borderline Case, both Chet and Phil helped Frank and Joe on a case with The Network and Chet at least met the Gray Man- and Phil probably ran into him at some point as well. I'm not sure if either of them totally got the whole story on who the Gray Man and the Network are- but I think we can definitely say they had a pretty big brush with them here.
Also for the record, in A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Supermystery #7 Buried in Time- it clearly says that Nancy Drew is familiar with The Network. And as stated previously, she also encounters The Network again in Best of Enemies, and it's stated in this book that both Nancy and Bess are familiar with The Network. I find it interesting that George apparently was not familiar with it in Buried in Time but apparently Bess was in Best of Enemies. I imagine if Bess Marvin was told about The Network and the Gray Man, George Fayne and Ned Nickerson and Carson Drew for that matter probably became familiar with them to some degree at some point as well- but I'm not sure of any books that state this right now.  I don't know that Hannah Gruen or Aunt Gertrude have had any dealings with them quite yet though. ;D lol
        Oh, and the Network and the Gray Man are involved in Islands of Intrigue as well and are definitely mentioned but I'm not sure if the Gray Man actually shows up. Frank and Joe are on a case for The Network in Operation: Titanic and talk on a cell phone with the Gray Man a good bit throughout the book, but I don't think he physically shows up otherwise. Of course, Frank and Joe mainly have cell phone contact with Nancy Drew and Bess in the book as well and don't even really meet in person much except for some at the end of the book. Oh well- I guess you have to give them credit for trying to do something a little different from the formula in that book.
        That's all my findings on this for right now, but if I sleuth anything else out on this, I'll be sure to post it later. :) 8)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: tomswift2002 on August 28, 2011, 01:38:06 PM

Quote from: MacGyver on August 26, 2011, 01:20:20 AM
          I should also mention #80 Dead of Night, where the Gray Man again has some level of interaction with Vanessa and Callie as well as Laura Hardy.  And in #101 Peak of Danger, Frank and Joe briefly tell their friend on the soccer team in Bayport, Carlos Capac, about the Gray Man since they just had run into him in the middle of the case. Of course, since Carlos was wrapped up in the middle of things, it couldn't really be avoided.

Con Riley is also in the basement of the "Old Mill" in #80 Dead Of Night interacting with both the Bayport Police and the Network.

But I was just thinking, of the two "official" trilogies in the Casefiles, the Network appears in the one that most fans consider to be the worst of the two. the Ring Of Evil trilogy, while, aside from maybe a mention about how the Network figured into the boys history, there was no mention or appearance of the Network in Operation: Phoenix.  Maybe S&S should take a hint about the newer trilogies from the Casefiles and drop ATAC for a trilogy.  Then maybe we'd see a really great trilogy.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 28, 2011, 03:33:42 PM
While I would welcome a break from ATAC for a while, I liked both the Operation: Phoenix and Ring of Evil trilogies, but I like most all of them anyway. ;D
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on August 28, 2011, 04:39:21 PM
O really!?
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 29, 2011, 09:51:58 AM
I know- it was a rather shocking revelation there. :o ;D
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on August 31, 2011, 09:52:50 PM
Got another appearance- the Gray Man and the Network do get a quick mention in Cult of Crime and Frank and Joe briefly talk with the Gray Man on a radio communicator. I'm sure there are still more books that The Network and Gray Man show up in (like the Ring of Evil trilogy: #76 Tagged for Terror, #77 Survival Run and #78 The Pacific Conspiracy) though of course.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: the Gray Man on February 02, 2012, 09:46:00 PM
The Gray Man appeared in Casefiles #10 when Callie's plane was hijacked.  Fenton was at the airport when the Gray Man was there, but I can't remember if he officially revealed his cover other than to the Hardy Boys.  I know the Hardy Boys worked with (or against depending on your take) an agent from the US Espionage Resources.

I also seem to remember the Gray Man making an appearance in the first Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Super Mystery: Double Crossing, but I could be confusing this with another book, and I don't think he interacted with Nancy or George.
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on February 03, 2012, 12:14:10 AM
Thanks for the info, Gray Man- and welcome aboard. :)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: SDLagent on February 03, 2012, 02:14:51 AM
We just got visited by the Grey Man! Crazy!
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on February 03, 2012, 08:20:18 AM
I hope this doesn't mean The Assassins are on our tail. :o
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 03, 2012, 03:07:32 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on February 03, 2012, 08:20:18 AM
I hope this doesn't mean The Assassins are on our tail. :o

I'm sure Frank and Joe got them locked up somewhere safe. 8)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on February 03, 2012, 03:16:03 PM
Well, that's a relief then. Of course we can always count on The Hardy Boys to have the bad guys safely rounded up and locked away. :) 8)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: AlwaysAJoefan on February 04, 2012, 12:59:46 PM
Quote from: MacGyver on February 03, 2012, 03:16:03 PM
Well, that's a relief then. Of course we can always count on The Hardy Boys to have the bad guys safely rounded up and locked away. :) 8)

But that's why we read them. To see good triumph over evil, like in the Bible. :D
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 04, 2012, 01:03:21 PM
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 04, 2012, 12:59:46 PM
But that's why we read them. To see good triumph over evil, like in the Bible. :D

That's the truth! ;) 8)
Title: Re: Appearances of The Network
Post by: MacGyver on February 04, 2012, 01:18:30 PM
Word. :) 8)