Look at this qoute:
"I believe this Undercover Brothers paperback is going to be one of the last ones, March 2010 is the kill date for the series."
? Paul Mular, refering to Private Killer
Seems like the UBs are on their last legs.
Prepare to say your heart felt goodbyes to the series March 2010, if the sereis really ends. (Prepares party, and grabs party hats)
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on May 18, 2009, 04:51:42 PM
Look at this qoute:
"I believe this Undercover Brothers paperback is going to be one of the last ones, March 2010 is the kill date for the series."
? Paul Mular, refering to Private Killer
Seems like the UBs are on their last legs.
Prepare to say your heart felt goodbyes to the series March 2010, if the sereis really ends. (Prepares party, and grabs party hats)
Ha ha, you're hilarious. ::) The series will eventually end, duh.
Well, Paul has also revealed that the final title in the series now will be #33 The Killer Connection that will finish the Killer trilogy.
But there has also been another series announced to retail store ordering executives for April 2010, but it looks like this series will be closer to the old Clues Brothers series, since the books are being listed at $4.99 USD, compared to the $5.99 USD price for the 2010 UB books. Plus the two titles that have slipped through so far are Trouble At The Arcade & Missing Mitt. Plus with titles like that most people are thinking the books will be aimed at Grades 1 & 2.
Oh, and the series is tentatively titled to be The Hardy Boys: Secret Files.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hardy_Boys_books#The_Hardy_Boys_Secret_Files_.28beginning_2010.29
Wow... Why do we need another Clues Brothers series?
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on May 18, 2009, 10:03:14 PM
Wow... Why do we need another Clues Brothers series?
I don't know. Maybe S&S is trying to make money on a prequel series to the UB's, even though the prequel series to the original/Casefiles series was cancelled after 3 years and 17 books.
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on May 18, 2009, 10:03:14 PM
Wow... Why do we need another Clues Brothers series?
We don't.
How ironic - the Killer Mission killed the series. Okay, the trilogy didn?t per say, but you know what I mean.
Another younger HBs series? Blah. One of us should start a publishing company and buy the rights.
Will the GNs keep going?
And will some of us disappear from this board? :'( (I guess there's still discussion for the Casefiles).
Do you think the HB:UBs books will be worth something someday (because of its short run)?
Lots of questions to think about lol.
And I wonder about one member's reaction in particular. Ha. I think you all know "who" I mean.
From what I've found out, along with others such as Paul Mular that I have been talking to, Papercutz is still going along with their plans to continue the graphic novel line.
So, for right now, until more is known for sure, it looks like the Undercover Brothers line is going to be getting the axe after #33 Killer Connection, but the Graphic Novels will go on. As Jim Salicrup said in one of his blogs on the Papercutz website, they are working on stories right now that won't be out till 2010.
I'd like it if they kept the GNs.
Quote from: tomswift2002 on May 20, 2009, 06:25:44 PM
From what I've found out, along with others such as Paul Mular that I have been talking to, Papercutz is still going along with their plans to continue the graphic novel line.
So, for right now, until more is known for sure, it looks like the Undercover Brothers line is going to be getting the axe after #33 Killer Connection, but the Graphic Novels will go on. As Jim Salicrup said in one of his blogs on the Papercutz website, they are working on stories right now that won't be out till 2010.
Yeah the Teen Titans comic based on the show lasted years after the show ended, so there is hope.
Quote from: tomswift2002 on May 18, 2009, 09:52:34 PM
Well, Paul has also revealed that the final title in the series now will be #33 The Killer Connection that will finish the Killer trilogy.
But there has also been another series announced to retail store ordering executives for April 2010, but it looks like this series will be closer to the old Clues Brothers series, since the books are being listed at $4.99 USD, compared to the $5.99 USD price for the 2010 UB books. Plus the two titles that have slipped through so far are Trouble At The Arcade & Missing Mitt. Plus with titles like that most people are thinking the books will be aimed at Grades 1 & 2.
Oh, and the series is tentatively titled to be The Hardy Boys: Secret Files.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hardy_Boys_books#The_Hardy_Boys_Secret_Files_.28beginning_2010.29
A young HB by its self? Thats odd. Theres got to be a normal level seris.
PS. What about Nancy Drew GD?
Oh yeah.
The Hardy Boys: Case Secret Files. :-\
Quote from: Rainbows & Lollipops on May 20, 2009, 01:26:17 PM
How ironic - the Killer Mission killed the series. Okay, the trilogy didn?t per say, but you know what I mean.
Yeah, sort of like how the Casefiles ended with
Dead in the Water.
Quote from: 003Robin457 on May 20, 2009, 10:12:32 PM
Yeah the Teen Titans comic based on the show lasted years after the show ended, so there is hope.
A young HB by its self? Thats odd. Theres got to be a normal level seris.
PS. What about Nancy Drew GD?
From what I know, the
Nancy Drew: Girl Detective franchise will not at all be effected by the death of it's brother. Although the current ND/HB crossover will probably end - we should know soon.
As said above, it looks like the Graphic Novels will likely continue, and is this is true my question is, will the end of the UB series from S&S give Scott Lobdell more freedom with his series?
A few months ago Lobdell said this in reply to a question I posted on the Papercutz blog:
QuoteUnfortunately there are things that I can?t do anything in the Graphic Novel series that would contradict what is being done in the novel series. (Like, if I wanted to send Aunt Trudy off to war? Or reveal that Fenton is actually a clone from an alternate reality? Those would be big no nos!)
While the Hardy Boys are definitely NOT super heroes, look at people like Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne who have had to protect their loved ones from the scarier side of their adventures. That is, I don?t think Fenton, Joe or Frank actually enjoy keeping the rest of the family in the dark, but I can see why they would.
But who knows, maybe there will come a time when I?m given the go ahead to tell that story in the future.
Is this the time? Lets hope so! Maybe for the first time in the 82 year history of The Hardy Boys, a Hardy writer will finally be able to do what they
want. Who knows what could happen?
Yeah Teen Titans (see last post) got way mor freedom after the show's death.
Quote from: SDLagent on May 21, 2009, 03:02:52 AM
From what I know, the Nancy Drew: Girl Detective franchise will not at all be effected by the death of it's brother. Although the current ND/HB crossover will probably end - we should know soon.
What if Secret Files is some sort of reboot and we see a Nancy Drew: Girl Detective and Hardy Boys: Secret Files Super Mystery.
Here?s a thought: Do a little research. Talk to fans. Compromise. Even having a more "grown-up" series would mean older readers would like it & younger readers would still be able to read it. Expand your audience.
Or keep the ATAC premise, but just improve the depiction of characters (bump them up to 3-dimensional) and tie together more complex plots with decent writing (it doesn't have to be simplistic like we're watching a sitcom). However, sometimes improvement can come too late.
Unfortunately, a new person will read a UB & their bad impression will turn them off for good (because even if the books improve, how would they know that?).
It's important to listen to feedback: we are your customers. Hello, look at the success of the GNs. Why can't we contact you?
So the problem is the sales. Where does this stem from?
1. The series not being up to par?
2. The old stereotype where guys don't read as much as girls (thus, ND still selling well because of "girls"/getting it as gifts & because the writing is good)?
3. Possible overall drop in book sales?
Even if they come out with a new amazing series, not everyone is going to jump on the bandwagon after everything. If it really is a very young HBs series, that?s the death of it (to me). And it looks like it from Wikipedia?s titles: Trouble at the Arcade and Missing Mitt. The GNs count, but they?re not the paperback books.
The bright side to me is that I can concentrate on all the other HBs series, I guess.
I'm glad the series is ending, since I was thinking I'd have to stop buying them because of the price going up to 7.99. But with only five more books left, I'll be able to get the complete series!
I will buy The Secret Files, but they're going to be cheaper. And of course, I'll continue buying the graphics.
Are you SURE the UBs are drawing to a close so soon?
Well, It's been going for about two or three years now, hasn't it?
Yeah, I guess. I was thinking Killer Mystery was just another cool title.
If this tril. was planed to be the last I hope they have some kind of conclusion.
Quote from: HB@1718 on May 25, 2009, 11:05:24 AM
Are you SURE the UBs are drawing to a close so soon?
I'm not 100% sure...I'm 99% sure.
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on May 25, 2009, 11:36:03 AM
Well, It's been going for about two or three years now, hasn't it?
Five years in 2010. That's still not very long, if you look at other HB series like the Casefiles and the SuperMystery '88, which both lasted 10 years, and of course the original Hardy Boys, which lasted 52 years, 78 if you count the Digests.
Here's a list of Hardy Boys series, by life-span. Series that are still ongoing are in bold.
Hardy Boys-only:
78 years: Original/Digest (190+ titles, 1927-2005)
52 years: Original (58+ titles, 1927-1979)
26 years: Digest (132+ titles, 1979-2005)
10 years: Casefiles (127 titles, 1987-1997)
05 years: Graphic Novel (19 titles, 2005-?)05 years: Undercover Brothers (36 titles*, 2005-2010?)03 years: Clues Brothers (17 titles, 1997-2000)
Hardy Boys crossovers:
10 years: SuperMystery '88 (36 titles, 1988-1998)
03: SuperMystery '07 (3 titles, 2007-2009?)02 years: Be a Detective (6 titles, 1984-1985)
02 years: Ultra Thrillers (2 titles, 1992-1993)
*Including the UB Super Mystery/Special Editions.
Quote from: 003Robin457 on May 25, 2009, 02:46:15 PM
If this tril. was planed to be the last I hope they have some kind of conclusion.
I hope so, too, but I bet they wont.
The conclusion is that they?re fed up with their assignments not being fulfilling enough. So after ATAC blows up, they join WARD.
But who is responsible for the explosion? We see two male teens walking away from the scene.
The end.
Psych.
That's nice, Olivia. :) :P :D
Thanks ;)
And everyone, don't forget to check for any secret writing.
Near the end, like here.
Oh,
So not fair!!!!!
Quote from: SDLagent on May 25, 2009, 03:30:05 PM
Hardy Boys-only:
78 years: Original/Digest (190+ titles, 1927-2005)
52 years: Original (58+ titles, 1927-1979)
26 years: Digest (132+ titles, 1979-2005)
10 years: Casefiles (127 titles, 1987-1997)
05 years: Graphic Novel (19 titles, 2005-?)
05 years: Undercover Brothers (36 titles*, 2005-2010?)
03 years: Clues Brothers (17 titles, 1997-2000)
Hardy Boys crossovers:
10 years: SuperMystery '88 (36 titles, 1988-1998)
03: SuperMystery '07 (3 titles, 2007-2009?)
02 years: Be a Detective (6 titles, 1984-1985)
02 years: Ultra Thrillers (2 titles, 1992-1993)
*Including the UB Super Mystery/Special Editions.
You should also remember that after the 1988-1990 timeframe the SuperMystery'88 series had 8 books in it.
Quote from: Rainbows & Lollipops on May 25, 2009, 07:27:02 PM
Thanks ;)
And everyone, don't forget to check for any secret writing.
Near the end, like here.
We should all just start checking every post for secret writing. :D
I was doing that!
Until I got bored...
This is getting annoying.
Quote from: tomswift2002 on May 25, 2009, 09:12:50 PM
You should also remember that after the 1988-1990 timeframe the SuperMystery'88 series had 8 books in it.
I don't think I follow...?
Quote from: SDLagent on May 25, 2009, 10:38:23 PM
I don't think I follow...?
Think about, within the first 2 years of the SuperMystery'88 series, you had 8 books, whereas within the same time for the Super Mystery'07 series there have only been 3 books. There were 5 more books issued in the series in the same amount of time nearly 20 years ago than there has been in the recent series.
Yeah, know I see what your talking about.
Actually, it might be a little strange without the UBs because...
Will this be the first time ND & HBs series are not running together? Like, the same kind of target audience?
Nancy Derw and the Clue Crew didnt have a HB counterpart... I think.
Ps. I don't know why I'm writing in white. :-\
We don't either.
Robin,(A) please don't write in white, and (B) the Clues Brothers are the same idea, Nancy Drew Notebooks/Clue Crew just lasted longer.
Do you think that with the UBs ending, the Girl Detective series will end too?
From what I've heard Nancy is safe for now.
On a different topic, here's Scott Lobdell, on the future of the graphic novels:
Quote
With HARDY BOYS GRAPHIC NOVELS a super hot item in comic, book stores and libraries across the country I am certain there is no doubt you?ll be seeing them for years and years to come! And by the grace of the Graphic Novel Gods (Jim and Terry! LOL!) I will be writing them!
I am curious what the fans think of whether A.T.A.C. should break up at the same time the prose books run that particular course? What do you say, people?
Head over to the Papercutz blog (http://papercutz.com/blog/2009/05/27/read-the-new-hardy-boys-book-or-i-will-eat-this-dog/) and answer his question! It's not every day someone behind a Hardy Boys series, asks the *gasp* :o fans their opinion!
Really? They actually want to know.... What we think?!? :o
Well, Papercutz has always been pretty good about fan interaction, it's S&S that doesn't even know what it is.
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on May 28, 2009, 05:36:59 PM
Really? They actually want to know.... What we think?!? :o
That is so cool!
Did you post a comment for Scott, HB@1718?
I figure, it's so rare we, the fans, gets input on The Hardy Boys, we should while when we can!
I agree.
So did you?
No, I haven't gotten to post a comment for Scott yet. I guess I should, shouldn't I?
Yeah.
Did you, JHR?
I just did today (finally). You should.
I did too.
Yay.
Just a FYI, the third title in The Secret Files series is going to be called Hopping Mad.
Wonder what that's going to be about. :)
Quote from: SDLagent on June 14, 2009, 12:59:04 AM
Just a FYI, the third title in The Secret Files series is going to be called Hopping Mad.
Sounds like the title to an old 1950's Rock 'N' Roll song.
What's the time period for The Secret Files? 1970s? 1990s? Or is it twenty-first century like the UBs?
Probally 21th C. The HB publishers allways try to advertise "All New and Up To Date" Books.
Every Hardy Boys novel has always been set in the present of when the book was published (except for The House on the Point: A Tribute to Franklin W. Dixon and The Hardy Boys by Benjamin Hoff). I don't think it will change now.
That's good. I think 21st century is way better.
http://hardyboys.wikia.com/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys_Undercover_Brothers#Future
Don't make the funeral plans, yet!
For those interested, here's the ISBNs for Undercover Brothers #34-39, to be published between May 2010 and January 2012. Looks like the series isn't going away but books will, now only be published about every four months.
#34 (May 4, 2010):
ISBN-10: 1442402628
ISBN-13: 9781442402621
#35 (September 7, 2010):
ISBN-10: 1442402563
ISBN-13: 9781442402560
#36 (January 4, 2011):
ISBN-10: 1442402644
ISBN-13: 9781442402645
#37 (May 1, 2011):
ISBN-10: 144240258X
ISBN-13: 9781442402584
#38 (September 1, 2011):
ISBN-10: 1442402660
ISBN-13: 9781442402669
#39 (January 1, 2012):
ISBN-10: 1442402601
ISBN-13: 9781442402607
Intriging.
Quote from: SDLagent on June 14, 2009, 12:59:04 AM
Just a FYI, the third title in The Secret Files series is going to be called Hopping Mad.
Don't tell me "The young Hardys have to help a friend find a missing pet rabbit!"
Ha ha. :D
Quote from: SDLagent on June 23, 2009, 07:29:15 PM
For those interested, here's the ISBNs for Undercover Brothers #34-39, to be published between May 2010 and January 2012. Looks like the series isn't going away but books will, now only be published about every four months.
#34 (May 4, 2010):
ISBN-10: 1442402628
ISBN-13: 9781442402621
#35 (September 7, 2010):
ISBN-10: 1442402563
ISBN-13: 9781442402560
#36 (January 4, 2011):
ISBN-10: 1442402644
ISBN-13: 9781442402645
#37 (May 1, 2011):
ISBN-10: 144240258X
ISBN-13: 9781442402584
#38 (September 1, 2011):
ISBN-10: 1442402660
ISBN-13: 9781442402669
#39 (January 1, 2012):
ISBN-10: 1442402601
ISBN-13: 9781442402607
You have to remember that even though an ISBN number has been granted for these titles, it doesn't mean that it is a definite thing that the books are going to be published. As a few people have pointed out to me there are ISBN's out there for Casefiles 128-134, as well as an ISBN for a completely different Hardy Boys (Digest) Mystery Story #86 book that was to have been issued by Wanderer Books.
That kinda stinks. We'll have to wait for a new book every four months.
Quote from: HB@1718 on June 28, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
That kinda stinks. We'll have to wait for a new book every four months.
Well, if you are old enough to remember how the last 5 Casefiles where issued, you might guess that this is essentially the death toll for the UB's, since with the Casefiles 123-127, instead of being issued monthly, 123 was the last to be issued a month after it's predecessor, while 124 didn't appear until 2 months later, and so on until 127.
Plus in 1983-1985, Hardy Boys Digest production dropped from 6 volumes a year in 1983 to 2 volumes in 1985, before there were no books issued in 1985.
So, if these are not ISBN's for Phantom Titles, then we might be seeing Hardy Boys history repeating itself.
I agree with Tom.
So I can cancel the political cartoon of the hand labeled UB comming out of a grave.
Well, it still seems like the series will last a bit longer than we thought.
Oh well evil grin for now then. ;D
Quote from: SDLagent on June 30, 2009, 05:36:24 PM
Well, it still seems like the series will last a bit longer than we thought.
But it definitely looks like the series is headed for its grave. And we still don't know if books 34-39 will be released for sure.
who is going to read the hardy boys : the secret files.
I'll try it but it might turn out badly. First those trilogys and now this. Can S&S kick it's self in the head with it's foot allready in it's mouth?
I'll try the first few at least.
I'll definitely try it. They probably shouldn't be too bad.
I don't think the Secret Files will be the only HB series after the UBs. I think there will be another one. S@S may have ended one of the best series (Casefiles) and made an already bad series worse (UBs), but they can't be dumb enough to make the only HB series left a little kids one!
If the Secret Files is the only HB series left, I'll will lose all fath in S@S
I'm pretty sure that, if the the UB end, the Secret Files will be a solo title, for awhile. That's not counting the graphic novels.
Do you think The Secret Files will be a better or worse series than the UBs?
It's impossible to tell at this point, but I'd hope they're better than the UB.
Even if you like UBs you should hope the SFs are better because then you have a super-awesome seris.
The titles for the SFs have me worried. Hopping Mad sounds like a little kid's book, and so does the missing mit. GNs, you are the only ones who can save us!
Quote from: SDLagent on July 01, 2009, 06:42:56 PM
It's impossible to tell at this point, but I'd hope they're better than the UB.
how can they be better than the UBs. they are for little kids. at least UBs have more better plots than the secret files.
Just, because a book is for little kids doesn't mean it can't be good. There's some really good kids' book out there. Plus, it wouldn't be hard to be better than the UB.
What's your definition of a "kids book"?
I'm with SDLagent. The Secret Files will more than likely stink... even more so than the UBs already do. Which means that all of us Hardy fans will probably have to find a new favorite pastime, as the UBs are being cancelled and the only replacements will be an even lamer series of kids books. Congratulations S&S. You have effectively tarnished the name of perhaps the most successful series in kids fiction barring Pendragon. On the bright side, maybe the drop in sales will prompt them to reprint some of the better Hardy mysteries... like the casefiles and the digests.
Quote from: SDLagent on July 02, 2009, 08:09:18 PM
Just, because a book is for little kids doesn't mean it can't be good. There's some really good kids' book out there. Plus, it wouldn't be hard to be better than the UB.
like what?
I think that we can all safely say that if the Secret files are in any way an attempt to re-start the Clues Brothers franchise or carry on with the idea of the Hardys being little children, the books will most assuredly stink.
Quote from: Frank rules on July 24, 2009, 02:30:06 PM
I'm with SDLagent. The Secret Files will more than likely stink... even more so than the UBs already do. Which means that all of us Hardy fans will probably have to find a new favorite pastime, as the UBs are being cancelled and the only replacements will be an even lamer series of kids books. Congratulations S&S. You have effectively tarnished the name of perhaps the most successful series in kids fiction barring Pendragon. On the bright side, maybe the drop in sales will prompt them to reprint some of the better Hardy mysteries... like the casefiles and the digests.
First of all, I never said the
Secret Files would stink. I don't have high-hopes, but that doesn't mean they'll stink.
Quote from: hardy boys fan on July 24, 2009, 02:52:52 PM
like what?
Beatrix Potter, Beverly Cleary...
Quote from: Frank rules on July 24, 2009, 11:16:25 PM
I think that we can all safely say that if the Secret files are in any way an attempt to re-start the Clues Brothers franchise or carry on with the idea of the Hardys being little children, the books will most assuredly stink.
I've never read the
Clues Brothers, so I don't know. But I do know that the
Secret Files will be similar. The series has been described as
Clue Crew-esque, and Frank and Joe are young kids, plus the prices are the same as the
Clues Brothers.
Quote from: SDLagent on July 24, 2009, 11:53:33 PM
I've never read the Clues Brothers, so I don't know. But I do know that the Secret Files will be similar. The series has been described as Clue Crew-esque, and Frank and Joe are young kids, plus the prices are the same as the Clues Brothers.
Then they're gonna tank. Honestly, shoudn't S&S have discovered by now that books about kids solving mysteries such as "Who tattled on who" just don't have a leg to stand on anymore so far as selling books is concerned?
Did they ever have a leg to stand on?
Quote from: SDLagent on July 25, 2009, 01:43:52 AM
Did they ever have a leg to stand on?
Maybe back in the late-80's and early-mid-90's.
Quote from: SDLagent on July 25, 2009, 01:43:52 AM
Did they ever have a leg to stand on?
You bring up a good point. Which begs the question, Why the heck is S&S deciding to re-start a Clues Brothers-esque series
now of all times, right when sales couldn't be any worse for the Hardy boys series. What kind of business sense do these people have.... Or perhaps they have just decided that after fifty or so odd years of Hardy mysteries, it's time to bring it all to an end. ???
50 years? More like 82.
Whatever. The point still stands. Why decide now to run the Hardy Boys franchise into the ground now, when they probably could have continued the Casefiles and (orriginal) ND/HB supermysteries after the discontinuation of the digests and made a fortune for themselves?
The Casefiles line wasn't selling well, and neither was the Digests. They weren't very good anymore, either.
Weren't the casefiles doing better than the UBs? If not, then I stand corrected.
Well for a time it was the top-selling YA series, so, I think it's safe to say it was doing better than the UB, at first. But in later years of the series, sales dropped.
Having said that, S&S probably could have kept, I think, if the quality of writing hadn't gone down. Most fans agree that the last books of the series are the worst, and some say the last books S&S "cared about" were the Operation Phoenix Trilogy (#64-66).
With the Casefiles it seems like the books published between April 1987 and August 1992 where the books that Simon & Schuster really tried to make different from the Originals/Digests. After that, aside from a few books, the action and what the Hardy's were and weren't allowed to do became nearly identical to what the could and couldn't do in the Digests. In the early Casefiles there were a number of books where the boys would handle guns. In the last years of the series, the boys were reduced to, if they found a gun, throwing it somewhere and fighting with their fists.
Quote from: SDLagent on July 30, 2009, 09:31:33 PM
Well for a time it was the top-selling YA series, so, I think it's safe to say it was doing better than the UB, at first. But in later years of the series, sales dropped.
Having said that, S&S probably could have kept, I think, if the quality of writing hadn't gone down. Most fans agree that the last books of the series are the worst, and some say the last books S&S "cared about" were the Operation Phoenix Trilogy (#64-66).
Thanks for clearing that up for me, man.
No problem.