My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Oni Press for an advance copy of this graphic novel about a small town whose population sign might need a lot of editing by the end of this story.

Before I became a teen I loved books about teen adventurers. I wasn't picky about who they were, boy, girl, whatever, I just loved to read about teens fighting crime. My trips to the library were a constant search for new Hardy Boys, Nancy Drews, Tom Swifts, Brains Benton, or the Three Investigators. As I became a teen this fascination went away, as I wanted nothing to do with people my age. As a much older person I look back at this books with a sense of awe and wonder. Kids investigating crime, that's nuts. Most of them would have been shot by the police, nevermind what the criminals would have done. Still I am kind of drawn to stories like that, though to have them done right are far and few between. Which is why I really loved Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1: The Case Of The Missing Men written by Kris Bertin and illustrated by Alexander Forbes, as they balance the whimsy of being young, and being curious, with the ugliness of the real world, and sometimes how odd, weird and scary living in small towns can be.

Hobtown is a small town of just about 2,006 people, though that number might be in question. Being a small town there is not that much for kids to do, hence the Teen Detectives Club was formed. Two boys, both brothers and two girls, with the leader being Dana Nance, daughter of a local bigwig, whose mother was murdered a while ago. The club is more about finding missing pets and mysterious shed fires, until a real case is presented to them. Sam Fitch has come to town to find his father, an industrialist with mysterious ties to the town. Sam's father is missing, and he is not the only one. Six men, have disappeared, and the cops and community seem to be doing nothing to find them. The Teen Detectives Club is thrilled to have their first case, but small towns sometimes have big secrets. Secrets that someone is willing to kill to keep.

I can't say enough about this. The story and the art really mesh well and though the graphic novel is long, it never drags or seems too much. The creators have been friends since childhood and that shows in that there is a rich history and mythology to Hobtown, that shows in both story and art. Both creators can share slowly understanding what they are trying to do, and it really helps the story. The characters may be teens but they are different and fully developed. There are a lot of players in the story, but the art and the writing really makes it clear who is who, and what their motivations are. The illustrations are perfect. A nice small town feel, but the use of shadows, and colors, along with the character design really brings out the weird.

A very atmospheric and well-written tale, that amps up the weird and the supernatural slowly, in a way that makes sense. One can tell this was a labor of love, and these two creators really work well. I can't wait to read more.

Hobtown Mystery Stories #1: The Case of The Missing Men by Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes falls under the category of odd literature — in the best way possible.

Can be read in one sitting, this enigmatic graphic novel set in a tiny town from years 70s-80s follows a bunch of teenagers whom are members of a small detective club from their own school. Then one day, at the beach, they saw something that would lead to more mystery and future chaos.

I. DEVOURED. THIS.

I am particularly fond of this creepier, paranornal-ish take for a mystery/thriller comic book. Nostalgic at it's very best, it strays away as well from just a bizzare pulp fiction genre but also as a somewhat beyond darker and far more sinister — I guess, good thing they didn't explore that as much???

I was are drawn into the complex web of secrets and intrigue that envelops the village of Hobtown by Bertin and Forbes' deft storytelling, which expertly combines aspects of mystery, adventure, and small-town charm.This novel is entertaining and pleasant to read because of the way that the authors, Bertin and Forbes, have created a vivid and compelling universe full with unforgettable characters and intriguing riddles. I could not wait to go on further excursions in the fascinating town of Hobtown. Since I didn't think there was much information or action in this novel, I wasn't able to truly enjoy reading this book. The absence of mystery and adventure was also a weakness.

Thank you netgalley for the ebook ARC

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. First and foremost, the illustrations are creepy; they really set the undertone of the story. As a fan of Scooby Doo and detective stories, this was a fun readalike that scratched that mystery solving itch. I had no idea which direction anything was going to take, including who to trust and who to be suspicious of. As soon as I finished the book I began looking up the authors/illustrators and small towns in Nova Scotia. My only complaint (mild spoilers) is the tip-toeing around supernatural aspects, which leaves you wondering if they're real or not. A fun read, overall, and I look forward to further books!

Dana Nance and her rag-tag Detective Club friends go where Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys never could have dreamed. When six men in town go missing, the son of the latest missing man asks the Detective Club to investigate. With their first serious case on their hands and things not quite adding up, the Club digs further into the underbelly of Hobtown. What they discover is a town full of coverups, secret alliances, and supernatural creatures.

The Case of the Missing Men is weird and subversive, adding an uncanny twist to a story steeped in nostalgia. Somehow Missing Men manages to be 312 pages with very few, if any, stumbles or misses. With a cover that oozes a pulpy vibe and calls on classic Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, The Case of the Missing Men delivers on all fronts. It’s simultaneously a cozy teenage mystery and a darkly bizarre supernatural fête.

Man, I loved this book. The Case of the Missing Men is for everyone who grew up on Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, especially those who thought, “Hey, why are so many weird things happening to these kids?” It's also perfect for those who gobbled up shows like Riverdale, The Society, Twin Peaks, and classic Veronica Mars. If you enjoy irreverent Weird Fiction, you’ll want to join the Hobtown crew. I’ll be sitting here eagerly awaiting more in this series.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to Oni Press for providing me with an advanced review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.

** Review will go live on Back Shelf Books on April 17, 2024.

this book was really good. I really enjoy mysteries. It’s always a good time. I will write more of this review later to think on it.

A group of teenagers create there own detective club to solve mysteries. Told through a similar vain as scooby doo stories, this will appeal to fans of this kind of writing. They artwork worked well in portraying the time period and the intensity of the story unfolding. A great read for fans of detective mysteries.

Hobtown Mystery Stories is a weird blend of Nancy Drew, Scooby Doo, and horror comics of the 1970s. A group of teens have created "The Teen Detective Club" to investigate the bizarre happenings in their remote coastal village. When a group of men go missing, the teens have their newest case. Murders start piling up, weird creatures/people are in the woods, and secret societies are discovered. No one is safe, but the teens are determined to find those responsible.

I just want to say that my issues with this book are MY OWN fault and has nothing to do with the author or artists. I didn't realize that this was a comic/graphic novel. That's on me for not paying close enough attention before requesting it. And I'm not going to fault the creators for my mistake.

However, I did read it and thought it was well executed. Think of a darker Scooby Doo and you get the idea. The story was well thought out with some nice touches I didn't see coming and the artwork was great (I'm not able to judge that since I don't know anything about artwork)..

I absolutely know there are a lot of people who love graphic novels, especially in the horror genre, and I think they'll really dig this one and I would recommend it to fans of that. It's just not MY cup of tea, that's all.

Riverdale meets twin peaks with a little bit of Nancy drew which I thought had me written all over it. But with the weirdness level turned up I don’t know if this was for me. A graphic novel that with the first few pages had me. The premise and the map at the beginning started strong but, the art style is definitely creepier and a little jarring at times. It was hard to follow a lot of times and felt super choppy, so much so, I had to double check I wasn’t reading a collection of short stories. In the end it still felt like that as the flow felt awkward and the change of scenes seemed abrupt. Not to mention these high school kids went through it! If you like the quirkiness of Twin Peaks with some macabre then this is for you.

This is the second Oni Press horror graphic novel I’ve read this week and I’m pleased to say that this was really creepy and I loved it!

From the start there was a definite Dunwich and Innsmouth feel about Hobtown, a coastal village with that sort of New England architecture, full of strange characters that inhabit the first few pages, and something just slightly off kilter about the whole place.

It also has a Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew feel to the gang which all adds to the atmosphere.

The Teen Detective Club usually find missing keys and dogs, but Sam Finch comes into their lives and they start investigating a group of missing men and whilst doing so come across a lot of strangeness that gets stranger as the book goes on.

Competing secret societies, strange wee men, psychic abilities, all this hints at a lot stranger things to come.

This was a great read and the art work was essential to conveying the atmosphere and showing the strangeness of the town and it’s occupants. Looking forward to the next instalment.

I received this from NetGalley for an honest review.

A little Nancy Drew, a little Riverdale, a smidge of Twin Peaks. This had a lot of potential but it never quite got there for me. There's a lot going on and the end result was quite scattered. I assume the plot will tighten up in the next few volumes but I don't think I'm interested enough to continue reading. While the art style wasn't my favourite, I thought it fit the story and setting very well. It reminded me of old school Hardy Boys cover art.

I received this arc for free on netgalley.

2.5/3

Hmm, this was a very creepy one, like the unhinged things these kids saw 🤣🤣.

I really loved the art style, it was very unique and helped execute the creepy vibes.

a gorier, spookier take on the mystery stylings of nancy drew and the hardy boys. i really appreciated the nostalgic factor in the art style here, and i did really like the characters and felt they were pretty fleshed out for as large of a cast as there was. the plot could have done with a bit of narrowing, as it felt a little broad at moments, and the density of text at some points felt a lot more like telling instead of showing, which i tend to be more critical of in illustrated narratives.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. We follow a group of teen detectives in a small town trying to figure out what is going on and why people are going missing. Who took them, and what do they want? Overall a good read although I did feel it was a bit too long, otherwise still an interesting premise.

I liked this a lot. A comic with a whole stand alone story for once (but more volumes are to come). What a story, with an interestingly weird vibe. A teenage crime club searches for answers. And the answers definitely come with surprises! Thank you to ONI Press and NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

The old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys days. Small town mystery. Group of teenagers. Nicely broken down into 12 chapters. Quick paced and had me hooked. The setting, look, feel made this a good story to read and try to solve. I felt part of the group. This is a good intro to what I hope becomes a great series with stronger character development in the town.
I just reviewed Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1 by Kris Bertin. #HobtownMysteryStoriesVol1 #NetGalley

I watch a lot of Bakeoff. Often on the show there will be beautiful messes, where the finished product lacks a little refinement, maybe it's a bit of a muddle. It's bursting with ingredients, but maybe there's too much to enjoy each. I feel that is very much the case with The Case of the Missing Men. It was very fun and didn't lack for ideas. Sometimes less is more. Maybe some elements, no matter how fun, should be sacrificed for the betterment of the whole.

The first in a new graphic novel series about teen detectives. This one was very gritty compared to what I expected, and a bit macabre. I also didn't like the illustration style, but that is a personal preference and others might like it.