Hardly Boys in "The Case of the Shopkeeper's Secret"

In 2007, Todd Webb launched this single-issue comic for Matchless Books, a playful, all-ages mystery parody that reimagines the Hardy Boys as the bumbling "Hardly Boys." Webb both wrote and illustrated the story, which follows the duo as they investigate a shopkeeper's peculiar secret in a lighthearted, cartoonish style. Though it stands alone as a one-shot, the comic captures the charm of classic juvenile detective fiction with a humorous, self-aware twist. It's a niche gem for fans of Webb's clean, expressive artwork and gentle spoofs of genre tropes.