Nick and Nora Charles the bantering, romantically involved detective duo has become a well-used trope in literature, stage, screen, and television ever since. The characters first appear in Dashiell Hammett's best-selling last novel "The Thin Man" (1934). Nick is an alcoholic former private detective who retired when he married Nora, a wealthy Nob Hill heiress. Hammett reportedly modeled Nora on his longtime partner Lillian Hellman, and the characters' boozy, flippant dialogue on their relationship. (The novel also mentions that Nick was once a Pinkerton detective, as was Hammett.) The novel is considered one of the seminal texts of the hard-boiled subgenre of mystery novels,
Bryan Johnson (comic book writer) Bryan Johnson (comic book writer) Bryan Lee Johnson (born December 7, 1967) is an American comic book writer, podcaster, actor and television personality associated with filmmaker Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book store owner Steve-Dave Pulasti. He was also the basis for the "Clerks" character Randal Graves. Through his friendship with Smith, he was often involved in his productions until Smith moved to Los Angeles. He wrote and directed one film, "Vulgar" (2000), for View Askew. He worked briefly