Joey and Matthew Lawrence Launch Graphic Novel, Eye Animated Series

Joey and Matthew Lawrence have a new project out this week, and it's not a TV reunion or a podcast episode. The brothers, along with Andrew Lawrence, co-wrote a graphic novel called "The Lawrence Brothers Detective Agency," published by Z2. The book reimagines the three as reluctant detectives battling a conspiracy that warps fame, set against a surreal, corrupted Hollywood. The story includes a monster outbreak at a fan convention.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Joey Lawrence described it as an "adult Scooby-Doo" with a van styled like the A-Team van but in Scooby-Doo colors. Matthew Lawrence said the idea started as a joke about 15 to 20 years ago during a family vacation, when someone lost something on the beach and they riffed on forming a detective agency. They brought the concept to the Berkowitz Brothers, a production company that creates comic book IP for film and TV development, and worked with them on the script. Eisner-nominated artist Sean Von Gorman handled the illustrations.

The graphic novel pokes fun at the brothers' own past as child stars. Their credits include "Blossom," "Boy Meets World," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and their own sitcom "Brotherly Love." Matthew Lawrence said the story has a deeper layer about child actors who didn't survive the industry. "A lot of the people that we came up with aren't around anymore," he told THR. "So there's this deepness to it that we then just kind of put all this real fun craziness around."

Both brothers said they were heavily involved in the artwork, including how their characters look and the color palette. Matthew Lawrence was specific about his character's pet chameleon. "You flip the page and there's just a spotlight on a little chameleon," he said. "I love that part."

The brothers said they hope the graphic novel leads to an animated series, which they would voice themselves. "The Hardy Boys, grown-up Scooby-Doo. That's what this would be," Joey Lawrence said.

A deluxe edition with a retro Trapper Keeper-style slipcase is available through Z2's website. The standard edition is in stores and online now.