Hap and Leonard are two fictional amateur investigators and adventurers created by American author

Joe R. Lansdale Joe Richard Lansdale (born October 28, 1951) is an American writer and martial arts instructor. A prose writer in a variety of genres - Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense - he's also written comic books and screenplays. Se ...

. They are the main characters in a series of twelve novels, four novellas, and three collections of stories and excerpts. They are two very different men and the best of friends, and now work together as private investigators for Hap's girlfriend Brett Sawyer. Together they always wind up in a lot of trouble with various criminal types in the fictional town of LaBorde, in East Texas and often find themselves attempting to solve various unpleasant and brutal crimes. Both men are well versed in the

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...

. The novels were adapted into a 2016–2018 TV series, produced by SundanceTV. The duo were partially inspired by The Hardman series by the late

Ralph Dennis Ralph Dennis (December 30, 1931 - July 4, 1988) was an American author of crime fiction, best known for his Hardman series of detective novels. The writer and anthologist Ed Gorman described him as "the most beloved obscure private eye writer who ...

Characters

Hap Collins

Hap Collins is a white working class laborer who spent time in federal prison as a young man for refusing to be drafted into the military and serve in the Vietnam War. In his late forties, he is often haunted by the various unpleasant jobs he's held over the years such as working at an aluminum chair factory and working the East Texas rose fields. Hap tries his best to avoid violence and also tries his best to avoid the taking of another human life. Hap often broods, sometimes sinking into bouts of depression, after resorting to violence in which he or someone else, even those who attack him, are injured. Hap sometimes allows his sense of compassion and respect for life to override his judgment, such as often allowing attackers who mean to kill him to live. Often lovesick, most of his relationships haven't worked out. He is currently with his on-again-off-again girlfriend Brett Sawyer. Some of his past has been taken from Mr. Lansdale's own past. The stories are told from Hap's narrative point of view. Not as quick to anger as Leonard, he often finds himself attempting to talk Leonard out of committing serious violence.

Leonard Pine

Leonard Pine is a gay, black Vietnam vet with serious anger issues. He was raised by his uncle who shunned him after learning he was gay. However, when his uncle passes away, he leaves his house and all his assets to Leonard. Leonard has zero tolerance for racist or

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slurs. Although Hap dislikes guns, Leonard has no problem carrying or using them. Quick to anger, at times he cannot understand Hap's aversion to violence or killing if necessary, even when provoked. His relationships are also short and tempestuous. Leonard is the much more aggressive of the two and repeatedly burned down a local

crack house A drug house (also called a trap house or drug den) is a residence used in the illegal drug trade. Drug houses shelter drug users and provide a place for drug dealers to supply them. Drug houses can also be used as laboratories to synthesize ( ...

that used to be his new next door neighbor. After living with Hap and Brett for a while, he recently moved into his own place. Much to Hap's dismay, Leonard has a habit of wearing ugly hats.

Television adaptation

Film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

duo

Nick Damici Nick Damici is an American actor and screenwriter known for such films as '' Mulberry Street'' and ''Stake Land''. Early life Nick Damici grew up in Hell's Kitchen in the 1960s and early 1970s. His father was a bartender, and Damici would oc ...

and Jim Mickle developed a Hap and Leonard crime and suspense TV series for SundanceTV. On November 10, 2014, Sundance green-lit the series for six one-hour episodes, which filmed in 2015 and premiered on March 2, 2016. SundanceTV renewed the series for a second six-episode season based on the second novel

Mucho Mojo ''Mucho Mojo'' Is a mystery/crime novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale. This is the second in Lansdale's ''Hap and Leonard'' series of crime novels. Plot summary This story revolves around the death of Leonard Pine's Uncle Chester who happen ...

. A third season inspired by '' The Two-Bear Mambo'' was also produced. On May 14, 2018, SundanceTV announced they had cancelled the series after three seasons.

List of works featuring Hap and Leonard

# ''

Savage Season ''Savage Season'' is a 1990 crime novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the first in a series of books and stories written by Lansdale featuring the characters Hap and Leonard, Hap Collins and Leonard Pine. The novel was nominated for ...

'' (1990) # ''

'' (1994) # '' The Two-Bear Mambo'' (1995) # ''

Bad Chili ''Bad Chili'' is a 1997 crime mystery novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the fourth in the series of books featuring Lansdale's longtime protagonists Hap and Leonard. The two characters couldn't be more different; Hap is a white work ...

'' (1997) # ''

Rumble Tumble ''Rumble Tumble'' is a 1998 suspense crime novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the fifth in the series of his ''Hap and Leonard'' mysteries. According to ''WorldCat'', it is held in 573 libraries. Plot summary The story ce ...

'' (1998) # '' Veil's Visit: a Taste of Hap and Leonard'' (1999) (short stories and excerpts written with Andrew Vachss) # ''

Captains Outrageous ''Captains Outrageous'' is a suspense/crime novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale, the sixth novel in the ''Hap and Leonard'' series of books. Plot summary The novel opens with both Hap Collins and Leonard Pine working as a security g ...

'' (2001) # ''

Vanilla Ride ''Vanilla Ride'' is a crime fiction novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the eighth book in the '' Hap and Leonard'' series. Published in 2009, it is the first in the book in the series since '' Captains Outrageous'' in 2001. ...

'' (2009) # ''

Devil Red ''Devil Red'' is a crime mystery novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the ninth novel in Lansdale's ''Hap and Leonard'' series. Plot summary In this story Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are hired by a former police officer turn ...

'' (2011) # '' Hyenas: a Hap and Leonard Novella'' (2011, novella) # '' Dead Aim'' (2013, novella) # ''Honky Tonk Samurai'' (2016) # ''Briar Patch Boogie'' (2016, novellette) # ''Hap and Leonard'' (2016, short story collection) # ''Hap and Leonard Ride Again'' (2016, short story collection) # ''Miracles Ain't What They Used to Be'' (2016, a collection of stories and essays) # ''Coco Butternut: A Hap and Leonard Novella'' (2017, novella) # ''Rusty Puppy'' (2017) # ''Cold Cotton'' (2017, novella) # ''Hoodoo Harry'' (2017, novella) # ''Hap and Leonard: Blood and Lemonade'' (2017, Mosaic novel) # ''Jackrabbit Smile'' (2018) # ''The Big Book of Hap and Leonard'' (2018, short story collection, ebook) # ''The Elephant of Surprise'' (2019) # ''Of Mice and Minestrone'' (2020, short story collection) #''Born For Trouble: The Further Adventures of Hap and Leonard'' (2022, collection of 5 novellas.)

Graphic novels

A series of graphic novels were announced, to be published in 2015, but the dates were pushed to 2017 when they were finally released.