> I've never heard of the word "hardboiled" referring to anything but eggs.

I am glad you've lerned something new.

"Hardboiled" is a common term used for a certain genre of detective novel.

I don't know of any novels, but I do know that Calvin and Hobbes poked fun at this genre in some of the strips.

I suppose the comic books for Watchmen could fall into this same genre somewhat.