Locke & Key

By the subtitle and the few pages I'd flipped through, I thought that this story was Lovecraftian. It follows Bode and his family, after his father is brutally murdered by a disturbed high school boy looking for the anywhere key. After he and his partner are captured, the family moves to the family manor of the father, where bode finds a special door and an even more special well, but of which contain dark secrets, about doors, and the keys that open them.

The artwork is exquisitely detailed and richly colored. The characters are extremely well fleshed out, and will strike a cord with just about anyone. The horror is fairly muted, as there's less horror and more thriller scenes, as you know about the monster from the beginning.

The story has a great opening, and sets up well for volume 2.

I knew nothing of this book when I got it. In fact, I erroneously believed it to be a graphic adaptation of some of H.P. Lovecraft's stories. I was wrong, but the impulse buy paid off because this is some of the richest narrative and illustration you will find in any graphic novel of the horror genre.

I won't go into the storyline, because Mel Odom covers that pretty well in his review. What I will say is that there is tremendous depth in the characters, and the way Joe Hill uses the flashbacks to gradually reveal the plot's details rather than follow a linear progression makes this even more readable than it is. I suppose it could be conceived by some as a little jarring the way Hill bounces back and forth between past and present, but as long as you pay attention, I feel it only adds to the uniqueness of the tale.

I was completely pulled in from the first few pages thanks to Gabriel Rodriguez's stunning visuals and Hill's compelling story. I read it once...then again and once again the day I got it, finding something I missed each time. There is so much subtlety in the way the tale unravels, and you just know that Hill has much more of Lovecraft and the Locke family yet to reveal when the final page is turned.

I say this story has a little bit of everything because it does: the sociopathic killer who murders his victims without emotion, just staying on task and mission to get what he's after. The ghost/phantasm theme involving the books narrator, the elementary school-aged Bode. The monster living at the bottom of the well and the way she manipulates Bode and the killer Sam to further her own secret ends.

I've read that Dimension Films has already secured the rights to the Locke & Key franchise, and I'm looking forward to seeing this chilling tale re-told on the big screen.

This graphic novel was fantastic. The story line, the illustrations and everything else were amazing.. This story left you wanting more and hopefully the next one will do the same. Extemely well done. When I purchased this book, I wasn't aware that it was a graphic novel, however, am I glad it was. I haven't read "comics" since I was a child but this more than makes up for it.

I actually started with the first two issues gave up, and then read it straight through when I received the "Welcome to Lovecraft" hardcover. It was much more satisfying when reading the story arc straight through. And it's good, real good. This was a very enjoyable comic arc, and almost stands up there with Gaiman's and other comic greats work.

It tells of a family harassed by a teenage killer who went to the same school as the family, and where the dad was guidance counselor. And things go bad immediately, as the first issue details the death of the family's father by this killer. So the family heads east to live with their Uncle in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. The House is called "The Keyhouse" and it's large and with many doors that don't always just lead into the next room. There are supernatural aspects to this house and they are not the only one's inhabiting the house. This really leaves open unlimited possibilities for future story arcs, because in this first issue we only learn about two keys, and heck there could be a hundred others, who knows?

Anyway, this is a violent, yet intelligent take on the graphic form, and Joe Hill weaves a very good story, with some twists at the end, and leaves you grasping for more. If you want to categorize this I would say it's a mix of horror and mystery. As it's violent, but what is happening isn't told so easily and you have to figure it out as you go along, and with any good mystery there is always a twist at the end, and this one has a doozy. The artwork is very colorful, characters and sketches are simplistic yet easy to read and view, and they compliment the story very well. The artwork and story are very good in this excellent first story arc by Hill and Rodriguez.

I read a lot, but I never really write reviews. I leave that job to someone else. But I have to write one for Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's fabulous story. Maybe I am meant to write something, like the Locke family from the novel is meant to end up back in the town of Lovecraft? To be perfectly honest, I don't really consider this review. It is a sales pitch. But why would I want to sell the work of some guy I don't know? (And no, we are not related).

This isn't a mere comic book--it is a story about people. The dialog is sharp. The artwork is vivid and detailed. The oftentimes brutal events in the story reveal the human condition, family love, and personal pains. Above all, Locke & Key makes you feel for the characters. If you like character driven fiction, then do yourself a favor and read Locke & Key. I don't even like graphic novels that much, but I loved this story and I can't wait for the next volume.

I'm not going to write any plot details or story elements, because how they unfold to the reader is perfect. The right mix of pacing between present actions and flashbacks. Go and read about the lives of Nina, Ty, Bode, and Kinsey. Pick up this novel and open the door on Joe Hill's amazing story, Locke & Key. Become addicted, like me, because that's what the cool kids do.