I want to start by saying, I was pleasantly surprised by the collected edition “Welcome to Lovecraft” of the Locke and Key series. Sure, I haven’t heard any bad reviews about this and have mostly been suggested to read it, but I still wasn’t sure I could get into a comic book about the supernatural. In fact, every time I hear the word “supernatural” as part of any series in any medium, I cringe a little and am reminded of the pop and pulp flavored supernatural that while sometimes is a guilty pleasure, is mostly disappointing.
When I want to get into supernatural, I want it dark (big surprise), I want mystery, tension, sense of fear, lingering creepiness, maybe some quirkiness... that kind of focus. Mostly, the delivery is on the action, the jump out at you scares, the gore and the special effects.
I get that a lot of people like that other stuff and would argue what I’m looking for is in what they like, but it’s not enough of piece of the bigger picture for my taste.
When I want to get into supernatural, I want it dark (big surprise), I want mystery, tension, sense of fear, lingering creepiness, maybe some quirkiness... that kind of focus. Mostly, the delivery is on the action, the jump out at you scares, the gore and the special effects.
I get that a lot of people like that other stuff and would argue what I’m looking for is in what they like, but it’s not enough of piece of the bigger picture for my taste.
Every once in a while, people get supernatural right (see: the way I like it). Twin Peaks did it as a T.V. series. Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez did it when they put together Locke and Key (at least they did for this first collected edition I read).
The gist is this: The Locke family are visited by a two men intent to do them harm if Mr. Locke doesn’t surrender a key he seems to know nothing about. Their bizarre request goes unmet and the family and visitors are forced into a tense showdown with tragic consequence. The mystery and grief are backdrop to uncovering the secrets of key house - a place the family moved to after the incident. Things become all the more strange when the youngest Locke boy, Bode stumbles across a woman stuck at the bottom of a well claiming to be his echo, but was his father’s before him. What wild things do the keys of key house unlock and what is the connection of the well woman to the visitors early on? ... see for yourself!
At first I wasn’t a fan of the artwork. It’s not my style. What hooked me was the story telling which Joe Hill does an excellent job at. The story gives you room to wonder about different things and despite the lead into the next bit of the series at the end; it leaves you feeling satisfied with what you read and wanting more. Gabriel’s artwork will grow on you. the panels with the picture of the well house are appropriately spooky.
I will recommend this comic to anyone who likes a good horror/supernatural story. Pick this one up. I don’t regret it and am going to buy the second one shortly.
- Josh
The gist is this: The Locke family are visited by a two men intent to do them harm if Mr. Locke doesn’t surrender a key he seems to know nothing about. Their bizarre request goes unmet and the family and visitors are forced into a tense showdown with tragic consequence. The mystery and grief are backdrop to uncovering the secrets of key house - a place the family moved to after the incident. Things become all the more strange when the youngest Locke boy, Bode stumbles across a woman stuck at the bottom of a well claiming to be his echo, but was his father’s before him. What wild things do the keys of key house unlock and what is the connection of the well woman to the visitors early on? ... see for yourself!
At first I wasn’t a fan of the artwork. It’s not my style. What hooked me was the story telling which Joe Hill does an excellent job at. The story gives you room to wonder about different things and despite the lead into the next bit of the series at the end; it leaves you feeling satisfied with what you read and wanting more. Gabriel’s artwork will grow on you. the panels with the picture of the well house are appropriately spooky.
I will recommend this comic to anyone who likes a good horror/supernatural story. Pick this one up. I don’t regret it and am going to buy the second one shortly.
- Josh
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