Locke and Key. Volume 5. Clockworks

Locke and Key. Volume 5. Clockworks written by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez, 152 pages

FINALLY a backstory! Don't get me wrong, this series is fantastic. But for some time now, I've been wondering about how all of these magic keys and Zack/scary echo lady/Dodge came to be. The antics of Tyler, Kinsey and Bode (who's no longer quite himself) take a backseat here, as Tyler and Kinsey have stumbled on a time-machine key that takes them back to the origins of the Omega Key, the rest of the keys and Keyhouse itself. This is an excellent installation in the series, and yes, definitely much needed, considering the story's due to wrap up in Volume 6. Can't wait to read it, but I'll be sad when this tale comes to an end.

Locke and Key. Volume 4. Keys to the Kingdom

Locke and Key. Volume 4. Keys to the Kingdom written by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez, 146 pages

OK, you see that last post I did about how creepy these books are getting? Scratch that. NOW they're getting really creepy. Zach/scary echo lady is seriously freaking me out, and I'm just going to say that the way this volume ended has the potential to give me nightmares. And I don't get nightmares easily.

Yeah, I'm just tearing through these books. They're awesome.

Locke & Key. Volume 3. Crown of Shadows

Locke & Key. Volume 3. Crown of Shadows written by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez, 140 pages

Holy wow, this is getting creepy. As the Locke kids find more keys, Zach/scary echo lady keeps increasing his/her power. It comes to a head in this volume, which finds Zach/scary echo lady taking control of Keyhouse's shadows and using them to wage war on Tyler, Kinsey and Bode. The shadow art is incredible, as are Hill's characters. I seriously have no idea what's going to come next, and that's fantastic.

Locke & Key. Volume 2. Headgames

Locke & Key. Volume 2. Headgames written by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez, 144 pages

Still trying to come to terms with their father's murder and the psychopathic killer who tracked them across the country, Tyler and Kinsey Locke make a new friend in "Zack," not knowing that he's far more dangerous (and closely tied to their dad's death) than they would ever suspect. Meanwhile, Bode keeps finding new keys, including the head key, which allows unnatural access to the mind of nearly anyone. What Zack wouldn't do to get his hands on that key...

This is an incredibly well-written and illustrated story, and I'm tearing through it, even though there are about ten other things I should be doing. Can I blame Joe Hill for my negligence of my family and homework?

Locke & Key. Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

Locke & Key. Volume 1. Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill, art by Gabriel Rodriguez, 158 pages

After the murder of their father, Tyler, Kinsey and Bode (along with their alcoholic mother) move from the west coast to Keyhouse, their uncle's sprawling mansion in Massachusetts. But Keyhouse isn't a normal mansion. It has an odd black door, through which a person can pass between life and death just by crossing the threshold. There's also a creepy locked wellhouse, with an equally creepy echo. As Tyler, Kinsey and Bode attempt to get used to life at Keyhouse, their father's killer, a deranged teenager has escaped from the detention center, with additional murders--and a mysterious "anywhere" key--on his mind.

This is the first Joe Hill I've read, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Something about the supernatural elements reminds me of The Unwritten, though Hill's is much easier to follow. And a bit bloodier. The gory storyline is juxtaposed by Rodriguez's clean, precise art. It was a bit jarring at first (it reminded me more of Disney movies than most of the graphic novels I've read), but as I read, I got used to it. Can't wait to pick up Volume 2!

Locke & Key v. 5/Joe Hill

Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, volume 5:  Clockworks; graphic novel, horror; 152 pages

As this series draws to its conclusion, we're starting to get glimpses of explanation for all the strange happenings in Key House.  Most of this volume takes place in flashbacks to the distant past (the key on the cover allows the user to travel back in time, and observe events invisibly).  We find out what gives the keys their power (minor spoiler:  Really Joe Hill?  You're going to go with THAT?), as well as seeing the history of Key House itself, and the Locke family that has lived there for centuries. 

This volume is mostly about getting everything lined up for the final arc, Omega.  When this story ends, some things have been resolved, and some are disasters waiting to happen.  We'll see how things wrap up in the conclusion! 

Locke and Key: Keys to the Kingdom/Joe Hill

Locke and Key: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill (writer) and Gabriel Rodriguez (art) (Locke and Key vol. 4); graphic novel, horror; 160 pages

I've been waiting almost a year for this fourth collection of Locke and Key to arrive, and even if I was frustrated with the wait, I can at least say it was worth it. Utterly and completely.

The pace of the story changes dramatically in this volume: Instead of introducing one key per story arc, Hill has the Locke children finding new keys almost constantly. The threat of the Dark Lady is ramping up, as well, with more frequent threats appearing at times when their friend Zack is mysteriously absent. It's Ty that starts to put the pieces together; but the question is what to do once they have a flesh-and-blood villain to face.

There's a lot that happens in this story, and while I often found myself wanting more information on a particular incident or key, I never felt like the story was rushed. The ending was something I never saw coming, and has me eagerly awaiting the next volume. I just hope it doesn't take quite so long to publish!