The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Locke & Key
CJG
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I got the Locke and Key Free Comic book back on FCBD. I liked the art, the idea and the story in the comic. Normally that would be all I'd need to jump all over a comic. I was a little concerned by the bit in the cover that says the real comic is a lot more violent. I've read other reviews that point this out as well, so it makes me think that this is outside the norm.
What kind of violence are they talking about? Does anyone have any examples of what happens in the comics?
What kind of violence are they talking about? Does anyone have any examples of what happens in the comics?
CJG on
0
Posts
That said, it is probably my favorite series going on right now. So far there are four 6-issue series (with the next one starting in June)
Welcome to Lovecraft
Head Games
Crown of Shadows
Keys to the Kingdom
But if violence is a big concern for you then yeah, don't read it.
Edit: here are three of the more violent pages from the first issue
Also, I should say that the violence isn't frequent like that. While it's displayed in a graphic manner, that's more to give it the "OH SHIT" feeling because it doesn't happen every issue.
Buy Locke & Key, everybody
I've been collecting the replica keys Skelton Studios has been putting out as well. I just need to figure out how to display them. Thinking a flat hotel key rack kind of deal, but havent settled on one yet.
I don't have the money for them (and some aren't available)
Somewhat of a tangent, but I recommend his novel Heart Shaped Box alot as well.
And sweet Jesus, I didn't find out about the buyable keys til right now! Looks like I'm not allowed to have any money...
The TV pilot was screened at comic-con and was at best, loved to pieces and at worst, felt a touch lacking. (Warning: Spoilers).
If you are still, for some ungodly reason, um-ing and ah-ing over this series because you're sick of comics over using hyper-violence, gore, etc? Well...
As Keith pointed out above, the gore/violence is used sparingly and to great effect.
The rest of the interview with Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez is here and definitely worth a read, but has some CRAZY spoilers about half way through.
Oh yeah, this guy won the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Writer for this series. I am not surprised by this.
Buy. This. Series.
For your health.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/bigcartel/product_images/40397200/Giant_Key_IV.jpg
And just as surely will I purchase it.
Add to that the fact that it's published by IDW, who have primarily done cheap cross-media cash-ins, and that it's written by a novelist, and it seemed at first glance to be one of those terrible comics that are only made as a pitch for a TV show or film.
But like I said, I'd heard it was good.
And holy shit, it's good. I sat down to read the first volume, and wound up tearing through all three in one sitting.
First? Great premise. In the aftermath of a tragedy, a family picks up and moves into an old family estate, known as Keyhouse. There, they discover a variety of keys which, when placed into the correct key-receptacle, unlocks some kind of magic. Put the death key in the death-door and walk through it? You die, and become a ghost. Put the anywhere key in any door, and it opens a portal to wherever you want to go. And so on. Add to that a malevolent supernatural figure, a young serial killer, a severely damaged family, and a bunch of old secrets that want to stay buried, and you've got a great time.
It seriously feels like something on the level of Y the Last Man, or Bone. A vast, sprawling story, made of many disparate parts, which will all come together perfectly by the end. It's awesome to see stuff seeded early, that you know will be coming back around before the story's done and over with.
Second, this book has an amazing creative team in Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Hill's dialogue is sharp as Hell, and unbelievably natural. It honestly reads a lot like Brian Vaughan's, with people talking the way people talk. Each TPB is perfectly paced, giving you a terrific little chunk of story, that leaves you wanting more by the end. The characters are believable, consistent, and sympathetic in their actions, even when they're doing stuff you don't like.
And Rodriguez's art? Unbelievable. If you took the exaggerated, haunting work of Carmine Di Giandomenico, and stitched it together with that of Steve Dillon, you'd have something approximating the look of this book. Every character is incredibly expressive in their body and facial language, and the storytelling is done clearly and cleanly as you could want, not getting bogged down in heavy blacks and murky coloring like so many horror books.
Third? Go buy the damn book. I was completely hooked by the end of the first TPB.
Tumblr Twitter
I do try to avoid describing it, though, because I went in knowing absolutely nothing about it other than, like you said, "I heard it was good" and was completely blown away by it
The last issue was just crazy
Although the first trade was unquestionably good, I'm hesitant to pick up the subsequent ones. I know this might seem silly, but, basically, I like happy endings. The first trade was just so emotionally draining, so heavy, like a stone sitting in my stomach. The characters suffer, and it's clear that they're going to suffer more. I really want to know what happens to them, but I don't want to watch them go through misery. I empathize with them too much.
Hey, I listened immediately and never looked back. And Keith's right, last issue was indeed off the hiz-ook, shit is coming to a head. I'll be crushed when it eventually ends.
Describing it just takes away from anything you encounter in it. It is phenomenal.
Edit: You absolutely must keep reading.
And I'd "heard it was good" most likely from someone on here. After reading it I immediately went for the 2nd trade, and then begain waiting for the 3rd.
They do some really great things with the medium, page reveals, dialogue that dovetails into a thematic scene change, really good expressive art that I honestly didnt care much for when I initially thumbed through it but it's perfect for it.
Tumblr Twitter
Funny thing about that
Actually, yeah. I just remembered who Joe Hill is a pen name for :P
I can honestly only think of a couple of moments that caused the "Fuck yes!" feeling in me (you know, the one that almost brings a tear to your eye). The Locke and Key moment was one and (despite how much people hate it) the UXM issue where Prof X is being tortured inside Onslaught and Cyclops does the badass "Take him" thing followed by Thor wrecking some shit are the two.
People need to read this book.
People need to read this book.
Edit: And yeah, the big key was great. The whole crown of shadows arc was just perfect. Dodge man, Dodge.
I am interested, but if it does have a finite end, I will do what I do with lots of things like that
wait til it is all out in trade and buy them all at once
Although it's a little sad to hear Locke & Key will reach its end soon, I think it's a smart decision. It almost seems like it would drag out a bit too much otherwise, and I've really enjoyed the pacing so far.
Also, if you read and enjoy Locke & Key, definitely read Joe Hill's new title The Cape, too.
"Oh, FUCK YOU."
But, kind of in a good way. Like, I'm totally invested in seeing this guy get his comeuppance, and if he somehow doesn't, it's going to be immensely frustrating.
I was pretty bummed that Mukutu didn't really get to square off with Lucas, since his history as a fencer was foreshadowed a couple volumes back.
I will say, the one thing that consistently bugs me about this book, is how blasé the kids are about having magic keys, even when there's a dark force clearly hunting them. Like, when Tyler sees Lucas has the music box, he says something like, "Oh, we were wondering where that went."
Dude.
Maybe you should keep track of your primary weapons in a war against a supernatural evil. Buy a safe or something.
Tumblr Twitter
Honestly, it's kind of part of the charm to me though.
Seriously just finished Volume Four yesterday. This series is the hardest to trade wait.
The issue that covered all the various weekends and time in just a couple panels each really felt like the fake clips episode of Community. Which I like the concept, it shows the Locke family normalizing to the insanity in cool way. I just wish the keys that they find over that montage weren't so integral to later issues of it. Which I think gave me the same problem with the music box stuff.
Plus I dunno, the panels of Bode all super strength rang too ridiculous for me. I realize that the previous volume had giant Ty in a giant monster brawl which is just as silly, but I loved it. I guess it's the build up that makes it for me.
Of course it's still just about my favorite ongoing and this is all nit-picky. I loved all of the issues in volume four. I just wished I loved it as an entire volume as much as the previous books.
I generally only buy the trades, I hate single issues, but godamn, it takes about a year for him to put out 6 issues.
I really like the actual book design for the hard cover trades, but I'm kind of disappointed about the 4th. White, and with no ribbon? This is the only title I will buy in hard cover, based solely on how cool the design of the hard cover is, and now I'm regretting it a little.
But I highly suggest everyone read this book. The writing and art work together in such a way that you would think they have been working together for ages.