Locke and key is another of those books that I have picked that I have not previously read. A couple weeks ago on our variety show I said I was through with Horror comics. I didn’t thing that there was any real good horror books out there and was kind of tired of the same old…thing. Then I remembered I picked Locke and Key a couple weeks prior to that statement, and man am I glad I did. More Dark Fantasy than actually horror, Locke and Key has all the story factors I love: A dark erie mystery, a family struggling with loss and Identity, supernatural and magical forces. One of the most amazingly drafted comic-books put to pen, Joe hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have truly crafted a modern day classic. This book knocked me off my socks, and I want more! through with Horror comics. I didn’t thing that there was any real good horror books out there and was kind of tired of the same old…thing. Then I remembered I picked Locke and Key a couple weeks prior to that statement, and man am I glad I did. More Dark Fantasy than actually horrific, Locke and Key has all the story factors I love. A dark erie mystery, a family struggling with loss and Identity, supernatural and magical forces, one of the most amazingly drafted comic-books put to pen, Joe hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have truly crafted a modern day classic. This book knocked me off my socks, and I want more!
Listen In!
Mark
Wonderful intro guys. and outro? heh he he. “Tidy up!”
About the spoiler warning… You guys could do a spoiler free review of one book for a minute, and then the the full blown discussion about a different book all together for the rest! two for one!
I really enjoyed reading this book a second time, and it was just as gripping as the first read. The story and writing really shines.
I was talking to Mark about this the other day and said I hadn’t liked it, or at least had some issue with a few things. I thought the violence was a bit much, that it seemed to be looking for emotional impact from gore, which is too easy and doesn’t age well. But what I am realizing now is that all the arguments that I keep coming up with in my head as to why this is an imperfect book don’t stand up very well. Looking back over the story I keep picking up on things that are just brilliant. It is so well executed.
Chapter III I just keep coming back to. The starting sequence that shows Kinsey’s clothes changing as she deals with starting at a new school is so perfect. The image of Ty standing over Sam with a brick in his hand communicates his mental state so well (it is a repeat of the earlier scene on page 26 and mirrors the earlier scene where he sees himself bloodied with a gun in his reflection in the pond). And then later when Bode shows Kinsey the magic death door, there is an amazing spread of his dead body and her reaction that captures the weirdness of the situation and their sibling relationship so well.
Man, this book really grows on you! I guess I wish it was less glossy and bloody so the brilliant story could stand for itself.
After listening to your guys’ conversation I think it is actually the coloring that I dislike. The art is brilliant, with so many levels and details that reward closer examination… but the coloring is too literal, it doesn’t add any mood or impact, and doesn’t really even add a lot of lighting changes. It might actually just be a result of the art style that doesn’t let anything disappear into shadows or dim backgrounds, everything is defined.
Lots of mysteries left in my mind…
) he’ll wake up in a broken buried body
- why mom walks with a cane
- what all of Sam’s tattoos mean (he makes a new one on his forearm, he has a barred window on his chest that looks like the well house)
- did Sam kill more people to get out of his cell to the kitchens?
- Did you notice that Sam’s dad (pg 86) has a t-shirt from the truck stop “Big Dog” where Sam kills the trucker
- I guess Sam is a ghost for good. The police got his body, so if he ever goes back through the door (opened by the right key