Review | Locke & Key

The Book: Locke and Key Vol. 1-5 by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

Date Published: 2008-2013

Dates Read: Lol, I didn't track when I was reading them because (like an idiot) I didn't count these as "real" books.

Current Goodreads Rating: 4.15/5, 4.35/5, 4.41/5, 4.43/5, and 4.46/5

I'm not usually a reader of comics. There was a short time in my childhood where I collected Archie comics and I will hate myself forever for agreeing to throw them away when I moved out, but I never got into a graphic novel with a story that developed over the span of several volumes. In my opinion graphic novels were stories I would breeze through without really taking in much of the content. Occasionally I would flip through the pages of a graphic novel in a bookstore or in my public library, but honestly that was just to admire the artwork.

Enter Locke & Key. I had first heard of this series on an episode of SourceFed, a news channel found on YouTube that has now (tragically) been cancelled. They talked about amazing graphic novels that created vivid and detailed stories that captured the attention of thousands of fans. According to SourceFed, Locke & Key was a haunting story of three kids stuck in their dad's childhood home, but this home had a sinister secret. Over the course of the graphic novel and through a series of literal keys these kids discover the dark secret their father had been covering up.

Spooky, right? It's a wonder I waited to read this as long as I did.

Though I don't have the exact dates that I read this series, I would say I finished all five volumes within a month. The plot was heavy and, at times, extremely depressing, but I just had to know. What were all these keys? Where did they come from? Why did this house cost so many people their lives? Would the Locke family ever have some form of peace?

Let me tell you, from the first volume to the last I did not see where the story was headed. The story was at times gross, hilarious, revolting, and heart breaking. I honestly want to sit down with the author just to make sure this guy is ok.

Do I have any issues with this book? Other than the fact that the story ends I guess I would say my one issue with the book is the way one particular character treats his old flame. SPOILERS for those of you who don't want anything to be given away, but I'm kind of over the fact that a lot of authors use violence against women to prove how powerful a man is. In this series the main bad guy comes back from the dead and uses the feelings his high school girlfriend had for him in order to manipulate her into housing and feeding him. Though it doesn't ever go explicitly into it (which thank God because I don't want to see that illustrated), it is very heavily implied that he not only manipulates her into housing him, but also that he constantly takes advantage of her. It definitely develops how terrible this guy is, but I think it's already pretty obvious that he's a bad dude. You don't need to rape women to prove that.

Ok, I'll stop spoiling things for you.

Final thoughts: I don't know what more to say other than, holy crap this graphic novel is soooo good and beautifully illustrated! Have you ever watched a horror movie and the director positions the light juuuuuust right and you think "Holy crap that kid is the spawn of Satan?" That is what this graphic novel does and the guy had to draw that mood lighting.

I'm probably not making any sense. Blame it on the fact that I cannot draw to save my life so Gabriel Rodriguez could probably draw me a rainbow and I'd think it was the best damn piece of art I'd ever seen.

But still, this novel is good from story line to panel.

Long Story Short:

• Don't underestimate a good graphic novel

• Maybe don't abuse women?

• If you're a great author and you connect with a great artist you could make serious bank.

My Rating: 5/5 across the board