Locke and Key: Heaven and Earth

Title: Locke and Key: Heaven and Earth

Author: Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 72

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Following the Small World deluxe edition, this special deluxe release finally reprints the oft-requested and long-denied Eisner-winning one-shot, "Open the Moon!" Plus the other long-sold-out one-shot, "Grindhouse!" PLUS plus: the even more hard-to-find IDW 10th anniversary Locke & Key tale, "In the Can!" And additional covers, behind-the-scenes photos and more, all wrapped up in a beautiful 72-page hardcover package.

Love the extra little stories we get collected in this volume. Of the stories collected, I really loved "Grindhouse!" as it was the most in spirit of the original series. Very in line with the horror of the keys and the house. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Locke and Key Vol 5: Clockworks

Title: Locke and Key Vol 5: Clockworks

Author: Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2012

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel, Library, Seriously Series

How I Got It: Library Loan

The sprawling tale of the Locke family and their mastery of the 'whispering iron' thunders to new heights as the true history of the family is revealed to Tyler and Kinsey. Zack Wells assumes a new form, Tyler and Kinsey travel through time, and surprises beyond imagination will be revealed before the sixth issue ends!

I thought this was the last volume.  Turns out I was wrong.  There's one more volume, but it won't be released in trade form until sometime later this year.  Even with my mix up, this was a great volume.  We learn so much more about the keys and the history surrounding Keyhouse.  We also finally see what happened to Dodge all those years ago.  We find out how he came to be the way he is.  And man is it a wild ride!  There's twists and turns everywhere within the pages.  I am so excited to see how this series concludes.

Locke and Key:

1. Welcome to Lovecraft
2. Head Games
3. Crown of Shadows
4. Keys to the Kingdom
5. Clockworks
6. Alpha and Omega

Locke and Key Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Title: Locke and Key Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom

Author: Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2011

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; T4MC -- Cult Classic (20 points); Book Bingo -- 2 from series

Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's Locke & Key unwinds into its fourth volume in Keys to the Kingdom! With more keys making themselves known, and the depths of the Locke's family's mystery ever-expanding, Dodge's desperation to end his shadowy quest drives the habitants of Keyhouse evercloser to a revealing conclusion.

I had a few issues with this volume.  Overall, I am still in love with this series.  I love the illustrations.  I love the characters.  I love the general storyline.  My issues came with the pacing of the story and the style.  There are many jump cuts in this volume.  We get snippets of the action as instead of a complete follow through.  The entire first chapter, I was a bit confused by the new style.  And we get a ton of new keys with not much explanation of what they do.  I would have liked a little less stuffed into this one volume.  I like the slower pacing of the first three volumes.  Even with my issues, I still love this story and can't wait to read the conclusion.  But I'll have to until April since I don't have the next volume...  Darn!

Locke and Key:

1. Welcome to Lovecraft
2. Head Games
3. Crown of Shadows
4. Keys to the Kingdom
5. Clockworks
6. Alpha and Omega

Locke and Key Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Title: Locke and Key Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows

Author: Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; T4MC -- Christmas Present (20 points); Book Bingo -- 2 from series

The dead plot against the living, the darkness closes in on Keyhouse, and a woman is shattered beyond repair, in the third storyline of the Eisner-nominated series. Dodge continues his relentless quest to find the key to the black door, and raises an army of shadows to wipe out anyone who might get in his way. Surrounded and outnumbered, the Locke children find themselves fighting a desperate battle, all alone, in a world where the night itself has become their enemy.

Intrigue, mystery, and suspense.  Oh my!  The storyline just keeps getting darker and darker as this series goes on.  I am in awe of how good this series is.  I imagined a flaky plot with flaky characters.  Thankfully I was mistaken.  I love Hill's penchant for complex, but realistic characters.  Even Dodge is realistic as a malevolent being possibly a puppet for another more malevolent entity.  I loved the introduction of Scott and Jamal in this volume.  They filled out the story even more.  I can't wait to read Volume 4!

Locke and Key:

1. Welcome to Lovecraft
2. Head Games
3. Crown of Shadows
4. Keys to the Kingdom
5. Clockworks
6. Alpha and Omega

Locke and Key Vol. 2: Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Title: Locke and Key Vol. 2: Head Games

Author: Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 162

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Book Bingo -- 3 from TBR; T4MC -- New Author (5 points)

Following a shocking death that dredges up memories of their father's murder, Kinsey and Tyler Locke are thrown into choppy emotional waters, and turn to their new friend, Zack Wells, for support, little suspecting Zack's dark secret. Meanwhile, six-year-old Bode Locke tries to puzzle out the secret of the head key, and Uncle Duncan is jarred into the past by a disturbingly familiar face. Open your mind - the head games are just getting started!

Another stunning volume.  I am really into this series now.  I love the colors, the drawings, the characters, and above all the storyline.  This volume deepened the mystery surround the house and the creature from the well.  Plus we get the appearance of another mysterious key.  At the very end, we get a page from an old journal detailing the known keys.  I can't wait to see the others in action.

Locke and Key:

1. Welcome to Lovecraft
2. Head Games
3. Crown of Shadows
4. Keys to the Kingdom
5. Clockworks
6. Alpha and Omega

Locke and Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Title: Locke and Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

Author: Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 168

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; New Authors; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Book Bingo -- 3 from TBR

Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them, and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all! Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box) creates an all-new story of dark fantasy and wonder, with astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez.

I grabbed this volume because it has appeared on many other book bloggers' lists.  And I was definitely not disappointed.  This story starts off with a bang and doesn't stop.  We follow a damaged family through their pain and eventual opening of new horrors.  I loved the style of writing.  Hill conveys such emotion through short dialogue bubbles.  The story itself is intense and horrifying.  I sped through the volume on pins and needles.  And was left wanting more... Thank goodness I have Volumes 2-4 just waiting to be read.

Locke and Key:

1. Welcome to Lovecraft
2. Head Games
3. Crown of Shadows
4. Keys to the Kingdom
5. Clockworks
6. Alpha and Omega