Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have a passion for story telling, and it's evident in their graphic novel series. They have devised one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. It's beyond clever and full of creative, well-crafted and thrilling stories. Too often graphic novels can suffer from a lack of character development and cohesion of storytelling. Thankfully, this series escapes that fate and will not disappoint. It is a well-told story, with enriched characters, that is exciting, thrilling, well-paced, and will leave you wanting more.

Locke and Key tells the story of the Locke children - Bode, Tyler, and Kinsey. They've lost their father, Duncan, in a brutal and traumatizing murder by a fellow schoolmate. We see how each Locke child experienced the event, how they grieve and change, and how they deal with not only their dad's death, but also the effects of moving to a strange new town and living in their father’s childhood home. A house which just happens to be filled with magical keys.

As each character is introduced throughout the narrative, it really feels like a lot of love has gone into crafting these unique individuals. We learn everyone’s thoughts, motivations, and desires. The story entices readers into a magical fantasy world, while also touching on a number of important themes. The central mystery, which you will need answers to, also introduces an engrossing antagonist who will make your blood curdle.

This is a mature story, with beautiful in-depth art to accompany the gripping mystery told by Hill. A mixture of horror, mystery, and fantasy, this series is utterly unique and creative. It does not fall into the trap of choosing art over story or story over art. Both complete and complement each other to craft a wonderfully riveting story that you just must read.

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You can also check out Locke & Key (Vol 1): Welcome to Lovecraft, as well as the rest of the series, in our catalogue. (Scroll down to the More information section for links to the other volumes.)