Locke & Key
Issue: #6
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
32 pp. IDW Publishing. $3.99
Reviewed by Paul Stotts
The last issue of "Locke & Key" has hit the store shelves, and like the rest of this amazing series, it doesn't disappoint. Not only does it provide a super cool conclusion, the final issue also hints about the direction the series will take in the near future. (Joe Hill, you're such a tease!) Now that "Locke & Key" has finished its first run, I can say unequivocally that it has been one of the best mini-series of 2008. So if you haven't had the opportunity to check it out, you may want to keep your eye out for the upcoming trade edition which will collect all the issues into one book.
The murderous psychopath Sam Lesser has stormed the Locke household, subduing Tyler and Kinsey in the process and holding them at gunpoint. Convinced that the Locke family knows the whereabouts of two keys he is desperately searching for, Sam threatens to kill Tyler and Kinsey if their mother, Nina, doesn't reveal the location of the keys.
Meanwhile, Bode, who is trying to save his family by finding the keys himself, uses his ability to turn into a ghost to help with his search. Tension quickly builds in the story as Sam straddles the edge of sanity and totters on the brink of violence. Will Sam find the keys, or will Bode beat him to them and save the day? Will all the Locke family be able to escape Sam's murderous rage?
Writer Joe Hill once again does great work here, wrapping up the current run, while still leaving many questions unanswered (as well as coming up with some new ones). As one of the characters states in this issue, "[k]ids always think they're coming into a story at the beginning, when usually they're coming in at the end." In a sense, this may be an ending, but it also is very much a beginning. This statement could be a greater hint to where Hill is going with "Locke & Key" in the future. Overall, Hill adds a whole intriguing new level of depth at the end which has me eagerly anticipating the continuation of the series this winter.
Gabriel Rodriguez has been absolutely stellar in the artwork department in the series, so not surprisingly, he rocks the last issue hard. As the issues have progressed, I've enjoyed the subtle nature of his work more and more. His framing of scenes and visual storytelling is absolutely top-notch, and he never draws a clunky-looking panel. Rodriguez has met every challenge that Hill has thrown his way easily and has been a huge factor in making "Locke and Key" the astounding series it's been.
Final Grade: 89 out of 100
1 comments:
i was actually completely unaware that Joe Hill worked on graphic Ns..
how surprising :)
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