Locke & Key Welcome to Lovecraft
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
152 pp. IDW Publishing. $24.99
Pub. Date: 9/30/2008
ISBN-13: 978-1600102370
Reviewed by Paul Stotts
The hardcover collection of the recent six issue mini-series "Locke & Key" superbly written by Joe Hill and beautifully illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez has just been released. If you missed this awesome series in the comic stores, now is your chance to catch up on all these brilliantly creepy issues.
Previously, I reviewed each separate issue of the series (Issues: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6), so I'm not going to rehash everything that has been said there. So if you want an overview of the story, be sure to check out each issue's review. What I will say is that this series is one of my favorite comic runs this year, wonderfully poignant and creepy with some of the best character development you will see in this medium.
Now turning the focus to the recently released hardcover collection, IDW Publishing has really outdone themselves here. The book looks beautiful. Gabriel Rodriguez's killer artwork shines, popping off the pages.
Author Robert Crais provides a stellar introduction which focuses on his experiences with "Locke & Key" writer Joe Hill. Crais rightly points out that Hill is the star here, the series rising on the back of Hill's prodigious writing talents.
The book also features an art gallery which contains all the covers of each issue, along with character sketches and architectural sketches of Lovecraft. It's not much, but it is a nice little extra.
So if you are in the market for a delicious and chilling horror story, "Locke & Key Welcome to Lovecraft" is a must have collection.
Final Grade: 91 out of 100
3 comments:
Well, if anything could convince me to pick up a comic collection, it would be this review (and this collection). I love Robert Crais (I'm currently reading "The Forgotten Man") and I loved Joe Hill's "Heart Shaped Box" and "20th Century Ghosts". I'll have to add it to my wish list.
This looks like a fantastic collection, I will have to take a look for it next time we hit the comic shop. Thanks for the great reviews!
I am not a big comic reader. Besides my Serenity collection, I don't read much graphic novels. Your review on this collection has changed me. I really think I would enjoy this story. Thnks!!!
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