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Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft Hardcover – Illustrated, October 7, 2008
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Following their father's gruesome murder in a violent home invasion, the Locke children return to his childhood home of Keyhouse in secluded Lovecraft, Massachusetts. Their mother, Nina, is too trapped in her grief—and a wine bottle—to notice that all in Keyhouse is not what it seems: too many locked doors, too many unanswered questions. Older kids Tyler and Kinsey aren't much better. But not youngest son Bode, who quickly finds a new friend living in an empty well and a new toy, a key, that offers hours of spirited entertainment. But again, all at Keyhouse is not what it seems, and not all doors are meant to be opened. Soon, horrors old and new, real and imagined, will come ravening after the Lockes and the secrets their family holds.
Locke & Key, Vol. 1 features an introduction by Robert Crais, author of the bestselling Elvis Cole series of crime novels.
- Print length168 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherIDW Publishing
- Publication dateOctober 7, 2008
- Reading age16 years and up
- Dimensions6.94 x 0.56 x 10.5 inches
- ISBN-101600102379
- ISBN-13978-1600102370
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Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft | Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games | Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games | Locke & Key, Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom | Locke & Key, Vol. 5: Clockworks | Locke & Key, Vol. 6: Alpha & Omega | |
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About the Book | Unlock the story of the Locke siblings after their father's murder as they return to their ancestral home of Keyhouse, a place filled with dark doors and magic keys that open them, and a malicious presence that will stop at nothing for the Omega Key. | The Locke children have just begun to rebuild their lives when little Bode discovers a key with incredible power. | The dead plot against the living and the darkness closes in on Keyhouse as Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode find themselves fighting a desperate battle against the night. | Danger stalks every move of the Locke siblings as Lucas “Dodge” Caravaggio continues his relentless quest for the key to the black door. | Dodge’s search for the Omega Key to open the Black Door is almost complete. But Tyler and Kinsey have a dangerous key of their own—one that can unlock all the secrets of Keyhouse by opening a gateway to the past. | After two lifetimes and countless victimes, Lucas “Dodge” Caravaggio finally has the key to open The Black Door. Those who have stood against him for so long take their places one last time. |
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
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Review
"It's great! ...The art here by Gabriel Rodriguez is some of the finest stuff in comics today... The team of Hill and Rodriguez is top notch!" — Blair Butler, Fresh Ink
"Solid pacing and plot twists, combined with Rodriguez's clean lines and detailed pencils make Locke & Key a lock for best horror book of the week." — Wizard Magazine
"In a year of auspicious comics debuts, Joe Hill turned in one of the few comics that truly came from a different place. Written with skill that makes me jealous, courage that makes me smile, and honesty and brutality that makes me want to see what comes next. Okay, I'm officially a fan." — Ed Brubaker
"A modern suspense thriller meets something more wondrous and magical." — IGN
About the Author
Born in Santiago, Chile, Gabriel Rodríguez began working as an illustrator in the late 90s and in 2002 started drawing books for IDW Publishing, including CSI, George Romero’s Land of the Dead, and Beowulf, amongst others. In 2007, he co-created the award-winning series Locke & Key with Joe Hill. He continued developing other creator-owned projects: the Eisner-winning Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, with Eric Shanower; Sword of Ages; and the gritty sci-fi adventure Onyx, with Chris Ryall. In 2019, he partnered with Hill once again for two new Locke & Key stories, “Dog Days” and “Nailed It.”
Product details
- Publisher : IDW Publishing (October 7, 2008)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 168 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1600102379
- ISBN-13 : 978-1600102370
- Reading age : 16 years and up
- Item Weight : 1.48 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.94 x 0.56 x 10.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #747,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,905 in Mystery Graphic Novels
- #2,414 in Horror Graphic Novels (Books)
- #2,480 in Horror Manga (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, The Fireman, and Full Throttle. He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long-running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with artist Gabriel Rodriguez. Much of his work has been adapted for movies and television. His second novel, Horns, was translated to film in 2014 and starred Daniel Radcliffe. His third novel, NOS4A2, is now a hit series on AMC, starring Zachary Quinto. The first season of Locke & Key was released on Netflix in early 2020 and became an overnight smash. His story, "In The Tall Grass," co-written with Stephen King, was made into a feature for Netflix, and became a mind-bending cult horror sensation. Most recently, Hill has returned to graphic novels -- his latest comics include Basketful of Heads and Plunge for D.C., and Dying is Easy for IDW.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the story and find it gripping. They appreciate the amazing artwork and highly expressive images. The narrative is fast-paced, drawing out the drama from the emerging phantasmagoria effectively. Readers praise the compelling writing, clear dialogue, and interesting concept. The characters are believable and open, with great facial expressions. The book is described as an excellent read for fans of the Fantasy or Horror genres.
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Customers enjoy the story. They find the tale interesting and engaging, with an adventure-like element. The graphic novel is a good read for fans of fantasy and horror genres.
"...His characters are real, well rounded, and sympathetic. The story line is suspenseful, and as certain mysteries get cleared up, new information..." Read more
"...This six-issue collection is a page-turning macabre story with clever scene transitions and memorable and refreshingly human characters made all..." Read more
"...It was very engaging and very hard to put down. The characters are well done and you are really rooting for them throughout the book...." Read more
"...Love the premise of the story. I think it is really original. Highly recommend." Read more
Customers enjoy the artwork. They find the story gripping and graphic, with a beautiful hardcover edition and gorgeous cover. The artwork is highly expressive, with glossy graphics on a matt background. The book is described as unique and original, with a visual element of storytelling that they enjoy.
"...The hardcovers and beautiful, with glossy graphics on a matt background. Volume 3 had a ribbon. (some people say their 1 and 2 did as well)...." Read more
"...made all the more vivid through Rodriguez’s simple albeit compelling artwork...." Read more
"...It was a really good collection. The drawings are beautiful and in full color and the story is creepy and intricate...." Read more
"...Love the premise of the story. I think it is really original. Highly recommend." Read more
Customers enjoy the fast-paced narrative that keeps them engaged. They appreciate the clever scene transitions and memorable moments. The story draws out the drama from the emerging phantasmagoria effectively, with clever scene changes. Readers mention there are serious themes, yet it still has humor. The art is excellent, the action is very visceral, and the characters are likeable or interesting.
"...It is also almost cinematic. Hill also injects a good does of humor into the story (which is necessary, I think, to keep it from becoming oppressive)..." Read more
"...six-issue collection is a page-turning macabre story with clever scene transitions and memorable and refreshingly human characters made all the more..." Read more
"...There are lots of serious themes that dance around this book, yet it still has that childhood like whimsy to it, due to its fantasy elements...." Read more
"...I took my time with this book, savoring each frame...." Read more
Customers find the writing compelling and well-told. They appreciate the clear dialogue and pacing, as well as the detailed artwork. The book is an easy read with no narration in some scenes.
"...and as certain mysteries get cleared up, new information creates new questions for the reader (and the characters) to ponder...." Read more
"...Some of my favorite scenes had no narration, just a perfect, often understated, picture that set the scene or delivered a jolt better than any..." Read more
"...scary at times, disturbing at times, but most importantly it is very well written. The Locke's are a seemingly normal young family in California...." Read more
"...The pacing feels fast and the dialogues are simple and effective." Read more
Customers enjoy the believable characters and openness of the storytelling. They find the villains well-developed with great facial expressions. The author is described as an original voice in fiction, with sharp characters and good writing.
"...2 and 3 move briskly along, introducing many new and interesting characters and situations, which keeps the story fresh. After reading Vol...." Read more
"...story with clever scene transitions and memorable and refreshingly human characters made all the more vivid through Rodriguez’s simple albeit..." Read more
"...It was very engaging and very hard to put down. The characters are well done and you are really rooting for them throughout the book...." Read more
"...this book which really made me squirm and Hill does a great job of creating realistic villains...." Read more
Customers find the concept interesting and clever. They describe it as a fantastic introduction to the series Locke & Key. The mysteries are rewarding with their payoff, leading to more questions. Readers appreciate the great art and the overall concept of the keys. The second and third books move briskly along, introducing many new and interesting characters.
"...Volumes 2 and 3 move briskly along, introducing many new and interesting characters and situations, which keeps the story fresh. After reading Vol...." Read more
"...If you are looking for a title that is something, scary, modern, and all around just refreshingly different, I would recommend picking up this title." Read more
"...Let me just say that keys are a central plot device as the title implies...." Read more
"...One of the main parts of the book is, of course, the keys. They open up magical doors that are capable of doing things beyond your wildest..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the visual storytelling and find it a great bedtime read with good graphics that help the storyline move along. The book is also enjoyable on the new Kindle Fire HD with its double-tap feature.
"...can set it to a blow up frame by frame mode which really enhances the reading experience, especially when the art is this good...." Read more
"...hardcovers have a great quality which means I will be able to read them again and again...that makes me a very happy collector." Read more
"L&K 1 was a pretty good read, decent pacing, with well rendered characters, location and action...." Read more
"...Hill and Rodriguez make for a powerful reading and visual storytelling experience!" Read more
Customers enjoy the book's dark tone. They find the colors appealing yet somber, and the storyline captivating with a light touch of humor.
"...the facial expressions clear, and the colors are appealing yet somber in tone, as suits the series...." Read more
"...Dark, compelling, and scary, Hill has set up what I am sure is going to be a wonderful series, tied together by a set of keys that unlock doors and..." Read more
"...Thank you Mr. Hill and Mr. Rodriguez for this dark and clever and fascinating tale." Read more
"...I enjoyed how it is so muck different than the show. The book is much darker than the show though so beware of that...." Read more
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Great story & art. Terrible shipping.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2011I will review all three volumes as a group here, as I would guess most people who may consider this series would go to Volume One first. I will avoid Spoilers.
The hardcovers and beautiful, with glossy graphics on a matt background. Volume 3 had a ribbon. (some people say their 1 and 2 did as well). Upon opening the first volume, I paused to examine the beautiful illustrations inside the covers and on the pages leading into the story. The author dedicates the book to his mother. I had never heard of Joe Hill before, but I did know of only one person named Tabitha King, so guessed who he was, 'Hill' or no 'Hill'. No matter, I can understand why he started out with a nom de plume.
BTW, some character names interest me in this book. The coach (vol 2) is Elsie Whedon. One of Rendell's old schoolmates (vol 2) was Lucas Caravaggio, and the admissions director (vol 3) is Calliope Ridgeway. Some of these may have meaning to the story, maybe some just to the author. For instance, I could see how Calliope could be seen as a muse to her drama teacher husband.
Hill excells in many areas. His characters are real, well rounded, and sympathetic. The story line is suspenseful, and as certain mysteries get cleared up, new information creates new questions for the reader (and the characters) to ponder. This series is just plain creepy - in a good way. He also drops in ...idk...language hints? to the text, relating to the key/theme at hand. Word jokes, puns. The Joe Ridgeway story, which opens vol. 2, bounces back and forth in time. The opening and the ending `bookend' the story nicely, and Hill manages to put a spin on the end which lightens some of the sadness therein.
Gabriel Rodriguez contributes wonderful artwork. I admit that I can have a hard time enjoying even a well written series if I hate the artwork (some arcs of Sandman come to mind). This series has the best of both worlds! The lines are clean, the facial expressions clear, and the colors are appealing yet somber in tone, as suits the series. Violence is not portrayed in too graphic a manner. Some is not shown at all. Rodriguez also uses a technique for which I do not know the name, where he repeats a setting several times with just necessary changes. Look at the preview pages for Vol. 3, Crown of Shadows, to see this technique. I feel as though this grounds parts of the story better than if he kept changing perspective. It is also almost cinematic. Hill also injects a good does of humor into the story (which is necessary, I think, to keep it from becoming oppressive), which Rodriguez translates nicely. I really liked the bit in vol. 3 where Bode tells his mother how to cook the alfredo sauce. The `nameless technique' works nicely there.
Volume 1 is taken up with the Locke family tragedy and their subsequent move to the family home in Lovecraft. Volumes 2 and 3 move briskly along, introducing many new and interesting characters and situations, which keeps the story fresh. After reading Vol. 1, I took out Heart Shaped Box, Hill's first novel, from the library and read it in two nights. (I could not wait for an Amazon delivery!) Hill's work is gripping and intense and I plan to read more of it!
Highly recommended series!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016Accomplished novelist Joe Hill teams up with the artist Gabriel Rodriguez to fashion a spellbinding account of the devastated Locke family and their struggles to rebuild after Rendall, beloved father and husband, is brutally murdered by deranged high school student, Sam Lesser. The surviving Lockes relocate to an unlikely family manor on the island of Lovecraft, MA. Yet, as with every gothic mansion, this New England homestead holds dark and otherworldly secrets, secrets that go back generations. Okay, so there’s some standard horror clichés in this plot, and you might be asking, what’s the catch? Is it a safe bet that what starts off as a character study in grieving will swerve into the realm of spine-chilling terror? Yes, but that doesn't quite cover it, old boy. As the youngest Locke child discovers, Keyhouse possesses some fantastic doors that transform all who dare to pass through them—namely, a doorway that temporarily kills you and allows your spirit to roam freely. Oh, and there’s also this well that houses a twisted spectral entity from the past, an evil phantom that desperately wants out and will use any means available to gain freedom, including releasing the very teenage murderer responsible for the grieving family’s disposition and unleashing him upon their uprooted lives once more.
Despite some rather tired horror elements, Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft manages to venture off the beaten path in some respects. This six-issue collection is a page-turning macabre story with clever scene transitions and memorable and refreshingly human characters made all the more vivid through Rodriguez’s simple albeit compelling artwork. Joe Hill blends horror with fantasy and mystery to launch a riveting tale of a shattered family that cannot seem to outrun terror.
While not exactly scary, Welcome to Lovecraft features decidedly graphic content, particularly in terms of gruesome violence. Because this is the first volume, the mysteries surrounding Keyhouse are introduced gradually and very little is resolved by the end of the book, thus sowing the narrative seeds for future installments. With a strong start as this, Locke & Key promises to be an addictive ride!
Top reviews from other countries
- nerdzsterReviewed in India on April 9, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best comics ever
What can i say? L&K is one of my favourite comic books, and definitely one of the best horror/fantasy works out there.
The story is engrossing, characters are fun, very creative magic system, and the horror aspect is great as well. Just go ahead and read this masterpiece, there's no way you're going to be disappointed.
P.S. if you are coming here after watching the netflix series, know this - the comics are a lot LOT better than the tv series. So if you liked the series, you're simply going to fall in love with the series
- MasoomaReviewed in Canada on March 20, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and full of suspense
The graphic novel progresses very quickly through the storyline, I was left with the feeling that there should have been something more about the characters and their life. But I haven’t read the other books maybe there’s more in them. But I definitely want to find out where this story goes. The illustrations are gorgeous!
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AlejandroReviewed in Mexico on April 28, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendado
Muy rápida la entrega, lo que no me gusto es que no venia con envuelto en el típico plástico de un libro nuevo, lo que podría hacer pensar que recibí un tomo de exhibición, no obstante las hojas no presentaban desgaste o maltrato
El primer volumen de 6, en este se nos presenta el primer arco de la historia, con un buen arte visual, narrativa y suspense, este comic es recomendable si quieres leer algo diferente, definitivamente comprare los demas, el libro no es extenso, en un rato lo terminas y quedaras con deseos de saber que pasa después,ademas de que el formato pasta dura le da un toque muy elegante para tener en tu librero/repisa
Alejandro
Reviewed in Mexico on April 28, 2017
El primer volumen de 6, en este se nos presenta el primer arco de la historia, con un buen arte visual, narrativa y suspense, este comic es recomendable si quieres leer algo diferente, definitivamente comprare los demas, el libro no es extenso, en un rato lo terminas y quedaras con deseos de saber que pasa después,ademas de que el formato pasta dura le da un toque muy elegante para tener en tu librero/repisa
Images in this review - MollyReviewed in Australia on July 21, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars A dark page turner
Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft was an amazing graphic novel full of emotion and a horrific intensity. The characters were extremely fleshed out and the artwork was so impactful. Even the villain of this volume, Sam, was a character I could sympathise with.
If you like bloody horror that preys on your deepest fears, this is for you.
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Rosangela RopisReviewed in Brazil on August 24, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente!
É por isso que gosto muito de ler Graphic Novels!
Gostei muito do jeito que estória foi contada e desenhada!
Você já deve conhecer Joe Hill, já li alguns livros dele, mas confesso que gostei muito mais desse aqui.
Tudo nesse livro é muito bom, os personagens são interessantes e muito bem construídos.
Altamente recomendado para fãs de contos de horror/terror!