Best on the Shelf: Locke & Key

Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome To Lovecraft

Let us, for a moment, enter a world where the general public doesn't associate comic books with either a) children; or b) socially inept 40-year-olds. In this beautiful utopia, couples are walking hand in hand with hardcover graphic novels under their outside arms. They are sipping their 16-oz. soy lattes while reading the latest issue of Action Comics – in public.


And Locke & Key has taken the literary world by storm.


Even if you have never touched a comic book/graphic novel in your life, I can't imagine that you wouldn't find something to enjoy within the pages of author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez's horror-mystery series, Locke & Key. For my money, this is the best comic on the shelves today.

Bode and Kinsey Locke

Plot
First published in 2008, Locke & Key follows Nina Locke and her three children – teenagers Tyler and Kinsey, and youngster Bode – as they move into the mysterious Keyhouse after the murder of their father. There, they discover ancient keys that possess mystical powers, while also coming to terms with their grief. But when Bode stumbles upon a mischievous ghost, he unleashes a horrifying chain of events that pits the family against forces from another world.

What makes this series stand out (other than its ever-expanding mythology and gleeful creativity) is Joe Hill's talent for crafting characters that live and breathe on the page. Amidst the dark magic and creepy atmosphere surrounding the story, the Locke family interact with each other in a wonderful "slice-of-life" fashion, making them feel like members of your own family. This characterization doesn't rest entirely on Hill's shoulders, of course; Gabriel Rodriguez's expressive and vibrant art style works wonders in this department, with each character's emotional life coming across beautifully in their facial expressions and body language.

Tyler and Nina Locke in one great example of visual storytelling

Currently in its fifth story arc (or "season," in other words), Locke & Key has only gotten better with age. And not only are the stories fantastic on their own, but the hardcover collections are simply gorgeous to behold. Don't worry, folks, you wouldn't look silly with this book in your hands. And if you can't afford the sometimes pricey hardcover collections, you're not out of luck: your library will most likely oblige!

Just for fun, here's the trailer for the Locke & Key TV show pilot. Despite the stellar cast and creative team involved, no network has chosen to put its faith in an entire season's worth of episodes. Perhaps it's for the best – it wouldn't hurt to leave one successful comic series on the page.