NEWS: Joe Hill’s Locke & Key collection HC, New series in 2009

When novelist Joe Hill created his first-ever comic book series, Locke & Key, it took fans by surprise. The New York Times best-selling novelist had never created a new series expressly for comics before. But the book arrived to critical acclaim and to sold-out numbers. Further, it was optioned by Dimension Films. Now fans have a chance to experience the first storyline, Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, in a deluxe hardcover edition.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, featuring the stunning art of Gabriel Rodriguez (Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show), is being released on October 1 in a hardback edition that features the first six-issue storyline, a complete cover gallery, conceptual sketches by Rodriguez, and an all-new introduction from best-selling mystery novelist Robert Crais (Chasing Darkness).

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft tells of the Locke family, who relocate after an unspeakable tragedy to Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them… and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…

The Locke & Key story continues next year as well. Hill and Rodriguez pick up where this story leaves off with the next story in the ongoing saga, January’s Locke & Key: Head Games #1.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, a 152-page, $24.99 hardcover, will be available on October 1. Diamond order code JUL08 4052.

Comic-Con 2008: Complete Progamming schedule

The full programming schedule is available now. I noticed a high increment in game related panels compared to previous years. Many people will not like this as it doesn’t have any relation from the comics.

Friday is Star Wars day. Artists scheduled for panels include Paul Dini, Geoff Johns, Mark Waid, Robert Kirkman, Eric Larsen, Jim Butcher, Kevin Smith, Frank Miller and Brad Meltzer among others.

Media & games related panels include Watchmen, Stargate, Prince of Persia, Star Wars, Spaced, Resident Evil: Degeneration, Ghostbusters, The Wolfman, American Dad, The Spirit, World of Warcraft, The Venture Brothers, 24, Robot Chicken, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Eureka and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along among a lot more of other panels.

A highly recommended panel is the Kevin Smith one. I don’t even like his movies, but his panels are hilarious.

Check the full list for Friday here.

For Saturday there is lots of panels to pick from: Ralph Bakshi, Joe Hill, Ben Templesmith, Steve Niles, David Mack, Dean Koontz, J. Michael Straczynski and media events for Futurama, The Simpson, Heroes, Dollhouse, Terminator Salvation, Battlestar Galactica, Pushing Daisies, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Fringe and Starship Troopers 3.

The full list of panels for Saturday is here.

Locke & Key #3 – Review

By Joe Hill (writer), Gabriel Rodriguez (art) & Jay Fotos (colors)

This is getting to the point of frustration. Hill has promised doors that transform people into different things or people, but so far the only character who’s crossed only one door was the same one as before. Things need to speed up a little bit.

The previous two issues dealt with the two brothers, and issue #3 is the sister’s turn. She’s obviously still afraid of her past and doesn’t want anybody to notice her, so she changes a lot to look simple and unnoticeable. Another girl tries to approach her but she makes excuses and runs away. Back at the mansion, Bode (the youngest brother) tries to convince Kinsey to go through the ghost transforming door.

Meanwhile, the police visit the Locke’s, telling them that a killer escaped prison and they are doing everything in their power to capture him back. I believe once we get the whole picture, this issue will feel less a fill-in. But for now, it seems that there is little progression with the story. Sure, the killer has escaped and Kinsey is growing up and facing her fears, but it feels like too little for me. I want more supernatural doors! (Grade: B-)

-Daniel Yanez

Locke & Key #2 – Review

By Joe Hill (written), Gabriel Rodriguez (art) & Jay Fotos (colors)

This book is getting a lot more interesting this time around. The storytelling is excellent thanks to Joe Hill’s interesting use of narrative.

The issue starts with a novel recap from the previous issue in the form of a comic book made by Bode, the youngest of the Locke family. Bode is still going through the door that transforms him into a ghost, hearing conversations, and watching his family without them noticing. He tries to convince his brothers to go through this door as well, but they don’t believe him.

While roaming around, Bode goes into the well-house and discovers that someone is at the bottom of the well (check out the cover). Frightened, he goes to get assistance from his brother and sister, but after they can’t find anything, they belittle and shrug him off. Bode visits the well once more, this time as a ghost, and he finds a woman who asks him to come back to talk to her (which he does). He befriends her, but it seems like this woman has some sinister agenda in store for our little hero.

The cost is the same as the previous issue ($3.99), and even though we only get 22 pages, the story is so well written and full of new information that it’s completely worth the price. The only negative thing that I can say is we only get to see one of the doors. I want the Locke family to start going through the other ones! Check out the 5 page preview at Joe Hill’s website if you’re interested. This is an excellent comic book.

One off-review note… What the heck is a young George W. Bush doing on the cover of The Executioner? Creepy. (Grade: A)

-Daniel Yanez

Locke & Key #1 – Review

By Joe Hill (written), Gabriel Rodriguez (art) & Jay Fotos (colors)

I bought two of Joe Hill’s books, but I never read them (a novel and a short stories compilation). They’re supposed to be good and the critics were praising his work before the revelation of who Hill’s father (Stephen King!) came to be. What’s also interesting is this book has already been optioned as a movie. So, is it any good?

Locke & Key’s story is told through flashbacks. Two teen psychos attack and murder a father of three siblings. Eventually, the older brother gets his revenge as well as his mother. After the funeral they move to a mansion called Keyhouse, in Lovecraft, Massachusetts (you can probably see where this is going with a town by that name). The youngster roaming inside the mansion finds a key, and opens a door. When he crosses through only his spirit does leaving his shell of a body behind. Scared, he goes back through the door, wakes up back in his body, and slams the door shut.

I’m really intrigued by all the doors that dwell in this mansion and the different effects they’ll impose on the people that cross them. For a first issue, it’s an excellent read, and a sharp supernatural thriller. The comic costs $3.99 as many IDW comics do, but I can’t complain too much on the price this time. You get 32 pages of story, a glossy “key” on the cover (okay, it’s a little gimmicky), and one heck of a debut issue. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez