Book Review
Title: Locke & Key, Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft (Locke & Key #1)
Author: Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodríguez (Artist)
Genre: Graphic Novel/Horror/Fantasy
Rating: *****
Review: I watched the Netflix adaptation of this graphic novel series when it first started airing and I have to say I really enjoyed it which made me keen to read the source material but back then I couldn’t get the digital copies of the books but now I can. From the beginning of Volume 1 I was able to see the differences between the source material and its adaptation, but they are slight. We are introduced to the Locke family before and after their father, Rendell is murdered by a young man who knew him, and they have to move to their father’s childhood home: Keyhouse. One of the first differences here is in Tyler’s origin story as in the show he witnesses the murder but doesn’t do anything about it as he has to protect his younger siblings; Kinsey and Bode, however in the comic the killers know the kids are around and as Tyler has stepped in paint, the trio split up and he actually ends up several injuring one of the men which weights heavy on his conscience. After moving to Keyhouse, Bode begins exploring as he is the youngest and ends up finding a key. This key opens a door, but the second Bode steps through it his spirit is torn from his body, so he technically dies. As time passes, he uses this to keep an eye on everyone and even attempts to share it with Kinsey and Tyler, but they are still too caught up in their emotions after their dad’s death.
One day, Bode is exploring the well house and he hears a voice coming from within, the voice claims to be his echo and only Bode can set her free. While Bode is initially scared, he comes to like the voice even becoming friends with it and bringing the echo whatever it asks for when it is actually using those things to do terrible deeds while Bode is completely unaware. I have to say that although the comic and the show share the same ominous tone, it is definitely a lot stronger in the comic although I will say that art style is pretty old school which might put some people off but it adds to the gritty atmosphere the comic projects. This first entry is really to introduce to the mental states of all the characters and question everything that they are seeing and experiencing, especially the older characters. When Sam Lesser one of the men that killed their father escapes from prison with the help of the echo, the family know he is coming for them and kills many people although the way which isn’t shown in the show at all. Before he can arrive at the Keyhouse, echo has a confrontation with Bode we “she” asks for the keys and if Bode doesn’t give them to her, she is going to hurt him, and his family so naturally Bode agrees.
When Sam finally arrives at the house, he is methodical and careful, first knocking out Kinsey who is closest to the house, locking the mother and their uncle Duncan in the basement and focusing on Tyler who is the biggest threat to him. Sam even succeeds in killing Tyler who becomes a ghost like Bode’s key allows him to do and he remembers what Bode said about returning to the body and Tyler is able to successful revive himself although he doesn’t understand the implications of this. Meanwhile, Bode is searching for the anywhere key that the echo wants finding it inside Kinsey’s bracelet and taking it to echo allowing her to escape the well house once and for all. In the aftermath, the family are pleased that Sam has finally been stopped for good but Bode understands that there is something more dangerous out there in the form of echo who disappears right at the very moment when a character named Zack appears. However, in the final pages of this volume Bode find another key. It seems that these keys are special and each one has a unique ability which is mirrored in the show and I can’t wait to see how faithful of an adaptation Locke & Key was in the next volume, Head Games.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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