You can color me SOLD on this series.



Here's another intelligent, strongly written story with which to pummel the perceptions of the elitist book snobbers, who sneer and snide at the graphic novel medium.

To them, I politely say, "BITE ME"...because this is great stuff.

I was excited to read this because it was written by Joe Hill, the talented offspring of a certain literary King who shall remain nameless Stephen. While I thought Hill’s Heart-Shaped Box was a promising first work, I really fell More...

oooooo.... an eerie old mansion on a woody estate, strange mysteries and dangerous secrets, a tangled and forgotten past, a san francisco family of three - father slain - seeking a new life on an island named Lovecraft off the coast of massachusetts, in a place called The Keyhouse. a beautiful girl who lives at the bottom of a well, an insane killer on the hunt for magical keys, doors that open into odd places, walk through one door and change your gender, walk through another door and turn into More...

Joe hill does it again, conjuring up another tale of dread, macabre and supernatural goings on with a real gem of a main protagonist in the form of a young kid.
The young boy in question loses someone dear to him and only hopes to be with them. Opportunity presents itself in the form of doors and keys, will he be able to unlock another realm of possibilities. Doors play a key role in the everyday swing of things. Stories have been written involving doors opening up to all kinds of opportune choi More...

The story begins.... hmmm, see that's the thing with this comic - I'm three words into this review and I've already lied to you. I'll try again.
So bad things happen to the Locke family and the survivors move out to a creepy house on an island. Some of the issues focus on one of the kids in particular. They're all traumatised or changed in some way. I think I liked Bode the best. He's the youngest kid.
The opening panel of this book shows a door. There's going to be a lot of doors in this book - More...

This is my second go around with Joe Hill's phenomenal foray into graphic novel territory (to prepare for Volumes 3 and 4). Welcome to Lovecraft is a stunning debut, and I enjoyed it even more this time, so much so that I've bumped it from four to five stars. Yes, it really is that good.

The premise is a fantastic one and you will be totally swept up in the awesome imagination it shows and the mystery and adventure it promises. The character development in just a few short pages is outstanding - More...

I like the way of framing bits of the story to have parallels between the past and the present. I like the idea of Keyhouse. What I didn't like is how over-the-top violent it is. High body count. I'll read the next one, but I won't keep on if they're this violent.

Library count copy.

Welcome to Lovecraft was a solid offering from Joe Hill that has a strong storyline and good artwork, but I didn't feel was up to par with either of his novels. I haven't continued on with the series yet, so I don't know if it will grow on me more as it proceeds but as of this point, I felt that it was above-average, but not great.

The story centers on a mother and her three children who are trying to put their lives back together after losing their husband/father to a maniacal killer. In order t More...

This was totally awesome. Lots of creepy and disturbing (though not necessarily gory) imagery. My favorite sequence was of a picture of the old wellhouse that had some interesting...changes from panel to panel. The art itself does a lot of the storytelling, in a way that I haven't seen done very often.

A less exciting (comic) book than I expected. When I read the concept of this series, man, let's just say I got a little squeamish. It, in fact, sounds like a Neil Gaiman thing. Very Coraline.

The concept of this old mansion with magical doors that can turn who ever walked through them into a ghost or the opposite gender was beyond cool. What disappointed me was:

1. How little actual magic or unearthly concept actually took place in this first volume. I get it is an intro but Joe Hill focused way More...

This book was (I imagine) what it might be like to down a spoonful of sugar that was, unbeknownst to you, laced with Meth.


What is IN this shi-at, Mary?!

The sugary spoonful sounds like a great idea in your head. "A house full of strange locks and doors with many keys that perform different astonishing feats. One door that can force your consciousness out of your body, while your body appears to be dead. A special key that can open any door and take you anywhere." Sounds great, right? Unfortunatel More...

Wow, this gets off to a very...compelling start. Once I got a few pages in, it was nearly impossible to put down - with a momentum, pacing and writing style that teases you with mysteries and peeks at what came before, and a sense that everyone has a few layers of surprises to reveal.

Our villain has all the markings of tragedy about him - as the layers peel back, it's hard not to feel empathy towards him, even as he makes so many bad choices.

Only recently have I started to read Joe Hill, and if it wasn't for a friend on goodreads I would have never known about this series. This was a great collection and I can't wait for what's next.

As a comic book there was a lot of set up and back story to this collection. Since this is only the beginning that is understandable and not a problem for me. Hill handled the reveal of information through out very well. Hill leaves you wanting more and just as I started to get mad that I didn't know mo More...

What can I say except, Joe Hill does it again! Everything I read by him I just absolutely love! I couldn't put this down and can't wait to continue the series! Just one thing....why on earth did it take me so long to get to!!!!

Creepy, creepy, gorgeous! The scary parts were all in the little details -- the reflections in the water, the knock-knock jokes, the way Bode's hands curled up when he went through the door.... I would very much like more!

After reading Neil Gaiman’s fantastic “Sandman” series, I never would have thought that there would be another graphic novel that blends horror and mystery perfectly together. But I was wrong as I soon discovered a new graphic novel that does just that called “Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft!” “Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft” is an Eisner Award nominated graphic novel superbly written by Joe Hill along with dramatic artwork by Gabriel Rodriguez and it is definitely a horror/mystery stor More...

Easily the best graphic novel I've read this year. Locke & Key is a disturbing tale about three siblings whose lives are thrown into turmoil after a vicious attack on their parents. Sent to live in Keyhouse, the family home in Lovecraft, MA, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode try to adapt to their new surroundings, but youngest brother Bode won't give up his delusion that some of the doors in Keyhouse are magical portals if you use the right key.

I picked this up because after reading 20th Century Ghosts and Heart Shaped Box, I was in for all things Joe. But this is a graphic novel, a comic, a cartoon. Yeah, I know I'm overly pragmatic. Please don't cringe like that, we call 'garbagemen' sanitation engineers in this brave new PC world of ours.

First, as a printer/one who prints, I can appreciate the amount of ink required to put this together. Nice print job (although I'm really upset that it was printed in Korea) and the satin ribbon pla More...

Welcome to Lovecraft is a thrilling mix of mystery, magic, and terror.

Starting with a home invasion, Locke & Key proves Hill and Rodriguez have no qualms about putting their characters in harm’s way. Bloody and devastating, the opening scenes lead to huge changes in the lives of the Locke children, including a cross-country move to their family’s ancestral home. Though they’re hoping for a fresh start and a safe haven, all they get are more complications.

Keyhouse, located in Lovecraft, MA, More...

I've been wanting to read this for a little while. This weekend, I finally did, and it was not what I expected. The art is very good, the story is highly original, and keeps you interested. I have already ordered Volume 2; I can't wait to see what happens next. This is a highly original story, with believable characters and a mysterious mystery.

The art is wonderful, the storytelling is great and the story itself is pretty damn good. If you like comics at all, you should read it. If you like hor More...

Good story and good art. I like the characters, especially Bode, and am totally intrigued as to the deal with the keys, Echo, and what the he'll is going on. Strong opening, and I'm definitely hooked.

I am giving this a temporary rating. I feel kind of re same way after finishing this as I did after my first viewing of Kill Bill volume 1. This has some great ideas, a solid storyline but the non-linear progression is confusing and unless it is tied together neatly with the following volume(s), it may just be potential without any resolution. For a graphic novel, it is beautiful and engaging visually. I could have done without the truck driver part but that is very Stephen King-like in a way. B More...

Horror story, great story by Joe Hill and great art to complement by Gabriel Rodriquez. I am not really a horror fan but this hooked me by focusing on the devastated Locke family that has to recover (and doesn't handle well, in each their own screwed up ways) the murder of their father. Of course they move into a perfect horror site, a dark and stormy mansion named KeyHouse with lots of secret rooms, each with a key and separate identity. Great dialogue, and real characters, not just gore though More...

I have never read a graphic novel. Ever. Since my wonderful husband gave me a Nook HD for Christmas, I thought this would be a good time to try one. I chose Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft because it was only four bucks and because I love Joe Hill's novels and short stories. My two star rating has very little to do with the book itself and everything to do with my inability to actually read a graphic novel. I suspect the story is actually very good and the art is terrific.

My failing More...

Joe Hill does not need literary devices (though he uses a lot of them) nor story telling tricks (though the story moves in space as well as in time every some time) nor great art (which is very good in this case).

Joe Hill's writing reminds you that at some times writing / creativity is just a gift - some have it and some don't.

Joe Has it in truck loads. His building up of suspense so much so that a 32 year old guy like me who is used to reading horror novels for kicks is scared turning pages of More...

This is the first storyline/mini-series in the Locke & Key comic book series. I've been reading the single issues and catching up on the entire series. I really enjoy the whole series and this one is a great beginning to this gothic/horror story of the Locke family. Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) has created a compelling set of characters in the Locke children who witness the murder of their father at the hands of a crazy fellow student (Sam Lesser) at their high school (where the Locke fath More...

Holy scheisse! Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft has me completely awestruck. The macabre story is perfectly paired with the hauntingly beautiful artwork. There hasn't been a more perfect partnership since peanut butter met jelly.

Joe HIll and Gabriel Rodriguez have masterfully crafted a graphic novel that blends loss, horror, and mysticism in an unnerving story that will have you addicted. It is amazing how well-developed these characters already are. What many graphic novels do in se More...

Wow. I am in love with this series. I got the first 4 trades in the series (I think there are only 5 so far) and read them all in 3 days or so. Just amazing story telling. The art is clear--not too many panels where you stare and stare, trying to figure out what on earth is happening. But lots of panels where you stare and stare, noticing details and wondering what they mean.... I really like the Locke family, so damaged and yet still trying so hard to take care of each other, to keep building n More...

When I went to the exhibition floor at the San Diego Comic Con 2012 my girlfriend wondered why I didn't take more interest in the long rows full of comic book artists signing and selling their work. I kept looking in that direction and after a while realized I almost never take note of who actually draws most of the comics I read. As long as the art reaches a certain benchmark of quality and efficiency, I'm normally just focused on the story it conveys.

Gabriel Rodriguez stands out because his de More...

Nothing beats a good comic. Nothing. Okay, almost nothing.

When I was a kid, I ate, breathed and slept comics. From Archie to Mad Magazine (and Don Martin's paperbacks of Fonebone and Fester Bestertester awesomeness), superheroes, and to my greatest love, horror.

So when I saw these reviewed on Goodreads, a new series by Joe Hill, who has already won me over with Heart-Shaped Box and Horns, they were impossible to pass up.

Volume I follows a family, who, after their father is murdered, return to th More...