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Locke and Key, Vol. 2: Head Games (Locke & Key #2)

by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (Illustrator)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 6,438 ratings · 391 reviews

New York Times bestselling writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, the creators behind the acclaimed Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, return with the next chapter in the ongoing tale, Head Games. Following a shocking death that dredges up memories of their father's murder, Kinsey and Tyler Locke are thrown into choppy emotional waters, and turn to their new fri...more

Hardcover, 160 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by IDW Publishing (first published 2009)

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Feb 13, 2012 mark monday rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comikon

oooooo..... more eerie adventures on that strange island in that creepy Key House with that poor, haunted family. wonderful! this volume is as strong as the first. while the first book was focused on slowly bringing the family and the reader into this fascinating world - introducing a handful of magical keys, throwing out a few hints of the incredible backstory, setting up a confrontation between the family and both a dreadful psycho & a creepy spirit villain - the second book zooms in one p...more oooooo..... more eerie adventures on that strange island in that creepy Key House with that poor, haunted family. wonderful! this volume is as strong as the first. while the first book was focused on slowly bringing the family and the reader into this fascinating world - introducing a handful of magical keys, throwing out a few hints of the incredible backstory, setting up a confrontation between the family and both a dreadful psycho & a creepy spirit villain - the second book zooms in one particular key and one particularly fertile concept.

the key in question is fascinating: it gives you the ability to unlock your own head, put things into it (like a textbook! who needs to study? just pop that baby right into the box and all the answers are instantly available), and take things out as well (like bad memories... like fear... like an ability to feel sadness or doubt or even cry). and how this is exactly accomplished is one of the most enjoyable and rather jaw-dropping conceits of Head Games. i literally gasped out loud, then laughed and laughed and laughed. awesome.

Head Games is a lot more than just a perfectly realized and fairly unique idea. it takes that idea and expands upon it, in a truly literary style. no, scratch that, not "literary"... this is a graphic novel and the artist Gabriel Rodriguez is an equal partner in the undertaking. his art is wondrous. the word that comes most immediately to mind is limpid. Head Games deals with a lot of cloudy, ambiguous, mysterious goings-on and the art illustrates these mysteries with a clarity that is nearly hallucinatory. does that make any sense? a kind of hallucinogenic, so-real-it's-stylized pellucidity. wow i'm really tossing out the $10 words in this review.

but back to what i was saying. what makes Joe Hill such a strong writer is that he doesn't just unveil his gem of an idea and leave it there. he expands upon it, he works through it: what the inside of a person's imagination may look like (some extraordinary details there), how someone's fears and emotions can both hold them back and make them who they are, how we are controlled by our memories of different events and how those memories may differ from reality, how different people engage in different ways with their own personas, and more. a lot of food for thought. it is exciting to see how Hill plays with his ideas while keeping them carefully rooted in an astute, clear-eyed view of how our emotions rule us - how the human mind actually works.

all that plus the stories of two very different but equally tragic supporting characters, a villain who is slippery & cunning & menacing & yet terrifically real, a well-developed gay character, an increasingly intriging backstory, and some very endearing kid protagonists. this is a must-read series.(less)

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Jun 01, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, review

The second chapter in Joe Hill's brilliant dark magical mystery. The Locke kids have survived the traumas of book one but in this one the threat is far more insidious. They have a viper in their midst disguised as Tyler Locke's new best school friend Zack Wells. Zack is the mysterious creature Bode met trapped in the well house in book one. He's a nasty piece of work too, ruthlessly murdering or manipulating anyone who can unmask him. Hill creates great characters with complex history and psycho...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Trudi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads, graphic-novel, horror, series, joe-hill, fantastical-speculative, love-the-premise, stephen-king-recommends, 2012-reads, re-reads

If you've yet to begin on the wondrous and amazing journey that is Joe Hill's Locke and Key series, what are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Life is short and our TBR piles huge, but this one? This one you absolutely, unequivocally do not want to miss.

It's so charming and whimsical, a touch of fairy tale mixed in to a raw and rollicking story about grief and loss, ghosts and monsters, mysterious doors and the magical keys that open them. It's about childhood and family and sibling bonds...more

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Sep 02, 2012 The Flooze rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic_novel, urban-fantasy-paranormal, vanquished_2010, ghastly_innit, favorites, owned, vanquished_2012

Just re-read this and it's still intriguing. The mix of gore and mystery is thrilling. The amount of detail in each frame is sometimes astounding and I noticed even more clues this time around. One of the themes of this installment is that memories are unreliable things; I'm so pleased to say this series is just as great as I remember!
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So far, this series has impressed me. Both the story and the artwork display a wonderful level of imagination and a stro...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Ronyell rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of the Locke and Key series!

Shelves: action-adventure, alternative-worlds, best-books-of-2012, books-i-want-to-own, drama, family-situations, fantasy, favorites, graphic-novels-comics, horror, idw-comics, joe-hill, my-blog-reviews, mystery, read-in-2012, reviewed-books, surreal, young-adult-teen-books, ronyell-s-epinions-reviews

After reading the first volume of Joe Hill’s fantastic “Locke and Key” series, “Welcome to Lovecraft,” I wanted to see more adventures from the Locke siblings, Tyler, Kinsey and Bode! But after reading the second volume of the “Locke and Key” series, “Head Games,” I got even more than I bargained for as I not only saw more adventures starring the Locke kids, but we also got more background information on the mysterious “lady in the well” or is known as Zack in this volume! “Locke and Key: Head G...more After reading the first volume of Joe Hill’s fantastic “Locke and Key” series, “Welcome to Lovecraft,” I wanted to see more adventures from the Locke siblings, Tyler, Kinsey and Bode! But after reading the second volume of the “Locke and Key” series, “Head Games,” I got even more than I bargained for as I not only saw more adventures starring the Locke kids, but we also got more background information on the mysterious “lady in the well” or is known as Zack in this volume! “Locke and Key: Head Games” is definitely one fantastic follow up to the first volume that fans will easily get into!

The story starts off with an old man named Joe Ridgeway who happens to be one of the teachers at the Locke kids’ school and how he relates to the audience about how he lost his true love to cancer years ago. However, the story starts to pick up when Joe Ridgeway soon discovers the dark secret of Zack Wells, a new student who had mysteriously transferred from another school and how he does not seem like a normal student. We also start to learn more about Zack Wells and how he is mysteriously tied to a man named Lucas Don Caravaggio who knew the Locke kids’ father. Also, the Locke kids find another key that can open another door to your head!

Alright, so now that I have pretty much summarized this volume without spoiling too much from the story, here are some things I liked about this volume! For one thing, I really enjoyed the way that Joe Hill explained the background history of Lucas Don Caravaggio, a young man who seems to have known the Locke kids’ father in this volume. It was really interesting learning about how Lucas Don Caravaggio is connected to the mysterious Zack Wells since that seems to be essential to the plot of this series so far and I loved the way that Joe Hill is trying to alert the readers about Zack’s secret plans for the Locke kids without really spoiling too much of his plans. It is true that I wanted more adventures with the three kids Tyler, Kinsey and Bode and we did get more adventures starring these three kids, especially when they found the head key, but Joe Hill also continues their story on how they are still coping with their father’s death and yet are becoming close friends with Zack Wells (despite not knowing his true intentions for being with them, which brings so much tension to the story). Gabriel Rodriguez’s artwork is as always gorgeous to look at and I loved the colorings that he puts on the artwork as they are a bit dark and dreary which fits the mood of the story and I also loved the facial expressions on the characters as you can see the frightened expressions whenever they are terrified of a certain situation (and believe me, it happens quite often in this volume!). Also, I loved how Gabriel Rodriguez actually has some surreal imagery in this volume, especially when we take a peak inside the character’s heads and see how they view their lives!

Locke and Key

For anyone who does not like strong language or violence in graphic novels aka comics, then be forewarned that this volume contains a bunch of language and some gory violence. Although this volume was not as violent as the first volume, there are still some scenes where people are murdered and there is a lot of blood being shown during these murder scenes. Also, some readers might be a bit disturbed at the idea about characters being able to open up their heads even though it does not hurt the characters when they do this.

Overall, “Locke and Key: Head Games” is a brilliant follow up to the first volume and has done an excellent job at explaining not only the Locke kids’ current situation, but it also reveals the back story on Lucas Don Caravaggio that proves to be a huge focus on the “Locke and Key” stories in the future. I am definitely looking forward to reading the third volume in the “Locke and Key” series, “Crown of Shadows!”

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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Jan 10, 2013 Jana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Locke and Key: Head Games

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one, probably because I had expected to get more answers, but what I got instead were more questions, another introductory instalment to leave me desperate to get the third book. I was so curious about the back stories of the Zack/Luke/Dodge character and of father Locke’s and his friends’ adolescence, but all I got were snippets that generated even more questions. The suspense was almost killing me.

I didn’t notice the Peter P...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Benjamin added it

Shelves: bedside-reading, comics

Whereas the first collection mostly eased us into the story of the Locke family through the Ghost Door--a door that would turn someone into a ghost if opened with the Ghost Key--Head Games focuses mostly on the Head Key, a key that allows people to open their heads and play with the interior. In this case, the kids play with their memories and capabilities--for instance, Kinsey takes out her fear and her ability to cry. I'm sure that will work out fine for her.

Meanwhile the terrible person from...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Kayla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I don't want to come across as cheap or dismissive, but I must be truthful on one fact when I talk about the cost of these things called "comic books" or "graphic novels" - I frankly don't believe that many, of not most, of the stuff is hardly worth around $25 for what amounts, often, to two to three hours of reading that's often pretty meh. Now, I can't help that with $1-3, I can get a book that can be as long as a 1,000 pages + and can be all kinds of good. A lot of the time, even when a piece...more I don't want to come across as cheap or dismissive, but I must be truthful on one fact when I talk about the cost of these things called "comic books" or "graphic novels" - I frankly don't believe that many, of not most, of the stuff is hardly worth around $25 for what amounts, often, to two to three hours of reading that's often pretty meh. Now, I can't help that with $1-3, I can get a book that can be as long as a 1,000 pages + and can be all kinds of good. A lot of the time, even when a piece if graphic literature is good, it's usually right around the length of a short story - or, at best, a novella. I'm not discounting the importance of the art in these kinds of works, but the cold, hard fact is that, with little to the contrary, I like my money to go towards the real meat of a narrative and the story, and at $25 for at most three hours of entertainment, at the rate I read these things, and something just doesn't add up.

With all of that being said, I would like to say that there exists a certain minority of graphic literature that does break the mould in this respect. A large part of the value that you have to include in a purchase like a graphic novel is the re-read-ability, or else you end up with a little over ten dollars an hour for a one-time piece of reading material.

Thankfully, even more so than the first entry in the series, Locke & Key 2 is a wonder of art and storytelling, filled with marvels and ingenious concepts as often as thrilling twists and turns, often veering into the awful and the grotesque - not always physically so, but almost always astonishing.

Dark and often tender in its portrayal of both victim as well as villain, keys play a philosophical as well as a material importance in the story, adding an astonishing amount of depth to an already wonderfully complicated cat-and-mouse tale as well as making almost anything seem plausible in this estate that seems to be just as much a love letter to Lovecraft s well as to Hill's father, Stephen King.(less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed_books, graphic_novels, read_2013

HEAD GAMES expands on the magical keys first introduced in WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT with this later instalment focusing on a key which has the ability open a person’s head, exposing their memories for all to see. It also allows for knowledge to be quickly accumulated (reading a book negated by simply placing the book directly inside a person’s head). This was all a little weird (but I should’ve gathered that from the title) and a little removed from the anywhere key (which allows you to travel throu...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Dawn Peers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-reviewed, graphic-novels

"Crisp artwork, flawless story, beautiful binding"

There is *no* reason why, if you want to buy Locke and Key, you shouldn't buy the hardback edition.

The binding cover is beautiful - the picture on here does not do it justice. There are nice sketches of the layout of the Keyhouse on the inside covers to front and back, as well as some great cover / concept images at the back.

The introduction by Warren Ellis is sharp and witty. Joe Hill's storytelling is, as ever, flawless, and the edgy graphics c...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Marcelo Sanchez rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic, horror

It's a good comic. It has a good story and Gabriel Rodriguez shows off a lot more than on the first volume.
The lower rating is due to comparison to the first volume. The pacing of the story is drastically decreased, unlike the first one I was capable of putting this one down. It almost feels like a movie that changed directors halfway. A few answers are provided in the story, but mostly you get more questions, which I guess is a good thing. But I'm left with the feeling that the story didn't adv...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Coaxial Creature rated it 4 of 5 stars

As unpopular as this is going to sound, this one graphic novel convinces me that Joe Hill is a better writer than his superstar father, Stephen King. While King has good ideas, the sheer fantasy and whimsy in this one slim volume made me giddy beyond anything King ever wrote.

There's mystery that goes hand in hand with the fantasy, and sharply defined illustrations that blend realism and fantasy. That is, there is a sense of magic in the images themselves, but done in a realistic style.

All in a...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: creator-owned

Not fair, introducing us to a sympathetic character up front and then taking him away so soon. Better though is the idea that Warren Ellis' introduction keys in on so hilariously: a key to unlock your head, then put wanted stuff in and take unwanted stuff out. Fantastic little plot point and writer's allegory. Especially cool is how warped and exaggerated memories look to the outside world - like something that went through a drug haze.

The events of this book aren't nearly as menacing as what tu...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Tommy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect from the first volume of Locke and Key, and felt sort of off-kilter with it until I realized I needed to ditch whatever my expectations were, and just go along for the freaky ride. It's violent, fantastical, and disturbing. This second volume really deepens the mystery of the Locke family (past and present), their enemies, and the picturesque and aptly-named town of Lovecraft. I LOVE the concept of the different magical keys that unlock various things for those who k...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Tabitha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels, travel-fiction

After such a winning first volume, I usually worry that the second installment will slow, backtrack or otherwise just not be good enough.
With this series though, not only was I not particularly worried about that, but honestly, I tore through the second one too quickly to register much of a break in reading.
The plot flows cleanly and expands on the solid foundation set up in the first book, and Rodriguez's artwork continues to be a lovely addition to the telling of the tale. I noticed a few fun...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Cornerofmadness rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 06, 2011 M0rningstar rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: sequential-art

This rating might be a little unfair, since I started the series with this volume, and not volume 1. However, it was easy enough to piece together what happened in the previous arc with the ample clues and flashbacks in this book, so I don't think that detracted too much from the story.

The biggest problem with this volume is that, even though it is supposed to contain its own, full arc, the plot just didn't advance far enough or fast enough to keep one's attention. Furthermore, the characters d...more

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May 12, 2011 Julie Hayes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Joe Ridgeway thinks he’s seeing a ghost, as he watches Tyler Locke walking down the hall with the new student, one who looks eerily like… But that can’t be, ‘cause he died some twenty years ago. Back when Tyler’s dad was a student. In fact he was Rendell Locke’s goodest and bestest buddy, Lucas Caravaggio. So who is this Zack—and why is he staying with Ellie Whedon?

Lucas/Zach tells Ellie they have problems—he’s pretty sure their old drama sponsor recognizes him. It’s a simple enough matter to us...more Joe Ridgeway thinks he’s seeing a ghost, as he watches Tyler Locke walking down the hall with the new student, one who looks eerily like… But that can’t be, ‘cause he died some twenty years ago. Back when Tyler’s dad was a student. In fact he was Rendell Locke’s goodest and bestest buddy, Lucas Caravaggio. So who is this Zack—and why is he staying with Ellie Whedon?

Lucas/Zach tells Ellie they have problems—he’s pretty sure their old drama sponsor recognizes him. It’s a simple enough matter to use the key to get into the old man’s house and tie up some loose ends.

Meanwhile, Bode is trying to find a use for the strange key he’s dredged up from the pond. Surely it fits something in Keyhouse, right? His sister Kinsey is deeply affected by the death of Joe Ridgeway, even though she barely knew him. Tyler and Zach try to cheer her up with pistachio ice cream. As for Tyler, he’s way behind on his homework, but his teachers are cutting him some slack because of everything he’s been through. Still, he doesn’t like being behind. He meets a cute girl with a motorcycle, but he doesn’t get anywhere with her.

Tyler and Kinsey are more than a little alarmed when Bode shows them what he has learned about the strange key—it fits into the back of the neck and opens up the skull! And even as they look inside Bode’s head, another Bode is standing there, looking inside with them too. How weird is that?

Bode shows them how he can learn anything by simply putting it into his head. For example, he shoves a cook book inside and now he knows the recipe for fettuccine alfredo! Very useful, as his mother is attempting to make it. With her incessant tippling, her memory isn’t what it used to be. Looking inside Bode’s skull, they spot the creature from the well-house and pull it out to look at it. But they discover that memory and reality do not always jibe, so the creature is safe—for now. Hmmm, Tyler thinks there might be a use for this thing, after all. He is behind on his reading. And when he sees a chance to impress motorcycle girl—and Zack—he foolishly goes for it.

Duncan has returned to his neglected lover, Brian. They live in a town a couple of hours away from Lovecraft. The two of them are having trouble with a couple of homophobic local women who hate them being in their town. But they have worse problems than that, considering that Zack thinks Duncan recognized him, and he can’t have that, now can he?

What is the true story behind the death of Ellie Whedon’s mother? And what is the hold that Lucas/Zack continues to have on her? And what kind of peril is Bode Locke going to find himself in?

The second volume in the Locke & Key series is every bit as good as its predecessor. Now we have some idea who the Lockes are up against, even if we don’t know why, or how they can combat him, since he’s been dead for twenty years. The Locke family is a family in crisis and have been since the death of Rendell, if not before. They’ll have to pull together to make it through this one, and right now, they aren’t in very good shape to do that.

Until recently, Free Comic Book day to be precise, I was totally unaware of who Joe Hill is, and perhaps that was a good thing, as I came to appreciate him on his own merits before learning of his pedigree. We were at the Fantasy Shop, getting our free comics and some other stuff, when the clerk asked did I know who Joe’s father was. Turns out he’s the son of Stephen King! Which explains the dedication in the first volume to Tabitha King. Very impressive. But as I said, I learned to appreciate him for himself, so that’s cool. Being Stephen King’s son can’t suck, right?

The plot to Locke & Key is very thorough and well written, the graphics are excellent, and painstakingly detailed. This series is a definite keeper, and a great addition to your collection. I look forward to reading further volumes.
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Apr 22, 2011 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second full length graphic novel in the Locke and Key series. The fourth installation, Keys to the Kingdom, is due out this June. This was an excellent continuation of the series. The drawings are fantastic and the plot is complex, creepy and engaging.

In this book the Locke kids are just trying to make it through school. They've become involved with the "new kid" Luke, who looks mysteriously familiar to some of the older members of the community. Meanwhile Bode finds a new Key, this...more This is the second full length graphic novel in the Locke and Key series. The fourth installation, Keys to the Kingdom, is due out this June. This was an excellent continuation of the series. The drawings are fantastic and the plot is complex, creepy and engaging.

In this book the Locke kids are just trying to make it through school. They've become involved with the "new kid" Luke, who looks mysteriously familiar to some of the older members of the community. Meanwhile Bode finds a new Key, this one literally opens his head up. Now the kids all want to play games with shoving info into their heads and taking out all the bad stuff (like fear and sadness).

This book is super creepy. It wasn't as creepy as the first one (no serial killer this time) but there is still a high creepy factor here. Just the fact that Bode walks around with his head open is pretty darn strange. Again this book is not for the faint of heart; I think it covers almost every offensive/distasteful topic out there and is very violent...so definitely for adults.

The complex plot is getting more and more intriguing and intricate. I am just super curious to see what else they find in that old house and to see what happens with Luke and the Locke kids. The story is incredibly engaging and I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was very hard to put down.

The illustration throughout is phenomenal; beautiful full color illustrations, very detailed, and very beautiful...in a creepy way. It just fits the story perfectly. The book itself is just beautifully put together in hard cover format; a beautiful green silk ribbon to mark your spot and high quality paper throughout.

Overall I was even more impressed with this book than the first one. I am hooked on this now; I need to learn more about the creepy house and how everything fits together...but at the same time I am a little scared to find out the secrets that the next book will contain. Super creepy and definitely for an adult audience; but if you like the darker and creepier side of the paranormal then this book is for you. I cannot wait to read Book 3, The Crown of Shadows.(less)

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Feb 09, 2011 Keely rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, fantasy, horror, reviewed

Well, I was hoping that if I kept on with the series, I'd get used to the art, but unfortunately not. Giant chins and tiny, lipless mouths everywhere. And everyone looks like a pallid corpse thanks to the questionable choice of shading all fleshtones with an unsaturated grey. It's just not pretty.

And I don't think it's some deliberate attempt at disquieting horror art, either, because low-saturation isn't the way to make unsettlingly corpselike characters. There's a whole palette of greens, blu...more Well, I was hoping that if I kept on with the series, I'd get used to the art, but unfortunately not. Giant chins and tiny, lipless mouths everywhere. And everyone looks like a pallid corpse thanks to the questionable choice of shading all fleshtones with an unsaturated grey. It's just not pretty.

And I don't think it's some deliberate attempt at disquieting horror art, either, because low-saturation isn't the way to make unsettlingly corpselike characters. There's a whole palette of greens, blues, and yellows out there that have been used to great effect in horror comics, and that's not what we're getting. It's not realistic, nor is it stylized, which seems to be my problem with this book in general.

We've got more and more plot unfolding everywhere, but no small story or character arcs to keep us entertained in the meantime. If Hill isn't going to give us small payoffs as we go along, the one at the end is going to have to be gobsmacking to make up for it. Too many good authors have dug that hole and proved how daunting it is to escape.

So far, the main impetus for the plot is watching the fox in the henhouse and waiting for them to stop him. It's about as dynamic as a car wreck in slow motion. You see everything coming, and there's a kind of unpleasantness as Hill slowly brings about the inevitable, but I'm not sure that it constitutes 'horror'.

Horror has to surprise us, not just make us squeamish, and there aren't going to be any surprises unless they start with the characters. So far, they're mostly archetypal: tools for facilitating the plot. Hill is all about pacing and getting the plot moving, which is impressive, but without the depth, voice, and character to back it up, what's the point? It's all getting a bit tedious.

It's unusual to see someone who has polished the structure of his writing so much but who is so otherwise lacking in subtlety and style. Usually, these aspects develop in tandem, but sometimes you find authors who work to perfect one aspect of their craft so much that the rest suffers.

It's those little things that make characters stand out: turns of phrase, emotional reactions, hypocrisies; things that indicate that the character has a past and an existence outside of the story (including plot-revealing flashbacks). I'm just not getting that from Hill and it's disappointing, because I want to like this story, I want to connect with it, I want to see its ideas explored, its influences nodded to and twisted around, but so far it's all too convenient, too plainly artificial.

And yet, it doesn't save itself by relishing its own artificial nature; a strong cliche can be a lot of fun, a weak, degraded cliche rarely is. It's neither realistic, nor an adventure, and I feel like this story is really losing itself between the extremes.

The background art is still far and away the most impressive part of the comic, but unfortunately, it never becomes the focus for longer than an establishing shot. It could be very effective if the comic quietly lingered on it, shifting through scenes and places and letting them become real, like in Hellboy. But we've got a lot of expositionary dialogue and flashbacks to get through if we're going to get to the good vs. evil climax any time soon, so we march on.

I can't stand a villain without a motive, and if ours has one, there's no indication of it in his one-track personality. So far, he just feels like a tool, in more ways than one, and the way the camera lingers on him, I'm starting to think the author has an unhealthy passion for his villainy, since we see it demonstrated over and over. We get it, he's the bad guy, now make us care!(less)

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Dec 10, 2009 Di rated it 5 of 5 stars

The late H.P. Lovecraft's stories are horror classics. He created an entire mythology (often referred to as the Mythos or the Cthulhu Mythos) filled with monsters, throwbacks, and non-Euclidean geometry. He then opened his world up, inviting other authors to play in his sandbox. And play they did. I came late to the fandom, but I'm here now. Which is why I know that, if you're looking for a place to start fresh, you don't want to go to a town called Lovecraft. That's what the Locke family does i...more The late H.P. Lovecraft's stories are horror classics. He created an entire mythology (often referred to as the Mythos or the Cthulhu Mythos) filled with monsters, throwbacks, and non-Euclidean geometry. He then opened his world up, inviting other authors to play in his sandbox. And play they did. I came late to the fandom, but I'm here now. Which is why I know that, if you're looking for a place to start fresh, you don't want to go to a town called Lovecraft. That's what the Locke family does in the comic/graphic novel series Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.

Following their father's murder, the Locke kids (teens Tyler and Kinsey, and younger Bode) and their mother move to Keyhouse, the Locke family manse. It's there that Bode discovers the ghost key, that lets him separate from his body. There are lots of other keys at Keyhouse, and the epilogues in each collection tell us about them, and about the histories of Keyhouse and the Lockes.

This is a story that works very well in graphic format. Rodriguez's illustrations fit beautifully with Hill's story to show us what is happening and draw us into the story. The artwork enhances the suspense in the story, shocking the reader for effect rather than for shock's own sake. The characters' emotions are captured and clearly expressed in the artwork, not leaving the reader to guess whether someone is amazed or disgusted. The lettering is also well done, without a distracting amount of font changes and jagged speech bubbles.

The story unfolds at a reasonable pace, not so fast that the reader loses track of what's going on -- no mean feat given the flashbacks and changing perspectives -- but never so slow as to risk losing interest. It also follows its own rules. The reader isn't left saying, "Wait a minute. That shouldn't have happened."

By the end of volume 2 of the collected works (Head Games), it's clear that this is a "kids save the world" story. Most of the adults are clueless or incompetent. (Mom after Bode uses the Head Key: "Put the top of your head back on, Bode. Should we have fettuccine for dinner?" No, seriously, the top of his head was gone. You could look inside and see his memories.) The ones who might actually be able to help are quickly dealt with by the forces of evil.

The violence is graphic in both senses of the word, and there is some sex. I would recommend this series to adult horror fans without reservation. It would probably also appeal to older teens, and may be a good choice for reluctant readers.
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Feb 09, 2013 David Schaafsma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gn-superhero-scifi-fantasy

Brian Vaughn writes the intro to the NEXT one, which I started, but it made me think: this guy is as good as Joss Whedon or Brian Vaughn, two of the very best storytellers of their generation. Neil Gaiman territory. Maybe he is technically better, deeper, more philosophical, more serious. Hill is witty, scary, imaginative, with ideas just bursting in the way they can happen in sci-fi, fantasy, horror.... but Vaughn, Whedon and Hill are also funny as they scare or disturb you. Great writer of dia...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Maija rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-western

The Locke children continue to study the keys they find in Keyhouse. In the first book, the remaining Locke family moved to the house where the children found weird keys that unlock the strangest of things. Joe Hill comes up with some pretty interesting keys. These ideas manage to also give us the best introduction ever from Warren Ellis. Short and “sweet”.

Now, about the art style. The art is in no way bad, it is in fact pretty skillful. It’s just not my cup of tea. I have an aversion to the way...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Mark Westmoreland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, urban-fantasy, graphic-novels

The plot becomes even more interesting with this book. One of my favorite approaches that Joe Hill takes with his story is interweaving the past with the present. Back story can be a tricky thing. What I like about Hill's is that not only are the back stories essential to the plot, but they interesting and informative. Honestly, they're some of my favorite sections of the graphic novel.

My favorite character is Bode. He makes the story rich. He's fun and imaginative. His curiosity gets him in int...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, 2012-c-gn

This is going to be addictive. I'm going to tear through these and then have the torture of waiting month by month for each Omega issue. Gah.

This book was so interesting. I want a head key. I love how well it all the things you can do with the head key were explored. Plus, all the rest of the story of course. Just keeps on sucking you in.

I didn't mention it for the first book, but I love the art work. It's so crisp and detailed. It really shines in this one with the double page head space spread...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

My exposure to Joe Hill has been limited. It wasn't until a few months ago I found this author, and then found out that he is the son of Stephen King. I have read two of Hill's novels and, I try not to, but I keep comparing him to his father. Hill has yet to impress me, but when a friend reviewed Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft, I figured this is a different media and I might finally be able to see Hill for who he is. I'm glad I picked up this series because Hill is defiantly growing...more My exposure to Joe Hill has been limited. It wasn't until a few months ago I found this author, and then found out that he is the son of Stephen King. I have read two of Hill's novels and, I try not to, but I keep comparing him to his father. Hill has yet to impress me, but when a friend reviewed Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft, I figured this is a different media and I might finally be able to see Hill for who he is. I'm glad I picked up this series because Hill is defiantly growing on me.

To be honest, I think I enjoyed this volume just as much, if not a little more than the first. In the first vol it is very creepy, which I loved, but since you are getting to know the characters there is a lot of back story that is interwoven throughout. It kind of jumps back and forth between past and present. This book jumps right into the story and picks up where the previous left off. There are a few times when we get some back story but not nearly as much. The other nice thing is that the main characters are already developed so we get to see more of what is going on now.

I will admit that at first, I thought the Key highlighted in this book was kind of boring, but the further I got into the story the more potential I saw. This key allows you to open your mind, literally, and add or remove what ever you want. I started to think, this could be amazing, the skills I could learn in seconds. The books I could devour just by putting the book in my head. Creepy idea but at the same time I saw so many possibilities. Hill toys with the idea of removing things from ones mind like fear, sadness, and memories. I guess I would be different than most in this respect. I would never want to take anything out of my head. Some memories are painful, and fear and sadness is something I am not a fan of at all. But the more I think about this the more I feel that those things are what make me who I am. So even if I had the opportunity to remove these things, I don't think I would.

For fans of the macabre, and graphic novels I would highly recommend this. If you are not really a fan of comics, the story is good and the art work isn't bad either. (less)

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Jan 27, 2011 Jacki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel-manga

Summary: The plot thickens for the Locke children when little Bode finds a key that lets him open his head and display his memories. Meanwhile, the mysterious evil known as Dodge ingratiates himself further with family members while continuing to spin a web of murder and manipulation.

Verdict: Welcome to Lovecraft it's not.

Yay!: The head key is an interesting device and leads to some neat drawings. In Dodge's hands, it's a dangerous weapon. Some scary mayhem continues and more secrets from the pa...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Estibaliz79 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Afortunadamente estaba yo muy errada (sin h) cuando decía que no se habían publicado más volúmenes de 'Locke & Key' en España más allá del primero; de hecho, en marzo se publica el cuarto... ¡Yupiiii!

Hay quien dice que en este segundo volumen el ritmo narrativo baja. Bueno, teniendo en cuenta el brutal arranque de la historia en el primero, no sería de extrañar, pero en mi opinión esta segunda entrega no desmerece para nada de la primera, sino antes al contrario. No se puede esperar que todo...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars

I seem to be on a kick of reading things I should have read years ago, but didn’t (for absolutely no good reason whatsoever). The latest read is LOCKE & KEY, VOL. 2: HEAD GAMES, written by Joe Hill (Twitter) and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez.

Just like volume 1, I loved this volume of Locke & Key. The Locke kids are getting a bit more settled in their new home, their new school, and new town. But trouble is never far from them. In fact, it’s usually right under their roof. Not surprisi...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Brandon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fiction, comix, 2012

This volume is even better than the first! Unfortunately, I can't give it anything higher than 5 stars. If there was an option, I'd do that. I have a feeling this entire series is going to end up on my favorites list - well, barring some unforeseen decline in quality.

I tore through this in one sitting, not that there was a lot of material here. Coming in at 160 pages, this book is so tightly edited that it barely gives the reader any time to breathe. That's not to say that it suffers from any pa...more

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About Joe Hill

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Joseph Hillstrom King (born 1972) is an American writer of fiction, writing under the pen name of Joe Hill.

Hill is the the second child of authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. His younger brother Owen King is also a writer. He has three children.

Hill's first book, the lim...more

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Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

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“That's it? 'Damn, it smells like the fishsticks are burning and don't do that with your head, Bode?' What the fuck?” — 1 person liked it

“-one teebs? You mean tablespoon?"
"I don't know.” — 1 person liked it

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Locke and Key, Vol. 2: Head Games (Locke & Key #2)

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