And Then I Read: LOCKE & KEY Volume 6

Image © Joe Hill & IDW.

This final volume of the LOCKE & KEY series is, if anything, best of all, though of course you have to read the others to get the most out of it. Joe Hill has fashioned a complete story full of appealing detail and intricacy, characters that will stay with you, a plot that is edge-of-your-seat thrilling and terrifying, all in a well-constructed world and setting that I find irresistible.

In a way, it’s built on families. The Locke family, of course, are the central characters, appealing and smart though scarred by tragedy. Then there are the families of high school friends, one in the father’s generation, one in the present, each also scarred and separated by tragedy and infiltrated by demons. Finally, there’s the family of magical keys, each with amazing and wonderful powers, each fraught with pitfalls for the user and powered by dark forces hidden deep beneath Keyhouse, the Locke family mansion. This time the main keys in use are the Alpha and Omega ones, as seen on the cover, and as the number of keys has grown, so has the plot become complicated by them. I lost track of some of the many plot threads that tie up in this volume, but the resolution is so satisfying it didn’t matter. I’m sure reading the entire series together would be even more rewarding.

The art by Gabriel Rodriguez is just as satisfying as the writing, full of intricate detail, but crafted on strong art and design skills that never fail to deliver every nuance of the story brilliantly. The barrier between reality and fantasy is constantly being crossed in the series, but every panel is so grounded in fine drawing that it always feels true and believable. And I should add that the book is greatly aided by excellent coloring and lettering by Jay Fotos and Robbie Robbins respectively.

If you like stories with a strong dark flavor, this one will surely satisfy. Highly recommended.