Back when I first heard about Locke & Key: Small World, I knew I had to add it to my collection of the Locke & Key series. My book shelves absolutely demanded it! It was only a matter of finding it. This Friday was my lucky day though, as I found a snazzy hardcover deluxe edition on one of the “Staff’s Picks” shelves at my local comic shop. 😀
I didn’t even open that bad boy up to get a good look at the contents within. I just plucked it off the shelf, grasped it firmly in my little mitts and paraded around the store like it was already mine. Which it basically was. I would dare anyone to try to take it from me at that point. Fisticuffs Mode was fully activated.
If you’re not already familiar with the Locke & Key comic series, this might seem a bit dramatic. If you are, however, already acquainted, I’m sure you understand. 😉 Joe Hill (the writer) and Gabriel Rodriguez (the artist) are a great team, and their work always leaves you wanting more.
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“For over two hundred years, the Locke family has watched over Keyhouse, a New England Mansion where reality itself has come unhinged, and where shadows have been known to walk about on their own.
Here they have guarded a collection of impossible keys, instruments capable of unlocking unnatural forces. Those who carry the keys bear a dreadful responsibility . . .
. . . and the old wood of this house has been stained with blood more than once.”
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Locke & Key: Small World is a very quick read. It takes readers back to Keyhouse, but introduces us to a different set of characters than the ones we’ve come to love in the volumes of Locke & Key. It still holds the same magic, humor, and horror, but the only downside is that if you’re like me and have been spoiled by reading a full volume at a time, this is like getting a drop of water when you’re parched and just want the whole glass. Still though, a drop of water is of course better than going without, but it really did make me want more to read.
The rest of the book contained extra content like a conversation about Locke & Key with the creators themselves, an art gallery with variant artwork/covers, and a very detailed look “behind the scenes” of how Locke & Key makes it from rough script to finished pages for the comics.
If this strikes your fancy in the slightest, I highly recommend you go out and get yourself volume 1 of the Locke & Key series, Welcome to Lovecraft. It’s a dark blend of great storytelling and great artwork that draws you in with all the madness that goes down between the pages of the series and leaves you with questions as well as the desire to read the next volume. I’m purposely being vague, since it’s no fun giving away all the good bits, and trust me, this series is full of plenty of good bits. 🙂
Sounds great
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Yeah, anything Locke & Key is always a lot of fun. 😀 (As long as you don’t mind a little bit of gore here and there, which I’m pretty sure isn’t a problem for ya!) 😛
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Heeeeeeeyyyyyy, where you been? I was starting to get worried. Crazy because who are you and who am I but still I thought it was strange not seeing any weird and wonderful posts from you. I was tempted to email you and ask if you were ok haha.
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Aw, thank you for the concern! 🙂 Sorry to have been such a no-show lately. I’ve been so tied up with work it’s been kind of insane. I haven’t been able to log on in a hot minute, that’s for sure. I’m really hoping to find a better way to manage my time now though. 🙂 Just adjusting to the extra work hours and whatnot. It’s been nuts. lol
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and thanks again for checking in. You’re awesome! 😀 Hopefully I’ll get back into the swing of things pretty soon here. 😛
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Hehe no worries. In a way I was hoping you’d died because you’d be an awesome zombie! Haha just jokes, about the hoping you were dead part anyway.
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Hahaha Wow, that is certainly one hell of a compliment. 😛 I feel like that should be on a greeting card. Like a really morbid “thinking of you” or “missing you” card.
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That’s a business right there!
“Wish you were dead because you’d make an awesome zombie”
“I’ve been in a car accident and have had to have both my legs amputated but that’s ok because you always bring me to my knees anyway”
“Wish you were dead because I want to be haunted by you forever”
Haha we could do a whole series. Imagine how many Goths would buy these cards!!!!!
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lmao You’re on a roll with these! 😛 I love it!
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Hehe your turn
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Oh and yeah gore is as much a problem to me as eating a plate of chocolate
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I’ve read and loved Joe Hill’s novels, and I’ve heard of Locke & Key, but I haven’t tried them yet. I’m heading over to Amazon right now to see if they have Welcome To Lovecraft.
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Oh, awesome! 😀 I hope you wind up enjoying it just as much as I did. 🙂 I’ve only read his graphic novels so far, but I’ve got a couple of his books sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read. I’m sure I’ll love his novels if his writing from the graphic novels is any clue. 😀 Let me know what you think of Locke & Key when you get to read it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!
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I definitely will. And I’d love to know your thoughts on his books. Which ones do you have?
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Heart-Shaped Box and Nos4a2, though I still have yet to read them. I am definitely looking forward to them though. I’d really like to read Horns too. I watched the movie a while ago and liked it so I’m sure the book is even better. 🙂
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Ooh! Two of my favorites! Of course I loved Horns and The Fireman, so I guess you could say ALL his books are my favorites!😊
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Nice! 😀 That’s good to hear that he is consistently good from book to book. Makes me even more excited to read his stuff. 🙂
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😊
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Sounds great my friend, love the part about fighting anyone who attempts to deprive you of your prize! 🙂
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Haha, thank you! 😀 I’m about as tough as a Pomeranian, but what I lack in might I make up for in sass and effort. lol 😛
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I still need to read volume 2! (I’ve used that ‘This is America, I want it now!” gif before. It is SO accurate when it comes to books/comics lol.)
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Haha, yeah, that gif is awesome. 😛
Aw, I wish I’d seen this comment before I came out, I would have brought you volume 2 to read. Next time we’re getting together, just remind me and I’ll bring it to ya! 😀
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I need to get the second book stat.
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I’m so glad you’re enjoying it so far! 😀 They do some really interesting stuff with the series the further you get into it, too. I can’t wait for you to read more of it so I can hear what you think about it. 🙂
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I think I’ll include it in my next monthly book buying excursion!
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