Review: Locke and Key volume 4-6 by Joe Hill

VOLUME 4: Keys to the Kingdom

 

The first book read for 2022 and it was a 3 stars. This is volume 4 and I read volume 3 at the end of 2020, so a whole year has gone by and I didn't remember anything. The art style at the beginning was very different and I didn't like it. It is the same artist for the first three volumes and I don't understand why it was a different style for the animal key. Also we don't get much information on that key, it is just shoved into our faces.

I have been watching the show with my husband and we are 5 episodes in and I have been introduced to keys that I haven't been introduced to yet in the graphic novels. Like the music box key is on the volume 4 cover but it wasn't a major key in this installment. 

I knew from stills from the first season of the show that Joe Hill plays a paramedic in one of the episodes and this book has the answer to why there are paramedics. 

In my honest opinion, the show is better than the graphic novels, but I hate how they did the head key in the show. Not my favorite. 

VOLUME 5: Clockworks

Holy crap, this has to be my favorite volume yet. I loved the backstory of how and why the keys were made. Questions were finally answered. The beginning was a nice break from the teens and I loved how it was the origin story of the keys. I like how that the creation of the keys were formed around colonist and redcoats and that it took place in the sea caves. 

I also really like how we got answers for how Lucas became the well woman and the backstory of the father's group of friends and who died, and who was together. I really enjoyed the time travel that Kinsey and Tyler did. "Not" Bode was a little creepy and the beginning with the kid and the bus was terrifying and I was upset by it. Not a fan of that part. I want to read Volume 6 which is the last volume right now but I don't want to be disappointed if it's not good and if it's damn good, then I won't want it to end.

VOLUME 6: Alpha & Omega

This is not going to be a review type, more like my thoughts while reading. The first chapter is pretty disappointing. It just jumps back and forth and it is not cohesive. It's mainly about Scott making his film and then a couple of pages of  Bode "Dodge Lucas" in the sea cave near the black door. Kind of boring. 

Scott being in a white dress to go to the prom was absolute perfection. I laughed so hard. But then he was hitting on Mrs. Locke and that was just gross. I feel bad for Rufus. He got the shitty end of the stick. His life has been ruined, by attacking Not Bode and then escaping the institution. 

Scott and Jamal have to be my favorite characters in this volume. They re-enacted the prom scene from Carrie and the sound of nothing. Of course Tyler would run into Jordan and have sex. Tyler was always going to be pining over Jordan. Kinsey telling her mom that she hated her while her mom was passed out drunk on the floor was relatable. I am highly upset about the cave scene and Scott letting go because of Jackie. 

JAMAL WEARING LEOPARD PANTIES AND SAYING TIGER ONES WOULD BE TACKY.... I don't get what goes through Joe Hill's mind! How is Mrs. Locke suddenly sober to remember to put Tyler in the mending cabinet. Also answers my question about that key from the 5th episode of season 1 I watched last night. 

I am crying about Bode and Lucas.... man this was an ending. I wonder what is going to happen in season 3. I need to hurry and finish season 1 and get to watching season 2. I am giving this final volume a 4 stars. It was good, but it doesn't beat the 5th book. 

I give this series an overall 4 out of 5 stars.