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stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
5.0
Heads Games, the second full-length installment of the eerie and engaging Locke & Key series, continues where Volume 1 left off with Kinsey and Tyler Locke adjusting to life in their new high school; however, acclimation is made difficult by the apparent suicide of an aging professor, and Zack Wells—the skeazy new kid on the block who looks strikingly familiar to many of the older members of the island community—pretending to support them but all the while secretly using the magic keys in his possession to his dark whims. Meanwhile, young Bode Locke is keen on solving the secret of the recently unearthed Head Key—a special key that literally opens up people’s heads and allows the keyholder to observe and even manipulate the intimate workings of a person’s psyche.
Heads Games is a solid installment that provides a natural progression for the series and close examinations of many previously introduced characters introduced. Relevant back-story is carefully laid out that plays a vital role in things to come, while simultaneously keeping the present-day story-arc moving forward at a steadfast pace. The palatable storytelling talents of Joe Hill are on full display here, and readers will be duly engrossed in this latest graphic tale from the uber-master of horror.
As with Welcome to Lovecraft, the artwork here is both brilliant and compelling, most especially those phenomenal wide panels offering vicarious peeks inside a character’s wide-open skull. Artist Gabriel Rodriguez employs such intricate detail and ingenuity in fashioning the physical totems of the characters' fears and stigmas. The titular Head Key is such a fascinating idea. Any student readers who'ver wished they could magically absorb the myriad information in their textbooks with lightning speed will appreciate the concept here, much in the same way that anyone who has endured unspeakable tragedy might wish to vanquish their painful memories. Rodriguez showcases his amazing talent for effectively conveying human emotions—particularly in the case of Ellie Whedon, a single mother tormented by both her past and the ubiquitous Dodge/Luke/Zack. There is never any question as to what she is feeling or thinking, and her relationship with her developmentally challenged son, Rufus, will tug at audience's heartstrings. The characters are portrayed in realistic fashion, with even the smallest of details fleshed out so much so that this fictional universe becomes all-too real, even with magic and otherworldly events abound.
With original ideas and increasingly complex story Head Games is not just a five-star collaboration between the Hill-Rodriguez dream team, it’s a beautiful urban fantasy that will school readers in the basic truths of human misery and depravity. Readers will be eager to get their hands on Volume 3.
Heads Games is a solid installment that provides a natural progression for the series and close examinations of many previously introduced characters introduced. Relevant back-story is carefully laid out that plays a vital role in things to come, while simultaneously keeping the present-day story-arc moving forward at a steadfast pace. The palatable storytelling talents of Joe Hill are on full display here, and readers will be duly engrossed in this latest graphic tale from the uber-master of horror.
As with Welcome to Lovecraft, the artwork here is both brilliant and compelling, most especially those phenomenal wide panels offering vicarious peeks inside a character’s wide-open skull. Artist Gabriel Rodriguez employs such intricate detail and ingenuity in fashioning the physical totems of the characters' fears and stigmas. The titular Head Key is such a fascinating idea. Any student readers who'ver wished they could magically absorb the myriad information in their textbooks with lightning speed will appreciate the concept here, much in the same way that anyone who has endured unspeakable tragedy might wish to vanquish their painful memories. Rodriguez showcases his amazing talent for effectively conveying human emotions—particularly in the case of Ellie Whedon, a single mother tormented by both her past and the ubiquitous Dodge/Luke/Zack. There is never any question as to what she is feeling or thinking, and her relationship with her developmentally challenged son, Rufus, will tug at audience's heartstrings. The characters are portrayed in realistic fashion, with even the smallest of details fleshed out so much so that this fictional universe becomes all-too real, even with magic and otherworldly events abound.
With original ideas and increasingly complex story Head Games is not just a five-star collaboration between the Hill-Rodriguez dream team, it’s a beautiful urban fantasy that will school readers in the basic truths of human misery and depravity. Readers will be eager to get their hands on Volume 3.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a little more all over the place than I generally like. I will read the next in the series, though.
valeria_anedda's review against another edition
4.0
Dodge mi sta davvero dando su i nervi. È un cattivo davvero ben scritto e ben caratterizzato; continua con i suoi piani e nessuno se ne rende conto. Spero davvero che qualcuno si svegli e capisca cosa sta succedendo!
galexywitch's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is fine. I didn’t love the first volume but wanted to continue reading to see if it got better. It did not - I feel pretty much the same about this volume as I did the first. It was fine but not very good. Even though this is horror, I am not finding this very scary or creepy. I read a lot of fantasy so I am fine with magic-y weird stuff being used as part of the plot or world building, but so far the keys-related stuff has felt gimmicky rather than magical or interesting.
ridanwise's review against another edition
5.0
Reminds me of how stressful writing teens--by far the stupidest beings on earth--should be. The worst part? Painfully relatable. But by God, if this whole thing ain't just one ball of yarn that demands unraveling. A whole universe of keys! The concept still surprises me. How did no one else think of this, before???
lexikersey's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like Head Games quite as much as I did Welcome to Lovecraft, but it was still pretty damn good. Continuing with the series without a doubt
pbraue13's review against another edition
5.0
Story keeps getting better and creepier! The perk of these graphic novels is that the audience knows more than the characters so when a certain character has infiltrated their circle of friends we know is not who they say they are it makes it all the more scary and frustrating when they feed this enemy information and secrets knowing ... eventually something bad will happen. I am being so vague with my feedback cause I don't want to spoil it for anyone!