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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
I think the horror in these ones are a little too intense for me!
I did enjoy this volume more than the previous two but I'm also still not really why everyone is raving about this series. It just seems VERY slow on the plot to me, but maybe it will continue to pick up after this. Also the art style is beginning to grow on me, or maybe it's just that this volume finally has more interesting things to illustrate - like the ghost fight at the beginning, all the shadow creatures, and one issue [4 I think] where most of it is just full page action shots that are absolutely gorgeous. Something really does need to actually HAPPEN soon though ...
I think this one was my favorite so far. The pacing soared, the twists and turns had me gasping out loud and the emotional turmoil was palpable.
CONTENT WARNING:
Story: I think this was the strongest yet. I really like how we see the mistakes the bad guy makes, how confidence breeds clumsiness, and also how the expert key-holder can wield the keys the way the novices have no hope of mastering in the early going. I'm also growing quite fond of the characters and feel like I'm getting to know them more than I sometimes feel I get to in serial art novels.
Art: I really think Rodriguez has come into his own, or feels more confident in his ability to go dark and weird. It's quite stunning in parts. Not quite as lush as some newer pieces, but several pages I lingered over, just to catch all the details and nuances of the way he finished a panel or a page.
Layout: We see a bit of a return to the fun things panels can do. Still quite linear, and even less time-jumping than the second volume, but still we see things you can do with the perspective of serial art in a way that makes the graphic novel format preferable for this particular story.
In short, this was a ton of hair raising fun. It's probably a 4.5 for me. However, Hill I think sometimes misses the mark on what is horror/evil and what is shock/taboo. Because this keeps rearing its head at unfortunate moments, I can't say it perfectly achieves its goals for me, or that I truly loved it. I can, however say that the enjoyment I'm having in the world and with the characters vastly overpowers my distrust of the author's sensitivity.
CONTENT WARNING:
Spoiler
rape, body horror, alcohol abuse, torture, racism, classismStory: I think this was the strongest yet. I really like how we see the mistakes the bad guy makes, how confidence breeds clumsiness, and also how the expert key-holder can wield the keys the way the novices have no hope of mastering in the early going. I'm also growing quite fond of the characters and feel like I'm getting to know them more than I sometimes feel I get to in serial art novels.
Art: I really think Rodriguez has come into his own, or feels more confident in his ability to go dark and weird. It's quite stunning in parts. Not quite as lush as some newer pieces, but several pages I lingered over, just to catch all the details and nuances of the way he finished a panel or a page.
Layout: We see a bit of a return to the fun things panels can do. Still quite linear, and even less time-jumping than the second volume, but still we see things you can do with the perspective of serial art in a way that makes the graphic novel format preferable for this particular story.
In short, this was a ton of hair raising fun. It's probably a 4.5 for me. However, Hill I think sometimes misses the mark on what is horror/evil and what is shock/taboo. Because this keeps rearing its head at unfortunate moments, I can't say it perfectly achieves its goals for me, or that I truly loved it. I can, however say that the enjoyment I'm having in the world and with the characters vastly overpowers my distrust of the author's sensitivity.
This was another enjoyable volume of Locke & Key. I liked seeing the repercussions of Kinsey's decision to remove her fear in the last volume and the negative consequences it almost had on her new friends. What I appreciated most about this volume, though, is the fact that Hill and Rodriguez do not shy away from the many negative aspects of Nina's character and how her alcoholism affects her family. She is in no way glamorized as a mother, which I found to be refreshing as a reader.
Book 3 is such a big sadness. I feel especially for Nina throughout this one. But can’t excuse her actions.
Locke and Key continues it's addictive hold over the reader in the third installment, Crown of Shadows. This novel focuses on the history of the Locke home and of their father's past. In the past two books new magical keys are introduced and this book is no exception. Be prepared, as shadows will literally come to life and evil will stop at nothing until the most sacred of all the keys is located. I cannot wait to get my hands on the fourth story in this series.
dark
tense
This one flowed better than the last. I like where this is going.