31 Days Of Halloween Comics: Locke & Key

Locke and Key Clockworks #6 crop

Is it basic to choose Locke & Key, a comic we’ve talked about incessantly for years here at Comic Book Club, as our final pick for this year’s Halloween comics? Maybe. But hey, if we’re basic, I’ll take it. Because Locke & Key is not just one of the best horror comics ever, it’s also one of the best comic books ever, period.

Written by Joe Hill with art by Gabriel Rodriguez, the IDW book follows the Locke family. Reeling after the death of their patriarch, they move back to his home: Keyhouse, a mansion that is littered with magical keys. Each one does something different, from turning you into an animal, to a ghost, to unlocking your head so you can see inside. And as the Locke kids explore the keys, they’re also plagued by a dangerous entity named Dodge who wants one specific key: the Omega key.

Not enough good things can be said about this book, which ranged over six volumes — plus a seventh volume titled The Golden Age that explores other time periods, including a crossover with Sandman. But the main story is the perfect blending of horror, youthful hopefulness, and boundless creativity.

That comes through in the story, which grows up and gets darker over time. But also through Rodriguez’s stand-out art, which does the nearly impossible when it comes to the still medium of comic books: it has jump scares. It also shows Rodriguez can draw pretty much anything, from shadow monsters to full-page giant fights, to intimate character moments throughout.

Truly, there’s no better comic you can pick up this Halloween than Locke & Key. And yes, I’m biased because I make a brief appearance in the pages (full disclosure). But I was in the tank for the book long before that. If you’ve never checked out Locke & Key before, Halloween is the perfect time to unlock your next favorite comic book.


It’s spooky season, and you know what that means: time to curl up with a comic book or graphic novel that will scare your socks off. With that in mind, we’re posting a new horror book to check out every day of October, for our 31 Days Of Halloween Comics. Awoooo! Looking for the rest of our picks? Check them out on the Halloween tag.

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