Todays new trades 05/06/13

DARK HORSE COMICS

Art Of Remember Me HC,
Blood-C Volume 2 TP,
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike Volume 1 A Dark Place TP,
Forbidden Worlds Archives Volume 2 HC,
Lone Wolf 2100 Omnibus TP,
Lone Wolf And Cub Omnibus Volume 1 TP,
Misty Circus HC,
Star Wars Legacy Volume 1 HC, Strain Volume 2 TP.

DC COMICS

Batman And Robin Volume 1 Born To Kill TP,
Batman And Robin Volume 2 Pearl HC,
Crisis On Multiple Earths Volume 6 TP,
Harley Quinn Night And Day TP,
Solo HC (Deluxe Edition),
Superman The Golden Age Omnibus Volume 1 HC.

IDW PUBLISHING

Crow Skinning The Wolves TP
Hollows HC
John K Presents Spumco Comic Book HC
Star Trek Legion Of Super-Heroes TP
Tarzan The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips Volume 1 1967-1970 HC
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics Volume 5 TP
Transformers Movie Collection Volume 1 TP
Womanthology Space HC

IMAGE COMICS

Hack Slash Omnibus Volume 5 TP
Walking Dead Volume 18 What Comes After TP

MARVEL COMICS

Pacific Rim Tales From Year Zero HC (Premiere Edition)
Spider-Man Danger Zone TP
Wolverine By Claremont And Miller HC
Wolverine Origin HC
Wolverine Sabretooth HC
Wolverine Season One HC
Wolverine The Adamantium Collection HC

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

Harbinger Volume 2 Renegades TP
Valiant Masters Shadowman Volume 1 Spirits Within HC

Trades made right: Locke & Key

An absolute masterclass in presentation, IDW's Locke and Key hardcovers are easily one of my favourite books on the shelf. Beautifully bound and stitched with colour coordinated book mark, other publishers should take note that IDW can release these HC's at the same price as their standard dust jacket efforts.

When I first picked up volume 1 I went online to see if I had chosen a limited edition version but no, IDW are just taking the rare move of giving you a collection that feels like value for your hard earned pennies.

The artwork in the inside covers by Gabriel Rodriguez is just another example of getting a high end product for a standard price. The book is laid out perfectly to display his incredible art in the series. With no gutter loss and beautifully placed splash pages that never hinder your enjoyment of the book.

Back cover of HC's.

If it suits your collection to purchase paperbacks instead then don't feel hard done to as the paperbacks are, yet again, far superior to their equivalents from other publishers. Quality, sturdy paper wrapped in embossed and glossed cover, you don't get much better than this for $20!

                  

Written by Joe Hill

Art by Gabriel Rodriguez

Colours by Jay Fotos

Collection Design & Lettering by Robbie Robbins

      

Collecting:      

V.1 Welcome to Lovecraft.

V.2 Head Games

V.3 Crown of Shadows

V.4 Keys to The Kingdom

V.5 Clockworks

V.6 Omega

Bonus artwork in paperback. 

Synopsis/Review:

 After a family tragedy we follow the Locke family as they move across the United States to the (something clearly isn’t right here) town of Lovecraft and the childhood home of the father, “the Key house.” 

Joe Hill introduces us to the family, who are dysfunctional but ultimately really caring about each other. Straight away you are really rooting for the Locke’s and find yourself engrossed in their history and present affairs. 

In volume one we see the youngest Locke child start to unravel the old family homes secrets, a family coming together through grief, trouble follow them from their old lives and a tonne of seriously spooky shit. I don’t want to give to much away. 

Now the art. I’m flicking through the book as I write this and Gabriel Rodriguez’s art is spectacular, every panel could be cover art. With bold lines and an ultra realistic style perfectly captures the creepiness of Joe Hill’s story. The town of Lovecraft in particular looks incredible. I can only begin to imagine how much time Gabriel spent imagining and designing the place. Also another great thing about the art is the characters facial expressions, considering how much time these people spend confused/scared/baffled/terrified/all of the above Gabriel nails it every time. 

If you have to read one comic from the horror genre, make sure this is it!