Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: New York Times bestselling writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, the creators behind the acclaimed Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, return with the next chapter in the ongoing tale, Head Games. Following a shocking death that dredges up memories of their father's murder, Kinsey and Tyler Locke are thrown into choppy emotional waters, and turn to their new friend, Zack Wells, for support, little suspecting Zack's dark secret. Meanwhile, six-year-old Bode Locke tries to puzzle out the secret of the head key, and Uncle Duncan is jarred into the past by a disturbingly familiar face. Open your mind - the head games are just getting started!.
Media reviews
There are so many comics published these days that it's impossible to keep up on them all—not to mention, who can afford to? But there are shining examples of the genre that shouldn't be missed and this is one... I don't want to tell you too much because the joy of inventive series such as this
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is in your discovery of each new marvel and danger. Let me just say that Hill never goes exactly where you think he will, and therein lies much of the pleasure. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
Not as violent, but every bit as creepy as its predecessor, this second collected volume of the Locke & Key comics expands the range of magics in play, concentrating particularly on the powers of the Head Key. It also exposes more of the events among the prior generation in the Massachusetts town
As before, Rodriguez's art is gorgeous, with a style that is impressively well adapted to the material.
Warren Ellis was a surprising choice for the introduction, which he keeps short and hilarious. There is substantial end matter, including some reference material on the magic keys, reproductions of the individual issue cover art, and a disenchanting account of the art development process used by Rodriguez.
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of Lovecraft that served to set up the present scenario. Existing characters become more complex, and there are some new characters that I liked a lot, like the drama teacher Mr. Ridgeway.As before, Rodriguez's art is gorgeous, with a style that is impressively well adapted to the material.
Warren Ellis was a surprising choice for the introduction, which he keeps short and hilarious. There is substantial end matter, including some reference material on the magic keys, reproductions of the individual issue cover art, and a disenchanting account of the art development process used by Rodriguez.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: The Locke kids are never going to recover from the violent death of their father, but they're slowly starting to adjust to their new life in their father's childhood home in Lovecraft. But then Bode discovers a key that lets you literally unlock your head, so that you can poke around in
Review: This series is amazing, just amazing. It's dark fantasy-horror, and creepy as all get out without relying overmuch on either gory grossness or horror cliché. The whole thing is just wonderfully original, and I love the idea of the various magical keys, and the storytelling possibilities they hold. But even better than the storyline are the characters, and this book is in large part character driven. Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode are all wonderful, but in this volume we get a fair bit of the backstory of some of the more peripheral adult characters (Ellie and Duncan), who turn out to be just as interesting and sympathetic as the kids. (Although Duncan look a lot like Flycatcher from Fables, which always makes me do a bit of a double-take.) This volume has a lot to do with the characters' internal lives, of thoughts, and the powers of memory, and what you would do if you were able to rummage around in your own (or someone else's) head. It's thought-provoking stuff, and I continue to be both impressed by what this series has accomplished thus far, and excited to get my hands on more.
The artwork is just as good - if not better - than it was in the first volume; I like Rodriguez's drawing style, and the use of greys vs. muted tones vs. bright color is subtly but masterfully done, and really adds a layer of depth to not only the artwork but also to the story as a whole. Also, if nothing else, this volume is worth it just for the full-page spread view of the inside of Bode's mind. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Don't start with Vol. 2, but the series as a whole should definitely appeal to fans of Sandman or the darker aspects of Fables.
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your memories, yank out your fears, or instantly learn anything. It's amazing, but when Dodge, the dark force behind their father's death (and the creature currently posing as Tyler's best friend), finds out about it, the power of the key turns out to be dangerous in the wrong hands.Review: This series is amazing, just amazing. It's dark fantasy-horror, and creepy as all get out without relying overmuch on either gory grossness or horror cliché. The whole thing is just wonderfully original, and I love the idea of the various magical keys, and the storytelling possibilities they hold. But even better than the storyline are the characters, and this book is in large part character driven. Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode are all wonderful, but in this volume we get a fair bit of the backstory of some of the more peripheral adult characters (Ellie and Duncan), who turn out to be just as interesting and sympathetic as the kids. (Although Duncan look a lot like Flycatcher from Fables, which always makes me do a bit of a double-take.) This volume has a lot to do with the characters' internal lives, of thoughts, and the powers of memory, and what you would do if you were able to rummage around in your own (or someone else's) head. It's thought-provoking stuff, and I continue to be both impressed by what this series has accomplished thus far, and excited to get my hands on more.
The artwork is just as good - if not better - than it was in the first volume; I like Rodriguez's drawing style, and the use of greys vs. muted tones vs. bright color is subtly but masterfully done, and really adds a layer of depth to not only the artwork but also to the story as a whole. Also, if nothing else, this volume is worth it just for the full-page spread view of the inside of Bode's mind. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Don't start with Vol. 2, but the series as a whole should definitely appeal to fans of Sandman or the darker aspects of Fables.
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LibraryThing member raschneid
Wonderful except when Hill pulls us out of the story to lambast how ignorant and prejudiced New England hicks can be. The villains are outrageously two-dimensional and a bit awkward in a story where there are no positively portrayed working-class characters. (He pulls the same trick in volume
Are there cruel, racist, homophobic white folks in Massachusetts? Heck, yes, but this is a sloppy way to address their existence.
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4.)Are there cruel, racist, homophobic white folks in Massachusetts? Heck, yes, but this is a sloppy way to address their existence.
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LibraryThing member LibraryBlondie
Great follow-up to Welcome to Lovecraft. Love this series so far.
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I read this fast, it was so good that I just couldn't put it down. It was, in some ways, much darker than the first collection. Again, I adore Bode. But I like the rest of the characters in his family as well. The turn of events kind of blew my mind, but it was nice to finally discover more about
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the keys. I can't wait until I can get my hands on the next collection. Show Less
LibraryThing member andreablythe
In the second book of the graphic novel series, the Locke family begins to learn more about the mysterious properties of the keys and doors within their new home. One discovery is mind-blowingly awesome (an entirely appropriate pun and cliche).
I don't really want to say any more about the book,
I don't really want to say any more about the book,
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because the surprises of the storyline are just too good to reveal. You must read them. As always the writing and art are fantastic, in fact, it seems to be getting better from here. Show Less
LibraryThing member JechtShot
The addictive Locke and Key graphic novel series continues with, Head Games. In part two, the mysteries of the Locke house continue to unravel and a key so grotesquely absurd and powerful is found that you have to read it to believe it. I am looking forward to cracking open my skull and inserting
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the third book into the ol' memory banks as soon as possible. Show Less
LibraryThing member 391
Head Games contains stories 7-12 of the Locke and Key series. We see what becomes of 'Zach', the Echo introduced in the first book, and the body count begins to stack up even higher as things grow darker in Lovecraft.
LibraryThing member FireStarBooks
Ok, I thought I would give this book a try because I had it at my house. All I can say is that there was a lot of talking that lead basically nowhere. I didn't want to finish it. I finished half of the volume but just couldn't bare it anymore. I read a lot of the new 52 from DC comics and I enjoyed
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a lot of them. This was just "yawn". I hate that I didn't like it. I really try to love it. Once again, the illustrations were just gorgeous. I really don't know what to say. :/ Sad. 2 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Excellent series if you like horror, I'm not really a fan and while I'm finding the series interesting I'm not sure I'm finding it interesting enough.
The three Locke children explore another key and find some interesting uses of it. At the same time Dodge is still up to no good.
The three Locke children explore another key and find some interesting uses of it. At the same time Dodge is still up to no good.
LibraryThing member theokester
About a year ago I read "Welcome to Lovecraft", the first book in the Locke & Key graphic novel series. I was impressed by the creativity and unique nature of the story being told but was turned off a bit by the graphic violence and strong language. The story was rather compelling and I had some
In the first book a lot of the graphic violence comes from the brutal murder of the father. His kids and wife are present and are pursued by the murderer and forced to confront him. The scene itself is violent and portrayed rather gruesomely and is then replayed in flashbacks or nightmares a couple of times throughout the book.
In this second book the event of the murder has been put behind us. The family is still reeling with the emotional turmoil of the event but they are not visibly reliving the details on the page. Just removing that scene lessened the violence level of the book. There was still some swearing and though there was less, it was still jarring.
The story of Locke & Key follows the lives of this family as they try to adjust and move on after their father's death. But more than that this is a story of magic. They are living at "Keyhouse", a strangely magic place where their father grew up. Within Keyhouse there are (apparently) a vast number of magical keys with a variety of special properties. In the first book we found out about the Anywhere key that allowed the user to open a door to anywhere and step through. We also found the Ghost key which literally opened a door that when the user stepped through they turned into a ghost flitting and floating around.
In Head Games, we are introduced to the Head key. When used, a keyhole appears on the back of the neck of individuals nearby. The key bearer inserts the key in the hole and literally opens the top of the person's head. It's creepy looking in a cartoony sort of way. We don't see brains and skull but rather the head opens to show us into the thoughts, memories and knowledge of the person. So when the kids open their heads the find that they can remove some of the fears and nightmares that have troubled them since their father's death. One of the boys shoves his school books into his head for some literal cramming for a class at school.
In the first book we were also introduced to a mystical demonic creature of unknown origin or importance. This creature is some sort of nemesis to the family and is searching for something at Keyhouse but the overarching plot is still somewhat unknown even at this stage in the series. The demon has taken human form and befriended the older brother in an effort to undermine the family and gain access to Keyhouse. I'm still unclear as to the full motivations of this creature. If he just wanted to destroy the family, he's had plenty of opportunities. If he needs something at Keyhouse, it seems he should just destroy the family and then search for it unhindered. I'm really unsure as to why there is this subtle cat-and-mouse play.
While there was no ghastly murder scene replayed there were still a number of confrontations that were rather violent. They weren't nearly as gruesome as the scenes from the first book but still bloody enough that I think this will be my final voyage into the Locke & Key series.
I certainly applaud the creativity and unique story being told. I like the art style when not splattered with blood and violence. The writing is crisp and fluid when not interlaced with cussing. I know it goes against the "artistic tendencies" of the author and artist but I would love to read a PG version of this series. I may go to wikipedia or some other source and catch up on the plot synopsis but I know it's not the same experience. Personally I wish I could have the interesting and fun experience without the violence and harsh language. There is definitely some talent to be had and it has enjoyable moments but for my own personal taste, I'm afraid I'll pass on the rest of the series.
***
3 out of 5 stars
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people tell me that it only got better throughout the series and that the violence and language did tone down a bit in future books. So with their prodding I hesitantly picked up book two, "Head Games" and started reading.In the first book a lot of the graphic violence comes from the brutal murder of the father. His kids and wife are present and are pursued by the murderer and forced to confront him. The scene itself is violent and portrayed rather gruesomely and is then replayed in flashbacks or nightmares a couple of times throughout the book.
In this second book the event of the murder has been put behind us. The family is still reeling with the emotional turmoil of the event but they are not visibly reliving the details on the page. Just removing that scene lessened the violence level of the book. There was still some swearing and though there was less, it was still jarring.
The story of Locke & Key follows the lives of this family as they try to adjust and move on after their father's death. But more than that this is a story of magic. They are living at "Keyhouse", a strangely magic place where their father grew up. Within Keyhouse there are (apparently) a vast number of magical keys with a variety of special properties. In the first book we found out about the Anywhere key that allowed the user to open a door to anywhere and step through. We also found the Ghost key which literally opened a door that when the user stepped through they turned into a ghost flitting and floating around.
In Head Games, we are introduced to the Head key. When used, a keyhole appears on the back of the neck of individuals nearby. The key bearer inserts the key in the hole and literally opens the top of the person's head. It's creepy looking in a cartoony sort of way. We don't see brains and skull but rather the head opens to show us into the thoughts, memories and knowledge of the person. So when the kids open their heads the find that they can remove some of the fears and nightmares that have troubled them since their father's death. One of the boys shoves his school books into his head for some literal cramming for a class at school.
In the first book we were also introduced to a mystical demonic creature of unknown origin or importance. This creature is some sort of nemesis to the family and is searching for something at Keyhouse but the overarching plot is still somewhat unknown even at this stage in the series. The demon has taken human form and befriended the older brother in an effort to undermine the family and gain access to Keyhouse. I'm still unclear as to the full motivations of this creature. If he just wanted to destroy the family, he's had plenty of opportunities. If he needs something at Keyhouse, it seems he should just destroy the family and then search for it unhindered. I'm really unsure as to why there is this subtle cat-and-mouse play.
While there was no ghastly murder scene replayed there were still a number of confrontations that were rather violent. They weren't nearly as gruesome as the scenes from the first book but still bloody enough that I think this will be my final voyage into the Locke & Key series.
I certainly applaud the creativity and unique story being told. I like the art style when not splattered with blood and violence. The writing is crisp and fluid when not interlaced with cussing. I know it goes against the "artistic tendencies" of the author and artist but I would love to read a PG version of this series. I may go to wikipedia or some other source and catch up on the plot synopsis but I know it's not the same experience. Personally I wish I could have the interesting and fun experience without the violence and harsh language. There is definitely some talent to be had and it has enjoyable moments but for my own personal taste, I'm afraid I'll pass on the rest of the series.
***
3 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member Jynaxx
The first book hooked me and this one has got me looking for the third. Oh look - there it is. :)
Nom nom nom.
Nom nom nom.
LibraryThing member tapestry100
Well, this series has gotten nothing but better as it has gone along. I've been thoroughly impressed with Hill's writing and Rodriguez's art right along. They haven't lost anything in the storytelling and haven't weakened in their storytelling either. One of the things that I was worried about is
In Volume 2, Head Games, the kids are still recovering from the events at the end of Welcome to Lovecraft, events that may brought back a lot of memories that they were trying to forget. Kinsey and Tyler find some companionship in their new friend Zack, not realizing Zack's dark secret or intentions. Bode finds a new key, and as they start to uncover the secrets of this new game, Zack starts to become a little too recognizable for his liking.
Volume 3, Crown of Shadows, finds more secrets and more revelations in the background about Dodge and more keys. This volume deals a little bit more with the emotional impact prior events have had on each of the members of the Locke family. I really found these issues handled well in this volume, especially watching Kinsey after her change in the previous volume.
Volume 4, Keys to the Kingdom, was a series of shorter stories that all tied into the Key house and what is happening with the various characters. While not necessarily on complete story throughout the entire volume, each of these stories still successfully moves the story along.
I was concerned about going into Volume 5, Clockworks, as I'd heard that this was mostly a background story, and I wasn't exactly sure how a volume dedicated almost entirely to background was going to help move the story along, but holy crap was I wrong! I think this might be the best volume so far. We learn about the history of the Locke family, the Keys, Key house, the purpose of the villain behind everything (SPOILERS! - which ties directly in the title of the first volume). It just all came together amazingly well.
Needless to say, you won't find much about the actual story in this review, because it's almost impossible to talk about the story without giving anything away, as Hill seems to find a way to tie in almost every plot thread one way or another into all of the story. What I can say, is that this is completely worth reading and might be one of the better graphic novels you'll find. If you're not a fan of horror or of violence, this might not be the best series for you, but if you can stomach it, this is a fantastic series. I'll definitely be picking up the final volume when it's released.
Happy (creepy) reading!
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that at some point they would lose their momentum, but five volumes in and that hasn't happened yet.In Volume 2, Head Games, the kids are still recovering from the events at the end of Welcome to Lovecraft, events that may brought back a lot of memories that they were trying to forget. Kinsey and Tyler find some companionship in their new friend Zack, not realizing Zack's dark secret or intentions. Bode finds a new key, and as they start to uncover the secrets of this new game, Zack starts to become a little too recognizable for his liking.
Volume 3, Crown of Shadows, finds more secrets and more revelations in the background about Dodge and more keys. This volume deals a little bit more with the emotional impact prior events have had on each of the members of the Locke family. I really found these issues handled well in this volume, especially watching Kinsey after her change in the previous volume.
Volume 4, Keys to the Kingdom, was a series of shorter stories that all tied into the Key house and what is happening with the various characters. While not necessarily on complete story throughout the entire volume, each of these stories still successfully moves the story along.
I was concerned about going into Volume 5, Clockworks, as I'd heard that this was mostly a background story, and I wasn't exactly sure how a volume dedicated almost entirely to background was going to help move the story along, but holy crap was I wrong! I think this might be the best volume so far. We learn about the history of the Locke family, the Keys, Key house, the purpose of the villain behind everything (SPOILERS! - which ties directly in the title of the first volume). It just all came together amazingly well.
Needless to say, you won't find much about the actual story in this review, because it's almost impossible to talk about the story without giving anything away, as Hill seems to find a way to tie in almost every plot thread one way or another into all of the story. What I can say, is that this is completely worth reading and might be one of the better graphic novels you'll find. If you're not a fan of horror or of violence, this might not be the best series for you, but if you can stomach it, this is a fantastic series. I'll definitely be picking up the final volume when it's released.
Happy (creepy) reading!
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LibraryThing member clark.hallman
Locke & Key, Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill (writer) and Gabriel Rodriguez (artist) – Hill again places his characters in confusing, fantastic, and dangerous situations in Head Games. Bode the younger child finds a mysterious key that can be used to change what a person fears, what they know,
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and what skills they can master. It’s another grievous, and deadly installment in this fascinating series. Hill’s story is excellent and the art work by Rodriguez is wonderful in this graphic novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member GingerbreadMan
The first Locke and Key book ended my 2012 with a bang, and after rereading that one, my expectations were high. And much to my delight, the second volume holds up really well, deepening the mysteries of Key house, adding a few new chills and continuing the human drama. Hill leaps back and forth in
The key this time opens your head and lets you take things in or out. It’s borderline silly, but works fine – even if it has very little of the chilling effect the Death Key of volume one had. Also, some of the heartbreaking numbness of the first book, where all members of the family carried their own luggage, is gone now, as the Locke kids start to move on with thier lives. Still, it all makes sense. But this is definitely a less creepy book.
I like how Hill pays a lot of attention to the lesser characters here, like the violent, homophobic wives. But one or two people of this book feels slightly over the top. Ellie’s mom, for instance, just seems evil for the sake of being evil, and I end up not quite buying her. These are minor complaints. I’ll make sure to get to the third book before having to do another reread!
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time and place, and manages to expand the story without making it confusing – or too obvious. Here is the real value of Rodriguez’ art; it adds a clarity and crispness to this tale. And reading the second volume, the relationship between text and subtle hints expressed just in pictures, are a delight.The key this time opens your head and lets you take things in or out. It’s borderline silly, but works fine – even if it has very little of the chilling effect the Death Key of volume one had. Also, some of the heartbreaking numbness of the first book, where all members of the family carried their own luggage, is gone now, as the Locke kids start to move on with thier lives. Still, it all makes sense. But this is definitely a less creepy book.
I like how Hill pays a lot of attention to the lesser characters here, like the violent, homophobic wives. But one or two people of this book feels slightly over the top. Ellie’s mom, for instance, just seems evil for the sake of being evil, and I end up not quite buying her. These are minor complaints. I’ll make sure to get to the third book before having to do another reread!
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LibraryThing member AuntieClio
More creepy and intriguing than Welcome to Lovecraft. What would you do if you found a key that let you unlock your head and reach in to remove memories/knowledge or cram new ones in? Of course, evil takes advantage of people who are at a low ebb in their life by using the key on their heads. And
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Bode just thinks it's the coolest thing ever. I love the theme of memory and how we interpret something is definitely not how someone else does. This family is struggling so much, I feel for them. And Duncan needs to lose Brian. That's all I'm sayin'. Show Less
LibraryThing member 68papyrus
Love this series. The storyline is haunting and intriguing and the illustrations are eerie and attention grabbing. If you enjoy graphic novels and dark fantasy give this series a try!
LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
I started this series a long time ago, but put it down to wait until all the trades came out. I knew I would not want to wait in between. I loved the first volume when it first came out and after reading this one can see why people have been raving about this series. It will be tough for me to slow
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myself down to I don't rush through the remaining volumes. I want to savor this as long as possible. Show Less
LibraryThing member branimal
This volume is even better than the first! Unfortunately, I can't give it anything higher than 5 stars. If there was an option, I'd do that. I have a feeling this entire series is going to end up on my favorites list - well, barring some unforeseen decline in quality.
I tore through this in one
Once again, Joe Hill's writing is brilliant and Gabriel Rodriguez's artwork is beautiful. There's not a whole lot else you can say about that. If you've enjoyed Volume 1, don't expect to be disappointed.
I'm trying my best here to just gush about how much I'm loving this series but I still feel like I'm falling short. Do yourself a favor and search this series out (if you haven't already), you won't regret it.
I tore through this in one
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sitting, not that there was a lot of material here. Coming in at 160 pages, this book is so tightly edited that it barely gives the reader any time to breathe. That's not to say that it suffers from any pacing problems.Once again, Joe Hill's writing is brilliant and Gabriel Rodriguez's artwork is beautiful. There's not a whole lot else you can say about that. If you've enjoyed Volume 1, don't expect to be disappointed.
I'm trying my best here to just gush about how much I'm loving this series but I still feel like I'm falling short. Do yourself a favor and search this series out (if you haven't already), you won't regret it.
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
The Locke and Key Series are quite exciting - good graphics, with a good story make for a most excellent story - This time around, Bode finds a key that opens minds... literally. The Locke children experiment, but don't really understand the consequences. We also find out more about Dodge, and his
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history with the family. Very creepy, very interesting, and I can't wait to read the next volume in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member JonathanCrites
Great second volume, really sets the greater plot moving forward after the first introductory volume.
LibraryThing member -Eva-
Kinsey and Tyler Locke get emotional support from their friend Zack Wells without even suspecting that Zack has a very dark secret, and Bode Locke continues to figure out the mystery of the keys and finds one that opens his mind wide open, in a very literal sense. Another great installment in this
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extremely imaginative series. The stakes are as high as they can be and one cannot help by try to root the characters on and somehow warn them that their allies may not be allies at all. The art is a little too perfect, but the story is rock solid. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladypembroke
I had to get this novel read tonight so I could take it back to the library in the morning. I may not sleep now. Dammit. I always forget how quickly Hill can snag my interest and also how hard it is to put down his work.
Good thing it wasn't a regular novel. I have work to do!
Good thing it wasn't a regular novel. I have work to do!
LibraryThing member clfisha
Second in the imaginative series taking much pleasure in devising fantastical doorways. Doorways to transform you into a ghost, unlock the mind or even just transport to your required destination. The plot centres on a suitably gothic house, a family shattered by tragedy and of course those who
Recommended for lovers of creepy tales.
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seeks its power. It's creepy, sometimes horrific but always lots of fun. The art' s good, the characters are believable and the pacing just great.Recommended for lovers of creepy tales.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.5 stars
Luke, who supposedly died 30 years ago, is recognized by a few people, looking just like he did then. He is pretending to be a cousin to the woman who was once his girlfriend. Bode Locke has discovered another key – this one opens up his brain, where he can look at and pick out
It was good, but I didn't like it as much as the first one. It ended on a “cliffhanger”, but I was already planning to read the next one in the series, anyway. The illustrations are very well done. There is a section at the back where the illustrator explains his process, which was kind of interesting. It ends with a beautiful gallery of illustrations, as well.
Luke, who supposedly died 30 years ago, is recognized by a few people, looking just like he did then. He is pretending to be a cousin to the woman who was once his girlfriend. Bode Locke has discovered another key – this one opens up his brain, where he can look at and pick out
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memories. Unfortunately, the older Locke siblings trust Luke and he learns of this key... It was good, but I didn't like it as much as the first one. It ended on a “cliffhanger”, but I was already planning to read the next one in the series, anyway. The illustrations are very well done. There is a section at the back where the illustrator explains his process, which was kind of interesting. It ends with a beautiful gallery of illustrations, as well.
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Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2015)
Publication
IDW Publishing, Hardcover, 160 pages
Original publication date
2009-09