Locke & Key, Band 4: Die Schlüssel zum Königreich

Von Joe Hill und Gabriel Rodriguez

Als die Seltsame Schwadron eine Mission für einen Geist unternimmt, befindet sie sich bald auf ihrem gefährlichsten Feldzug... mitten hinein in ein verwunschenes Haus!
Sergeant Rufus Whedon und Corporal Bode Locke müssen dabei etwas Schreckliches lernen: Wenn man es mit einem Toten zu tun hat, sind schnelles Denken und harter Kampf vonnöten, andernfalls leistet man dem Toten bald Gesellschaft!

Hill brilliert erneut mit großartigen Charakteren, Rodriguez haucht den Worten grafisches Leben ein.

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: Panini
• Erscheinungsdatum: 15. März 2014
• ISBN: 9783957831408

Joe Hill

Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Fireman, NOS4A2, Horns, and Heart-Shaped Box; Strange Weather, a collection of novellas; and the acclaimed story collections Full Throttle and 20th Century Ghosts. He is also the Eisner Award–winning writer of a seven-volume comic book series, Locke & Key. Much of his work has been adapted for film and TV, including NOS4A2 (AMC), Locke & Key (Netflix), In the Tall Grass (Netflix), and The Black Phone (Blumhouse).

Buchvorschau

Rezensionen für Locke & Key, Band 4

[readingover50 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Things are getting really good now. I can't wait for the next volume!

[5eva5 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

As Dodge is getting more desperate and puts increasing pressure on the Lockes, the children find more and more inventive ways and unexpected allies to help them in their battle against the evil. Another great installment in this 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 of the threat that comes up behind them on the page. Other than Bode's part which are drawn more cartoonish, the art is a little too perfect, but the story is rock solid.

[clfisha · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Oh dear it was all going so well, but whilst this may have worked in the original comic format in collected volumes the different stories feel chaotic and the pacing seems way off. Also while it's fun to experiment it doesn't always work which is shame coming from a great third volume. There number of magical keys is exploding and its feeling a bit silly plus on top of that I have my doubts about the end plot twist.. only number 5 is going to let me know whether this is a series worth continuing. Such a shame.

[lovejoy_rat · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Very excited to come across the fourth volume in this series! Locke and Key has been at the top of my list of recent graphic novels, and this edition did not disappoint. The images are both beautiful and disturbing, and our heroes start to put two and two together about what actually is going on at Keyhouse. The dramatic conclusion has a cliffhanger that leaves me epic excited for the next volume! Highly recommended.

[krau0098 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is the fourth book in the Locke and Key series. It was an excellent book; many more keys are found and things come to a head. Things proceeded a bit too rapidly for my liking, but it was still a very good addition to the series.In this issue many more keys are found in quick succession. The first chapter focuses on Bode and his finding the Beast Key and becoming a sparrow. The next chapter quickly propels you through a calendar month of craziness at the Locke household. Just when things seem to be going right for the Locke kids they run into a lot of trouble. Dodge gets desperate and things really come to an awful/desperate/surprising conclusion in the final chapter.I totally agree with other reviews I have read that say the new keys are introduced too quickly. There were so many points where the authors/illustrators had wonderful opportunites to depict shadow battles and beastly transformations, etc. These are breezed through with each one only being given a single scene in the February chapter. The new keys are introduced rapidly and I found myself having to use the index that describes each key at the back of the book to keep track of what was happening. I really do wish they had drawn this out more over a couple of books.Other than above I really enjoyed this book. The book itself was a beautiful hardcover edition, it is missing the pretty bookmark ribbon that other earlier volumes had...but it still very beautiful and high quality. There are a couple different styles of artwork in this edition; the first chapter featuring Bode has a more cartoony artwork style to it. This new style is well-blended in with the old style. The old style of art is most prevalent and continues to be beautifully done and matches the story very well.The new keys introduced are all very interesting and I am very attached to all of these emotionally scarred characters. I couldn't believe how things unfolded in the final chapter; I was absolutely rapt and could not put the book down. Now I am dying to know what happens next!All of our favorite characters from previous volumes appear in this book and the mystery surrounding the Locke family deepens and comes to a climax of sorts. The wait for the next book may just kill me; I have been contemplating buying the comics issue by issue to find out what happens next...Overall an excellent addition to the Locke and Key series. The introduction of the new keys went too rapidly for me and I wish the story had been drawn out a bit more. Still the new keys are interesting, the mystery is deepening, and the conclusion will leave you riveted and dying to read more. Definitely a book for older teens or adults only; very gorey, bad language, and a number of disturbing scenarios. I can't wait to read the 5th book in this series, Clockworks, due out late spring/early summer of 2012.

[bragan_8 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

As with the previous volumes in this series, this one features vivid characters; a nice blend of humor, horror, and drama; an interesting continuing storyline; and some truly impressive artwork. It also features some fairly clever storytelling choices and a thread of suspense that builds slowly to one heck of a cliffhanger. In other words, it continues to be excellent stuff. I do still wish I'd waited until the whole thing was out to read it, rather than constantly losing momentum and my memories of the story thus far with every wait between releases, but I did find this one easier to pick up with than the last one, despite the publication delays.

[stretch_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

The “Keys to the Kingdom” is the fourth installment of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's excellent dark fantasy detailing the adventures of the Locke children as the explore the mysterious powers of the keys that are hidden all around the lovecraft manor and fight a dark force trying to unleash hell. Once again Hill and Rodriquez have managed to find the pitch perfect balance of innovative concepts, character development, and awesome artwork to construct just the right atmosphere for a great ride with a cliff hanger that just begs a great sequel. Told as a series of individual character arcs that form a larger more coherent storyline,allowing the authors to reveal an outstanding number of keys while keeping the overall story intact. It really was an inspired and risky choice to speed the story along that worked.I think this is the best yet of the Locke & Key Series. From the homage to Calvin and Hobbes in “Sparrow” to the minimalist story telling in “February,” Hill and Rodriguez have not only shown their versatility as story tellers, but have also pushed the envelope for what we as readers can expect from this series in the future. The thing I fear the most about this series is that they have built my expectations up to a level that anything less than spectacular is going to be a let down. I can't shake that feeling that a Star Wars Episode 1-like repeat is just around the corner.

[deltaqueen50 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This was an exciting volume as more keys are found and tried out and the story is advanced. The two elder Locke kids learn that sharing their Keyhouse discoveries isn’t the best idea and before too long they find themselves alone. Bode has been having his down difficulties making friends as most of the kids think he is too weird.Zack is at first still playing the role of good friend to Ty and boyfriend to Kinsey, but Ty is slowing starting to put the pieces together and is suspicious of Zack. Things come to head when Ty sneaks into Zack’s room and searches for clues. By the end of the boy, the Lockes are thinking they have gotten rid of Zack and are safe. Little do they know that bad things are just around the corner.Lots of violence and blood in this volume. The excellent artwork makes the story flow effortlessly across the pages. The ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger but luckily I have the next book sitting right here.

[csdaley-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I am so hooked. The end of this one just about killed me. So dark and twisted.

[trekkiechickreads · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

It's tough because I love this overall story but this particular volume was...odd. Each section had a different artistic style that really threw me off and made it all confusing. I mean, was it intentional? Did it have specific significance to the story?

[douggoodman · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Chapter One: Sparrow may be one of the best comics I have read. In it, the dark and bloody tale of the older Locke children is compared to the younger boy, Body, who is inj a very G-rated adventure as he is learning to become a sparrow. When the two stories finally meet, there is much to be learned about life and death and the worlds of the living and the dead. Credit has to be given to Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez for their ability to turn Body's story into a perfect semblance of a Bill Waterson comic.

The rest of the book is good stuff, too, but I wanted to talk about that first chapter because it is so damn good.

[librarycin · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

3.5 starsThe two older Locke kids are having trouble with their relationships, while the youngest, Bode, continues to explore the keys and his mother wants him to make friends. He does make a friend of Rufus, who lives with Kinsey’s boyfriend, Zack.It was good. I love the artwork in this series. I have to admit, though, that because I always have such a long gap in between books in the series, it takes me a while when I start reading to remember what had happened previously. Great ending in this one!

[branimal · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

What more can I say that I haven't already said about this series? I've been singing its praises for the past 3 volumes and with this 4th installment, it shows no signs of slowing down.

Rodriguez really shows off in this collection. He clearly isn't satisfied in sticking with the artwork that has made this such a great story. He takes a bit of a risk within the first chapter and transistions to a style similar to Calvin & Hobbes, which despite the darker subject matter, still works.

While more than a few things happen in this volume, the story never seems cluttered and nothing feels unnecessary. The introduction of 3 more keys lead to several twists and turns as well as some pretty awesome scenes. Probably the biggest twist in the story happens near the end of this book causing me to salivate for the next release.

I'm hoping that when this comes to an end (a sad day, indeed), they decide to group this into one massive trade. As of yet, there are no weak points or bad developments. In my experience, it's rare that a 4th volume is just as strong as the first. It takes a great duo (writer & artist) to pull this off. Rodriguez and Hill falling second only to Brubaker and Phillips in my mind.

[lauren4castan · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This series is really wonderful. No surprise there was such an fuss when the TV series didn't go into full production. Although it was very frustrating waiting for these volumes to go through cataloguing in the library and get onto the shelves, it was worth the wait.

[akmargie · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Oh...twist ending. So shocking, so deliciously creepy. Kinda like the entire series.

[weaselofdoom · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

In "Keys to the Kingdom," more and more keys are found, and the battle with the Dark Lady continues. Kinsey and Ty continue to grow as characters, and more bad things happen, as they are wont to."Locke & Key" is an awesome graphic novel series. I have ordered my hard copy from Amazon, and they will take pride of place next to the "Sandman" on my shelves.

[thefallingalice · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Die Locke-Kinder versuchen ein ganz normales Leben zu führen. Doch so anders ihre Geschichte begann, so anders geht sie auch weiter. Denn immer wieder werden sie von Neuem angegriffen und nur die Macht der Schlüssel kann ihnen helfen zu überleben. Und es finden sich ständig Neue. Jeder Schlüssel besitzt eine ganz eigene Magie. Die Kinder kommen dem Geheimnis von Zack immer näher, verlieren und gewinnen dabei eine Menge Freunde. Doch Zack beobachtet alles und ist auf der Hut und so schreckt er auch vor Gewalt und Mord nicht zurück.Der vierte Band ist anders als die voran gegangenen Bände. Er schildert verschiedene Episoden aus dem Leben der Kinder. Wie sie versuchen Freunde zu finden. Wie sie mit den Schlüsseln umgehen. Wie sie versuchen, trotz allem eine Familie zu sein und sich in die Gesellschaft zu integrieren. Wie sie dann trotzdem schlecht behandelt werden. Und Stück für Stück und ganz langsam wächst das Misstrauen gegenüber Zack. Als Ty beginnt auf eigene Faust Nachforschungen anzustellen, ist Zack sofort hinter ihm her. Denn Ty ist der einzige, der weiß, wo sich der Mächtigste der Schlüssel befindet.Die verschiedenen Episoden sind teils in unterschiedlichen Stilen entworfen. So beginnt das erste Kapitel mit einem Mix aus realistischen Zeichnungen und sehr comichaften Darstellungen. Die Panels (ja das ist die korrekte Mehrzahl, ich hab im Duden nachgeschaut) sind mittig angeordnet, umrahmt von einem seitenumfassenden Hintergrundbild. Im nächsten Kapitel ist alles beim Alten. So werden die Episoden voneinander abgegrenzt und steigern sich zum Finale dieses Bandes, indem Zacks Cleverness zu obsiegen scheint.

[tapestry100 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

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 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!

[jechtshot · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Keys to the Kingdom ups the ante once again in this highly addictive graphic novel series. Unlike the preceding three stories this one turns the violence meter up to 11 and the ending will have you salivating for the next book in the series to be released.Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have created something special with this series. Between the brilliant storytelling and amazing artwork, this is a series not to be missed.

[callmecayce · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I don't know really what to say about this except that I absolutely love Locke & Key. I love everything about it, from the drawings to the story to the characters themselves. I will be sad when it's over.

[391_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I liked the play of styles and themes in this book, and how effortlessly it blends fantasy and reality, even within the confines of the story. I find myself constantly impressed with the creativity and elegance of this particular comic, and vol 4 steps its usual high standard up even further.

[andreablythe · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Without getting into the plot -- you really should read this series starting from book one -- I'll just say that the story and art continue to be awesome with an ending to this volume that has me begging to read the next one.

[jamestomasino · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Well that got action-y!

[bdgamer-669415 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This volume was amazing.

[montzaleew · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Disappointing compared to the first three books.Locke & Key Vol. 4: To the Kingdom by Joe Hill continues the story but not with the excellent graphics as before. These graphics were about like a Calvin and Hobbes! The story was slightly below the others also.

[wordsampersand · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

So creative, weird, and thoughtful. One of the few creative works I can think of where I was horrified and disgusted on one page and laughing my head off the next.

[ecataldi-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Damn son! This series just keeps getting better and better! I was at the edge of my seat reading this! The Locke children are starting to wise up (at least their older brother is) and Zack Wells (aka Lucas Caravaggio aka The Dark Lady) is starting to let his guard down around the kids. How long will it be until they catch on to who he really is? Dark, funny, and impeccably drawn; this is THE comic series to read. I can't wait to read the next one!

[stahl2ricco · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

LOVE the shout out “to Bill Watterson” in Chapter One - “Sparrow”! (I’m a big C&H fan!). Well done!!!Looks like things are finally coming to a head in this story! Tyler has figured out who/what Zack is! And "Someone Dies"! I know that there are two more volumes, but it looks like it's getting real! And 6 more keys have been added to the "Known Keys" after the story, now giving details about 14 of the 15 keys. And, for the first time in a while, I don't want any of the new keys!Volume 5, here I come!

[tonifgmamtc · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

3.75

I wasn't as crazy about this installment through most of it. The story didn't seem to follow a path. Keys kept popping up like crazy. The artwork looked different to me also. That ending though. . . They get so close and yet so far.

[fyrefly98 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

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, and to learn the secrets behind the various magical keys that inhabit their new home.Keys to the Kingdom introduces a number of new keys, including the Animal Key, the Music Box Key, and the Skin Key. As the Locke siblings use these keys, and the strange and dangerous happenings at Keyhouse continue, Tyler at least begins to suspect that his "friend" Zach Wells might be more than he appears. But can he convince his siblings in time to stop Dodge from getting what he's after?Review: This series is so, so good. It's crazy good. It's creepy and imaginative and legitimately scary in parts and incredibly creative. It's an interesting and complex world, which is great, and definitely something I look for in fantasy, but what makes it so great are the characters. They're rich and multidimensional and believable and heartbreakingly sympathetic and easy to fall in love with, and as a result, this series strikes the perfect balance between worldbuilding, action, and character development.Volume 4 picked things up again after Volume 3. First of all, it starts with Bode discovering the Animal Key, and the entire first issue is drawn and written as an homage to Calvin & Hobbes. For C&H fans, it's absolutely brilliant, and the great thing is, it's completely within the scope of Bode's character as previously written. The rest of the volume is also really good, with the action ticking along, and more clues being dropped not only for the readers but also for the characters... plus it's got one hell of an ending. 4 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: Fans of darker, more mature comics - like The Unwritten or Sandman - or anyone who likes creepy character-driven fantasy should definitely be reading Locke & Key.