Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Might Be Field Worthy: Episode 3 “The Asset”

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Rick
The Asset/MacGuffin/What Have You: Dr. Franklin Hall.

The Asset/MacGuffin/What Have You: Dr. Franklin Hall.

Here we are again with my look at the first three episodes of Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D., as I try to catch up to a regular schedule. With Episode 2, (“0-8-4”), the Agents seemed to have gotten some ridiculum mixed in with their gravitonium, resulting in some of the most insulting forty-five minutes of TV I’ve ever sat through. Clearly, things could only get better from there. Episode 3 (“The Asset”) is shockingly good after the kind-of disappointing pilot and the truly terrible “0-8-4”. It’s almost like it was written by a different team – even though it wasn’t.

I actually don’t have much negative to say about this one. Yes, there’s a lot of sci-fi gobbledygook, but that’s kind of what we’re here for. Yes, they cast Malta as a tax and regulation-free haven for unscrupulous capitalists. (Though, guys, Malta is part of the EU). And, yes, there is way too much Skye, for which there really is no justification. What we do have is an audacious heist with cool sci-fi tech and the agents getting to do some actual investigating.

The episode brings a credible threat couched in Marvel U super-science, with a decent Iron Man-style evil capitalist/scientist in the vein of Obadiah Stane, Justin Hammer and Aldrich Killian. There’s a twist that makes nice use of Marvel’s classic “with great power…” trope – even though Spider-Main isn’t part of the MCU – and we’re given a tease of a possible new supervillain.

Frankly, this is the first time the show makes good on its promise, even without any superhumans. (I was told there would be super humans on this show!) The setting actually kind of looks like Malta, a landscape which should be familiar to those who’ve been watching Game of Thrones, even though it’s probably somewhere in SoCal. The Evil Industrialist du jour, Ian Quinn, has an absolutely lovely mansion, which looks properly nice and expensive. His underground lab looks pretty credible, in addition to being the setting for the most spectacular action sequence in the show thus far. Hell, it’s actually better conceptually and in terms of filming than what’s in a lot of films, finally living up to the MCU. It also features Coulson finally throwing down, making a tough decision, and being the kind of bad-ass that we know he’s supposed to be. Plus, the episode was this close to featuring a brave monkey in an adorable hat.

The episode still looks like, well, a TV episode. Considering that it’s the same writing team, maybe we can thank director and longtime Whedon co-conspirator David Solomon for some decent camera moves, nice location scouting, and yes, a better script for an episode that shows the series’ actual potential and cinematic look. Even if it is, as I said, too Skye-centric. If S.H.I.E.L.D. can build on what went well in this episode, keep the stakes high, and avoid the awful fact-checking errors that made “0-8-4” such a farce, the show may be able to live up to its superheroic roots. I’ll be back with more thoughts every week, as we see if these agents can make it out of the academy.

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A Kinder, Gentler Skeletor

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Tanya

It’s a safe bet that most, if not all of us, will change throughout our lives. We’ll look back on past mistakes or rash decisions, sometimes with regret, but hopefully with the knowledge that we’ve learned something over the years. Each passing year presents the opportunity to try new things, find unique and different ways of solving our problems, build new friendships.

For some people, change and growth can be difficult. It can be especially hard if you’re someone who’s gone through life hardened by wrathful anger and a thirst for power. It’s doubly hard if you’re an alien warrior with a skull for a face, with a mission of conquest so grandiose, you might not even remember how you started on it in the first place. Skeletor is such a man, and for years his life’s purpose has been to possess the most powerful secrets on all of planet Eternia by means of conquering Castle Grayskull, and thus allowing him to rule over all. On his relentless quest, Skeletor constantly found himself at odds with those who’d wish to stop him, chiefly the warrior He-Man. Sounds exhausting.

skeletor1

Over the past year, however, word has been circulating that Skeletor is on a different sort of quest altogether: the quest to be a better man. He has been documenting his self-actualization on Tumblr (where else!) and has developed quite a growing community of followers joining him on this journey of self-discovery. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to catch up with Skeletor and his personal assistant via e-mail, to find out a little bit more about his journey. Perhaps we can all learn a little bit from him.

Skeletor, where did you get the idea to share your daily affirmations?
This came about late last summer, maybe August-ish 2012? I stumbled upon the Masters of the Universe live action movie in its entirety(!) on YouTube. After watching for a bit, and seeing Frank Langella’s mopey portrayal of the dark lord Skeletor, I thought, “Man! This guy looks absolutely miserable. Is this how people see me? Where did it all go wrong?”

It occurred to me that things might have gone very differently for me if in my youth I’d gotten a bit more encouragement, or perhaps some kind words of support. Maybe I would have chosen a different path than that of evil? Is it too late to change? Can I be… good?

I began to examine my motives, behavior and habits and realized I was a profoundly sad and empty individual. I thought myself in need of some healing. It occurred to me that perhaps I could document my journey to positive mental health in a public way, so that others with similar problems could share in the journey and perhaps do some healing of their own. More on that later. Continue reading →

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Geeking Out

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Mace
  • While we’re ambivalent about what’s in store in the new season  of The Walking Dead, we still love Steven Yeun and Norman Reedus as much as ever.
  • Fans of Face Off should be excited about Syfy’s new reality competition centering around Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
  • Need a pick-me-up? Watch this interview between young activist Malala Yousafzai and Jon Stewart.
  • io9 checks in on 10 escaped lab animal populations and what they’re up to now. Why’d they leave out the chimps that caused the outbreak in 28 Days Later?
  • The American Chemical Society is hosting a free webinar regarding the reality of science in cinema!
  • We may eventually stop talking about all things Sleepy Hollow. Not yet, though. Check out this tor interview with Orlando Jones about his involvement with fandom.
  • While there’s been an increase in LGBT YA, Malinda Lo breaks down the numbers for books published in 2012.
  • Chinese scientists suggest Sprite as a hang over cure. Hmm…
  • Kendra James is unimpressed with NYCC’s selection of panels on diversity.
  • Brown University is holding a Wikipedia “Edit-a-thon” on Ada Lovelace day to add entries for women in science who have been overlooked for too long. There’s still time to sign up, and anyone can join remotely!
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Need to Go Back to the Academy

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Rick

agents-of-shield-logo

I’ve just caught up on Marvel and ABC Studio’s grand experiment in entertainment, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and, unfortunately, it’s not yet lived up to its promise or pedigree. (Although the most recent episode was a step in the right direction, but more on that later.) As someone completely devoted to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’m in it for the duration, so I really hope that the series becomes less of a slog.

Something like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn’t really been attempted before, though anything the MCU does at this point is breaking new ground. The series is meant to expand upon the movies and serve as a bridge to keep viewer interest high between tentpole films. Given the multi-billion dollar business that the Marvel films have already become, S.H.I.E.L.D. has a built-in audience and the potential to be a huge moneymaker for Disney/ABC/Marvel. The show features fan favorite Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), and has already included cameos from Avengers stars Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders, Fury’s second-in-command Agent Maria Hill.

Agents of SHIELD Creative Team

Creative Team: Producer Jeffrey Bell, Writers/Producers Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon, Producer & Comics Writer Jeph Loeb, & Mastermind Joss Whedon. [Photo: ABC]

The series is created by geek icon and Avengers writer/director Joss Whedon, with his go-to writers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. The husband and wife team were Whedon’s unsung MVPs on Doctor Horrible’s Sing Along Blog and Dollhouse, as well as a number of Mutant Enemy comics projects, and they also contributed to the breakout Starz series Spartacus. Yet, as a solid team working on the closest thing TV has to a failure-proof project, so far they’ve managed to mostly pull defeat from the jaws of victory. (Hark, there be spoilers.) Continue reading →

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My Horror Movie Dream Team

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Lois

There’s an art to surviving in a horror film. It used to be as simple as “the virgin lives”, but the rules have changed with audience demands and production values. The goody-goody from next door doesn’t always get to make it to the end anymore, and having a savvy scream queen is the right way to go.

I’m a stickler for the policy that you shouldn’t ever go off by yourself, unless it’s the zombie apocalypse, so I’ve been thinking about what sort of friends I’d like by my side on a camping trip when we run out of gas, lose reception, and find out that the freaky guy who harassed us at the gas station has been stalking us the entire time. Just ’cause. So, without further ado, here is a list of ten women I’d want on my team if I was stuck in a horror movie:

SARAH CONNOR
Terminator 2: Judgement Day

sarah-connor-terminator-2

Photo courtesy of The Action Elite

She might not be the best team player, but look at those arms. Connor is trigger-happy, but her reflexes and “shoot first, ask questions later” attitude could be what keeps you from landing in a pickle in the first place. Plus, her life on the fringe means she’s equipped with handy knowledge you will definitely need, like Explosives 101, Lockpicking, and General Firearms. Continue reading →

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Geeking Out

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Mace
  • There are lots of great web comics out there; XO Jane have rounded up 9 of their favorite series created by women artists & authors.
  • Samantha Allen writes about teaching intersectionality by using Bastion, an action role-playing game from Supergiant.
  • A thorough, fascinating look at the history of LucasArts and the decisions that led to its downfall.
  • While this article about female inclusion in STEM is geared towards academics, this is good set of guidelines for men in any industry.
  • Natalie Portman and Marvel use Jane Foster to encourage girls to study STEM!
  • Screenwriter Andrea Berloff has closed a deal to write the reboot of The Legend Of Conan franchise.
  • Lynda Carter talks about how Hollywood just doesn’t “get” Wonder Woman.
  • The talented and adorable Michael B. Jordan is being eyed for a role in the Independence Day sequel, possibly as an all-grown-up Dylan.
  • Disney is preparing for a live-action Cruella de Vil movie, to be written and produced by Aline Brosh McKenna, screenwriter for The Devil Wears Prada.
  • Congratulations to Sleepy Hollow! Our darling show has been renewed for a second season just three episodes in! More Ichabod and Abbie adventures, together forever.
  • Issa Rae just really gets things. We spent lunch hour laughing over her “Black Twitter Party” short. Check out Baby Voice Darius!
  • How the Star Trek reboot decided to restyle the women’s uniforms and consequently lowered the status of its female characters.
  • Confused about the Affordable Care Act? Let the Adorable Care Act explain it to you in cute memes.
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“We’re No. 1!” Ghosts, Monsters, and Anarchy

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Jeff

We’re No. 1! is a weekly feature looking at first issues in new comic series, as well as one-offs and special releases. In his reviews, Jeff highlights stories with diverse characters and plot lines Geekquality readers can care about, as well as points out comics that miss the mark.

THE_WITCHING_HOUR_1October is one of my favorite months for comics, largely because of the glut of horror stories showing up in anticipation of Halloween. The run up to the holiday begins with the fantastic anthology comic The Witching Hour #1 from Vertigo Comics. It’s a collection of “Nine Tales of Divine Horror,” and it hits the mark well. It’s also a book filled with fascinating depictions of women, both powerful and frightening. The first tale “Daniel” by Steve Beach, is one of the best. It’s a poignant story of three bullied girls rescued form their tormenters by a quiet older man named Charles Morrison, who lives alone in their neighborhood. The three children turn out to have a powerful connection that helps Charles, a long closeted gay man, come to terms with a ghost that haunts his past in a very literal sense. It’s a beautiful tale of friendships past and present, and a fine start to an excellent anthology. Other stand out tales include Captain Marvel scribe Kelly Sue DeConnick’s darkly powerful “Legs”, about a young woman with some deep seated maternal issues and quite a parlor full of flies, and Mariah Huehner and Tula Lotay’s vividly drawn and colored tale of ghostly revenge “Rise”. Annie Mok and Emily Carroll present a vivid portrait of transgender torment and healing in “This Witch’s Work” that’s one of the most visually captivating tales in the book. All nine stories are honestly fine work, including “Little Witch” by Ales Kot and Morgan Jeske, a tale of gender expectations in modern day Afghanistan, and the longings of men and girls in the face of war. The Witching Hour is an anthology I’ll be loaning out to lots of friends who don’t regularly read comics, and it sets October off just right. Continue reading →

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Abbie Mills: A Fully Drawn Character

Posted on October 1, 2013 by MK McFadden

I know that it may be hard to believe for some of you but FOX is doing something right with this whole supernatural TV show thing by bringing us Sleepy Hollow. (I know it’s only been a few episodes.) I’ve been watching TV as long as I’ve had concrete memories, and I’ve been disappointed by TV shows for just as long. FOX in particular has disappointed me several times – RIP Firefly, the wound may be old, but it still stings. Sleepy Hollow, a fun and scary show, gets some things really right by treating the character of Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) like an actual person, making me forget some of the show’s flaws.

sleepyhollow-abbieScandal, a political drama on ABC, is the first show since 1976 to have a Black woman as a lead, taking the leap without having a White male as the focal point of the show, even with its 10PM Thursday time slot. This is so rare and so historical that even the Emmy’s had to make a big deal about it. Women still have fewer starring roles in film and television, and if that woman is Black… well, it’s like she doesn’t even exist. Some of the more popular shows recently – Breaking Bad, Mad Men, House of Cards – all focus on stories of their White male leads, with little to no people of color in the supporting cast, despite this supposedly being the “Golden Age of Television“. These male leads get to make mistakes, be single-minded in their beliefs, do deplorable acts, and the audience will still cheer for them, excusing those actions because it’s their story. The same freedom isn’t as often given to characters of color, unfortunately. This is what makes Sleepy Hollow’s choice of having Abbie Mills, a Black woman, as its lead so interesting and daring. (May contain spoilers if you haven’t yet started the show.) Continue reading →

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Jumping Down from the Fence: Facing Problems in Gaming Culture

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Eri Catocala

Gaming culture is going through some awkward growing pains right now. It’s disappointing that we had to drag it out from under the covers and push it out the door for it to happen, but subcultures are nothing if not finicky. While I’m happy that discussions about inclusivity are becoming more prominent, it brings up memories of how long I spent sitting on the proverbial fence, not wanting to make waves in something I cared about. I didn’t respect the medium enough to look at it for what it truly was, and I regret that.

gq_eri_fence

The fence wasn’t terribly comfortable, anyway. (Image from Stock Xchng.)

There have been some polarized opinions concerning the spotlight that news outlets have been putting on bigoted tendencies within the gaming industry and its visible community. Writers are spoiled for choice, what with questionable advertising (e.g. Deep Silver’s bloodied and bikini’d torso), the #1reasonwhy Twitter trend, troubling reports coming from conferences both public and professional, and the ongoing backlash towards Anita Sarkeesian’s Tropes Vs. Women series, not to mention blogs documenting the many hateful messages aimed at anyone considered an “other” in gaming communities. People far more articulate and knowledgeable than I am have dissected both extremes, and this isn’t really about them. This is about all those people sitting on the sidelines. Continue reading →

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“We’re No. 1!” So Long, Villains Month

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Jeff

We’re No. 1! is a weekly feature looking at first issues in new comic series, as well as one-offs and special releases. In his reviews, Jeff highlights stories with diverse characters and plot lines Geekquality readers can care about, as well as points out comics that miss the mark.

dc-comics-batman-the-dark-knight-issue-234bAt long last, DC’s Villains Month has come to an end, and I’m certain I’m not the only one to be thankful. While there were some gems in this massive undertaking, most of the origin stories and one-offs of DC’s rogues gallery were poor efforts. This week, one much anticipated release sticks out. Joker’s Daughter #1 (Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4) is an origin tale and reboot of the character formerly known as Duela Dent. It’s ironic that this full reboot, in which Joker’s daughter is clearly an evil character, happens as a part of the Forever Evil event involving the villains of DC’s Earth-3, the alternate universe in which most of DC’s characters switch allegiance. The original Duela Dent claimed to be the daughter of that world’s heroic Jokester. Here, she’s far from heroic, having acquired the New 52 Joker’s face mask. (As in, his face. He had it sliced off and wore it as a mask until he disappeared into the caves under Gotham City. And it’s super gross.) The mask is found by a young girl named Duela, a severely troubled child. Deeply fascinated by pain, which she expressed through hurting animals, as well as self-mutilation, she has deep-seated issues stemming from her father’s inability to love her and her imperfections. Once adorned with her new “father’s” face, Duela proceeds to violently take control of a sect of former Arkham inmates living beneath Gotham, all of whom respect and fear the power of the Joker, and thus the young woman wearing his face. Duela’s mental illness is depicted similarly to that of The Ventriloquist, but in a slightly more campy way. This can largely be attributed to the brightly colored artwork by George Janty and Michelle Madsen. The colors are so bright and vivid, they bounce off the page – a poor choice for such a dark story. Duela is difficult to take seriously, despite her history, and while I at least wanted to be terrified by her, this tale pales in comparison to the Ventriloquist. Hopefully her run as a villain, beginning next month in the regular Catwoman title, will flesh out her character more thoroughly. Continue reading →

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Geeking Out

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Mace
  • Shots fired, DC! Lieutenant Abbie Mills has put you on notice. Watch this  interview of Nicole Beharie and try not to giggle.
  • Follow Orlando Jones on Twitter for his hilarious commentary, and because he shows us things like fan mixes for Sleepy Hollow and cute Ichabod fan art.
  • Why Bill Nye needs to stay on Dancing with the Stars, as told in gifs.
  • Did you know there’s an actual scientist on set of The Big Bang Theory?
  • What if our favorite toon kids grew up to be awesome social justice fighters?
  • Inheritance, by Malinda Lo, was released this week! Here’s what Lo listened to while she was writing.
  • 10 YA Chica Lit books for you to read during Hispanic Heritage Month!
  • So many spaceships! And to scale! Mindblowing!
  • Seven year olds don’t hold back the truth – here’s one girl’s opinion on Emmy fashions.
  • Members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at California State University, Long Beach, enter the Red Bull Flugtag competition.
  • That sound? The staff laughing/crying over some of these truly sad desk lunches. 
  • Transh4ck: a first-of-its-kind weekend gathering to create websites and apps for those who don’t fit into traditional gender norms.
  • As Breaking Bad draws to its close, Bytesize Science explores how to keep the scientific content accurate:

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All in the Game: GTAAAA FIIIIIVE

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Elyse

So obviously the only game anyone is talking about this month is Grand Theft Auto V, one of the most highly anticipated games of the season, which broke sales records within days of its release. Let’s get the basics out of the way. GTA V is a beautifully crafted, fun game; the latest in a line of entertaining, if somewhat mindless, sandbox adventures. The attention to detail is amazing, and as a native Californian it’s awesome to see all the familiar landmarks on the “Los Santos” map exactly where you know them to be, from Venice Beach to the Getty to LAX (only with different names). The new tactic of switching between three main characters, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor, is also fairly ingenious for the franchise, because it enables specialization without sacrifices. You can be an expert racer with Franklin, or a great marksman with Michael, while still satisfying that GTA urge to crash unique vehicles into walls and shoot passerby willy-nilly with Trevor. Really everything about the mechanics and gameplay has only improved with time, but unfortunately the one thing that has stayed the same is GTA’s incredibly limited and surprisingly backwards treatment of women.

Dat skyline. [via GTA Wiki]

Dat skyline! [via GTA Wiki]

In the universe of Grand Theft Auto, where the motto is “be on your worst behavior,” women have never been main characters, and are snubbed yet again in this fifth iteration, a fact that Rockstar co-founder and VP of creativity Dan Houser defends, saying “the concept of being masculine was so key to this story.” Personally, I don’t buy it. I mean let’s break the idea down for just a second. First of all, let me avoid having this critique of the male-centric narratives of GTA framed as an automatic “misandrist” dismissal of anything to do with masculinity. The trappings and pressures of masculinity are absolutely a valid theme for artistic and creative endeavors. My beef, specifically, is what’s so different about this title, this portrayal of masculinity, that hasn’t been addressed in four previous games (all with male protagonists)? In general terms at least, every Grand Theft Auto game has been about the struggles of men to prove themselves to other men, achieve status and respect on their own terms, and end up on top in a dangerous and cutthroat world. Great! But how many times can we tell the same story and claim it’s doing something new and meaningful? It seems to me that this justification neatly exposes the privilege male characters are afforded in our media. Rockstar has made four separate games about criminally inclined men behaving badly while dealing with the pressures of their immediate communities and society at large. Yet they still imagine the vein of masculine angst hasn’t yet been sufficiently tapped by the franchise, and needed a new gameplay structure, with multiple protagonists – all male, of course – to finally get the message across.

See no, speak no, hear no... women? [via Crave CNET]

See no, speak no, hear no… women? [via Crave CNET]

As a result, women are the one group in GTA’s universe who aren’t given the chance to break with tradition. Whenever women are behaving badly, they’re not perceived as doing what they need to do to survive or get ahead, they’re just getting in the way of men and their machinations. Women’s motivations are often stupid, frivolous, or malicious, marking them as deserving of punishment (by none other than our male main characters, natch). This condemnation of women in subversive roles is especially jarring when you drive around the streets of Los Santos with the radio on, as cheeky satirical ads play continuously, mocking a certain mob mentality and subtly encouraging players to be conscientious and wary consumers. It would seem the game has something provocative to say on every topic, except when it comes women’s representation. It’s a shame, because a game that would allow women to play fast and loose in the morally grey world of Grand Theft Auto, the same way their male counterparts always have, might actually be the revolution that GTA V claims to be.

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Geeking Out

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Mace
  • If you’ve been agonizing over John Cho’s curelly short stint in the Sleepy Hollow pilot, here be spoilers: one in text, one in video.
  • On a related note, we enjoyed this open letter to the budding Sleepy Hollow fandom.
  • How rap battles help students understand science better.
  • This is some tongue-in-cheek brilliance: 8 Reasons POC Must Rally for White History Month. (Vanilla Ice. Never forget.)
  • The gang is back on The Mindy Project! During the break, Morgan Tookers wrote an essay about his summer vacation. (By the way, Ike Barinholtz, in true Morgan Tookers style, loves taking selfies with his baby.)
  • NPR makes some interesting points about intersectionality and who “counts” as a woman of color.
  • A reminder of what science really is, and how we really should express the fact that we “f*cking love” it.
  • Autostraddle kick off a new series, “Queered Science,” combining social justice and science reporting, and letting you know about scientists worth admiring.
  • Let’s get nostalgic! io9 asks, what was YOUR favorite 90s sci-fi/fantasy show for kids?
  • This book about LEGO art might make a perfect coffee table addition.
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“We’re No. 1!” Villains, Heroes, and Questionable Morals

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Jeff

We’re No. 1! is a weekly feature looking at first issues in new comic series, as well as one-offs and special releases. In his reviews, Jeff highlights stories with diverse characters and plot lines Geekquality readers can care about, as well as points out comics that miss the mark.

cheetah-300x467Villains month rolls on at DC comics, and two women take the stage this week. First off is the old school Wonder Woman foe in The Cheetah #1 (Wonder Woman #23.1). How old school? I first recall her as part of the Legion of Doom in the old Superfriends series, though there she had very little to do. Here, veteran writer John Ostrander (Suicide Squad, Star Wars Legacy) gives her plenty of attention, bringing us her origin story and a real time adventure set in DC’s world temporarily without heroes. Long regarded as Diana’s primary foe, Barbara Minerva has been depicted in the New 52 as a one time ally of Wonder Woman, before the mysterious God Slayer Knife turned her into the avatar of the Goddess of the Hunt. It turns out Barbara is much more a tragic figure than that: raised in a cult that worshiped Amazons in a distorted way, hunting young boys to the death in rituals of adulthood. Barbara is manipulated by her cult mother, after being abandoned by her father as a child, and her deep seated issues emerge in shocking bouts of violence. The book paints a picture (in this case expertly drawn by artist Victor Ibanez) of a woman who is certainly strong physically, but very much dark and wounded psychologically. Cheetah is less of a role-model (and frankly, were weren’t expecting that during Villains Month) than a victim, but she has so fully embraced violence and death that it’s hard to have sympathy for her. Continue reading →

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The Very Accurate Transformation of Kinsey Locke

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Sam

Please welcome our newest guest blogger, Sam!

Last year at C2E2 I picked up volume one of Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. I had been meaning to read it for months, ever since I started following Joe Hill on Twitter, but didn’t really know what it was about except for the basics. I was astounded at the horrific scene that greeted me when I opened the book, but even more so at the nuanced way Hill and Rodriguez presented the story of the main characters’ coping in the aftermath of tragic events.

Locke-and-Key-006

Kinsey, Tyler and Bode. Image via TopFiveComics

After the gruesome murder of their father, the Locke children (Tyler, Kinsey and Bode) and their mother move to the family estate in Lovecraft, Maine. The main story is about the Keyhouse, their mansion, that holds a great secret in the form of keys that have the power to do just about anything, such as allowing them to grow wings and fly. But not all is peaceful in their new home, as there is a lurking spirit that has haunted the Locke family since their father lived in the Victorian manor. Dodge, the vicious entity, charms young Bode into releasing it from its prison. What follows is a brutal battle between Dodge and the Locke children for power over the Omega key. (Possible spoilers ahead.) Continue reading →

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