IDW, $3.90
Story: Joe Hill
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez, Jay Fotos

Having heard nothing but praise for Joe Hill’s original supernatural series, I bull-headedly decided to jump on the train at the third carriage. Yup, this third volume/act in the series isn’t exactly welcoming to new readers. Not that is necessarily should be, but I’d advise anyone thinking of getting into the series to start with the first trade… which probably goes without saying.

So, while I had little idea what was happening in Crown of Shadow #1 I can say that Hill’s grounded characters are wonderfully illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez, with some measured colour work by Jay Fotos. Locke & Key is clearly an excellent little series, and though the first issue of this latest volume left me feeling bewildered, it’s sufficiently wetted my appetite for the first two trade paperbacks. Money not entirely wasted, then.

8/10