Comic book adaptations seem to have firmly claimed their place in mainstream media. Long gone are the days of struggling to find a network willing to touch a story based on a comic. What was once considered a niche medium for quirky collectors is finally being taken seriously.
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Netflix has celebrated this comic revival and is set to adapt the horror series Locke & Key. The adaptation will air on February 7th, 2020. If you've never heard of this incredible horror series, here's a primer to get you ready for the release.
10 A Lengthy Run
The first issue of Locke & Key was published on February 20th, 2008. The story played out over 3 acts each featuring 2 main story arcs. The last arc was meant to be released as its own graphic novel but in the end, it was published in monthly issues. The final issue of the main story was published on January 4th, 2017. That's an impressive run for any publication. For a comic book, it means that Locke & Key has existed for about 10% of comic book history. Not bad at all.
9 It Runs In The Family
American author Joe Hill writes the series. When the first issue hit shelves few had heard of his past works. He had also published a short story collection (20th Century Ghosts) as well as a novel (Heart-Shaped Box) before the first issue was released. Joe publishes his work under a pen name. He was born Joeseph Hillstrom King and is the son of legendary horror author, Stephen King.
Joe chose to use a pen name to be sure his work was judged on its own merit and not on his father's reputation. It makes sense that Joe would inherit his father's talent and passion. His writing skills definitely stand up on their own. The incredible art is created by Gabriel Rodriguez.
8 Previous Adaptation Attempts
Netflix isn't the first creative outlet to recognize the genius of this property. In 2010 Dimension Films bought the rights to Locke & Key and intended to make a feature-length film. They lost the rights to Dreamworks shortly after. Stephen Spielberg came aboard the project and envisioned a television series. 20th Century Fox picked up the series and got as far as shooting a pilot. This pilot was screened at the San Diego ComicCon and met with a warm reception. The series was never picked up. In 2017 Hulu ordered its own pilot which also failed to launch.
7 The Horror Isn't Over
Since Netflix has announced its series Hill has made an announcement of his own. He's not finished with the story and is actively working on new issues. The first is a one-shot titled Locke & Key: Battalions. Hill also mentioned another 6 book series called World War Key. The Netflix series has galvanized Rodriguez and Hill once again delve into the world they've created. With any luck, Netflix will be able to dive into the vast history and future of the series that Hill and Rodriguez worked hard to bring to life. Assuming, that is, that the series manages to make it past that dreaded second season at Netflix.
6 A Place Out Of Time
One of the many challenges of adapting this comic series to the screen is its unique storytelling style. Locke & Key is told out of chronological order and skips around the timeline by days or even years. This structure is important to the pacing and mystery of the series. It's a style that can be difficult to translate into a TV series but it's not impossible. There are plenty of successful tv series that utilize the same trope. Hopefully, the team over at Netflix will be able to follow suit.
5 The Keys
Something important to note is that the keys in Locke and Key are not simply metaphorical. The story features a collection of mystical keys that unlock supernatural effects and powers. When used in various locations around the Keyhouse these keys can have wonderous or terrifying properties.
Some examples of these powerful items are the Gender Key which allows the user to change their gender presentation, the Skin Key which allows the user to change race, and the Head Key which is inserted into the base of a person's skull to allow the user to see the world through their eyes. There are many more keys in the story. Some are constantly showing up and others play smaller roles.
4 The Lockes
The title Locke & Key is a clever play on words. Rather than referencing a physical lock, it refers to the Locke family. These are the central characters in the story. Nina Locke is a primary character in the series. She's been recently widowed when her husband Rendell was murdered. Nina and her three children move into her late husband's childhood home, the Keyhouse. The mysteries of the home and Rendell's past slowly begin to unravel as the story goes on. The Locke children Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode also feature heavily. The keys have many magical attributes, one of which is that people above the age of 18 forget that the keys exist. This forces the story to focus on young people and provides an interesting perspective.
3 The Game
There's a huge cross-over audience between comic books and board games. There's a wide variety of games that have been inspired by these stories and Locke & Key has its own homage. Cryptozoic Entertainment released a card game based on the series in 2012. The same talented artist who created the iconic visual style of the comics illustrated the nearly 200 cards that come with the game. The game is designed for 4-6 players and takes approximately 30 minutes to play. Players must compete as well as cooperate to play the game.
2 Audio Drama
If you're curious about the comics but you're pressed for reading time the entire run of Locke & Key was adapted to an audio drama. The series is 13 hours long. This convenient medium allows you to enjoy the original story while doing something else.
The series is incredibly well produced. It features an original score and more than 50 voice-actors. Author Joe Hill, artist Gabriel Rodreguez, along with Stephen King make appearances among the voice cast. The Locke & Key audio drama was nominated for several awards and provides a fantastic way to enjoy the story.
1 Authenticity Is Built In
Many adaptations end up missing the mark and alienating fans of the original work. It can be hard to build a new version of someone else's story for a different medium. Locke & Key has a huge advantage in that both creators will have a hand in the series' production. The series will have some distinct differences from the comic books but it has Hill and Rodriguez's stamp of approval. They helped bring the Netflix series to life and preserve the same spirit as their original work.