Deron Generally
Deron Generally
Sandman/Locke & Key: Hell & Gone #1
IDW Publishing/DC Comics
Written by Joe Hill
Art by Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors by Jay Fotos
Letters by Shawn Lee
The Rundown: Chamberlain Locke’s grief prompts his daughter to begin a dangerous quest to the Dreaming.
Chamberlain Locke goes to visit the spirit of his dead son and doesn’t notice another member of the family watching. Mary Locke has a key of her own and hers takes her all the way to England and to the home of Roderick Burgess. In exchange for the power to save her brother and father, Mary bargains with Burgess to see the entity he has locked in his basement. An entity he will in time learn is Morpheus, lord of the Dreaming.
When she doesn’t get the answers she seeks, she notices that Morpheus has given her a clue to something that might be of help to her. After conning her way back into the house, she manages to find what she’s looking for. With the helm of Morpheus, she finds her way to the Dreaming and encounters its colorful denizens. As she seeks out a way to travel to hell, she encounters someone who might know the way, for a price.
The Story: Hill captures the spirit and wonder of Gaiman’s world brilliantly in this first issue. Not only is the story itself compelling, but the cameos from characters from the Sandman universe are brilliantly handled and woven into the narrative. As a fan of both universes, this story engages and intrigues me. Beyond the nostalgia, the story itself is well written and drew me in as a reader.
The Art: Rodriguez delivers some beautiful imagery throughout the issue. From the beauty of Keyhouse to the wonder of the Dreaming, the art transports you.
Sandman/Locke & Key: Hell & Gone #1
