Locke & Key is about to unlock some new potential, with a crossover just announced with The Sandman Universe, courtesy of DC Comics and IDW Publishing. The comic book is officially called Locke & Key: Hell & Gone and will be written by Locke & Key team Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. A promotional video teasing the new crossover has been shared on several social media platforms.
Locke & Key was first published in 2008 by Hill and Rodriguez. The story follows the Locke family as they unlock the secrets of Keyhouse after they are forced to move into the ancient mansion following the death of their patriarch. Once there, they begin to discover keys with magical abilities which several nefarious entities will stop at nothing to retrieve. Several mini-series ran through 2012 (though more have been announced), and a popular television show is now streaming on Netflix.
The Sandman was first published in 1988 by Neil Gaiman. It features a rotating team of artists, which included the likes of Sam Kieth, Jill Thompson, Dave McKean and many more. The sprawling story centers on the Morpheus, the embodiment of Dream, as he reclaims both his power and realm after decades in captivity. The seminal series ran through 1996, though several follow-ups have been published since then. Recently, DC Comics announced The Sandman Universe, which features new creative teams - including Nalo Hopkinson and G. Willow Wilson - working within the confines of The Sandman Universe overseen by Gaiman. While news of the crossover is certainly surprising, it’s not completely unexpected considering Joe Hill has recently launched the horror imprint Hill House Comics for DC Comics, which runs arguably adjacent to The Sandman Universe.
Locke & Key’s wondrous sensibilities certainly do lend themselves to The Sandman Universe. The abilities of the keys certainly could work in tandem with the Dreaming. After all, if the Head Key can grant access to one’s mind, gaining access to one’s dreams can’t be too far behind, using either the Head Key or a completely different key. However, it seems like the upcoming series will be featuring a rather ominous key. After all, the teaser mentions unlocking the gates of Hell. The teaser shows the Key to Hell, as seen in “Season of the Mists” storyline in The Sandman. However, the teaser could also be a reference to The Sandman #2. When confronted by Lucifer and the Lords of Hell intent on trapping Morpheus in the underworld, the Sandman replies “Ask yourselves, all of you, what power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven?” The series could draw upon the established link between the Dreaming and Hell for the upcoming crossover.
Overall, the announcement of the crossover is excellent news for fans of either series. With Locke & Key gaining more fans through its Netflix series and The Sandman itself awaiting its own Netflix adaptation, Locke & Key: Hell & Gone looks to be a hell of a good time.
Locke & Key: Hell & Gone goes on sale in October 2020.
More: Netflix: 10 Series to Watch if You Liked Locke & Key
