From 2008 to 2013, IDW Publishing presented Locke and Key, one of the most compelling horror comics of the modern era, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. The series had a very definitive ending, but that hasn’t stopped readers from wishing for a return to Lovecraft, Massachusetts, and the halls of Keyhouse. With Locke and Key: Dog Days, readers get their wish, however slight and brief it might be.

The issue consists of two stories, “Dog Days” and “Nailed It,” the latter of which was previously published as an SDCC exclusive. “Dog Days” seems to take place in the 1920s or 1930s, though it isn’t really relevant when in the past it’s set. It focuses on the adventures of two unnamed Locke children who have used the magic of the house to turn their dog, Lloyd, into a kid like them. “Nailed It” provides a return to the major characters of the main Locke and Key series, and opens the door (see what I did there) to potential new adventures.

Writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez are clearly just having the time of their lives returning to their creations. “Dog Days” is lots of fun, though all of the humor is of the “look how silly dogs are” variety. “Nailed It” is so brief that all it really does is serve to tantalize the reader with new possibilities. Despite the slight nature of both stories, Gabriel Rodriguez (along with colorist Jay Fotos and letterer Robbie Robbins) brings his all. With his gorgeously-rendered and extremely detailed art making the world of Lovecraft feel lush and real without sacrificing the slightly cartoony expressiveness, he’s cultivated.

For new readers, Locke and Key: Dog Days will make little sense. It’s all steeped in the concepts and iconography of the original comic, with little to no information to provide context. For fans of the original work, though, Locke and Key: Dog Days is like coming home, even if the visit is all too brief.

Grade: A-