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aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
The Wolf Beneath the Tree is probably the hardest volume in the series for ne to review. In some ways, it’s a mess. A series of one-shots combined with a highly disjointed main arc which introduces a flux of new characters makes for bumpy storytelling, and the second issue contained here—regarding a demonic meeting of the minds and a law clerk/punk rocker—could easily have been left out of the series entirely and nothing would have suffered for it.
But for all the moments of frustration, there are moments of brilliance here, too. Most notably in the opening story, which details Lilith’s history and how her relationship with two angels with very different agendas both shaped the face of the Silver City and gave the spark that launched Lucifer’s rebellion against God. It also shows how Mazikeen came to know Lucifer, back when he was still the archangel Samael, and goes far to explain why she reveres him as she does.
(As a side note, it seems like my favorite Vertigo stories involve P. Craig Russell’s art. “Ramadan” remains my favorite Sandman story, and “Lilith” is probably my favorite one-shot in the Lucifer realm. )
So we have the “Lilith” issue, we have the “I don’t know why this story about the accountant and the lords of Hell is relevant and by the way when did they all stop dressing like Feudal lords” issue, and then we have the (pardon a bad pun) meat of this collection, the titular “The Wolf Beneath the Tree.” And, by the end of that particular story, if you’re not staring at the last page with your mouth hanging open and mentally reacting the way most people these days do to a “Game of Thrones” style cliffhanger, you should be.
I can still remember the month-long wait between the last issue in this collection and the beginning of “Crux.” It was painful. The most painful wait for a new comic book I have probably ever endured.
But here’s the problem with “The Wolf Beneath the Tree.” Well, the potential problem. This particular arc assumes a lot about its readers that may not necessarily be true. It assumed they will be familiar with Norse myth, particularly the World Tree and Fenris, both of which are critical to the telling of this story. They, and the other deities who travel with Fenris, are introduced very abruptly, and with only the bare minimum of explanations given. Though the comic gives you enough to get by, it’s not enough to really (again, another bad metaphor) sink your teeth into the story.
It assumes the readers will have a certain familiarity with the Endless that they might not necessarily have. (I’ve introduced a few people to Lucifer who have little to no experience with other series, and the appearance to Destiny and Delirium is where they inevitably start getting confused.) It assumes we still care about whether or not Jill Presto is still pregnant (and, seriously, shouldn’t she at least be showing by now?)
It’s a story that could have benefited from a lot less time spent on Charles Gilmour and a lot more spent on Fenris and his companions, who deserve more of a story than they got.
In truth, this volume would probably be a 2 or 3-star rating, except for the strength of Lilith’s tale, and the climactic battle that ensues from Fenris’s treachery, and which ultimately concludes with Elaine rising to fill a key role in the series.
If you haven’t figured out this kid’s destined for great things by now, you’ve not been paying attention.
But for all the moments of frustration, there are moments of brilliance here, too. Most notably in the opening story, which details Lilith’s history and how her relationship with two angels with very different agendas both shaped the face of the Silver City and gave the spark that launched Lucifer’s rebellion against God. It also shows how Mazikeen came to know Lucifer, back when he was still the archangel Samael, and goes far to explain why she reveres him as she does.
(As a side note, it seems like my favorite Vertigo stories involve P. Craig Russell’s art. “Ramadan” remains my favorite Sandman story, and “Lilith” is probably my favorite one-shot in the Lucifer realm. )
So we have the “Lilith” issue, we have the “I don’t know why this story about the accountant and the lords of Hell is relevant and by the way when did they all stop dressing like Feudal lords” issue, and then we have the (pardon a bad pun) meat of this collection, the titular “The Wolf Beneath the Tree.” And, by the end of that particular story, if you’re not staring at the last page with your mouth hanging open and mentally reacting the way most people these days do to a “Game of Thrones” style cliffhanger, you should be.
I can still remember the month-long wait between the last issue in this collection and the beginning of “Crux.” It was painful. The most painful wait for a new comic book I have probably ever endured.
But here’s the problem with “The Wolf Beneath the Tree.” Well, the potential problem. This particular arc assumes a lot about its readers that may not necessarily be true. It assumed they will be familiar with Norse myth, particularly the World Tree and Fenris, both of which are critical to the telling of this story. They, and the other deities who travel with Fenris, are introduced very abruptly, and with only the bare minimum of explanations given. Though the comic gives you enough to get by, it’s not enough to really (again, another bad metaphor) sink your teeth into the story.
It assumes the readers will have a certain familiarity with the Endless that they might not necessarily have. (I’ve introduced a few people to Lucifer who have little to no experience with other series, and the appearance to Destiny and Delirium is where they inevitably start getting confused.) It assumes we still care about whether or not Jill Presto is still pregnant (and, seriously, shouldn’t she at least be showing by now?)
It’s a story that could have benefited from a lot less time spent on Charles Gilmour and a lot more spent on Fenris and his companions, who deserve more of a story than they got.
In truth, this volume would probably be a 2 or 3-star rating, except for the strength of Lilith’s tale, and the climactic battle that ensues from Fenris’s treachery, and which ultimately concludes with Elaine rising to fill a key role in the series.
If you haven’t figured out this kid’s destined for great things by now, you’ve not been paying attention.
jayspa65's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mhshokuhi's review against another edition
5.0
داستانهای جداگونه این جلد جالب بودن، به خصوص قضیه لیلیت :)
اما در مورد آرک اصلی: مشکلات و بدبختیها کم بود، فنریس هم اومد وسط رگناروک راه بندازه :)) و چقدر خر بود!
و آه از آخر این جلد، اشکم در اومد
اما در مورد آرک اصلی: مشکلات و بدبختیها کم بود، فنریس هم اومد وسط رگناروک راه بندازه :)) و چقدر خر بود!
و آه از آخر این جلد، اشکم در اومد
psykobilliethekid's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
betogzz's review against another edition
4.0
No estuvo tan interesante como el volumen anterior pero la calidad no baja.
henrytinker's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lannnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa's review against another edition
4.0
Felt more like filler but I enjoyed seeing some of the Endless