Scan barcode
Reviews
Lucifer, Vol. 5: Inferno by Peter Gross, Craig Hamilton, Ryan Kelly, Mike Carey, Dean Ormston
aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
Lucifer’s fifth collection begins and ends with a promise. The first is a promise fulfilled: Lucifer returns to Hell to fulfill an oath to Amendiel...and fight to the death. Still reeling from the events of “TheDivine Comedy,” and not at his full strength, Lucifer is additionally handicapped by the scheming not onlyof Amendiel and various factions of demonic nobility, but of Hells’ new ruler, the angel Remiel. It concludes with a promise of another sort. Lucifer is someone who does not like to be indebted. After Elaine committed the ultimate sacrifice for him in the previous volume, he seeks to fulfill his substantial debt to her by bringing her back from the land of the dead. He closing pages see him taking the first steps towards this goal.
One would expect that, following the events of “The Divine Comedy,” Lucifer would hit a lull. Usually, at the conclusion of a major arc, comics will revert to a series of one-shorts or trifle adventures, both to keep the reader in suspense about coming events, and to prepare for the Next Big Thing. With the exception of the Gaudium and Serpa centered issue at the end of “Comedy”—which drops a bombshell of its own in the final pages—the creative team continues its fast pace by bringing Lucifer once again to the realm of Hell, this time for the duel that has been a year in the making.
Carey continues his top-notch storytelling by taking what should be a straight-up fight to the death and twisting it into a multi-layered story of adventure, scheming, politics and mentally disturbed cherubs that will shake the foundations of Hell’s political structure and cause another angel to break faith with God’s plan. And, in a house of gears built by a demonic smith, it is a story about a serene pool that links directly to the thoughts of God.
Following the conclusion of the duel, Lucifer finally learns of Michael’s fate, and the focus of the series shifts away from its titular character for a couple of those interludes I mentioned earlier. The first focuses on a birth; the second, a death. Though Zimet—who is introduced in the first of these stories–will come into play later her tale is not particularly memorable. Haunting and creepy, yes, but as far as a single-issue story, it has never been one of my favorites.
It is the second story, which begins with the funeral of Elaine Belloc, that is the stand-out here. Told from the perspective of another great figure of the Christian religion—Solomon, living in the modern world as a detective of sorts. He seeks retribution for Elaine’s death, a mission he believes to be of divine origin. His journey to find it will put him in contact with Elaine’s human and not-so-human families.
In the final issues of this collection, we leave the Shinto gods behind and move on to the Norse, who will remain a driving factor as the story continues. One of the things I love most about Lucifer and its predecessor, The Sandman is how it delves into so many different mythologies and religions, incorporating them into one interwoven narrative.
Though this collection doesn’t pack the punch of “The Divine Comedy,” it is a solid follow-up that continues to drive the overall story forward, albeit at a not-quite-as-relentless pace. The sheer amount of elements this collection manages to bring together makes it a quick read that brings a lot of depth to a number of characters, and the art team is superb as always.
One would expect that, following the events of “The Divine Comedy,” Lucifer would hit a lull. Usually, at the conclusion of a major arc, comics will revert to a series of one-shorts or trifle adventures, both to keep the reader in suspense about coming events, and to prepare for the Next Big Thing. With the exception of the Gaudium and Serpa centered issue at the end of “Comedy”—which drops a bombshell of its own in the final pages—the creative team continues its fast pace by bringing Lucifer once again to the realm of Hell, this time for the duel that has been a year in the making.
Carey continues his top-notch storytelling by taking what should be a straight-up fight to the death and twisting it into a multi-layered story of adventure, scheming, politics and mentally disturbed cherubs that will shake the foundations of Hell’s political structure and cause another angel to break faith with God’s plan. And, in a house of gears built by a demonic smith, it is a story about a serene pool that links directly to the thoughts of God.
Following the conclusion of the duel, Lucifer finally learns of Michael’s fate, and the focus of the series shifts away from its titular character for a couple of those interludes I mentioned earlier. The first focuses on a birth; the second, a death. Though Zimet—who is introduced in the first of these stories–will come into play later her tale is not particularly memorable. Haunting and creepy, yes, but as far as a single-issue story, it has never been one of my favorites.
It is the second story, which begins with the funeral of Elaine Belloc, that is the stand-out here. Told from the perspective of another great figure of the Christian religion—Solomon, living in the modern world as a detective of sorts. He seeks retribution for Elaine’s death, a mission he believes to be of divine origin. His journey to find it will put him in contact with Elaine’s human and not-so-human families.
In the final issues of this collection, we leave the Shinto gods behind and move on to the Norse, who will remain a driving factor as the story continues. One of the things I love most about Lucifer and its predecessor, The Sandman is how it delves into so many different mythologies and religions, incorporating them into one interwoven narrative.
Though this collection doesn’t pack the punch of “The Divine Comedy,” it is a solid follow-up that continues to drive the overall story forward, albeit at a not-quite-as-relentless pace. The sheer amount of elements this collection manages to bring together makes it a quick read that brings a lot of depth to a number of characters, and the art team is superb as always.
mhshokuhi's review against another edition
5.0
جلد پنجم شامل کامیکهای ۲۹ تا ۳۵ میشه.
چه آرک Inferno خوب بود :) البته کلا یکم جانبی زیاد داشت این مجموعه کامیک و خود لوسیفرش کمتر بود، اما خب بیشتر و بیشتر شد و خودش مستقیم مجبور میشه وارد ماجرا بشه که خیلی خوبه خلاصه :)
چندتا حرکت لوسیفری زد که خیلی خوب بود! یکیش با امندیل و حرکت تمیزی که زد، یکی با برادر لوکی، خیلی خوب بود کارش :)) و خب لوکی رو هم دیدیم بعد از سرنوشتش توی قضایای The Sandman
نقاشیهای روی جلدش هرچی جلوتر میره بهتر و بهتر میشه و شاهکارن، آدم میخواد فقط نگاهشون کنه برای مدت طولانی از بس خوبن. رنگا هم همونی هست که انتظار داری، اما طرحهای داخل کامیک، به خصوص آرک Inferno رو توی طراحیش یکم دوست نداشتم به نسبت قبلیها
چه آرک Inferno خوب بود :) البته کلا یکم جانبی زیاد داشت این مجموعه کامیک و خود لوسیفرش کمتر بود، اما خب بیشتر و بیشتر شد و خودش مستقیم مجبور میشه وارد ماجرا بشه که خیلی خوبه خلاصه :)
چندتا حرکت لوسیفری زد که خیلی خوب بود! یکیش با امندیل و حرکت تمیزی که زد، یکی با برادر لوکی، خیلی خوب بود کارش :)) و خب لوکی رو هم دیدیم بعد از سرنوشتش توی قضایای The Sandman
نقاشیهای روی جلدش هرچی جلوتر میره بهتر و بهتر میشه و شاهکارن، آدم میخواد فقط نگاهشون کنه برای مدت طولانی از بس خوبن. رنگا هم همونی هست که انتظار داری، اما طرحهای داخل کامیک، به خصوص آرک Inferno رو توی طراحیش یکم دوست نداشتم به نسبت قبلیها
andrea_c's review against another edition
4.0
Between this and reading through Sandman, I think I'm becoming immune to all the female-centric abuse that seems to be integral to mature comics (that, and a decent proportion of women characters must be employed in the sex industry). At least the attempted rape of Mazikeen was thwarted in this instance. And I do hope she gets her (non)face back. I'm still annoyed that Lady Lys was punished for being a slut by being exposed to emotions, something I was reminded of in this volume. Ugh.
jayspa65's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Given that we've been building up to it since Children and Monsters three volumes ago, it's not surprising that fully half of Carey's Inferno is dedicated to the long-promised duel between Lucifer and Amenadiel. And if Lucifer's a bit shaky on his pins after being mostly dead all day, then he's simply going to be that much more cunning to survive - at least long enough for Mazikeen to track and kill the god who's trapped Lucifer's power in his last surviving wingfeathers. (Just go with it, guys.)
While watching Lucifer outmaneuver assassins is always fun, I was more interested in Mazikeen's arc, which brings her back into conflict with her ex-husband. (Believe me when I say that after meeting him no one will ever question why she traded up to the Lord of Hell.) Her success is vital to that of Lucifer's, and it's interesting to see how the change in power dynamics between the two of them had changed the nature of their relationship.
The second half of the book contains two or three stories - a terrifying birth, a judgment by Solomon, and a quick visit to Loki to borrow some metaphorical car keys - which are clearly all doing set up for future storylines now that we've reached the conclusion of the grand fated duel. And if the climax of that confrontation was just the aperitif, I can't wait to see what Carey has in store for the culmination of this series.
While watching Lucifer outmaneuver assassins is always fun, I was more interested in Mazikeen's arc, which brings her back into conflict with her ex-husband. (Believe me when I say that after meeting him no one will ever question why she traded up to the Lord of Hell.) Her success is vital to that of Lucifer's, and it's interesting to see how the change in power dynamics between the two of them had changed the nature of their relationship.
The second half of the book contains two or three stories - a terrifying birth, a judgment by Solomon, and a quick visit to Loki to borrow some metaphorical car keys - which are clearly all doing set up for future storylines now that we've reached the conclusion of the grand fated duel. And if the climax of that confrontation was just the aperitif, I can't wait to see what Carey has in store for the culmination of this series.
psykobilliethekid's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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
5.0
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
5.0
It's been about a year since the last Sandman Universe book that I read, and yet there was no point in this book where I fought to remember what was happening, and how it related to the larger universe.
There are three stories in this volume, the first is a thre part tale that continues Lucifer's return to Hell, the second is a one-off issue about a devout man who wishes sin was punished faster and fastidiousness rewarded quicker and how he intersects with our larger story, and the finale is a two parter where Solomon searches for Elaine's murderer while Lucifer makes deals in Asgard.
This story is so well-told, it seems a shame that they chose to make the TV show version of Lucifer a police procedural.
There are three stories in this volume, the first is a thre part tale that continues Lucifer's return to Hell, the second is a one-off issue about a devout man who wishes sin was punished faster and fastidiousness rewarded quicker and how he intersects with our larger story, and the finale is a two parter where Solomon searches for Elaine's murderer while Lucifer makes deals in Asgard.
This story is so well-told, it seems a shame that they chose to make the TV show version of Lucifer a police procedural.
siria's review against another edition
4.0
The fifth of the Lucifer series, this sees the end of the first big story arc. The artwork improves as the book progresses, as does the cohesion of the storyline. It's not the most successful of the collections, as these stories are grouped together because that was the order in which they were written, not because they form a distinct grouping in and of themselves; still, very worth reading, if only because Lucifer makes the most delicious of Anti Heroes (yes, the capital letters are required.)
cmiller0401's review
3.0
I think court intrigue is one of the most boring plot structures ever, and this was a lot of that with the royalty of Effrul (especially Lady Lys). I already had too much of it in Volume 3, and then here it was again.
Also the duel between Lucifer and Amenadiel felt like a side tangent that they remembered to wrap up (and they did so sloppily). I wish they had kept on forgetting.
For the aforementioned reasons I think this trade paperback was the weakest point in the first run of the Lucifer comics. I actually stopped reading the series for months, stuck on this trade.
Things I liked: The little bit of Gaudium and Spera, the introduction of some more Norse mythology.
Also the duel between Lucifer and Amenadiel felt like a side tangent that they remembered to wrap up (and they did so sloppily). I wish they had kept on forgetting.
For the aforementioned reasons I think this trade paperback was the weakest point in the first run of the Lucifer comics. I actually stopped reading the series for months, stuck on this trade.
Things I liked: The little bit of Gaudium and Spera, the introduction of some more Norse mythology.