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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Mike Carey’s Lucifer is even more manipulative, charming, and dangerous than I could have hoped. The supporting cast are real people, living and dead, in a real world. - Neil Gaiman
Once upon a time [about thirteen or so years ago] I was slowly making my way through the Sandman series when I learned about the Lucifer spin-off and promptly put Sandman down to run off to read Lucifer instead and I've been pretty much obsessed with it ever since. I did FINALLY read all of Sandman a few years ago but it's still my personal opinion that this series is way better.
This is absolutely my favorite graphic novel, probably my favorite 'book' in general [if I'm allowed to count a graphic novel series as a single book lol], and definitely the standard to which I hold up any other stories I read about Lucifer [spoiler alert: they all fall woefully short, with the exception of Glen Duncan's I, Lucifer]. So strap in for the long haul of me just absolutely gushing over every single part of this.
I love that it delves into other mythologies besides just Christianity and weaves them all together so seamlessly. I love all the side characters and especially the women and girls. We just barely meet Elaine in this volume but she turns out to be one of the most important characters in the entire series. Mazikeen doesn't do much early in the series but she really comes into her own later. And you've got others like Jill, Mona, Beatrice, and many more. Even here with the prelude issues you've got Rachel who, even though she is ultimately manipulated by Lucifer still feels like an incredibly real and fleshed out character. They're all just so unique and incredibly realistic. This isn't just a story about Lucifer, but also about everyone around him and they all get their own storylines at some point.
But most of all I just love the way that Lucifer is written. Most of the time I feel like the devil is either written as this like bumbling trickster caricature or more recently as some kind of like ~moody sexy troubled~ love interest type that has me rolling my eyes out of my head. But this Lucifer isn't like that. He's not a nice guy by any means and he will manipulate people to his own ends, but he is also not overly malicious and doesn't go out of his way to cause destruction just for destruction's sake. I just feel like he is very believable as an immortal [and immoral] character, incredibly patient and focused as opposed to how several writers have immortal characters who are thousands of years old running around acting like teenagers most of the time.
Last time I reread I went through and tried to mark every time 'will' is brought up in the series because an ongoing theme is how Lucifer pretty much just gets shit done through sheer force of will [in addition to all the 'free will' references you would expect for anything featuring Lucifer as a character] and I find that to be both incredibly fascinating and also one of my favorite character traits of his. For the first volume we have:
[I figure references to other people's lack of will count as well]
[and the obligatory free will reference]
Also just a few other random things that I like, either because of the quotes or because of the art:
And for my most recent reread I'm adding this panel:
because it reminds me a lot of themes that will be brought in later when
Once upon a time [about thirteen or so years ago] I was slowly making my way through the Sandman series when I learned about the Lucifer spin-off and promptly put Sandman down to run off to read Lucifer instead and I've been pretty much obsessed with it ever since. I did FINALLY read all of Sandman a few years ago but it's still my personal opinion that this series is way better.
This is absolutely my favorite graphic novel, probably my favorite 'book' in general [if I'm allowed to count a graphic novel series as a single book lol], and definitely the standard to which I hold up any other stories I read about Lucifer [spoiler alert: they all fall woefully short, with the exception of Glen Duncan's I, Lucifer]. So strap in for the long haul of me just absolutely gushing over every single part of this.
I love that it delves into other mythologies besides just Christianity and weaves them all together so seamlessly. I love all the side characters and especially the women and girls. We just barely meet Elaine in this volume but she turns out to be one of the most important characters in the entire series. Mazikeen doesn't do much early in the series but she really comes into her own later. And you've got others like Jill, Mona, Beatrice, and many more. Even here with the prelude issues you've got Rachel who, even though she is ultimately manipulated by Lucifer still feels like an incredibly real and fleshed out character. They're all just so unique and incredibly realistic. This isn't just a story about Lucifer, but also about everyone around him and they all get their own storylines at some point.
But most of all I just love the way that Lucifer is written. Most of the time I feel like the devil is either written as this like bumbling trickster caricature or more recently as some kind of like ~moody sexy troubled~ love interest type that has me rolling my eyes out of my head. But this Lucifer isn't like that. He's not a nice guy by any means and he will manipulate people to his own ends, but he is also not overly malicious and doesn't go out of his way to cause destruction just for destruction's sake. I just feel like he is very believable as an immortal [and immoral] character, incredibly patient and focused as opposed to how several writers have immortal characters who are thousands of years old running around acting like teenagers most of the time.
Last time I reread I went through and tried to mark every time 'will' is brought up in the series because an ongoing theme is how Lucifer pretty much just gets shit done through sheer force of will [in addition to all the 'free will' references you would expect for anything featuring Lucifer as a character] and I find that to be both incredibly fascinating and also one of my favorite character traits of his. For the first volume we have:
[I figure references to other people's lack of will count as well]
[and the obligatory free will reference]
Also just a few other random things that I like, either because of the quotes or because of the art:
And for my most recent reread I'm adding this panel:
because it reminds me a lot of themes that will be brought in later when
Spoiler
both Lucifer and Elaine create their own universes
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Antisemitism
I am very impressed with Mike Carey. He did such a great job of maintaining his own voice while staying in the Lucifer character created by Gaiman. The Sandman references were great. Really looking forward to the rest of this series.
This was a great start to this series. I don't know how I didn't know there was a spin-off series about Lucifer from Sandman, but am so glad it was introduced to me, and the first volume loaned to me.
Lucifer was always a really interesting character in Sandman, and it was nice to get an introduction into a series about just him. The various issues in this volume were all unique and interesting. It reminded me of Sandman in the way the stories we're all very different and didn't quite allow me to get/keep my bearings, but that they kept me interested. I particularly liked "Born with the Dead" as a story of it's own. I hope to see more of Elaine, and loved that there was a shout out to Death from Sandman, who is one of my favorite graphic novel characters of all time.
I'm definitely interested in continuing on with the series, because it started off pretty original and interesting, with that biting look at humanity that Sandman also had.
Lucifer was always a really interesting character in Sandman, and it was nice to get an introduction into a series about just him. The various issues in this volume were all unique and interesting. It reminded me of Sandman in the way the stories we're all very different and didn't quite allow me to get/keep my bearings, but that they kept me interested. I particularly liked "Born with the Dead" as a story of it's own. I hope to see more of Elaine, and loved that there was a shout out to Death from Sandman, who is one of my favorite graphic novel characters of all time.
I'm definitely interested in continuing on with the series, because it started off pretty original and interesting, with that biting look at humanity that Sandman also had.
As good on the second read as on the first. An absolute recommendation, even if you haven't read Sandman (but if you haven't: what are you waiting for?) and in spite of the slight misuse of Hamburg (but I've seen it done far worse too often).
I had no idea that Lucifer was a spin-off of The Sandman. But, I haven't read The Sandman yet, so I guess there was no way to know that. (The Sandman is in my pile, I just picked this one up first.) Anyway, this was great!
Lucifer has given up his kingdom and now lives on Earth. He appears to own some swanky restaurant. He's asked to take care of some bidness for the Almighty. He ends up going to the 4th level with a chick who just wished her seriously disabled brother dead. He gets the job done, but uses the girl, and leaves her to her own devices. As payment for a job well done, the Big Guy gives Lucifer a "pass." End of story arc 1.
Luci decides that he doesn't trust the Big Guy and goes to Germany to use the Basanos, the living Tarot Deck. Meleos tries to destroy the deck when Luci comes for it, but he is overpowered and it escapes. Um, as a Librarian, Luci's punishment of Meleos is quite wretched. The Tarot enters a cabaret girl, Jill Presto. With her new powers, she kills a bunch of Nazis who have beaten the crap out of her landlord's gay son. Luci has his Lilith capture the Lightbringer card, forcing the deck to give him his 6 card spread. They read him his fortune. The pass is bogus--it's only a one way ticket. He's pissed. Jill decides to remain the host for the deck.
The last bit of the book deals with a young girl who can see dead people. It's super cute.
Lucifer has given up his kingdom and now lives on Earth. He appears to own some swanky restaurant. He's asked to take care of some bidness for the Almighty. He ends up going to the 4th level with a chick who just wished her seriously disabled brother dead. He gets the job done, but uses the girl, and leaves her to her own devices. As payment for a job well done, the Big Guy gives Lucifer a "pass." End of story arc 1.
Luci decides that he doesn't trust the Big Guy and goes to Germany to use the Basanos, the living Tarot Deck. Meleos tries to destroy the deck when Luci comes for it, but he is overpowered and it escapes. Um, as a Librarian, Luci's punishment of Meleos is quite wretched. The Tarot enters a cabaret girl, Jill Presto. With her new powers, she kills a bunch of Nazis who have beaten the crap out of her landlord's gay son. Luci has his Lilith capture the Lightbringer card, forcing the deck to give him his 6 card spread. They read him his fortune. The pass is bogus--it's only a one way ticket. He's pissed. Jill decides to remain the host for the deck.
The last bit of the book deals with a young girl who can see dead people. It's super cute.
Doing some research of comic scripts. Which means re-reading some of my favorites, but with a different perspective than before.
Tight story, well thought out panels, interesting use of lines and colors. And it's Lucifer, so what's not to love?
Tight story, well thought out panels, interesting use of lines and colors. And it's Lucifer, so what's not to love?
Mike Cary is on my new short list of graphic novelists. His interpretation of Gaiman's Lucifer is right on the mark, with a little more edginess than Gaiman writes, a little less fantasy, a little more awkward pain -perfect for the Morningstar.
Easily the best part of the Extended Sandman Universe, the Lucifer story is coherent, paced really well, and a delight to watch unfold.
Many writers of this era have a giant plot idea and set everything up as a set of quests to reach that plot. Carey has several different stories to tell that end up creating a large tapestry. By the end, the full run feels more like focused than [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]'s Sandman, but it's actually just very effective at pulling off the same tricks.
If you loved Gaiman's Sandman, you really should check this out. It's excellent.
Many writers of this era have a giant plot idea and set everything up as a set of quests to reach that plot. Carey has several different stories to tell that end up creating a large tapestry. By the end, the full run feels more like focused than [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]'s Sandman, but it's actually just very effective at pulling off the same tricks.
If you loved Gaiman's Sandman, you really should check this out. It's excellent.