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24 reviews for:
Lucifer, Vol. 4: The Divine Comedy
Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly, Mike Carey, Dean Ormston
4.21 AVERAGE
24 reviews for:
Lucifer, Vol. 4: The Divine Comedy
Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly, Mike Carey, Dean Ormston
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A lesser volume. I am not a fan of the Basanos (I find them boring), so their regular presence in these issues was grating. Carey apparently wanted a big "bring all the threads together" storyline, but I was only interested in two or three of them at the most.
I was predisposed to like this from the title alone, since my Dante geekiness is pure and true. I really wasn't disappointed. The breadth and inventiveness and scope of this title just awes me. Reading it evokes the same sensation I get when I'm deep in the Commedia - of glimpsing a huge framework that is partly comprehensible and partly divine and partly ineffable and partly just really bloody confusing. There is the same slow sense of discovery about the whole thing as well, of peeling back layers to see more and more of what is going on. There are some things that Lucifer knows, and some things that he is only finding out for himself, and some things that can only come as revelation to him. In many ways, the progression of this pings many of the same things that hit me when I read about Dante climbing down through the Inferno and up the mount of Purgatory. More than that, there are a number of aspects of this work that chime in so absolutely with a number of the ways I think about religion, and a number of the ways in which it intrigues me/irks me/has made really, really sure that I haven't classed myself as a Catholic in a long, long time. Those are issues that are probably going to find themselves expressed in a long, wanktastic post on Lucifer, theology, and possibly the Comedy itself once of these days. Feel afraid. *g*
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Story good, art not my style...may or may not stick with this series.
The Divine Comedy is made up of two exceptionally climatic arc 'Paradiso' and 'Purgatorio' with two short accompanying stories 'The Writing on the Wall' which separates the two major arcs and 'Breaking and Entering' which concludes the collection. By the end of the third volume, A Dalliance with the damned it felt like Lucifer had everything very much in hand and with everything looking nicely tidied up in anticipation of the next big conflict. The stories that make up this collection show just how wrong such appearances can be.
In 'Paradiso' and 'Purgatorio' cosmically grand conflict comes to Lucifer's new creation as the Basanos (with their host Jill Presto in tow) make their move, showing themselves to be even more cruel and calculating than Lucifer through their actions and cunning use of other enemies intentions. it is conflict all around as the Lilim under Mazikeen's leadership also decide to make their move, in the Silver City Michael grapples with his own inner turmoil and Elaine has more than enough trouble her own troubles but still finds to get embroiled in Lucifer's cosmic struggle.
The two one-off stories that feature are both great interludes. 'The Writing on the Wall' is a fantastic tale of the life of a centaur in the new creation and is an informing diversion about how 'regular' life goes on around and throughout the grand story arcs of the series. It also offers some insight in to how the denizens of this new creation conceive of Lucifer as a non-deified creator. Meanwhile 'Breaking and Entering' cement Gaudium and his sister Spera new additions to the the continuing cast. A comic fool to operate as foil against Lucifer's tragic persona.
This collection was great and showed that the series isn't afraid to make bold moves, and respond to those with equal bold moves. The unexpected also featured here, everything seemed well in hand and yet it all fell apart only to be put right again. One thing is for sure, every small action and statement matters in what is turning out to be a precise and well maintained series. No detail can be afforded to be overlooked. The repercussions of the conflict will no doubt be felt through the stories that follow.
In 'Paradiso' and 'Purgatorio' cosmically grand conflict comes to Lucifer's new creation as the Basanos (with their host Jill Presto in tow) make their move, showing themselves to be even more cruel and calculating than Lucifer through their actions and cunning use of other enemies intentions. it is conflict all around as the Lilim under Mazikeen's leadership also decide to make their move, in the Silver City Michael grapples with his own inner turmoil and Elaine has more than enough trouble her own troubles but still finds to get embroiled in Lucifer's cosmic struggle.
The two one-off stories that feature are both great interludes. 'The Writing on the Wall' is a fantastic tale of the life of a centaur in the new creation and is an informing diversion about how 'regular' life goes on around and throughout the grand story arcs of the series. It also offers some insight in to how the denizens of this new creation conceive of Lucifer as a non-deified creator. Meanwhile 'Breaking and Entering' cement Gaudium and his sister Spera new additions to the the continuing cast. A comic fool to operate as foil against Lucifer's tragic persona.
This collection was great and showed that the series isn't afraid to make bold moves, and respond to those with equal bold moves. The unexpected also featured here, everything seemed well in hand and yet it all fell apart only to be put right again. One thing is for sure, every small action and statement matters in what is turning out to be a precise and well maintained series. No detail can be afforded to be overlooked. The repercussions of the conflict will no doubt be felt through the stories that follow.