Lucifer Vol 01: Devil in the Gateway

Lucifer is a new way to think of Lucifer. He is generally thought of the ruler of hades but here Morningstar has retired and lives on Earth among humans. He works for no one but himself as someone else put on a review here also. I really like how it shifts back some into the past of Lucifer when he was among the heavenly hosts. It gives a bit of insight into the past. I look forward to reading more.

I've been reading mostly manga over the past two years, so what surprised me most about this comic (aside from the most obvious differences, ie., color, dialogue-heavy, etc.) was that the illustrators in American comics appear to be disposable, exactly opposite from the Japanese system. The first story in this comic is illustrated by Scott Hampton who draws a beautiful, lucid version of a Mephistophelean-type, world-weary Satan bored by the absurdity & impermanence of this universe. His beauty is matched by his exquisite courtesy. The second story is drawn by Chris Weston (I guess...it is not always clear who is responsible for character design amid all the pencillers, inkers, and colorists listed) who draws Lucifer as a thug with the expression of someone who has bitten into something really sour or is, alternatively, in need of a really good laxative. I found Lucifer's expression jarring enough but then he has been graced with a hairstyle reminiscent of Barbie's Ken. I mean, I know Japanese illustrators are far more concerned with a character's hair than their American counterpart, but come on people, do you really think even the ex-King of Hell would settle for hair that looks like a plastic bottlecap? Apart from these quibbles about the graphic part of the graphic novel, the story is excellent. The plot is involved but precise and never insults the reader's intelligence. I've only read this first book, but there is obviously much more to come & I'm looking forward to Lucifer's struggle with the angels & whoever else comes up. I plant to read the whole series.

Mike Carey brings back Lucifer from the Sandman series for his own storyline complete with uncooperative angels, a girl who sees her best friend's ghost, a teen unsure of a unusual roadtrip with Morning Star and a tarot deck gone postal. Can't wait to read more!

Well I am a huge Sandman and HellBlazer fan and the Morningstar was definitely one of my favourite supporting characters.I did not have much trouble jumping into this trade with all my background knowledge from Sandman and my reading of mythology. Readers new to the Vertigo line of comics may find this series at first confusing.So please bear in mind that things are really explained in the next two trades. After careful readings "Lucifer: The Divine Comedy", "Lucifer: Children and Monsters" and "Lucifer: Inferno" you really appreciate the intricate weavings of the story. Going back to this first trade, I found myself going, "oh that is what he was talking about". After all, Lucifer has an almost cosmic awareness and it is an interesting twist that he sees and hears more than even the reader.

I thought it was great, just great.Carey functions within Gaimen's world, yet he goes way beyond stale imitation. Weaving together eclectic mythological influences, he makes a series that is very much uniquely his own. This series contains many elements I don't think many authors could make work. How do you build up, ehem, sympathy for the Devil? With a main character of such incredible skill and power, how do you put him in suspenceful situations. Similarly, how do you get him out of those situations without it looking like a silly Deus Ex Machina?I've only read this first trade paperback of the series. Sure, there a lot of open questions, but that's the way it should be. This is, on the whole, a darker series than Sandman, it's mostly about despair and imprisonment, whereas Sandman conveyed a fair bit of hope and freedom. But you have to consider the main character.Overall, the only comic to make me want to stick with the Sandman Universe.