Lucifer 2 Paperback – October 15, 2013

Trying to take a story run from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series means some pretty big shoes to fill, particularly when the premise of a Lucifer spin-off series is going to be based on one of the most memorable moments of the original Sandman story arc. Mike Carey pulls it off extremely well. Lucifer is a complex character: he's not a good guy, he's far from a one-dimensional bad-guy, and in the vast range between these two extremes we are taken to fantastic worlds, strange mythology, and interesting plot twists. I have some of the original trade publications of these stories: the art quality can vary widely. This volume brings them together in a thick volume of decent binding, good paper, and bright coloring--the price is definitely fair for the quantity of stories, plus we get a few sketches thrown in at the end. "Nirvana" was an unrelated side story that we also get inserted here. There is a very strange tale of political intrigue and demonic psychodrama in a corner of Hell that has chosen to emulate London high society from an earlier century ("A Dalliance with the Damned")--this one is probably the most hit and miss of the set, with some seeing its final plot twist as a great philosophical message, others finding the sex, violence and depravity overstated and boring. The last half of the book is my favorite, with a wide variety of unusual characters and stories gradually converging on one point (I'm trying not to spoil any of this for you)--the will and plan of Lucifer. In fact, if there would be any point of criticism for the series, it's just that there is a repeating pattern: Lucifer speaks cryptically, leaves for a bit, perhaps does his own side story separate from the other characters, and it all comes together just at the end to wrap it up neatly.If you're a fan of the DC Vertigo publications and you like the mash-up of fantasy, mythology, and magic with everyday people and places, then you should give Lucifer a try. Some of the content is not for the faint of heart, but definitely worth the effort to read it.

Great book exploring the real essence of what devil is: elegant, cunning, manipulative, cold... But also warm and meaning to serve justice. If you try to put it to words, you spoil it. One has to read and get a "feel of it".Lucifer is a complex character as he was once an archangel and the brightest star in heaven but now the ruler over the most condemned characters in hell. The character depiction in this book does his background fullest justice. I still prefer the character exploration in book 1 though. It has the BEST essence of real devil depicted in such a classy way. Please read the first book as well.

The first volume of Lucifer was so different from anything I’d encountered in graphic novels before, that I was immediately hooked. Lucifer is powerful, enigmatic, and arrogant. Which suits the fallen angel perfectly. At the end of the first volume, Lucifer was given the means to create his own universe – formed of his will and separate from God’s. In Book 2, everyone wants a piece of it!The stories in this volume jump around among many players, all of which are being moved into position for an elaborate game of chess that all comes together at the end. This can be challengin to follow, and occasionally frustrating as you leave a particularly interesting tale to jump elsewhere. But, the way it all comes together is very satisfying. The book opens with Mazikeen, who is desperate to restore her face. Desperate enough to go to the Children of Lilith, from who she is cast out. From there readers see Lucifer’s new Eden, jump to Elaine the daughter of Archangel Michael, and take a sojourn in hell itself. Each story is mostly self-contained, but with threads that tangle into other stories.Lucifer’s primary antagonist throughout is not God, but the Basanos – a Tarot deck with consciousness, and a thirst to rule Lucifer’s new world. The resulting confrontation will change Lucifer, and force him to return to God’s realm to deal with the fallout.Overall, thus volume is significantly darker in tone than the first book, with even more visceral violence and disturbing imagery. Lucifer is no hero, but is never less than interesting. What does he want? Does he even know? Recommended, but not for the squeamish!

Lucifer’s story is getting better and better. On every turn of the page, you get something different and entertaining. Even the few filler stories are good.

How would Lucifer act as a god? That is the pivotal question asked in the main arch of book two and the answers reveal a great deal more about him while still maintaining his mysterious nature.Where Mike really shines though is in how he handles not just Lucifer, but all the characters and how he brings their emotions to life. Every time someone new is introduced it's exciting.

My grandson loves these books. Came in very nice shape. Although he wishes it was a hard back book

Screwing up a comic book series based on Lucifer would be a pretty easy thing to do. Putting aside the basic religion problems that you inevitably run into, having one character who is massively stronger than basically everyone else in the universe has a high potential to turn into a boring wish-fulfillment story very fast.I am happy to report that Mike Carey is too good of a writer for that.Lucifer, and the various characters he gets to interact with, are prone to spouting awesome quips to stunning background art. But the real depth of the series lies in its side characters. Mike Carey learned from Neil Gaiman that in the face of an omnipotent protagonist, the only way to have the emotional beats that take comics to the next levels is to have a great supporting cast, and Carey delivers. I highly recommend this to any comics fan.