The bar is open for business again.
Lucifer may be a “mere” spinoff of the Sandman franchise, but this fallen angel now has the distinction of being the only Sandman character to now have two ongoing series to their name. Vertigo is kicking off a new Lucifer comic just in time for the debut of his TV series. As of yet this book doesn’t quite have what it takes to rival previous Lucifer stories, but it offers an entertaining return for the character all the same.
The upcoming TV series is concerning because Fox has taken a grand concept and used it to build the very last thing the TV landscape needs more of – a police procedural. Thankfully, this comic doesn’t tie into the show. It’s a continuation of the previous volume, though presented in such a way that readers need no knowledge of either that book or Lucifer’s early appearances in Sandman. There’s just enough of a thematic link here to the show that viewers should probably find it an easy transition. The basic premise is that Lucifer has returned to Earth, diminished in power but eager to partake of the pleasures of sin. Instead, he finds himself partnered with one of his brothers and charged with solving a cosmic murder mystery.
This new series doesn’t always compare favorably to its predecessor. Previous writer Mike Carey is a master wordsmith, one of the few people in the industry qualified to follow Neil Gaiman in that regard. Holly Black’s script doesn’t rise to that level when it comes to flowery prose or achieving a grand, mythical feel. And maybe that’s the intent. There’s a more grounded quality to this book, even in scenes that take place in Heaven or Hell. The benefit to this approach is that the book achieves a certain charm and humor in blending high and low elements together. This is a series where beings of great power and dragged into the muck of mortality and forced to adapt. It’s a series where the lines between angels and demons and humans begin to blur. Maybe it needs a rougher edge.
In any case, the interaction between Lucifer and Gabriel is easily the highlight of the book at this early stage. Their dynamic builds on past Vertigo stories in a way that should please fans while remaining completely accessible to newcomers. All that really matters is that two estranged brothers and forced into a reluctant alliance and potentially hold the fate of existence in their hands. No pressure.
Lee Garbett’s artwork suits the more grounded approach to Lucifer. His figures have a harsh, angular edge to them that recalls Rafael Albuquerque’s work on the American Vampire series. His depiction of Lucifer is both striking (calling back slightly to his David Bowie inspiration) and imposing thanks to his distinctive facial scar. There’s a gritty, noir-esque vibe to the world that’s nicely offset by Antonio Fabela’s colors. Lighting is a huge focus here, whether it’s the moody glow of Lucifer’s bar or the bright flashes of angelic fury illuminating the darkness.
Lucifer isn’t the strongest of Vertigo’s many new comics. In some ways, it doesn’t measure up to the previous volume, either. But taken for what it is, this first issue proves to be an entertaining read that banks on the strained relationship between Lucifer and Gabriel and the clash between the angelic and mundane corners of the Vertigo universe.
