Lucifer #2 – Dan Watters, Writer; Sebastian Fiumara, Max Fiumara, Artists; Dave McCaig, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 8.5/10
Ray: Of all the Sandman Universe titles, Lucifer is the one that’s keeping its cards closest to its chest. Dividing its narrative three ways – a story about Lucifer in his prime, cutting deals and twisting fates; a mysterious story of an older, addled Lucifer; and a separate story of an old policeman investigating the death of his wife and her ties to a mysterious halfway house – this issue doesn’t make things much clearer but it does give us some strong scenes in all three. While Lucifer is the title character, this issue feels like it belongs more to Detective John Decker.
Meeting with his brother-in-law in the eerie Gately House, he doesn’t get the answers he’s seeking and finds himself subjected to a strange, surreal scream from a mysterious resident. After one disturbing visual, he retreats to his hotel room where his symptoms get worse – is he dying from the same thing his wife had, or is something supernatural going on?
The Lucifer stories are no less bizarre. The future Lucifer stories are esoteric and almost abstract at points, with strange visuals and dialogue that makes little sense. His mysterious nurse is proven to have some powers of her own, and the last page of the issue raises more questions than it answers.
My favorite segment of the issue this month was the classic Lucifer segment, dealing with the deal he cut with a trio of witches in the time the Black Plague was ravaging Europe. As always, a deal with Lucifer comes with consequences and deceit, and this is no exception. Shifting Lucifer between menacing trickster and addled old man in this series is an intriguing way to keep us on our toes, and the title remains strong. I think it needs to focus a bit more and show us how it fits with the rest of its line before too long, and give us some real answers.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
