LUCIFER #52 REVIEW

[Ryan Day]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0704/LuciferCVR52.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0704/LuciferCVR52t.jpg" align=left alt="Lucifer #52"></a>
Story Title: The Wolf Beneath the Tree, Pt. 2

Suggested for Mature Readers

“Before this meal is over, I’ll do something that isn’t written in your book.”

Writer: Mike Carey
Artists: Peter Gross & Ryan Kelly
Lettering: Jared Fletcher
Colors and separations: Daniel Vozzo
Cover Painter: Christopher Moeller
Editor: Mariah Huehner

Now this is more like it.

The past couple of storylines have seen Lucifer stumbling somewhat. The antagonists of Brothers in Arms were just too silly to take seriously, and while The Stitchglass Slide offered some very good character pieces, it didn’t do much to advance the overall narrative. Lilith was a fantastic story, but the titular character hasn’t even been seen since.

But now, with The Wolf Beneath the Tree, Mike Carey has planted Lucifer back on solid ground. He’s taken the current crisis of the universe unravelling and compounded it with the introduction of another mythological hierarchy. Fenris the Wolf, one of the harbingers of Ragnarok, has escaped his prison and is exacting his revenge on the Norse gods who put him there.

Carey also adds another, far more recent mythological pantheon: Neil Gaiman’s Endless. In the previous issue, the Archangel Michael paid a visit to the house of Destiny in search of answers. Destiny promised no more than a hint - and an accidental one at that - and also introduced Michael to his two other guests: Michael’s brother, Lucifer, and his daughter, Elaine. Meanwhile, Charlie Gilmour - who killed his wife and child with a hammer, convinced that God (or at least a god) told him to do it - is paid a visit by a member of Destiny’s family.

Gaiman’s characters may be overused by DC and Vertigo, but they fit in quite well here. Carey has used the Endless only when something really, really big is going down: Death showed up earlier when Lucifer was mortally wounded, and here it’s not difficult to see Destiny showing interest in what may be the end of the universe. To their credit, Vertigo doesn’t even seem to be hyping up the Endless appearances very much - they don’t even make it onto the covers.

Of course, the end of the universe isn’t all that big a deal to Lucifer, who has his own Creation to retreat to if necessary. He’s also not terribly impressed with any of the Endless, and holds particular disdain for Destiny, the very antithesis to free will. But while he may not be afraid of the end of the universe, he may find himself concerned with Fenris.

While Carey gets himself back on track, Peter Gross just keeps getting better and better. He handles the diverse cast brilliantly, and alternates between the mythological and mundane flawlessly. The second member of the Endless looks particularly nice, and Gross draws a Fenris that makes Wolverine and Sabretooth look like little yapping poodles.

Carey has successfully put the book back into epic mode, with each issue being about Really Important Stuff. Carey has a grasp of mythology that is nearly Gaimanesque, demonstrating both knowledge and understanding of what motivates the cosmic players. He still hasn’t lost the excellent character development that makes the series so enjoyable, though: The humans and gods are all three-dimensional, and Lucifer remains the wittiest and cleverest anti-hero on the market. Never mind the Really Important Stuff, actually; Lucifer is Really Good Stuff.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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[James Groves]

I loved this issue! As a new comer to the series i've been thrilled with what Carey has written. It delves into the cosmic and the unearthly which i really love. The intro was suprising and the way Fenris is making his way through the various people who "dined at his table" makes for intimidating reading. Hes ruthless!

I really enjoyed the ending too. It was my first reading of a more aggresive Lucifer and seeing him burn the pages of the book was a shock, but then what Destiny said at the end was a great twist.

I like the envolvement of the human chracter too and the savage way the woman just murdered everone in the prisons surrounding area.

The artworks excellent, loved the way Fenris, Lucifer and Destiny were drawn, different ways of using body a language - Destiny always impassive.

Great review Ryan - i really wish people would pick this up!!
Although it should be safe as it seems to be one of Vertigos mainstays!

One question:- Whats the relationship between Lucifer and Fenris? Has Lucifer got cause to be concerned, even scared? Arent they both immortal?

[Ryan Day]

Originally posted by James Groves
One question:- Whats the relationship between Lucifer and Fenris? Has Lucifer got cause to be concerned, even scared? Arent they both immortal?

They don't have a prior relationship, as far as I know. But basically, Fenris is apparently big and bad enough that he could interfere in Lucifer's plans. I can't say who's more powerful than who (though I'd generally defer to Lucifer), but at the very least Fenris is probably strong enough to challenge Lucifer. Lucifer is very, very powerful, but he's not completely indestructible.

There's the overall picture, too: Up until now, Lucifer was content to watch the old universe fall apart while he retreated to his own cosmos. But now there's an active force involved in the destruction, one which is more difficult to predict.

[Ashwin Pande]

Great Review Ryan

I agree 100%

Seeing Fenris gave me the chills as well... Bigby's got nothing on this guy. ;)

I agree about the Carey's sidetracking too... and I think that Lilith will have a major role which will probably be revealed just when Fenris is about to strike his final blow...

(P.S. Is there any word about Jormungand? He's supposed to kill Wotan... I think... or was that Thor?)

[Chris Nutall]

loved this one

[Chris Nutall]

PS, Kudos for saying something about the issue this time