Lucifer, Vol. 4: The Divine Comedy

Lucifer (2000) (Old Trades)

by Mike Carey

With the original gate between the two worlds shattered into a million separate gates, beings from all of the worlds in the old Creation now have the opportunity to join Lucifer's recently opened existence.

While neither Heaven nor Hell await them there, the forces aligned against the Lightbringer still have a card or two left to play.and their attitude towards Lucifer's new subjects is a far cry from charitable!

This volume contains:
Lucifer #21–28

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.

Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.

Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.

Reviews

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This volume has some of my favorite issues and my favorite quotes in the whole series," I say about literally every single volume. But the point still stands, I absolutely love this volume! And it has much better 'side stories' than the last one [the issue with the centaur girl is one of my favorites and then the one w/ Spera and Gaudium is a nice fun addition] and also CAMEO BY DEATH! I absolutely love the cover to issue 25.

Anyway, I just love the whole thing with the Basanos because it's basically just like ...Lucifer creating problems for himself [and you know, more reinforcement that his sin definitely is pride]. I just find it very interesting that he made time run much faster in his universe - presumably so that it could 'catch up' to God's universe more quickly and make the two more easily comparable - and it really screwed him over in two major ways 1. he was outside the universe when the Basanos attacked and couldn't get back in time even though he was literally standing NEXT TO the gate on the other side and 2. the centaur girl tried to warn him beforehand but after realizing that her entire life was a few minutes to him she got fed up and destroyed her message.

And there's a line that she says that I love which is "how centuries and men must seem like mayflies to him" because again that's specific language that has been used to describe God before and it's just very interesting to see Lucifer set himself up to BE God and then slowly realize that's not exactly what he wanted or maybe not as 'easy' as he thought it would be. This whole series is honestly just amazing and has so much depth. I love it. Also love how just like the whole Adam and Eve creation story was done with reversed roles in the last volume that we have the first two parts of the Divine Comedy here but he's flipped around the order so we start with Paradise and will end with Inferno in the next volume.

Mentions of will in this volume:




[this one is about Elaine, but there are a lot of comparisons between her and Lucifer coming up so I included it]








And some other things:


One of my favorite quotes


A page which talks about the problem w/ the gate and time that I talked about earlier.


And the part with the centaur girl comparing Lucifer to God.


Just love this cover!


Lucifer in a nutshell


Death showing up to lay down some truth lol


I just find this funny


And then of course he's gotta be like that


Absolutely love Mazikeen in this one. It's great how she got exactly what she wanted out of the situation and Lucifer is just like 'FINE!'

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the threads laid so far come back to roost in this volume. I love that Lucifer's pride continues to be his Achilles' heel. Carey does such a fantastic job weaving in and out supporting characters and then using them to launch the story off in new directions. Guadium has quickly become my new favorite character.

[Venus Maneater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page and panel used to either further the story or to draw you in. It almost feels bureaucratic, the rules and loopholes and mazes you could weave through to get your way in all realities.

Elaine is such a lovely character. She has so much spunk and she's so fierce, but like any kid (even Yahweh's granddaughter) she's naive and acts impulsive. Death comes by and takes a life.

The fallen cherubs bring much needed comic relief without it feeling corny.

[Airiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better.

SPOILERS ABOUND! The Divine Comedy tome finds our favorite antihero putting his finishing touches to his magnum opus: a new universe that is outside God’s authority, spun from the “big bang” of archangel Michael Demiurgos’s death and rebirth. Shortly after the seventh day of Creation, the Basanos infiltrate and wreak havoc in the said cosmos, and Lucifer arrives a tad too late to save his masterpiece. Elsewhere, it seems like almost all creatures in all imaginable planes, friends or otherwise, are keen on seeing the Lightbringer’s ultimate demise. Despite--or perhaps because of--her love for Lucifer, Mazikeen wages a war against him after he turns down the Lilim’s offer of becoming his army (hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, indeed); in the Japanese Afterlife, the Queen Izanami’s vengeful scheme is being put into action; and in the Silver City, a blasphemy is born in the heart of one of Yahweh’s favorite angels…I wonder, could this spark an encore rebellion? The excitement is almost killing me.

I loved this volume to bits because it reveals so much about Lucifer without actually stripping him off of his clandestine aura. In the previous issues he is shown as a quasi-perfect creature whose unsurpassed weapons are his strong will and razor-sharp wit. Here we are shown that like anybody else, Lucifer’s got a waterloo too.

The story is a labyrinth of literary twists and turns, with action charging along at a speed that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I’m quite satisfied with the reappearance of old characters and the important roles they play to the story arcs. Elaine Belloc, Michael Demiurgos’ teenaged angel daughter, has indeed grown fond of Lucifer that he is the first to come to mind when she is in danger; Meleos, creator of the Basanos, is back to take revenge on the Devil; and Cestis of the Dancing Flesh is out on an assassination mission with her bull’s eye on Elaine’s back. There are new characters as well that are not hard to love, like Gaudium, a fallen cherub who protects Elaine, and the sorceress-centaur Esa-Kira, a harbinger whose fickleness may have contributed in the Lucifer’s downfall…

Oh, and Death of the Endless from The Sandman graphic novels has a cameo. I think that deserves a special mention.

Carey is a genius, I might say, for crafting a masterpiece this good. The plot is intricately executed and is hinting that succeeding issues will contain bombs of epiphanies. Action-packed scenes, poignant events, and humurous parts are juggled nimbly. I also commend the writing, both the strong dialogues and the fragments of narration strewn across the volume that have shades of stylish poetry in them. Perhaps I have some gripe about the art, but I guess it’s also getting better compared to the previous volumes…

That said, I think this is one of the best in the series. Thumb up!

[Sjgomzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeps getting better and better! I loved every page!

[Nicholas Kaufmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My reviews LUCIFER are just becoming embarrassing love letters to the genius of Mike Carey at this point, so I'll just say that even four volumes in the series continues to surprise and amaze me. Truly excellent stuff.

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.75/5
I remember thinking when I read the Sandman series, 'yeah, it was was good. Great occasionally. But my sky high expectations may have somewhat hampered the experience. I knew next to nothing about Lucifer. And despite the distinct lack of expectations, it still would have managed to shatter them into a million teeny tiny pieces anyway. This is the series Sandman should have been. Able to delve into myth and mysticism without boring the absolute tits off of me half the time, ala Gaiman and Sandman. The writing continues to amaze and the art, somehow, just keeps getting better and better. Now why can't we have Lucifer in absolute format??? 4.75/5


OmniBen,

[محمدحسین · Rating 4 out of 5]

جلد چهارم شامل کامیک‌های ۲۱ تا ۲۸ میشه.
چقدر خوب بود ۳ شماره آرک داستانی Paradiso! چقدر خوب بود! هم آرت، هم کانسپت، هم همه چیزش. اینقدر خوب بود بقیه چیزها در برابرش کم میاوردن توی این جلد با اینکه خوب بودن :دی
و آه که چقدر Death of the Endless خوبه (خواهر بزرگ Dream of the Endless که مجموعه The Sandman در موردش هست). دو شماره حضور داشت توی آرک Purgatorio و خیلی خوبه خلاصه، کاش توی سریال یه بازیگر درست و حسابی و مطابق توضیحات براش باشه و نتفلیکس بازی در نیارن براش.
یهوه فلان فلان شده هم که هنوز خودشه :))
کلا جلد خوبی بود، یه سری آرت‌هاش واقعاً ثبت شده توی ذهنم از بس خوبن
کاورها هم که همیشه خوبن و ناامید نمی‌کنن اصلاً. یه روز چاپیشون رو باید بگیرم.

چهار ستاره چون از بس آرک Paradiso خوب بود و بقیه نمیتونستن بهش برسن :دی

[Maisie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kicked out of heaven for being too silly 😔 ….

[Štěpán · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, that was some nice fire.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucifer continues to be mind blowing and complex! All of the seeds planted earlier in the series blossom here. There are x arcs and a few one-offs in this volume:

Paradiso (3 issues) - We’re introduced to Jill Presto, a cabaret star that has made a deal with the Basanos (the gods of the tarot cards). The Basanos desire to be worshipped in Lucifer’s new world where the only law is that there is no worship. The arc ends with a barbecued Lucifer.

The Writing on the Wall (1 issue) - An odd one-off about a centaur girl. While I was entertained by the story, I’m not quite sure how this one fits into the grand narrative.

Purgatorio (3 issues) - The Basanos have now taken over Lucifer’s new world. Jill becomes the recipient of the next generation of the Basanos. Death makes a cameo (!!!) and Lucifer is restored. A huge war between Lucifer and allies against the Basanos ensues.

Breaking and Entering (1 issue) - A fun one-off about Gaudium, a new favorite secondary character.

Great art, lettering, dialogue, narrative, use of mythology, etc. It’s really cool to see how Carey is building this massive narrative and tying everything together.

[Amor Asad · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far the best volume

[Zec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains the arcs: Paradiso, Writing on the Wall, Purgatorio, Breaking and Entering.

Another fantastic series of arcs. Really enjoying the format of this series as compared to The Sandman. Very TV like in the sense that most issues are standalone but all contribute to a larger arc. Biggest difference between Lucifer and Sandman is that since all the stories are connected and build upon each other, even filler one-shot issues are still important.

Really intrigued by Michael’s debate, kid and fate. Interesting that Mazikeen goes though quite a lot and kinda ends up in the same place. I feel slightly sorry for Jill and a little disappointed in her character. It seemed like she could have done a lot with her powers and I was really looking forward to see if she could have any sort of relationship with the Basanos. But I guess that the point of her character is mostly a victim/vessel of the Basanos. Semi-interesting parallels with the 27-club and other celebrity conspiracy stuff but not particularly spellbinding. Of all the characters thus far, she is the one who feels most like a plot-device rather than a character.

I like the newly introduced Gaudium, a fallen ceraphim seeking redemption by doing Michael’s bidding. The final issue of this book, featuring Gaudium and his Sister, was fun, entertaining and had some good world-building.

I really like how the events that were set in motion in the first issue of the series come to a climax here. The biggest quality of the series so far is its meticulous plotting.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with creating a realm outside of God's rule is that every creature on the wrong side of divinity wants a piece of it - or, in the case of the Basanos, wants all of it. In the fourth volume of Carey's excellent series, Lucifer is forced to defend against all comers. Being Lucifer, he's offended a few people along the way, a few of whom - Izanami and the Lilim among them - find this battle to be an excellent time to even old scores. To survive, even the Devil might need a little help.

Carey neatly knocks the pins out from beneath Lucifer's vaunted self-sufficiency without humbling him in the slightest, and I can't wait to see how the burden of debts owed weighs on his wings. As an added bonus on top of the actual and emotional carnage, the author also gives us a note-perfect cameo from Death of the Endless, who really should get her own book one of these days.

Though The Divine Comedy serves as something of a setback for the Fallen One, it's clear his fight with Heaven is far from over. Thank Carey we'll have ringside seats for the slugfest.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Carey, Lucifer: The Divine Comedy (Vertigo, 2003)

I'd thought the third volume wrapped up a story arc or two. I was wrong. Carey had more up his sleeve here as Lucifer, the Lilim, the Basanos, and Elaine Belloc all converge on Lucifer's alternate universe for a big, nasty struggle in which Lucifer finds himself help from a few places he didn't realize it was coming, the Basanos try to take over the world (so what else is new?), and the Lilim keep whining. Meanwhile, Michael may be back in Heaven, but it seems he learned some things down on Earth that don't have his boss all that pleased... once again, Carey takes the legacy of Neil Gaiman, runs with it, and comes up with a winner. Fantastic stuff, this. ****

[DaViD´82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A v nejzazším koutě jeho nesmírného a věřícího srdce se zrodilo rouhačství.

Album uzavírající ságu točící se kolem tarotových Basanos; a je to jak se patří nápadité, osudové, epické, nekompromisní a (navzdory tomu že plné bájných a božských bytostí) emocionální jak to umí jen velmi málo komiksů (pokud vůbec nějaké) podobného ražení. Veškerá ta pečlivá výstavba a budování ticha před bouří v minulých knihách se plně zúročila. Vyloženě navíc je pouze sama o sobě zábavná finální epilogová povídka o eskapádách dvou padlých cherubínů, jinak není co vytknout.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best yet in this series. I loved every little thing about this volume and I am so happy I've stuck with this series. The characters are finally fleshed out and the story groundwork from the previous volumes culminates in many interesting and exciting ways. The writing is top notch.

[Damon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandmannish

[sally ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

seeing my fav, death, was an absolute delight :')
(just realized how weird this sounds out of context, oh well)

[Tomás Sendarrubias García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con Paraíso, Mike Carey había dejado Lucifer en un clímax sorprendente: después de invadir la nueva creación y con la ayuda de Susano no-Mikoto, los Basanos habían conseguido destruir a la Estrella de la Mañana, o al menos, habían estado a punto de hacerlo, porque la intervención a última hora de Elaine Belloc (y su acompañante, el curioso demonio Gaudio) probablemente evitase la muerte de Lucifer...

Así que en La Divina Comedia (esto es un poco raro, porque Planeta, que se inauguraba en este tomo con Lucifer después de conseguir los derechos editoriales de las colecciones de DC de Norma Editorial, tituló a este tomo La Divina Comedia, pero realmente el arco se llama Purgatorio, y junto al anterior, Paraíso, y el Posterior, Infierno, forma efectivamente, los tres libros de la Divina Comedia de Dante), vamos a comenzar con un número de interludio antes de lanzarnos a la vorágine, la historia de Esa-Kira, una hechicera centauro que vive en el nuevo universo y que va a intentar avisar a Lucifer de que va a sufrir una traición, lo que le cuesta toda su vida tal y como la conocía, para encontrarse con un diablo que, como vimos en el tomo anterior, no es muchas veces ni agradable ni agradecido... Y después de la maravillosa historia de Esa-Kira, Carey nos devuelve a la trama principal, y en este caso, todos andan locos por encontrar el cuerpo de Lucifer... porque mientras no se demuestre que está muerto, la Estrella de la Mañana sigue siendo una amenaza. Por supuesto, los Basanos son los primeros interesados, pues pretenden engendrar una nueva generación de criaturas, convirtiendo a Jill Presto en el receptáculo involuntario de su concepción, pero al alejarse de la Creación, los Basanos, vinculados a ella, comienzan a perder sus poderes de adivinación, de modo que comienzan a surgir grietas en sus planes. Por otro lado, el propio Susano no-Mikoto va a acudir para ayudar a los Basanos a destruir a Lucifer, y los Lilim van a irrumpir también en el nuevo universo, trazando una tregua momentánea con los Basanos, aunque de inmediato podemos ver que Mazikeen tiene planes que van más allá de ellos. Y no solo los enemigos buscan a Lucifer, también lo hace Elaine, que además descubrirá que hay alguien que ha enviado a Gaudio a protegerla, y aunque ella se piensa que es Lucifer, según avanza la historia vamos a descubrir que no. Elaine va a descubrir que alguien se ha llevado el cuerpo de Lucifer, y ese alguien es, ni más ni menos que Meleos, el ángel que creó a los Basanos, y que está dispuesto a todo para destruirlos, incluso a engañar y a sacrificar a quien sea necesario... así que en este cómic va a hacer su aparición la mismísima Muerte de los Eternos... y esto solo será parte del número, porque se va a preparar una batalla a varias bandas, con los Basanos, los Lilim y el tándem Lucifer/Meleos/Elaine/Jill (más o menos, no puedo dar muchas más precisiones porque sería spoiler).

El tomo va a terminar con otro interludio, en este caso con cierto tomo cómico, protagonizado por Gaudio y su hermana, que acuden a un misterioso lugar llamado "La Casa del Durmiente" después de pasar de compras por Faerie, para recuperar la momia de una diosa muerta, con la intención de lanzar un hechizo de resurrección... pero claro, las cosas no funcionan así cuando Gaudio está de por medio.

Un nuevo tomo muy interesante, una gran historia, que encima cuenta con la intervención de este nuevo personaje, Gaudio, que sirve como alivio cómico y que aligera momentos que pueden ser muy dramáticos y de gran tensión. Así que nada, una gran lectura.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were going to make the comic book story of Lucifer into a TV series (not like any of the bizarre series that are supposedly based on the Vertigo version of Lucifer), this would be the finale of the first season. All the characters we've met so far are drawn together into a cataclysmic event where some are killed, some are reborn, and some level up.

There are a ton of great moments in this volume, including an appearance of one of The Endless. Again.

I wasn't sure, upon rererereading it, but for the first time in a decade or so, if Lucifer would still seem as consistently fascinating as it did when I first read it. But it does. I've been reading this back and forth with some Hellblazer, Vol. 10: In the Line of Fire, some Swamp Thing by Brian K. Vaughan, Vol. 1, some The Books of Magic, Volume 3: Reckonings, and some Disenchanted, and while I'm enjoying most of these books, Lucifer is, by far, my favorite.

[Chris Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I take back what I said from the first trade paperback about Innocence from the Basanos being one of my favorite characters. Apparently she's not just "bad ass" she's a bit genocide-y.

I really liked the fallen cherub Gaudium (A.K.A. "Joy"), he is hilarious.

The whole plot device of the feathers Izanami had woven into Lucifer's wings was lame and poorly explained.

I really liked Esa-Kira the centaur, and loved her story--this was my favorite part of this trade. This was illustrated by Dean Ormston, but it didn't bug me. None of the other parts he illustrated in this trade bugged me either, maybe the aspects of his style I don't like aren't as striking in his later work?

The main focus of this trade was the Basanos destroying Lucifer's creation, and I felt meh about it. It also ended anti-climactically.

It was cool to see a cameo from Death of The Endless, I hope there is more of her and the other Endless in future issues of Lucifer.

I wonder if anything will come of Michael's blasphemy. It would make for an interesting story to see heaven's goody two-shoes turn against the Host. We'll see...

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been dipping back in to old Lucifer stories because of the television show, different though it might be. I felt the need to see Mazikeen with an army on Lucifer's doorstep, even as he lies burned and broken. I had forgotten all about Elaine's story line in this book, which is remarkably well framed, but then Death has always been one of my favorite characters in this universe.

A fun, epic series that manages to have compelling characters even though it's full of angels, this book is a good go-to work for fantasy fans. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys comics and the occasional mythic work.

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sure I had reviewed this almost a year ago, but OK. I had a quick reread and there are three things of note:

1. The whole Basanos story reached its peak and resolution, and it's just... meh. I mean, it's great conceptually and stylistically, but basically Lucifer comes out on top by plot armor.

2. An appearance by Death of the Endless is always a high point, and Ellaine Belloc still remains one of the most fun characters to read.

3. I couldn't care less about Gaudium.

It's not terrible, overall, but for one of the main plots in the comic, it is rather underwhelming.

[Alexander Catalano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is everyone always trying to help Lucifer when he is such a dick? I thought the whole point of the series is trying to make the character of the devil more sympathetic, but as of lately he’s just an asshole. Maybe not evil, just a typical ass.

I really wish Goodreads had a 0 to 10 rating system instead is just 1 to 5. It’s extremely difficult to discern how I feel about this. The fantasy elements are very good, but I don’t know. Something feels off.

[Pavel Pravda · Rating 5 out of 5]

To jsou zvraty! To jsou kotrmelce! Tento díl je hodně výživný. Nelíbí se mi, k čemu zde došlo a už vůbec se mi nelíbí, koho jsme ztratili. Ale je to zatraceně strhující. Lucifer dostal lekci pokory, na které sice někteří vydělali, ale cena, kterou jiní museli zaplatit, byla příliš vysoká. Alespoň že hutný závěr odlehčuje povedená a vtipná povídka "Vloupačka".

[María Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

En general me gustan más las historias centradas en personajes secundarios*, así que este volumen me gustó mucho.

*Me gustó la historia de la centaura y de los querubines caídos, y Elaine Belloc y ver a Death otra vez, pero toda la historia en general me gustó, mucha variedad.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth in the Lucifer series. We continue the war between heaven and Lucifer over the new creation. I enjoy this series due to the clever writing, intricate art, and well-woven plots. It seems random at times, until we see how the bit ties in with the larger story much later.

[sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

with every volume i fall more and more in love with this series!
the only qualm i had with this one is that there was a Lot going on. maybe i’m just dumb, but especially in the beginning, the scene switches were kind of Rough and things were hard to keep track of. it wrapped up beautifully though.

[Keeloca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual score: 4,5

See, the thing that these books really have going for them, other than a kick-ass protagonist and compelling stories, are the excellent cast of very good side-characters, that are often allowed to take center stage. Often these are women (or female, at least) and I love it.