Lucifer Omnibus Vol. 1

Lucifer Omnibus

by Mike Carey, Peter Gross (Illustrator)

Stepping out of the pages of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, the Fallen One begins his own epic journey in this first of two oversize omnibus collections featuring Mike Carey's acclaimed, Eisner Award-nominated series

"His omniscience only works because there are no alternatives. But I have conceived of a revolution that may surprise even Him."

Stepping out of the pages of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, the Fallen One begins his own epic journey in this first of two oversize omnibus collections featuring Mike Carey's acclaimed, Eisner Award-nominated series. Since resigning his throne and abandoning his kingdom, Lucifer Morningstar has filled his days supervising a considerably reduced staff at Lux, Los Angeles' most elite piano bar. The arrival of a once-in-an-eternity job offer, however, is about to put an end to his quiet retirement. The contract comes straight from the Creator Himself, and if Lucifer successfully completes his task, the former lord of Hell can name his own price. But negotiating this particular razor's edge between opportunity and catastrophe will require all of his legendary subtlety and will--and no small amount of sacrifice. For his part, the Lightbringer is prepared to risk everything to win the power of Heaven's reward. The Devil's hands have been idle long enough.

Lucifer Omnibus Vol. 1 collects The Sandman Presents: Lucifer #1-3, Lucifer #1-35, and Lucifer: Nirvana #1 with a foreword by Neil Gaiman and an introduction by Mike Carey, along with an extensive gallery of never-before-seen art from the making of the series.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Dc Comics, Horror, Mythology, Graphic Novels Comics

1064 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2019

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

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thing is massive clocking in at almost 1,200 pages. My dog kept thinking it was a good place to sit when it was on my lap.



While my wife was just afraid it was so heavy I'd accidentally drop it on our dog and kill him. It collects the original miniseries and the first 35 issues plus the Nirvana one-shot along with a 100 pages of sketches and behind the scenes material.

If you've read Sandman and are looking for more, this is a good place to start. It picks up with Lucifer running a nightclub in L.A. when he's asked to do a favor for heaven. I like that even though this spins out of Sandman, Carey quickly establishes his own mythology and characters. His Lucifer is cutthroat and conniving and yet, it's easy to think he's looking out for you. Like Sandman, Lucifer isn't always the star of each story, sometimes only playing a minor character.

Scott Hampton's art in the initial miniseries is fantastic. I love how he switches back and forth between sparse colored pencils and full paints.

Todd Klein is known as the best letterer in the business. It's clear why in this volume. Every character has his or her own font and way of speaking. Lettering is one of those things you typically only notice when it's bad. Here with the numerous nonhuman characters in the story, it really stands out.

The House of Windowless Rooms
This is where all the cool gods and foreign dimensions begin to come in that make this series so interesting. As we see here, underestimate Lucifer at your regret, even when he's at his most vulnerable. I love how manipulative Lucifer is. We also get to see what's behind Mazikeen's mask.

The art team that will carry through most of the rest of the series begins here. Peter Gross and Ryan Kelly with Dean Ormston filling in between the bigger arcs. Mike Carey and Peter Gross establish a creative relationship that carries over the next 20 years to The Unwritten, The Highest House, and now The Dollhouse Family.

Children and Monsters
This is where Carey really begins to set up the story that will carry through the end of the series. Carey is excellent at planning ahead and building stories atop stories. It's what make this series so satisfying.

Triptych is a great arc. I like how each issue focuses on one of our main characters Elaine Belloc, Mazikeen, and Lucifer, advancing each of their stories.

A Dalliance with the Damned is much less interesting. Seeing a bunch of demons try and mimic the royalty of medieval Europe was ultimately just as boring as the time period they were mimicking.

The Thunder Sermon is one of my favorite issues so far. It's such a great ending to this story. It really sums up Lucifer in a nutshell.

Paradiso & Purgatorio All the threads laid so far come back to roost in these two arcs. 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.

Inferno is a great arc. Lucifer's duel with the angel, Amenadiel, finally comes to pass with Lucifer in a greatly weakened state. Mazikeen is her typical badass self. This woman needs her own book.

The last few issues aren't nearly as good with a couple of one offs and a two parter that are really just setup for the future.

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant! Excellent writing, stunning art, and fantastic characters with fascinating journeys.

Mike Carey knows his craft, and his take on Lucifer impressed me a lot. So much, in fact, that I would call it one of my Top 10 comics/graphic novels ever. I may be wrong here - I still have Omnibus 2 to read and another 1000 pages of goodness before me.

Anyway, the story here is a complex one. The series follows the exploits of the Devil after he renounces the throne of Hell and goes to live in Los Angeles. Then, after a certain point in the series, he initiates his own Creation and becomes a god (of sorts and with an interesting approach to his creation).

It’s a cosmic epic with extensive horror underpinnings. It involves a sentient Tarot pack (Basanos), portals to multiple worlds, Japanese gods, a supernatural war, and much more.

Lucifer Morningstar is a brilliant lead - he cares nothing about people's opinions of him; he’s confident, goal-oriented, and gifted with unshakable will. He treats most beings as tools or obstacles to reaching his goals. With a few exceptions, though, and they only make him more interesting.

A longer review to come soon(ish).

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Carey's Lucifer is one of the true greats among comics, matched by Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and not much else. It's a wonderful and singular vision told across ~80 issues, or now two massive omnibuses. (Why did it take them so long!?) It's a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

What's great about this first volume? It starts out a little wobbly with the First World and Basanos stories, but even in those storylines there's the thread of the larger arc. But building up from there it goes from strength to strength, as we visit a new world, Heaven, and Hell alike. Carey's structure of storytelling is magnificent, as 1-, 3-, and 4-issue stories advance a big plot in little bursts. Even the tiny interstitial stories, which build up the larger world without visiting our main characters, are wonderful.

And those characters? They're wonderful too. Lucifer, Mazikeen, and Elaine are the strong heart of the comic, and seeing them grow and change is wonderful.

This is just the first volume, but it's got great stories like "The House of Windowless Rooms", and the "Paridiso"/"Purgatorio"/"Inferno" trilogy. And there's more to come! We're about to take a journey on a very strange boat!

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
With the ponderous and trifling opening being the only blot on this books register, Lucifer omnibus volume 1 is a spectacular triumph in high concept, mature comic book storytelling, and speaks volumes for the power of consistency when it comes to its creators. All here turn in career defining work, which somehow continues to get better and better with the turning of every page.
Having reviewed each individual trade paperback up to this point, I'm finding it difficult to think of new ways in which to express just how wonderful this story is in my opinion. Whilst superhero comics may have been producing far from stellar work in the late 90's, for the indie scene, it was an absolute halcyon era. With Vertigo being the absolute and undisputed king of the hill, until DC decided to throw that legacy away, along with pretty much every other one they have as well. One of the GOAT's for sure. 4.5/5


OmniBen.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai eu peur la lecture de ce gros omnibus qui a commencé en dent de scie.

Faisant partie de l'univers étendu de Sandman, je connais surtout Lucifer par le biais de la série où il est incarné par Tom Ellis (oui oui c'est le Lucifer de Sandman ! Qui est également dans l'univers DC... le monde est petit)

J'ai adoré les épisodes de Sandman presents Lucifer, où Dieu lui confie une mission sur Terre, qu'il accomplit ce qui lui donne un passe droit pour toute la série suivante, ça ressemble un peu à Sandman, c'est doux et beau. Idem pour Lucifer Nirvana, qui se rapproche encore davantage de Sandman visuellement et au niveau de l'histoire, avec un parallèle entre les deux rois déchus de leurs royaumes.

Et puis vient la série Lucifer... je ne suis pas rentré dedans directement, les 3/4 premiers numéros commencent lentement avec un enchaînement d'histoires parallèles qui semblent sans lien, et graphiquement pas à mon goût. Heureusement dès le numéro 4/5 on change d'artiste et on commence à voir le tableau global se mettre en place. Ça ressemble davantage à du Sandman, avec des successions d'histoires qui se rejoignent, mais dans un contexte lié surtout au christianisme, et un peu au shintoïsme.

Passé de cap douloureux, l'histoire décolle, s'envole, et je comprends parfaitement la hype. Les artistes changent régulièrement et ont des styles qui me parlent davantage.

Je quitte ce premier Omnibus avec déjà un très bon avis sur la série et ai hâte de passer au second !

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divine.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 star book. Perhaps I just don’t appreciate the graphic novel form, but it felt, like Sandman, pretty pretentious, but without as much of Sandman’s undeniable ambition. Plus this omnibus weighs as much as a bag of hammers, so bedtime reading can be a bit uncomfortable. Diverting as it was, do I want to shell out another $68 for the second volume (on a $125 list price!)? Not really.

[Alecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the complete Sandman series, I was interested in the mystical side of the DC comics universe. I continued with The Books of Magic since its first issues were also penned by Neil Gaiman. Of course, Lucifer was up next as he was created as part of the Sandman chronicles which led me here.

I started this omnibus wanting to love it, but ending with mixed feelings. The art, with the exception of a few panels in certain issues, is not especially beautiful nor eye catching. The dialogue is fantastic, and the storyline is compelling. But there's just enough substance. The series suffers from a lack of its main character. When Lucifer is on the page, the plot moves forward decisively and you can't wait to see what happens next. But we spend too much time with side characters who aren't given enough background to make us care, and the story in general feels oddly surface level. Then too, Lucifer himself is too much of a legend. As a fallen angel who rebelled against God, he's perhaps the most human of any of them. But instead we get an arrogant, suave, unflappable guy who never loses. He's like James Bond, without any of the love affairs.

The entire plot centers around the question of free will. Is it possible to have it in a universe with an omniscient God? But it shies away from giving us an answer, or even a serious speculation on what that answer could be. Disappointingly, there is more serious spiritual philosophy in books like Madeleine L'Engle's "Wrinkle in Time" saga, Philip Pullman's "Golden Compass" series, or heck, even Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia." At one point Lucifer manages to spin off his own universe where he forbids any type of religious worship. What would a world like that look like? We never really find out. The archangel Michael fathered a half-angel daughter who could change the balance of the celestial scales- but she gets killed. Lucifer fights a duel with the angel Amenadiel in hell and wins- with seemingly little to no impact on the heavenly host. That might not be noticed if the various plot machinations were exciting enough to distract from the lack of deep thinking but all of Lucifer's enemies are strangely impotent and even worse, only one of them seemed to have a tangible reason to actually hate him!

Another vastly underutilized character is Mazikeen. She is one of the Lilim, descended from Lilith, Adam's spurned first wife. She is fierce and clearly devoted to Lucifer in a way that goes beyond the platonic. It's hard to parse whether or not they have any involvement. We get bits and pieces of her backstory but nothing that explains why she follows Lucifer or why she cares for him. She is distinctive in that half her face is exposed muscle and bone, but we never find out why. Was it a form she chose or was it something done to her that she claimed as her own? At one point her face is made whole and she resents it violently, planning to kill the woman who did it to her despite that person's good intentions. Why is she so attached to her ruined face? Details like that are what make characters in stories more than mere shadow puppets.

There's just so much potential here for a juicy story that hasn't yet come to fruition. I can only hope that the remaining volume gives me what I'm looking for.

[Jemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many intriguing ideas floating around on the pages of Lucifer that it could have easily become a confusing read, but Carey handles the characters and narratives in such a way that it remains an engaging read throughout. His handling of Lucifer as a character stays true to the version drawn up in Neil Gaiman's Season of Mists who is, in turn, an imagining inspired by John Milton's version. It is easy to see why a series based on this interpretation is such an enjoyable read, especially when the usual connotations associated with Lucifer are manipulated away from the notion of him being a 'pure evil'. It is almost always this interpretation of the Fallen Angel, a figure associated with rebellion and tragedy, that offers the most expressive and appealing stories.

He becomes another example of the archetype that Vertigo, as an imprint, managed to cultivate so well. That of the anti-hero (or anti-villain depending on who you ask). The cynicism and begrudging attitude mirrors that of John Constantine (Hellblazer: Original Sins) or Bigby Wolf (Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile) that make him a familiar presence despite the vast differences between the characters. The art fits the story well, with the quality being consistent throughout, often bringing the more conceptual creatures within Lucifer's pages to life.

[Blindzider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this solely on the basis of 1) Carey's X-Men run and 2) I tend to like Vertigo stuff. I also never read any of the Sandman series so I only knew about the character what this volume told.

While it isn't stated explicitly at first, it is in one of the issues: Lucifer doesn't like the idea of being lorded over and wanted freedom to decide what he wanted to do. That appeals to me, so I took an immediate liking to him. He generally just wanted to be left alone and wasn't really mean to people unless the situation required it.

For the most part, I enjoyed the series. Seeing Lucifer handle adversaries was satisfying, almost like watching Batman, the ultimate strategist, out think his foes. The problem is Lucifer is really only in this for about the first half of the book and then only sporadically after that. The rest deals with developing some of the other characters, which is fine, but sometimes they felt like fill ins. Mazikeen was intriguing, although I felt I missed out on whatever happened between her and Lucifer before this series. I also thought Gaudium was hilarious, providing a good laugh every time he spoke.

I wish the art was a little better. It sort of fits: it isn't clean, which helps provide the mood since many of the stories are in "hell" or are dark and in dingy places. There are multiple artists with roughly the same style.

Looking at the number of issues remaining in the series, it seems that DC will fit it all into one more volume. I'll continue reading because I enjoy Vertigo's "adult" storytelling and Carey fits some intriguing and imaginative ideas in this book.

[ダンカン · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some thing elegant and graceful when I read Lucifer, and this is because its written by Mike Carey, the author who also wrote The Girl With All The Gifts in 2014. Lucifer was written in 2001 and it wasn't easy for him to write Lucifer Morningstar, that was written by Neil Gaiman when Lucifer first debuted in Sandman comics. It was like passing an important character that is not easy to write... and he did it with a flair of great creativity and a world building that really speaks consistently well. I love reading Lucifer and this was carried very well as a spin-off. Collecting this incredible omnibus first volume are the first 35 issues, a three issue mini-series The Sandman Presents: Lucifer and Lucifer: Nirvana one-shot. With more than a thousand pages, the bonus content is filled with sketches by different artists, and a sample script of one of the issues. Here's some thing why you should get this omnibus or if you prefer a paperback with a much thinner collection of five volumes - this is pure literature at its best. You may think you know who or what Lucifer really is, and you may think the adaptation of the TV series is just like it... this is a whole other level that really begins like an epic saga, a quest that Lucifer is aiming for - to be his own God and create a whole new cosmos so that he can rule. This is what I call originality and unique. If you haven't read it, pick Lucifer. You do not need to read Sandman first to understand it, this is more than enough and this omnibus is really worth paying the price for.

[pastiesandpages - Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucifer may have first appeared in The Sandman but Mike Carey very quickly makes him his own, with a supporting cast and mythology that fits within the Sandman Universe and yet is very separate.

This is a weighty omnibus of over a thousand pages and collects the Lucifer mini-series The Sandman Presents: Lucifer issues 1 to 3, along with the first 35 issues of his following series and the Nirvana one-shot.

It's epic in size and scope. Lucifer Morningstar has resigned his throne and abandoned hell for a life in Los Angeles as the proprietor of club Lux. Accompanied by a few staff including Mazikeen, the queen of the Lilim, he appears content, but he's soon pulled out of retirement with a job offer from the Creator; a task that involves saving the Earth itself.

The devil is an anti-hero or maybe an anti-villain? He certainly only does something if it's in his own interest and Heaven's reward will be considerable.

This is a series full of angels and demons, philosophical and biblical references, horrors both mundane and supernatural, and at the heart of the story is the Milton and Dante inspired ten chapters making up Paradiso, Purgatorio, and Inferno.

Carey weaves in the Basanos, demons from a living and sentient deck of tarot cards, a Japanese themed hell of eternally tortured souls in The House of Windowless Rooms, angel children and a murder investigation, the land of the damned, creation myths and epic celestial battle. It's an extraordinary piece of work with a lot of depth and the art styles throughout are fantastic.

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall series - I've loved everything I've read in the metaphysical & mythological corner of the DC universe and Lucifer is the best of the bunch. Fresh off his abandonment of hell from the "Season of the Mists" storyline in Sandman, this story follows Lucifer as he further maneuvers to exist outside the influence of God and the heavenly host. Lucifer's journey to defy predestination and God's omnipotence provides a wealth of philosophical and religious commentary in addition to developing a compelling mythology around his journey and his interactions with other pantheons including the Shinto and Nordic gods. The original side characters are perhaps the greatest strength of the series and their intersection with existing mythologies is creative, thoughtful, and thoroughly entertaining. Elaine Belloc was my favorite of the ensemble cast and it was great seeing her have such a large role in the overarching narrative but I also quite enjoyed the escapades of Mazikeen, Christopher Rudd, Lilith, Lady Lys, and the Basanos. The art wasn't particularly special to me but it depicted the plot and characters well and I never felt the art detracted from my overall enjoyment. Very excited to check out more work by Carey in the future. 9/10

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part one of this amazing Lucifer Omnibus, this huge book collects the sandman spin-off series Lucifer issues 1-35 also containing the sandman presents Lucifer 1-3, and Lucifer Nirvana 1. This book focuses on Lucifer Morningstar who after being trapped in hell for billions of years leaves and goes to live in LA running a piano bar named Lux. His version of retirement from Hell crossover from
The sandman series . Unfortunately trouble arises and he’s called to help save the world. I loved reading this book because Lucifer Morningstar and Mazikeen were a few of my top favourites so I was happy to learn that there was a spin-off series about them. I loved the storyline’s, I absolutely loved the breathtakingly beautiful artwork. This book was highly entertaining and enjoyable book to read I definitely recommend reading this book. This huge omnibus is a wonderful collectors item.

[JoeK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as coherent or compelling as the Sandman series from which it is derived, and certainly noting like the TV series that bears its name.

While interesting, most of the characters are unlikable, and many have motives that are unfathomable to me, especially Lucifer. He seems to have no loyalties, or friends, merely hangers-on who usually want something from him. At first his goal seems to be creating a new reality, that his somehow better than his Father's, but that quickly gets corrupted by outside influences. After that he quickly loses interest in his creation and seems to be reacting to others instead of charting his own course.

Occasionally it seems he has great hidden schemes (like Father like son) but these never seem to amount to much. I'm sticking with the series to see if I'm wrong.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Absolutely nothing like the tv show, so don't expect that. Instead, a true continuation of Lucifer's adventures since his appearance in Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Chock full of all your supernatural goodness in a rich mythology that's familiar to all but also in a class all its own. If you liked Sandman or any of the Hellblazer stories, then this is a perfect companion. I only hope that Vertigo (ugh...fine, DCVertigo...) puts out the second volume soon.

[Zachary Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

After re-reading all of Sandman again, I needed more stories in the Sandman Universe. This is my first time reading Mike Carey's epic run on Lucifer and this was excellent. Great 3 to 4 issue story arcs with a fantastic cast of characters introduced. There are plenty of callbacks to Sandman but you could even read this as a stand alone (I really do recommend reading Sandman first though). About to start Omnibus volume 2 and hope the rest of the series stands up.

[TheMadReader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, I really did…especially because the Lucifer storyline in Sandman was all that I enjoyed from Sandman however, I couldn’t get into this. I thought maybe if Gaiman wasn’t writing it, I’d enjoy this. I was wrong. All the fantasy shit and removing the human element in this story really drew me out as a reader. I powered through with toothpicks holding up my eyelids as other reviews said, it gets better after the first 15 issues…nope. It was simply not my cup of tea.

[Bassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply amazing. The sheer originality of stories, concepts and characters. The wonderfully consistent art. The character development. The way the story arcs fit together. One of the best books I have read, and one of the rare books that resonates differently with each reading. Same as The Sandman series.

[Sotofunkdamental · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spin-off de Sandman, que cuenta la historia del ángel caído Lucifer, que tras pedirle a Morfeo que le amputara sus alas y custodiara las llaves del infierno, ahora regenta un piano bar en Los ángeles. Me he llevado una grata sorpresa con la escritura de Mike Carey. Una serie que merece mucho más reconocimiento.

[Edgardo Aponte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book just as much as I love sandman. They go hand and hand. I appreciate the over arching continuation of this book compared to sandman. Some confusing parts that enhance your experience in a reread.

[Evalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved this. Such a great series and I'm enjoying every installment. The quality of the Omnibus seems great to me and it allowed me to tackle reading this series for the first time with ease. Onto volume two!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the sandman series by Neil Gaiman in high school and it has always been my favorite comic series. Since then I’ve been meaning to read the Lucifer series, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I raced through this compendium in a week and am ready to move onto the second. I love the different story lines and following different characters through different stories. Elaine is my favorite in this series. Also it was so cool seeing appearances by Death of the Endless. 🖤 Great series!

[Patrick Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucifer can be confusing at times and have no idea what is going on but goddamn if it is not epic and badass!! Fav chapters were Inferno,Bearing gifts and come to judgement solid 4/5, not quite up to Sandman level for me personally but I really did enjoy it and will start volume 2 very soon!

[Hugo Emanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly creative and unpredictable long story form narrative, superbly well written by Mike Carey.
Aside from its compelling narrative, the artwork, mostly by Peter Gross and Ryan Kelly, is consistently fantastic and exciting.
Highly recommended for fans of Gaiman's "The Sandman".

10/10

[Al Capwned · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's insane how an omnibus with more than 1000 pages can be so good. I would give it 5/5 stars if it wasn't for some plot points that aren't addressed enough. But maybe they do in the second volume. We'll find out.

[Nicholas Siebers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of the Sandman universe, with a descent into hell and other metaphysical adventures.

[Andreo Bongco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite graphic novel next to Sandman

[Seroxx83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[C. Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most underrated Vertigo title ever printed. A masterpiece from start to finish.