‘HELL OF A TALE’ GN Review – Lucifer, Book Five: Mike Carey, Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly (Vertigo/ DC Comics)

Day Twenty of the graphic novel review a day here at Tripwire and today it’s Lucifer Book Five, by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly, Vertigo/ DC Comics.

DC have been re-presenting this series in hefty phone book sized format, and here is the final volume. Carey cut his teeth on Lucifer, and it has been fascinating to chart the progress of this veteran writer, who became more and more accomplished as the series progressed. Here Lucifer is forced to battle against a new host, teaming up with his former angelic comrades to save heaven. But of course nothing goes to plan, and the outcome of the battle forces the fallen angel to reassess his very existence.

Carey and Gross, along with a few guest artists like Mike Kaluta and Dean Ormston, manage to weave a story that succeeds in being both epic and very human at the same time. Obviously without Sandman, there would be no Lucifer but Carey and his collaborators transcend the source material, bringing things like Milton and Dante into the mix. Carey and Gross do wrap up the story in a fairly comprehensive fashion, so if you are a fan of quality horror and supernatural stories, then the complete Lucifer series is a rewarding and challenging saga.

It is only right and proper that Vertigo has made the entire run available in trade paperback, after being out of print for several years. A compelling and intelligent comic series, Lucifer proves, if proof were needed, that Mike Carey has always been, and continues to be, one of the most imaginative and thoughtful writers working in comics today.

Lucifer Book Five TP