[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Holly Black
Artist: Lee Garbett
Summary
How does one outsmart a god? How do you defeat the being that created everything? And how do you defend yourself from its wrath? Lucifer has traveled to see young Noema Presto, the daughter of a witch and granddaughter, in a manner of speaking, to the Basanos. While gods often work in mysterious ways to create and “guide” those who worship them, Lucifer has found a mighty weapon in this little girl. Truth.
Mazikeen and Gabriel work hard to hold off the angels that protect Yahweh, while getting to stretch their new found sight of the future. How will this conflict end? and how will Lucifer, powerful though he may be, survive an encounter with the very pissed off and greedy creator?
Positives
Having never read an issue of Lucifer before, I suddenly found myself researching this series and its rich history. The very political and strategic conflict, more so than physical fighting in this issue, had me extremely curious. I studied the original depictions of each character as well as those of Neil Gaiman. After that I found that there were quite a few Biblical references, beyond just the names and relations of some characters.
The art was quite a treat as well! Being a fan of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, the use of such heavy blacks in contrast with the colorful and detailed world of Lucifer was great to look at. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of Yahweh, with its vague and ill-defined form. Lee Garbett is really something.
Negatives
Some of the narration in this issue was slightly vague and I only understood it after doing some research. While this does create a near Biblical style of writing, using vagaries and allowing you to draw conclusions of your own, it also can leave a reader a little confused.
This issue isn’t really for readers who just want to pick up a comic and watch spandex-clad heroes punch each other in the face. It is much more complex in meaning and rich in relationships than more popular books. This is more of a double-edged sword than a true negative, it will be loved by it’s fan base and misunderstood by those randomly picking it up.
Verdict
Lucifer #12 was a really interesting read once I had read a few Wikipedia pages on the past series by Neil Gaiman. It is a very enjoyable read that has me ready for Lucifer #13.
