Lucifer: Children and Monsters (2002) Mike Carey et al, Titan Books, £14.99, tpbk, 208pp, ISBN 1-84023-391-5
This second Lucifer trade paperback collects issues 5-13 of the ongoing Vertigo/DC Comics series. In "The House of Windowless Rooms" Lucifer Morningstar requests the return of his wings from the goddess Izanami, but is met with the treachery of her offspring, and in "Children and Monsters" the Heavenly Host, disturbed by Lucifer's ownership of a Letter of Passage given to him by God, for services rendered in the original three-issue mini-series, mount an attack on Los Angeles in order to take the gateway Lucifer has opened into uncreation.
Carey has done a brilliant job of continuing this series, creating a Lucifer of great intelligence, ruthlessness and humour. The art by Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly and Dean Ormston is delightful. The intricacies of plot rival Gaiman's in Sandman, as does the clarity of vision and thinking - just when you think things are getting too confusing, everything falls into place perfectly. I look forward with anticipation to the next volume in this wonderfully compelling tale.
Tony Chester
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