Lucifer Vol. 2: Children and Monsters [Paperback]

Mike Carey (Author), Peter Gross (Author), Ryan Kelly (Author), Dean Ormston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

From the pages of Neil Gaiman's multi award-winning Sandman series...Cast out of heaven, thrown down to rule in Hell, Lucifer Morningstar has resigned his post and abandoned his infernal kingdom for the mortal city of Los Angeles. But retirement means only opportunity for Lucifer's many and varied enemies, all of whom have bitter and long memories, and it's going to take more than quick wits to survive the coming storm. As Lucifer bids to reclaim his lost wings, so his mortal vulnerability is revealed, and from the grim tapestry of his past the agents of chaos gather, ready to feast on his damned soul!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563898004
• ISBN-13: 978-1563898006
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Carey got into writing through comic books, where his horror/fantasy series Lucifer garnered numerous international awards and was nominated for five Eisners. From there he moved into novels and screenplays, while still maintaining a presence in the comics world (he is currently writing two of Marvel's flagship titles, X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four). His movie Frost Flowers, an erotic ghost story, is currently in production with Hadaly/Bluestar Pictures. He lives in London, England, about as far as you can get from the centre of the city and still have access to the London Underground train network. His wife, Linda, writes fantasy for young readers under the pseudonym A.J. Lake. They have three children and an implausibly beautiful cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Stunning!, February 4, 2002

By 

N. Miller (Warminster, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucifer Vol. 2: Children and Monsters (Paperback)

As an avid (trader paperback-only) reader of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, and the non-Gaiman spinoff "The Dreaming," Mike Carey's "Lucifer: Children and Monsters" wins top marks all around.

The first Lucifer collection "Devil in the Gateway" re-introduced us to Lucifer from the Sandman stories. "Sandman" fans will recall that he gave up his wings, closed shop, retired to a nightclub in Los Angeles and watched the ensuing chaos resolve itself.

In "Devil in the Gateway," Lucifer named his price for a task requested of Heaven. Not much of a task... the mere disposal of a few ancient gods. In exchange for this errand, Lucifer's price is paid: a Letter of Passage.

Lucifer transforms the letter into a gateway leading Outside of Creation. The gateway is crafted with the divine name so that even the Creator himself cannot close it without destroying all of Creation.

In "Children and Monsters" Lucifer's must reclaim his wings from the Japanese pantheon of gods (on mortal terms, no less), deal with the assembled Armies of Heaven, and finally resolve a unfinished scenario with one of his fellow Fallen.

Since I'm not one for buying issues each month, I can only say that I eagerly await the third book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Worthy of being in the "Sandman" universe., April 24, 2002

By 

Dr. Zoidberg (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucifer Vol. 2: Children and Monsters (Paperback)

"Children and Monsters" starts exactly where "Devil in the Gateway" ended: after Lucifer finished doing God's quest, he received a gate into the void - a place outside of creation. That is the main storyline of this novel. This graphic novel also contains three parts:

The first story tells how Lucifer journies into the Japanese dimension of death. As we found out in the previous novel, the Japanese goddess of Death obtained Lucifer's wings (which were torn off him). Thus, Lucifer embarks on a quest to get back his wings. I loved this part! If I didn't know, I could've sworn Neil Gaiman wrote this part.. it really felt as if it belonged in the "Sandman" universe.

The second story is above an immortal girl who was born thousands of years ago, yet can't die because she was cursed by her gods for not getting an abortion.

The third story unites the previous novel with the first two parts of this one.. Lucifer comes back with his wings and wants to enter the void, only to have an army of angels try and stop him. All the previous threads come together here.

I think this graphic novel was much better than the previous one. It definitely feels more and more like an extension of the original "Sandman" series. If this level continues - I am definitely going to stay till the end! Highly Recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Lightbringer's plans begin..., August 14, 2007

By 

Kevin Oliver (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucifer Vol. 2: Children and Monsters (Paperback)

Having obtained a means of escaping Yahweh's creation, Lucifer begins to gather his resources for the greater task ahead. First he must regain his wings, which are being held by the children of Amaterasu (Japanese pantheon) as part of a clandestine plan of their own. Despite being physically helpless upon entering their realm, Lucifer still manages to outwit his "hosts"--thereby earning the ire of several enemies who will cause him a great deal of trouble later on. It goes to show that the devil's most dangerous weapon is his will.

Further stories in this volume have to do with a very old and dangerous baby in a bottle, the primeval shapeless things known as the Jin En Mok, and the true nature of Elaine Belloc. The latter will turn out to be essential to the arc of the series as a whole. And expect to meet Lucifer's brother before it's all over. Since Lucifer doesn't bother to share his plans with us, the relationship among these things might not make sense yet. But this will become clear in future volumes, as his plans come to fruition (though not without a fair share of setbacks).

The various mythic themes and settings are drawn together in a way reminiscent of Gaiman's work on The Sandman. And it stands to reason that fans of the latter series will be predisposed to like this one on general principle. But Lucifer is really a different animal, and with this volume Carey continues to gain momentum, finding his own voice along the way.

It's hard to rate the individual volumes' relative merits, but the series as a whole is recommended. Lucifer is a strangely compelling and charismatic protagonist, despite his utter self-absorption, and the plots involved are truly world-altering in every sense. In the end, even the omniscient are surprised.