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aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
Crux is another one the volumes that has always felt slightly disjointed. Where we have mostly been following a linear timeline until this point, Crux takes us into the Soft Places and, therefore, into a very malleable timeline.
Told in flashback, but not really, the opening recounts a journey Lilith once took, and a meeting wherein the future was shown to her. The journey through that timeline is a bit of a roller coaster ride, ending with Mazikeen and her brother Briadach in a perilous position, once which is eclipsed by an even greater occurrence.
The true gem of this volume is found in "The Yahweh Dance," wherein Elaine must come to grips with the power she has taken from her father, and the consequences that taking that power brought. It is both a wonderful commentary on the creation myth, religion as a whole, and some of Carey's best storytelling in the series.
And as Elaine learns to manipulate her new power, and to make world conform to her will, a change of leadership in Hell and another among the Lilim threatens to accelerate the utter annihilation of our creation.
Oh, and Jill Presto, who was pregnant, and the not pregnant and then pregnant again, all without every showing a baby bump, suddenly starts looking a little rounder and finally gives birth.
Amid Carey's build-up to the final battle of the series, there are some moments that made me scratch my head a bit. The Basanos, dormant for so long and assumed to be a non-factor, rises Phoenix-life to be a thorn in Jill's side yet again. The addition of a second faction to the army of the Lilim--you know, Lilith's *other* children--seems a bit over-the-top, especially given how precarious the Silver City's position already is. And it seems odd that, while tying up loose ends to prepare for the big finale, that more loose ends would instead be created. And while the Basanos was always a fascinating idea for a foe, and executed well in the beginning of the series, I think things would have progressed fine if they had not been allowed to linger and keep attempting to reassert themselves.
Onward to the final two volumes...
Told in flashback, but not really, the opening recounts a journey Lilith once took, and a meeting wherein the future was shown to her. The journey through that timeline is a bit of a roller coaster ride, ending with Mazikeen and her brother Briadach in a perilous position, once which is eclipsed by an even greater occurrence.
The true gem of this volume is found in "The Yahweh Dance," wherein Elaine must come to grips with the power she has taken from her father, and the consequences that taking that power brought. It is both a wonderful commentary on the creation myth, religion as a whole, and some of Carey's best storytelling in the series.
And as Elaine learns to manipulate her new power, and to make world conform to her will, a change of leadership in Hell and another among the Lilim threatens to accelerate the utter annihilation of our creation.
Oh, and Jill Presto, who was pregnant, and the not pregnant and then pregnant again, all without every showing a baby bump, suddenly starts looking a little rounder and finally gives birth.
Amid Carey's build-up to the final battle of the series, there are some moments that made me scratch my head a bit. The Basanos, dormant for so long and assumed to be a non-factor, rises Phoenix-life to be a thorn in Jill's side yet again. The addition of a second faction to the army of the Lilim--you know, Lilith's *other* children--seems a bit over-the-top, especially given how precarious the Silver City's position already is. And it seems odd that, while tying up loose ends to prepare for the big finale, that more loose ends would instead be created. And while the Basanos was always a fascinating idea for a foe, and executed well in the beginning of the series, I think things would have progressed fine if they had not been allowed to linger and keep attempting to reassert themselves.
Onward to the final two volumes...
jayspa65's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The title of Carey’s ninth installment of Lucifer is perhaps the epitome of truth in advertising. Here, finally, we get to the crux of the stories told thus far: Lilith’s plan for revenge, Jill Presto’s desperate struggle to end her pregnancy, Elaine Belloc’s rise to godhead, and the little matter of just who precisely shall reign in Hell now that Lucifer’s outgrown that throne.
God abdicated his throne a couple of volumes back, leading directly to the re-emergence of Fenris and the beginning of the end of both our universe and Lucifer’s own creation. There were other repercussions too, and as Crux opens, we see the first of them. A dying Michael tries to pass his power into Elaine, but the resultant explosion sends both Elaine and Lucifer into another realm entirely, leaving the way clear for the Lilim to attempt to size control of heaven. As if Fenris weren’t enough of a problem. While all that’s going on, Lucifer’s giving Elaine a crash course in how to use her newfound power. She’ll need all of it if she’s going to hold worlds together in the face of such an assault. Very, very good stuff, this, and well worth your time if you’re a Sandman fan (and aren’t we all?).
Carey’s closing in on the final volume of his series and so the pace here naturally escalates, but there’s still time for the little touches that have always made Lucifer so much fun, like Gaudium’s snarky asides or the fantastic set-piece wherein Jill Presto summons the god of Las Vegas by letting it all ride on red. Or the lessons Lucifer teaches Elaine about good intentions while world-building.
The final panel is perhaps one of the best in the series, and a perfect close for the penultimate volume. All things come together. All things are poised, as was intended. And now, Carey will push.
Just read the damned story. It’ll stick to your ribs.
mhshokuhi's review against another edition
5.0
توی این جلد کمتر از همه لوسیفر حضور داره و بیشتر داستانهای دیگران رو میبینیم. همه چیز در آخرین حد جدی بودن هست و دنیایی که یهوه ساخته داره به پایان میرسه همه قدرتها دارن جمع میشن، چیزهایی که بودن یا فراموش شده بودن توی قسمتهای قبلی داستان.
کلا آرتهای این جلد یجورایی متفاوت بودن، حتی برای روی جلد که اصولاً استایل آرت یکسان بود، الان فرق داشت و بین آرتهای خود کامیک به خصوص Yahweh Dance کلا استایل آرت متفاوت و جالب بود، هم به موضوع میخورد هم کلا خیلی خاص و خوب بود.
از یه طرف دلم نمیخواد تمومش کنم چون آخرای کار هست و از یه طرف زیادی هیجانانگیز شده و نمیشه کنارش گذاشت :دی
کلا آرتهای این جلد یجورایی متفاوت بودن، حتی برای روی جلد که اصولاً استایل آرت یکسان بود، الان فرق داشت و بین آرتهای خود کامیک به خصوص Yahweh Dance کلا استایل آرت متفاوت و جالب بود، هم به موضوع میخورد هم کلا خیلی خاص و خوب بود.
از یه طرف دلم نمیخواد تمومش کنم چون آخرای کار هست و از یه طرف زیادی هیجانانگیز شده و نمیشه کنارش گذاشت :دی
psykobilliethekid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
henrytinker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
schufman's review against another edition
5.0
The pacing for the series is not slow; even so, relative to the other graphic novels the pace picks up in this one. The title is apt and the plot is about as extreme as it can be (in a good way).
thelaurakremer's review against another edition
4.0
The art in the first issue was horrible and distracted from the story going on. I'm going to find it hard to take Remial seriously now that he's been drawn like a twelve year old girl in a Japanese shojo beat manga comic.