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A review by aceinit
Lucifer, Vol. 9: Crux by Mike Carey
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...