Best Costume Ever

It’s almost Halloween, do you have your costume yet? It’s the time of ghouls and ghosts, witches and warlocks, so it’s only fitting that in today’s post we talk about the Devil himself.

I was first introduced to Vertigo’s interpretation of Lucifer Morningstar in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. Honestly, I guess you could say this isn’t Vertigo’s interpretation as much as it is Gaiman’s. Dream of the Endless travelled through Hell to gather the tools of his power. Later, Lucifer appears again in Sandman where he bestows Dream with the keys to Hell and decides to go off on his own adventures.

Four years after Gaiman finished his run on The Sandman, Mike Carey reintroduced the world to Lucifer and chronicled his “adventures” after leaving Hell in his own series. The series ran for 75 issues which has since been collected into 11 trade paperbacks. I’ve only read the first six volumes, so about half the story, but I am immensely enjoying it. Mike Carey, like Gaiman, has the ability to craft a phenomenally complex story. Minor characters from one story arc show up four arcs later in a pivotal role. Not only is the story engrossing, but every character displays so many levels of depth that the characters themselves make a very rich tapestry.

If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend taking a look. If you live in Houston, then why not check it out at Bedrock City’s Halloween sale going on this weekend? That’s what I’m planning to get!

Travis, what’s on your pull list?

• Action Comics #894 - I was really nervous about this one. I love Death as a character and I wasn’t sure that Cornell would get her tone just right. I was completely wrong, he nailed it. Pick of the Week
• Bruce Wayne The Road Home: Oracle #1 - This book was interesting, but like the rest of the series hasn’t been that exciting. Bruce’s white casebook narrative really makes him sound like an ass.
• Bruce Wayne The Road Home: Ra’s al Ghol - Any book with Ra’s is fun, but other than one scene there was nothing really intriguing in this issue. Again, I think the White Casebook narrative is more of a detriment than a help.
• Zatanna #6 - It was a good story, but this book hasn’t really grabbed me and made me excited about it. Now that the arch is over, I think I’m going to drop it.

Kris, what’s on your pull list?

• Action Comics #894 - Great issue! Luthor’s view on the world is very interesting and continues to prove that Cornell writes Lex Luthor as well as anyone can.
• Bruce Wayne The Road Home: Oracle #1 - A decent issue in an okay mini-series. The best part of this is the first interaction between Barbara and Bruce after she lost the use of her legs.
• Bruce Wayne The Road Home: Ra’s al Ghol - Good, very good in fact, but the ending was a forgone conclusion so it lacked impact, weakening the whole series.
• DC Comics Presents Young Justice #1 - The mini that made Connor, Bart, and Dick a team. The art is ridiculous in some parts but seeing the boys step up is worth the read.
• Detective Comics #870 - One of the best stand alone stories in the past year, in any book. An interesting and direct take on the concept of Batman being more of the cause than the solution. Pick of the Week.
• Green Arrow #5 - This book isn’t great, but it’s been consistent and I love the way Krul writes Ollie.
• JLA/The 99
• Justice League: Generation Lost #12 - There are a lot of good things about this issue, but I want to specifically mention the coloring. The fight between Fire and Ice is turned into an awesome dance by the use of only green and blue in those panels.
• Justice Society of America #44 - Good issue, but I’m upset by them not mentioning the giant Star Heart city on the moon. I’m wondering if this book is winding down, because every character is moving away.
• Spider-man vs Vampires #1 - Pick this up for fun. And it was fun, but not much else. Vampires trying to take over the world never really works as a plot point.
• Supergirl Annual #2 - A great ending to Gates run on Supergirl. I really hope this story of Brainiac and Supergirl continues. I also hope Gates and Igle end up on something worth wild.
• Superman #704 - This is by far the best book of JMS’s ‘Grounded’ storyline. And it’s not even written by JMS! A great story about Lois Lane and what keeps Superman grounded. Pun Intended
• Teen Titans #88 - JT Krul is giving Teen Titans what almost amounts to a reboot. He ties up one storyline from the last arc with a sentence and no explaination. But the cut down team and the addition of Damian is just what this book needs.
• Time Masters Vanishing Point #4 - This book is fine. I just want it to be equal to Jurgens’s run on Booster Gold. It’s close, and has the same feel, but it’s getting lost under the Batman hunting.
• Wonder Woman #604 - I love this book. It’s simple and fun. Wonder Woman is quickly turning back into her old self, but I think JMS is aiming for a happy medium.
• Zatanna #6 - I like this book, but it has no weight. It feels disconnected. I was thinking about dropping it, but the next arc has puppets… EVIL PUPPETS!!!