One of the things I like best about this series is the idea that reality is a tenuous thing, at best. It's here in Exodus where that idea really seems to come to the fore. God is God because he says he is, and when someone else (or multiple someones) say they are God, then that becomes so. Immortality and mortality have more to do with whim than anything else. And of course, Lucifer's bombshell at the end of the book that without the will of God to make it so, reality is becoming much less real.

But the real truth of the matter is that Lucifer seems to have taken a backseat in the last few volumes, and the story suffers for it. His supporting cast is still enjoyable, but Lucifer himself needs to show up a bit more. ( )

This volume is has two distinct halves.  The first, "Brothers in Arms," features two pretty dopey Greek gods discovering that Yahweh has departed our universe, and attempting to take his place at the center of creation.  When I had anticipated that the departure of God in Mansions of Silence would lead to some stories, I had thought they would be more interesting than this.  They're a little too comic to take seriously as a threat (though admittedly they have their moments), and the battle becomes a little too arbitrary-magic-rules at time. (They create a duplicate of Lucifer... somehow... which will kill him when he touches it... for some reason... and yet when he fights it, he survives... some way.)

The story does succeed in part, though, by being focalized through the perspective of the waitress who worked in Lucifer's bar before it was converted into a temple, fighting alongside Mazikeen against some demons.  It turns out that she fell in love with Mazikeen, and Carey wrings a lot out of her confusion at the strange happenings in her life since then.  And the climax, with her and Mazikeen in the Silver City, is one of the best moments in the series so far. (Though could Mazikeen wear an outfit any less like armor?) I also like Lucifer being forced to defend the Silver City.  So it has its moments, even if I was overall disappointed in it.

The second half of Exodus is two interlocked stories: "Stitchglass Slide" and "Wire, Briar, Limber Lock."  In these stories, Lucifer decides that all immortals must be evicted from his new universe, and Elaine Belloc, half-angel and guardian of everything beside hedgehogs, assembles a task force to take care of the problem.  I liked this one a lot, but like many of the best Lucifer stories, Lucifer's not in it a whole lot. (The same problem that afflicted Gaiman's Sandman, I suppose.) Carey creates a really interesting demon for them to fight, one who weaves physical objects out of emotional responses, and forms a touching relationship with a young boy from Earth who stumbles through one of the portals into Lucifer's universe.  It's nice to see Elaine taking charge, but in her own way distinct from Lucifer.  I liked these stories a lot.

Lucifer: « Previous in sequence | Next in sequence »

(Amy) So far, I have liked each installment of the Lucifer series more than the one before, which is pretty awesome, as series go. It manages to retain at least some of the sense of the universe in which it was spawned (Sandman's), and actually in this set of stories we see a little cameo of Dream's home, which made me smile. All of the storylines addressed in this collection were ones I wanted to read, but the one that stands out is the Stitchglass sequence, which was very touching in that really-weird way that this universe is so damned good at.

...yeah. I think I have no complaints whatsoever. Of course, going into too much detail about anything, seven volumes in to the story, would make this thing rife with spoilers, which in general I try to avoid. So, this is what you get. Sorry.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/zenos-library/2009/05/lucifer_exodus_mike_car... ) ( )

Something really touched me about this one. Really enjoyed Beatrice's quest to find Mazikeen, and while I haven't finished the series yet, Beatrice clearly got the happiest ending ever, being Maz's concubine! ;-) Maz and Beatrice in the Silver City has got to be one of my favourite scenes of the series. Also enjoyed the Stitchglass storyline. ( )

See Lucifer Vol 1 ( )