The universe of the Sandman is an illustrious and mystical one that has been adapted and touched upon here and there since its creation and original run starting back in 1989. Since then, the series has had spin offs and television shows, and now Vertigo is bringing it back with four new comic series. One of those fantastic tales, Lucifer, is written by Dan Watters, with illustrations by Sebastian and Max Fiumara and colors by Dave McCaig. The story follows Lucifer Morningstar in a new enthralling tale.

This issue focuses on Lucifer being trapped in some sort of a purgatory where he’s surrounded by people who know him, yet he doesn’t really know anyone. He’s become something of a frail, older human, with no inkling of his powers remaining. The fallen angel finds solace in the fact that he will surely dig his way out of this prison--with a talking shovel. Another heavy focus of this issue is the life events of Detective John Decker. The LAPD Detective visits his wife, whom is dying from a brain tumor, and hopes to help her feel alive one more time. Decker sneaks his wife out for a car ride across the highways of Los Angeles, and the two focus on their better years, when an ill-fated car accident brings the trip down memory lane to a close.

Dan Watters places the devil in a setting completely unknown to the character, while digging deeper into the feelings of helplessness Lucifer has, by making him almost utterly powerless compared to what he used to be. The entire issue seems to revolve around that feeling, helplessness, as Decker is also in a position where he just can’t seem to get on the better side of things in his life. Though Lucifer is the title character, Watters seems to be building up three stories in the issue: Lucifer bound, Decker at a loss, and a grotesque puzzle of visions, which is exciting to see how they’ll all come together.

Sebastian and Max Fiumara have an interesting approach to the illustrations, as the panels tell as much of the story as the words and dialogue itself. With various ugly moments, like a room transforming into the flesh of man, the art really helps emphasize the horror of the story being told. The art stays intriguing during the less horrific moments, as the cast looks diverse and is dressed in a vast variety of clothes through different ages of time in Lucifer’s purgatory. The colors provided by Dave McCaig are meaningful and aid in the representation of style as the dullness seems to really enhance the dark and gritty side of the story and art. The art and colors paired up with this story seem rather fitting for the character it is focused on.

Lucifer of the Sandman universe has been around for quite some time, and whether you’re an avid reader of the stories involving that universe or just getting into it by this issue, it is a beautifully horrific beginning to a new tale. With a fresh new take on Lucifer, and the horrible events that have fallen upon Detective Decker, this first issue has set up a great deal, with hopefully plenty more to follow as Lucifer attempts to escape his purgatory.

Grade: A