History ComicBook / Lucifer

** To spare some space, just take the popular belief of {{God}}, and make it a bit less powerful, and in a fairly literal sense you have both Lucifer and Michael; however, given the series is not about {{Physical God}}s going at each other throats ComicBook/{{Superman}} vs. ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} style, the reader [[HoldingBackThePhlebotinum rarely sees more than]] Lucifer boasting, exercising his infinite will and a certain degree of omnipotence and omniscience during the series' run. There are ''some'' glimpses of Lucifer's might; they're memorable. However, he prefers to rely on careful preparation and manipulation, not least because obliterating foes with infinitely-kindled primordial fire lacks a certain style. Mind you, that "certain degree" of omniscience and omnipotence includes ''creating a new multiverse''. Also, he ''breaks'' an afterlife just by visiting it.

** To spare some space, just take the popular belief of {{God}}, and make it a bit less powerful, and in a fairly literal sense you have both Lucifer and Michael; however, given the series is not about {{Physical God}}s going at each other throats Franchise/{{Superman}} vs. ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} style, the reader [[HoldingBackThePhlebotinum rarely sees more than]] Lucifer boasting, exercising his infinite will and a certain degree of omnipotence and omniscience during the series' run. There are ''some'' glimpses of Lucifer's might; they're memorable. However, he prefers to rely on careful preparation and manipulation, not least because obliterating foes with infinitely-kindled primordial fire lacks a certain style. Mind you, that "certain degree" of omniscience and omnipotence includes ''creating a new multiverse''. Also, he ''breaks'' an afterlife just by visiting it.

* KickTheDog: Numerous occurrences, often courtesy of Lucifer himself. On the other hand, [[KickTheSonOfABitch it's rather hard to feel badly for some of Lucifer's victims]], such as a crass truck driver (who Lucifer curses with impotence), Kagutsuchi (who is implied to have raped Musubi in the past and unjustly attacks Lucifer when the latter goes to get his wings back), and Amenadiel.

* KickTheDog: Deconstructed. Lucifer's [[LateArrivalSpoiler unnecessary murder-by-proxy]] of Tsukiyomi (and [[KickTheSonOfABitch the not-so-unnecessary killing]] of Kagutsuchi) in the previous series leads ''directly'' to Izanami causing some serious trouble for him.

* ShoutOut: John Constantine is among the gathered parties come to the Lux to discuss [[spoiler:the portal created by]] Lucifer. Gains extra points since Constantine was one of the DC Verse characters used in the early issues of ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' to connect it to DC's wider world and Creator/MikeCarey wrote a lot of Hellblazer.

** Lys is an {{inver|tedTrope}}sion of the trope. She's introduced as a pure MsFanservice, [[EvilIsSexy hot and frequently naked]]. But after [[spoiler:Rudd poisons her with the ability to feel guilt]], she looks gaunt and dresses much more demurely.

The only spin-off from ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' to not only manage long-term success but also become a critically acclaimed comic in its own right, ''Lucifer'' followed the life and times of the eponymous fallen angel after he gave up being the Lord of Hell to run a piano bar in Los Angeles. After accepting a commission from God to deal with something that threatens humanity, he finds himself the owner of his very own universe. There follows an epic adventure in which Lucifer fights to escape the control of his father, God, while dozens of other parties unveil their own macabre plans.

* {{Bishonen}}: Most of the angels, including Lucifer, are elegantly good-looking in an almost-asexual way.

* PerpetualFrowner: In contrast to his earlier appearance in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', Lucifer never smiles or laughs. In fact, one could go so far as to say he only expresses two emotions: perpetual annoyance and brief flashes of pure rage.

* SelfServingMemory: In the final issue Lucifer has a flashback to his discussion with Morpheus back in ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. While in the original storyline Lucifer is presented as extremely emotive and passionate, laughing and expressing visible anger at the folly of mortals, in the flashback he seems just as stoic as he has been for the rest of the comic.
* ShoutOut: John Constantine is among the gathered parties come to the Lux to discuss [[spoiler:the portal created by]] Lucifer. Gains extra points since Constantine was one of the DC Verse characters used in the early issues of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' to connect it to DC's wider world and Creator/MikeCarey wrote a lot of Hellblazer.

* ContinuityNod: Appearances by [[ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}} John Constantine]] and various characters from ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. Likewise, note the appearance of The Source from DC's older cosmic-level comics.

* HellHasNewManagement: Christopher Rudd manages to go from damned soul to sex toy for the nobility of Hell into one of the nobility himself and eventually ruler of Hell. This is, of course, after Lucifer resigns rulership of hell and it gets turned over to two angels in ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. As Gaudium remarks later, the rulership of Hell seems to be "something that any schmendrick can add to his resume these days."

* InformedAbility: The reader will spend more time running off to ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' and reading footnotes in Lucifer's own series about his SuperPowerLottery and StoryBreakerPower stats than actually see them, or rather the vast majority, in action.

* {{Retcon}}: Lucifer states in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' that he lost none of his powers when he abdicated his leadership of Hell. In his own series, though, recovering his wings (and his full power) becomes an important plot point.

* TotallyEighteen: Passionately averted with the female protagonist Elaine. At the beginning of the story she is twelve years old, and as she grow up her age is never mentioned again. She gradually and seamlessly transitions from childhood to becoming a TimeAbyss.

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!! ''Lucifer (2018)'' contains examples of:
* AdaptationalVillainy: Lucifer to a degree compared to his previous incarnations. While in the previous Lucifer runs Lucifer was very amoral and put his own interests above everyone and everything else, he was more or less indifferent to others unless they were of benefit to his ends or crossed him to earn his ire. In this series, Lucifer is a much darker, sinister figure and seems to take some sadistic enjoyment in the suffering of others and those that earn his anger. While previously Lucifer was (for the most part) dispassionate and stoic in his demeanor, this time he casts an almost miasmal aura of dread and more closely portrays the common fictional image of the devil.
* AntiVillain: Caliban, of the [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned variety]]. He displays compassion towards others and [[spoiler:gives his father a well-deserved WhatTheHellHero over his apathy, pointing out that he could easily stop people from suffering.]]
* AssholeVictim: At the start of the series, Lucifer has become a non-fatal example of this to ''someone'' [[spoiler:who turns out to be Stingy Jack, whom Lucifer is strongly implied to have dealt with in the past.]]. Lampshaded by Matthew:
-->'''Matthew''': Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
* BroughtDownToNormal: Exaggerated. Lucifer is now blind, elderly, and homeless in a town that's impossible to leave.
* HistoryRepeats: Defied by Lucifer, who [[EveryoneHasStandards refuses to abandon his son]], even though he admits he can't be a proper father to him.
* HumanityEnsues: While Lucifer is trapped in a strange town that he searches desperately for the exit, he is no stronger or able than a normal, mortal human being. While he can grow back his eyes or put back body parts (like putting his fingers back on) he can still be injured as easily as a normal person and he other injuries like wounds and broken bones heal more slowly.
* HumanityIsInfectious: During his time spent being a weak and vulnerable as a normal mortal being, Lucifer finds himself dependent on the help of others. While it's something he initially resents, he is genuinely touched by the compassion William Blake shows him by offering assistance, treating his broken leg, and sympathizing with his desperate desire to finish his task. Later when Blake is attacked and crucified, Lucifer gets him down and swears to make the one responsible pay for Blake's suffering.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Both Lucifer and Sycorax have this going on.
* MythologyGag: An [=LAPD=] detective named [[Series/Lucifer2016 John Decker (and his wife, Penelope)]] become entangled in Lucifer's fate.
* NecessarilyEvil: To avoid being sent back to Hell as Cassandra prophesied, Lucifer has himself annotated out of Destiny's book and [[RetGone making it as though he never existed]], the only people who remember him being those who knew him personally. This proves to have catastrophic consequences on Earth and beyond in a number of ways: since Lucifer embodies the fears of punishment and damnation, much of mankind's {{Primal Fear}}s and the ethics that come with it are gone with him. Since Lucifer did not lead the War in Heaven, the {{Fallen Angel}}s are left without a leader and devolve into a power struggle, Hell becoming a wasteland where the demons cannibalize one another instead of the metaphysical nation it would become. Without evil there cannot be good and thus {{God}} disappears too, leaving the TheArmiesOfHeaven (who rely on God's grace as sustenance) to starve, going mad as they cannibalize each other in a way indistinguishable from Hell.
* NeverMyFault: Sycorax completely dismisses her role in the tragic events that play out, claiming that because she never ''asked'' for help, she's not responsible. Naturally, the truth is much more complex.
* PetTheDog: Lucifer is convinced to let one of the ravens he has trapped for a spell go free... [[HopeSpot not that it does the raven any good.]] He also expresses regret over [[TheHecateSisters a newly-formed trio of witches]] losing a member to the plague.
* TheWildHunt: The Wild Hunt is the very first hunt of predator and prey personified again and again as a method of catharsis for the inherent bloodlust that comes with life, a bloodlust that would only build and develop into wars and the potential end of the universe should they let it continue. The hunt usually involves the Hunted God being hunted by Thirst, Fear and Honor (personified as a trio of godly berserkers) across the universe. For a time, Odin Allfather led the hunt until they tracked it down and killed the Hunted God in {{Hell}}. Since all who suffer in Hell must stay in Hell, Lucifer would not allow them to keep their kill, but Odin managed to convince him otherwise on the condition that he joined their next hunt. [[ForTheEvulz As Lucifer does]], he perverted this sacred event by hunting the Hunted God before the hunt would even begin, killing the god at infancy again and again until the god's divine essence was whittled down nearly to nothing.

Another version of the character, this one portrayed by Creator/GwendolineChristie, will appear in Creator/{{Netflix}}'s ''Series/TheSandman2022'', which adapts the original comics.

* HolierThanThou: Amenadiel takes this UpToEleven, as do several other angels.