Lucifer is an American comic book series published by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint. The series was created by writer Mike Carey, based on the character Lucifer Samael Morningstar originally created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg for the pages of The Sandman. The comic ran for 75 issues from June 2000 to August 2006, with a subsequent 2015 revival.
The story begins directly after the events of The Sandman, where Lucifer Morningstar has abdicated his throne as ruler of Hell. Having grown weary of his role in the divine plan and the constant blame for humanity's sins, he closes the gates of Hell, evicts all demons and damned souls, and hands the key to the Key to Hell to Dream of the Endless. Lucifer then retires to Los Angeles, where he opens a piano bar called Lux.
The series is a sprawling theological epic that blends mythology, cosmic horror, and character-driven drama. It follows Lucifer's quest for true free will, a journey that pits him against the forces of Heaven, Hell, and beings from outside God's creation. Carey's writing transforms the Devil from a simple embodiment of evil into a complex, charismatic, and deeply intelligent antihero driven by a profound rebellion against predestination. The comic is celebrated for its sophisticated narrative, philosophical depth, and its expansion of the Sandman universe's cosmology.
