The Morningstar is trapped; bound in a rather odd purgatory, trying his damndest to literally shovel a way out. All the while, LAPD Detective Decker digs into the mystery of his wife’s cousin. Lucifer issue #2 is written by Dan Watters, with illustrations by Sebastian and Max Fiumara, colors by Dave McCaig, and letters by Steve Wands.

Last issue, Lucifer was shown that, though he was once all powerful, he now stands at the bottom of the food chain in this estranged place. The story doesn’t only follow along with Lucifer, as the events of Detective Decker’s life fills the pages with an emotional story about him and his wife, and how one needed drive along the highway, could bring death knocking on the door sooner than expected.

Lucifer has finally made some headway with his persistent shoveling as he uncovers something he believes could help him find out how he became trapped in this purgatory. Detective John Decker finishes his conversation with his late wife’s cousin, Robert, which leaves him worried about the secrets she may have kept hidden from him. As he tries to close a chapter on his life, more somber news befalls the detective and a shrill leaves him worse for wear. While Lucifer digs and Decker mourns, the Crone and Maiden recount the masquerade during a plagued time, that brought them together by means of the almighty Lucifer.

Writer of this story, Dan Watters, seems to be weaving together some history of the characters while showing how most of them are just shells of what they used to be. Watters juggles four character driven stories in this one issue, giving a lot to be pondered by the end of it. There are moments of confusion as there seems to be two Lucifers in this tale, one stuck in a purgatory, and another who is still the powerful prince of lies. While the two stories are told, it’ll be interesting to see how Watters connects these two versions of Lucifer together.

The illustrations provided by Sebastian and Max Fiumara keep up the horrific and grotesque images, that a story revolving around Lucifer Morningstar could easily bring about. The strange art is captivating to look at, especially with the broad cast of characters the story compiles. The colors Dave McCaig provides, keep the dull tone about them which works beautifully with the story being told. McCaig really embraces the different shades of red through this issue, as it seems to be a prominent color, and it works well. Though there are moments where the art becomes more basic, with less detail, overall it stays strong.

As the series is only two issues in, there are plenty of questions revolving around it already, as good stories should have. The characters continue to become more interesting and, though any sort of overall or prominent plot still remains hidden, the tales told in the issues themselves definitely keep your attention as the characters progress through their own individual stories. There’s plenty of mystery surrounding all of Lucifer by the end of this issue, and it keeps calling you back in a good way.

Grade: A