Let me begin by setting the stage a bit: Yahweh (that’s the Judeo/Christian God) has abdicated his throne and left his creation in an upheaval that will soon end when it ceases to exist without his presence. Lucifer has at last struck down his brother, Michael. Michael then passes the divine power he has been given to his daughter, Elaine. It then seems to all onlookers that the power consumes and destroys her, and that the power leaves with her. But unbeknownst to everyone, Lucifer takes Elaine’s hand at the last moment and helps her.

Lucifer #58 is the story of how Elaine comes to terms with her new power, under the sarcastic hazing of her rescuer. Mike Carey (writer) through the impressive artwork of Ronald Wimberly, shows Elaine’s struggle to control her power by creating a world of her own. The dialogue between Elaine and Lucifer throughout all of this is wonderful as the Son of the Morning (that’s Lucifer) plays his classic role as naysayer and as always instructs by mocking. As the world gets more and more advanced, so does Wimberly's artwork, and each era has a style. And so the story of a different creation unfolds in a humorous yet dramatic parallel of our own religious history. It is particularly interesting when Elaine discovers that sometimes she simply must let bad things happen to her people to achieve balance. When at last she makes peace with her new power and with her people; she and Lucifer return to their original universe to set things right.

To sum up, this is a very good comic and should not be missed. Plus, it is worth getting it just for the amazing cover by Michael Wm. Kaluta.