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ogreart's review
4.0
Lots of fun. Action packed with a few laughs here and there. Can't wait to see Lucifer's next adventure.
andrealage's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ksbrennan's review
4.0
Thief-for-hire Luci Jennifer Inacio Das Neves - Lucifer for short - steals wondrous objects from the dark denizens of the netherworld.
The Hexed collection in question brings together the four issues of the limited 2008-2009 run.
I picked up Hexed as part of a Boom! sale at Comixology, not really knowing what to expect. The back cover quotes compare it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellraiser and Alias. While I don't have any experience with Hellraiser, the other two are right in my fan-wheelhouse.
First, to get the negative out of the way quickly, I hate the concept of giving her the nickname "Lucifer". And the fact that they keep saying "Lucifer for short". It's not "Lucifer for short", it's Luci for short. Lucifer is just a weird construct to play up other assorted elements in the story - one that I think is unnecessary. It’s also a little too bad-girl-cute for me - evoking cringe-worthy memories of Mary Sue’s with super special characteristics that serve as a weak short-hand for actual character development.
However, apart from that relatively easy to ignore annoyance, I really enjoyed the book. The design of the monsters and the grotesqueness of the magic was wonderfully realized. One of my particular favourites involved the use of an oversized corpse in Chapter 1 - you'll know it when you see it. And while another team might have gone grim and dark with the art, the brightness of Hexed makes the horror even more poignant.
I also loved that we’re dropped into the middle of Luci’s story. This is not an origin story. There are some references to an early defining event in Luci’s life, but the details are left vague and mysterious, which suits me just fine. Origin stories so often suffer from a lack of momentum and avoiding them allows you to jump immediately into higher stakes action, and avoid the level grinding that otherwise might be necessary.
The story also manages to deftly present an already developed relationship that still resonates with readers, at least with this one. Luci and Val’s relationship is already cemented when the book starts, and it is the defining relationship of the story - it’s the source of all of Luci’s motivation and drive. It’s really satisfying to read something that really emphasizes such a supportive female friendship and mentorship. Also, Val’s a badass who can more than keep up with Luci in terms of the action.
I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the ongoing series. I certainly liked the mini-series, but part of its appeal was the limited number of issues, and I’m not sure I’m invested enough to commit long-term. I’ll have to look into the series a bit more and see what the supporting cast looks like - while I like Luci well enough, and Val is great, I generally like a larger cast of characters to sink my teeth into. We’ll also have to see how well I connect with the style of the new artist brought on for the ongoing 2014 series, as the art style is really an essential part of my comic engagement.
The Hexed collection in question brings together the four issues of the limited 2008-2009 run.
I picked up Hexed as part of a Boom! sale at Comixology, not really knowing what to expect. The back cover quotes compare it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellraiser and Alias. While I don't have any experience with Hellraiser, the other two are right in my fan-wheelhouse.
First, to get the negative out of the way quickly, I hate the concept of giving her the nickname "Lucifer". And the fact that they keep saying "Lucifer for short". It's not "Lucifer for short", it's Luci for short. Lucifer is just a weird construct to play up other assorted elements in the story - one that I think is unnecessary. It’s also a little too bad-girl-cute for me - evoking cringe-worthy memories of Mary Sue’s with super special characteristics that serve as a weak short-hand for actual character development.
However, apart from that relatively easy to ignore annoyance, I really enjoyed the book. The design of the monsters and the grotesqueness of the magic was wonderfully realized. One of my particular favourites involved the use of an oversized corpse in Chapter 1 - you'll know it when you see it. And while another team might have gone grim and dark with the art, the brightness of Hexed makes the horror even more poignant.
I also loved that we’re dropped into the middle of Luci’s story. This is not an origin story. There are some references to an early defining event in Luci’s life, but the details are left vague and mysterious, which suits me just fine. Origin stories so often suffer from a lack of momentum and avoiding them allows you to jump immediately into higher stakes action, and avoid the level grinding that otherwise might be necessary.
The story also manages to deftly present an already developed relationship that still resonates with readers, at least with this one. Luci and Val’s relationship is already cemented when the book starts, and it is the defining relationship of the story - it’s the source of all of Luci’s motivation and drive. It’s really satisfying to read something that really emphasizes such a supportive female friendship and mentorship. Also, Val’s a badass who can more than keep up with Luci in terms of the action.
I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the ongoing series. I certainly liked the mini-series, but part of its appeal was the limited number of issues, and I’m not sure I’m invested enough to commit long-term. I’ll have to look into the series a bit more and see what the supporting cast looks like - while I like Luci well enough, and Val is great, I generally like a larger cast of characters to sink my teeth into. We’ll also have to see how well I connect with the style of the new artist brought on for the ongoing 2014 series, as the art style is really an essential part of my comic engagement.
kateminasian's review
Creep-tastic, but awesome!! I wish I had read this before the novel, as it offered some good backstory on Lucifer.
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