Lucifer (DC Comics)

Lucifer
The title character from the cover of Lucifer #16, artist Christopher Moeller.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics (1989–1993) Vertigo (DC Comics) (1993–present)
First appearance	The Sandman #4 (April 1989)
Created by	Neil Gaiman Sam Kieth
In-story information
Alter ego	Samael
Species	Fallen angel
Place of origin	Heaven Lucifer's Creation Hell
Team affiliations	The Triumvirate of Hell Host of Heaven Loki Various characters who are willing to strike a deal with him
Partnerships	Mazikeen
Supporting character of	The Lilim, Elaine Belloc, Gaudium, Duma, Spera
Notable aliases	Lucifer Morningstar The Lightbringer Satan Lord of Lies The Devil Prince of the East The Morningstar Sunlighter of God The Adversary
Abilities	Reality warping Nigh-Omniscience Immortality

Lucifer Morningstar is a DC Comics character appearing primarily as a supporting character in the comic book series The Sandman and as the title character of a spin-off, both published under the Vertigo imprint.

Though various depictions of Lucifer—the Biblical fallen angel and Devil of the Abrahamic religions—have been presented by DC Comics in their run, this interpretation by Neil Gaiman debuted in The Sandman in 1989.

Later, the character acquired an ongoing Lucifer spin-off series written by Mike Carey, depicting his adventures on Earth, Heaven, and in the various other realms of his family's creations and in uncreated voids after abandoning Hell in the Sandman series. Lucifer also appears as a supporting character in issues of The Demon, The Spectre, and other DC Universe comics. Two angels, several demons, a human, and briefly Superman have taken his place as ruler of Hell.

In 2010, IGN named Lucifer as the 68th greatest comic book villain of all time.

In the earlier related series The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman, Lucifer abandoned his lordship over Hell. While Lucifer had previously appeared in various stereotypical guises in earlier DC books, Gaiman's version was premised on English poet and prose writer John Milton's Paradise Lost. At Gaiman's request of the artist, Lucifer looks like David Bowie at the time. In the Sandman series, Lucifer had ruled as Lord of Hell for 10 billion years after rebelling three seconds after Creation. Over that time, he had manipulated the various demons of Hell against each other, provided a place for dead mortals to be tormented, and led the war against Heaven.