Lucifer: A Comparison

Lucifer took a break last week and because of that I don’t have an episode to talk about, so I thought this would be fun.

Lucifer the Comic Book vs. Lucifer the TV Show

I think that little heading above should be pretty obvious as to telling you what this is about. But if you couldn’t figure it out I’m gonna tell you. In this article I’m gonna highlight the differences and similarities between the comic world of Lucifer and the television world of Lucifer. I haven’t read any of the comics pertaining to Lucifer but they are highly regard. I have seen every episode of the show though. From what I understand the two are very different. So let’s dive in.

Similarities

• Character names
  • Lucifer
  • Maze
  • Amenadiel
• Lux
• Lucifer retires from hell and relocates to LA
• Lucifer’s father issues

Differences

Basically, everything that’s not in the similarities section.

Lucifer the television show is a very loose adaptation of the comic book series, that’s even been confirmed by executive producer Len Wiseman. I think it’s interesting that something so drastically different from the source material has been liked as much as it is. Often when something deviates from source material people go crazy but with Lucifer that hasn’t been the case.

Let’s dive in a little deeper with some visual comparison of the characters and places of the comic and show.

Lucifer

Photo Source: Lucifer Wiki/Lucifer/Fox

Photo Source: DC Database/Lucifer/DC Comics

Amenadiel

Photo Source: Villains Wiki/Lucifer/DC Comics

Amenadiel is the one with the sword and he’s a villain in the comics.

Maze

Photo Source: Lucifer Wiki/Lucifer/Fox

Photo Source: Lucifer Wiki/Lucifer/Fox

Photo Source: Who’s Who/Lucifer/DC Comics

So Maze is pretty spot on actually.

Obviously, appearances don’t matter as much when casting a character. You want someone who can play the role. Then again the show did take liberties with the characters personalities and what nots, so does it even matter?

Here let’s compare plot summaries of Season 1 of Lucifer and Lucifer Book One.

Lucifer Season 1

Based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg, this series follows Lucifer, the original fallen angel, who has become dissatisfied with his life in hell. After abandoning his throne and retiring to Los Angeles, Lucifer indulges in his favorite things (women, wine and song) — until a murder takes place outside of his upscale nightclub. For the first time in billions of years, the murder awakens something unfamiliar in Lucifer’s soul that is eerily similar to compassion and sympathy. Lucifer is faced with another surprise when he meets an intriguing homicide detective named Chloe, who appears to possess an inherent goodness — unlike the worst of humanity, to which he is accustomed. Suddenly, Lucifer starts to wonder if there is hope for his soul. – Fox TV

Lucifer Book One

Cast out of Heaven, thrown down to rule in Hell, Lucifer Morningstar has resigned his post and abandoned his kingdom for the mortal city of Los Angles. Emerging from the pages of writer Neil Gaiman’s award-winning series The Sandman, the former Lord of Hell is now enjoying a quiet retirement as the propretor of Lux, L.A.’s most elite piano bar. But now an assignment from the Creator Himself is going to change all that. If Lucifer agrees to do Heaven’s dirty work, he can name his own price–but both the task and reward are more than they seem. Thrown into a position of great threat and ultimate opportunity, Lucifer knows that threading a path through this maze will require the harshest of sacrifices. – Vertigo Comics

Wow, even those are drastically different, like very different.

It seems to me that the television show and comic book should be regarded as two completely different things. The show is more of an inspiration than adaptation. Either way I’m a fan of the show and I’d like to think I’d like the comic series if I read it.

So what do you think, should Fox have taken the liberties it did with the source material? Are you okay with what we were given? Which do you like better, if you’ve seen the show and read the comics? Does Lucifer still hold the spirit of the book? Would you rather the show be more like the comics?

Drop some comments below.

And don’t forget Lucifer is on Monday nights at 8pm on Fox.

Here’s a promo for tonight’s episode.