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Luke Cage

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the television series, see Luke Cage (TV series).
"Hero for Hire" redirects here. For his partner with whom he shares the title, see Iron Fist (character). For the DuckTales episode, see Hero for Hire (DuckTales episode).
Luke Cage
Luke Cage as depicted in New Avengers vol. 2 #1 (June 2010).
Art by Stuart Immonen.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceLuke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoLucas Cage (legally changed from Carl Lucas)[1][2]
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliations
Partnerships
Notable aliasesPower Man
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Regenerative healing factor
  • Nigh-invulnerability
  • Skilled hand-to-hand combatant

Lucas "Luke" Cage, born Carl Lucas and also known as Power Man, is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr., the character first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972).[3] He is one of the earliest black superheroes to be featured as the protagonist and title character of a Marvel comic book.[4]

Created during the height of the blaxploitation genre, Luke Cage had been imprisoned for a crime he did not commit and gained the powers of superhuman strength and unbreakable skin after being subjected voluntarily to an experimental procedure. Once freed, he becomes a "hero for hire" and has 49 issues of solo adventures; the comic was later renamed to Luke Cage, Power Man with issue #17. In issue #50, Cage teams up with fellow superhero Iron Fist as part of a crime-fighting duo in the renamed title Power Man and Iron Fist. He later marries the super-powered private investigator Jessica Jones, with whom he has a daughter. In 2005, writer Brian Michael Bendis added Luke Cage to the lineup of the New Avengers, and he has since appeared in various Avengers titles, becoming leader of a group of reformed supervillains called the Thunderbolts, and eventually becoming the Mayor of New York City at the conclusion of the 2021–2022 crossover event "Devil's Reign", succeeding the Kingpin.

The character has been substantially adapted from the comics into various forms of media. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Mike Colter portrayed the character in the Netflix television series Jessica Jones (2015–2019), Luke Cage (2016–2018), and The Defenders (2017).

Publication history

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Creation

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Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (cover-dated June 1972), the debut of Luke Cage. Cover art by John Romita Sr.

Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr., Roy Thomas, and George Tuska.[5][6] Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee wanted to create a character based on the Blaxploitation genre, and he worked with Thomas to create an initial premise of a hero who asks payment for his work.[7] Thomas attributed many of the creative decisions to Lee.[8] Romita created Cage's initial design, and Tuska became the series' main artist. Goodwin wrote the first stories featuring Luke Cage.[7] Billy Graham, the only black artist working at Marvel at the time, was also brought on to ensure that Tuska's "African-American characters looked African-American".[9] It was determined that he would at some point take over as artist for the character.[8]

Luke Cage was the first of Marvel's African–American characters to lead his own series.[10] He was developed during a period of increasing diversity in comic books and popular media more broadly.[5] American society at the time was undergoing a shift in how race was viewed and calls for social justice were increasing.[6] The character was made distinct from other superheroes by having him live in poverty and struggle with practical affairs like supporting himself and starting a business.[11] During internal deliberations, Marvel determined that Cage had the best marketing potential of their properties.[7]

Blaxploitation films like Shaft (1971) and Super Fly (1972) were the inspiration for the character.[12] When developing Cage's abilities, Thomas was inspired by the novel Gladiator (1930). In the novel, the character Hugo Danner discovers he is bulletproof after examining where he is struck by machine gun fire during World War I.[13] Dan Hagen of Back Issue! compared Cage's origin to The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, to which Thomas said that the book may have had "a conscious or subconscious effect" on Lee or Goodwin.[14]

1970s

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Cage was introduced as the starring character of his own series, Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, in 1972.[15] The series alternated between its continuing plot of Cage trying to support himself and address problems in his personal life alongside individual secondary plots each issue where Cage completed a job as a hero for hire.[16] Goodwin wrote the first four issues before Steve Englehart became the writer. Tuska was the series' artist, but Graham worked as inker and frequently shared responsibilities with Tuska as penciler.[8] Englehart and Tuska came into conflict while working on Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. Englehart wrote subplots for the series, only for Tuska to disregard them and say "I didn't feel like drawing that". In issue #8 (1973), Luke Cage is described with the racial slur schvartze. According to Englehart, he was not aware it was a slur and was tricked into adding it by Tuska. Englehart printed an apology in issue #11.[17]

Marvel made a stronger push toward representation of black characters in 1973. Reframing the character, the company announced that "much of Cage's jivin' slang will be eliminated".[18] Cage made an appearance outside of his own series when he fought with Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #123 (1973). The issue was drawn by Gil Kane and John Romita Sr.[19] Graham became the main artist for Luke Cage beginning with issue #13 (1973).[20] The character and the series were renamed "Power Man" in issue #17 (1974).[10][21] The name was inspired by the black power movement,[22] and according to Thomas the change was made in an attempt to increase sales.[20] Cage appeared in The Defenders #17–19 (1974–1975), which had him fight the Defenders before they work together to stop the Wrecking Crew.[23]

Cage did not have a dedicated writer in the issues after Englehart's departure, so several writers briefly contributed. Tuska remained active as an artist for the series at this time.[23] Don McGregor eventually requested writing duties for Power Man, and he worked on issues #28 and #30–35.[24] A production problem prevented him from writing issue #29, leaving issue #28's cliffhanger open as an alternate story was featured in issue #29.[23] McGregor made various additions to the character during his brief run, including several of Cage's classic villains. McGregor glamorized Cage's ability to persevere through suffering. The series went through several artists at this time.[24] Cage also co-starred in Fantastic Four #168 (1976), when Roy Thomas used him to briefly replace the Thing as a member of the Fantastic Four.[25] Marv Wolfman became Cage's writer after issue #36 (1976).[25] Power Man was accompanied by an annual edition the same year, created by Chris Claremont.[25] The duo of Claremont and John Byrne were then made artists for the series, continuing a period of collaborations between the two.[26]

The martial arts superhero Iron Fist joined the series as a co-star in issue #48 (1978), and the series was renamed Power Man and Iron Fist with issue #50 (1978). They were grouped after neither character proved popular enough to support his own series. Jo Duffy, a fan of both characters, was appointed as its writer at her request beginning with issue #56.[27] Cage's innocence was proven in this storyarc, and he was no longer written as an escaped convict.[28] To elevate Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Duffy and artist Trevor Von Eeden began with a story in which the characters encountered the X-Men and the Living Monolith before returning them to more mundane environments.[29]

1980s–1990s

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Power Man and Iron Fist received its long-term artist when Kerry Gammill was added for issue #61 (1980). Gammill continued drawing the series until issue #79 (1982), and Duffy continued writing it until issue #84 (1982).[29] Their editor, Dennis O'Neil, disliked the light-hearted and humorous tone that Duffy had used for the series.[30] Denys Cowan took over for Gammill. Bob Layton was announced as Duffy's replacement, but he never began and O'Neil filled in until Kurt Busiek became writer with issue #90 (1983).[31] Busiek continued the light-hearted tone and he too was removed from the series, ending his run on issue #102 (1984).[30] The series had no dedicated creators or storylines until Christopher Priest became the writer from issue #111 (1984) until the series' cancellation with issue #125 (1986), working alongside artist M. D. Bright. Priest, who was himself black, was criticized within Marvel for reducing Cage's use of stereotypical black dialogue.[32]

After Marvel canceled Power Man and Iron Fist, Cage spent the remainder of the decade making guest appearances in other comics. He was revitalized with a new series, Cage, in 1992. This series removed the blaxploitation elements of the character, tempering him and putting him in common street clothes.[33] With minimal resemblance to the original depiction of the character, the series was not well-received and it sold poorly.[34] It was canceled after 20 issues.[7] Cage then made an appearance in Marvels (1994), where artist Alex Ross used Jim Brown as a model for Luke Cage's design.[35] The character made an appearance in a parody edition of What If where he found and wielded Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor.[36] Another attempt was made to revive the character in 1996 with the publication of a new Luke Cage and Iron Fist duo series, Heroes for Hire, but it was canceled after 19 issues.[7]

21st century

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In 2002, writer Brian Azzarello and artist Richard Corben collaborated on Cage, a standalone mini-series set outside the mainstream Marvel canon. The mini-series was published under the Marvel MAX imprint, which allowed for a much greater degree of violence, sexual content and profanity.[37]

Subsequently, Cage was featured in the Brian Michael Bendis-written series Alias, Secret War, The Pulse, Daredevil, and The New Avengers.

In 2010, Cage became a regular character in Thunderbolts, starting with issue #144,[38] and continued as leader of the team when the title transitioned into Dark Avengers beginning with issue #175. Cage also reappeared as a regular character in the second volume of The New Avengers series.[39]

In 2007, it was announced that cartoonist and Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky would write and illustrate a four-issue limited series called Cage!, which would take place in a retro 1970s setting outside of the established continuity.[40] The project was heavily delayed, but finally saw publication in 2016.[41]

In 2016, a new volume of Power Man and Iron Fist was launched, written by David F. Walker. The series ran for 15 issues before transitioning into a new Luke Cage series (also written by Walker), which ran for another 10 issues.

Fictional character biography

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Origin

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Luke Cage, as he appeared during his debut. Art by George Tuska.

Born Carl Lucas and raised in New York City's Harlem neighborhood, he spends his youth in a gang called the Rivals. With his friend Willis Stryker, he fights rival gangs and commits petty crimes. In and out of juvenile homes throughout his teens, Lucas dreams of becoming a major New York racketeer until he finally realizes how his actions are hurting his family. He seeks to better himself as an adult by finding legitimate employment. Meanwhile, Stryker rises through the ranks of crime, but the two men remain friends. When Stryker's activities anger the Maggia crime syndicate, he is badly beaten in a mob hit, saved only by Lucas's intervention. When Stryker's girlfriend, Reva Connors, breaks up with him in fear of his violent work, she seeks solace with Lucas. Stryker is convinced that Lucas is responsible for the breakup, so he plants heroin in Lucas's apartment and tips off the police. Lucas is arrested and sent to prison where contact with his family is sparse due to the resentment of his brother James Lucas Jr., who intercepts Lucas's letters to their father James and eventually leads each to believe the other is dead.[42] During this time, Reva is killed by members of the Maggia, whose drugs Stryker had stolen to frame Lucas in the first place.[43]

Lucas is consumed by rage over Stryker's betrayal and his father's supposed death, engaging in frequent brawls and escape attempts. Eventually transferred to Seagate Prison off the coast of Georgia, he becomes the favorite target of racist corrections officer Albert "Billy Bob" Rackham, whose sadistic brutality ultimately leads to a demotion that he blames on Lucas. Research scientist Dr. Noah Burstein recruits Lucas as a volunteer for a cellular regeneration experiment based on a variant of the Super-Soldier process he had previously used to empower Warhawk. This experiment would later be revealed to be part of the Weapon Plus program, specifically, Weapon VI.[44] Burstein immerses Lucas in an electrical field conducted by an organic chemical compound; then he leaves Lucas unattended, Rackham alters the experiment's controls, hoping to maim or kill Lucas. Lucas' treatment is accelerated past its intended limits, inducing body-wide enhancements that give him superhuman strength and durability. He uses his new power to escape Seagate and makes his way back to New York, where a chance encounter with criminals inspires him to use his new powers for profit.[43]

Adopting the alias Luke Cage and donning a distinctive costume, he launches a career as a Hero for Hire, helping anyone who can meet his price. He soon establishes an office above Times Square's Gem Theater, where he befriends film student D. W. Griffith.[45] Burstein, aware of his friend's innocence, also relocates to New York and opens a medical clinic, assisted by Dr. Claire Temple, whom Cage begins dating. Although Cage is content to battle strictly conventional criminals, he soon learns that New York is hardly the place to do so. Stryker himself has become a Maggia agent known as Diamondback and dies battling Cage.[43][46]

Superhero ties

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Although Cage has little in common with most of New York's other superhumans, an ill-conceived attempt to collect a fee from a reneging Doctor Doom leads him to befriend the Fantastic Four.[47] Via a later retcon, Cage also befriends Jessica Jones, a young woman whose superhuman strength and unconventional style match his own.[48] During a mission in which Cage and Iron Man track down Orville Smythe, who had duped him into stealing an experimental starsuit from Stark International, Cage follows the example of his new peers and takes the codename of Power Man.[49] Cage battles a rogue Erik Josten for the use of the Power Man name, winning the right.[50]

Shortly afterward, Luke Cage begins associating with the loose-knit super-team the Defenders, alongside whom he battles the Wrecking Crew[51] and the Sons of the Serpent.[52] Called to assist the Defenders against the Plantman, Cage begins to complain that his participation in their group is interfering with his paying work. Wealthy Defenders member Nighthawk solves this problem by placing Power Man on retainer, giving Luke a steady paycheck for his Defenders activities. For some time thereafter, Power Man serves as a core member of the Defenders. Together, they defeat minor threats including the Eel and the Porcupine, and major menaces such as the Headmen, Nebulon, Egghead's Emissaries of Evil, and the Red Rajah; but Cage feels out of place in the often-bizarre exploits of the Defenders and eventually resigns.[53]

Power Man and Iron Fist

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Main article: Power Man and Iron Fist

Having obtained proof of Cage's innocence in his original drug charges, the criminal Bushmaster abducts Burstein and Temple, using their safety and the hope of acquittal to blackmail Cage into abducting detective Misty Knight, who humiliated Bushmaster in an earlier encounter. Cage's efforts lead to a fight with Knight's boyfriend, the martial artist Iron Fist, who had spent most of his life in the extra-dimensional city of K'un-L'un and was unfamiliar with Earth society. Upon learning of Cage's situation, Iron Fist and Knight help him defeat Bushmaster and rescue his friends.[54] Cleared of criminal charges, Power Man legally changes his name to "Lucas Cage".[55] He briefly works for Misty Knight and Colleen Wing's detective agency, Nightwing Restorations, but soon elects to join Iron Fist in a two-man team, Heroes for Hire,[56] founded by attorney Jeryn Hogarth and staffed by administrative wunderkind Jennie Royce. Although the streetwise Power Man and the unworldly Iron Fist seem to have little in common, they soon become the best of friends. Cage's relationship with Claire Temple proves less durable, and he instead begins dating model Harmony Young.[57]

Power Man and Iron Fist achieve great success with Heroes for Hire, earning an international reputation and fighting a wide variety of criminals. Their partnership's downfall begins when the mysterious government agency S.M.I.L.E. manipulates Power Man and Iron Fist into the employment of Consolidated Conglomerates, Inc., which eventually frames Cage for the apparent murder of Iron Fist, causing Cage to become a fugitive.[58]

Chicago

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A fugitive again, Cage breaks contact with his New York friends and relocates to Chicago,[59] but, with Hogarth's help, he is cleared of criminal charges when Iron Fist turns up alive. Cage discovers that Iron Fist had been replaced by a doppelganger of the plantlike H'ylthri race, K'un-Lun's ancient enemies during his treatment. This doppelganger's existence and destruction at the hands of the Super-Skrull are part of a bizarre scheme engineered by Iron Fist's enemy, Master Khan.[60]

Wanting a new start after his murder charge is dropped, Cage abandons his Power Man guise and begins operating out of Chicago as the plainclothes Luke Cage, Hero for Hire; he makes arrangements with the Chicago Spectator for exclusive reports of his adventures and frequently works with detective Dakota North. On his first mission in Chicago, he assists the Punisher in battling drug dealers.[61] Cage attracts the interest of the refined assassin Hardcore, an employee of Cruz Bushmaster, son of the villain whose defeat cleared Cage's name the first time.[62] Cage learns that Cruz, following in his father's extortion footsteps, has abducted Noah Burstein's wife Emma to force the scientist to recreate the process that had empowered Cage. Cruz undergoes the procedure himself, but the elder Bushmaster drains the power from his son, reversing his near-catatonia and declaring himself the Power Master. Cage teams with Iron Fist to thwart their plans, freeing the Bursteins while the Bushmasters apparently perish. Cage's power is augmented further by exposure to the Power Man virus.[63]

While Cage tries to locate his surviving family members with the aid of Dakota North, his brother keeps moving his father around to keep Cage away from them. James Lucas Jr. is eventually recruited by the criminal Corporation, whose power-enhancing scientist Dr. Karl Malus mutates him into the superhuman Coldfire. As Coldfire, James Jr. hopes to be a match for his brother, whom he regards as a threat. Though James, Jr. works with the Corporation quite willingly, Malus has James Sr. held hostage as extra insurance of Coldfire's cooperation. When Cage learns the Corporation is holding his family, he invades their headquarters and battles Coldfire. The brothers ultimately join forces to rescue their father from Malus, and Coldfire sacrifices himself to destroy the Corporation's headquarters.[64]

Heroes for Hire return

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A few months later, Cage investigates the murder of Harmony Young and fights her killer, the demon Darklove, alongside Ghost Rider.[65] The mystic Doctor Druid recruits Cage to serve in his Secret Defenders against the sorcerer Malachi. Cage returns to New York and, deciding his heart is no longer in superheroics, becomes co-owner of the Gem Theater with his friend D.W. Griffith. Even an invitation from Iron Fist to join a new and expanded Heroes for Hire fails to interest him; yet when the Master of the World tries to recruit Cage as a spy within Iron Fist's team, destroying Cage's theater in the process, a curious Cage plays along. Cage joins Heroes for Hire and serves with them for some time while reporting to the Master. Cage begins to sympathize with the more benevolent aspects of the Master's goals, but in the end, Cage can neither betray Iron Fist nor reconcile himself to the tremendous loss of life the Master's plans of conquest will entail, and he helps Heroes for Hire destroy the Master of the World's plans. Cage remains with the group thereafter, and dates a fellow member, the She-Hulk. When the Stark-Fujikawa Corporation buys out Heroes for Hire, Cage and Ant-Man are fired because of their prison records, and the rest of the team quits in protest.[66]

Cage, bitten by the hero bug once more, continues to share adventures with Iron Fist and other heroes. Briefly resuming his Power Man identity, he is hired by Moon Knight to join an unnamed team of street-level New York vigilantes, but mere days after he joins, the group dissolves following clashes with the forces of Tombstone and Fu Manchu. Deciding that a return to basics is in order, he re-establishes his Hero for Hire activities and soon learns that, despite his international fame, he is almost forgotten on the streets where he originally made his reputation. He invests his money in a bar and sets about ridding his immediate neighborhood of criminal elements, deciding that the business of world-saving is best left to others.[volume & issue needed]

Jessica Jones and the New Avengers

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After a sexual encounter with a drunken Jessica Jones, now a private investigator, Cage's life is briefly thrown into disarray by Jones's reaction to the incident.[67] The two make peace while working as bodyguards for Matt Murdock.[68] Cage extends emotional support to Jones when she is forced to revisit past abuses by the villainous Purple Man, and Cage's feelings for her grow.[69] After Jones reveals that she is pregnant from their tryst,[70] she and Cage move in together.[71] Soon afterward, Jones becomes a superhuman consultant with the Daily Bugle.[72] After she is attacked by the Green Goblin during a Bugle investigation, Cage, helped by Spider-Man, deliberately attacks Norman Osborn to provoke him into revealing he is the Goblin.[73]

Months afterwards, Cage is present at the breakout at the supervillain prison 'The Raft' and becomes a founding member of the re-formed Avengers.[74] Luke and Jessica Jones then have a daughter, whom they named Danielle, in honor of Danny Rand.[75] Soon thereafter, he and Jessica are married.[76] He also meets the Black Panther (revealed to be one of Luke's personal heroes), joining him and several other superhumans of African descent on a mission against vampires in New Orleans.[77][78]

When the Superhuman Registration Act is enacted, Cage refuses to register, comparing the act to Jim Crow laws. He and Jessica agree that she will take their newborn daughter away to Canada where they can be safe, though he himself refuses to leave. S.H.I.E.L.D. forces come to arrest Cage, but he fights his way to safety with the help of Captain America, the Falcon, and Iron Fist (posing as Daredevil), and joins Captain America's "Secret Avengers".[79] He fights alongside them in opposition to the act until Captain America surrenders to U.S. authorities.[80]

Cage does not comply with the amnesty offered to the Secret Avengers, going underground and re-forming the New Avengers.[81] Luke assumes leadership of the New Avengers after the assassination of Captain America, with the team now operating underground and provided with secure accommodation by Doctor Strange.[82]

Following a Skrull invasion, Captain America (James "Bucky" Barnes) organizes a meeting with the New Avengers at his home, offering it as a base of operations.[83] Cage is offered the role as leader of the New Avengers, but turns it down, giving the role to Ronin.[84]

Thunderbolts

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Following the Siege of Asgard, Steve Rogers appoints Luke Cage leader of the Thunderbolts program. Soon after, he begins to recruit new Thunderbolts, a balanced mix of former and older members, personally inducting the Ghost, Moonstone, the Juggernaut and Crossbones, with MACH-V, Fixer and Songbird's cooperation, and using the Man-Thing's powers for long-distance transportation.[85]

Reforming the Avengers

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To convince Cage to rejoin the Avengers, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark sell the newly renovated mansion to Luke Cage for a dollar, allowing him freedom to recruit his own Avengers team and operate without directly taking orders from Rogers, though Rogers insists on having Victoria Hand join them as a liaison. Cage and his team are forced to assist Doctor Strange, Daimon Hellstrom, and Brother Voodoo in thwarting an attempt by Agamotto—the original owner of the Eye of Agamotto—to destroy existence, culminating in the apparent death of Brother Voodoo.[86] Although initially against the idea of being paid for being on the team, Cage is convinced to accept the offer.[87]

Following his imprisonment on Utopia,[82] he decides, following a conversation with Daredevil, to resign from his Avenger duties to ensure the security of his wife and child.[88] After the X-Men are defeated, Cage, Jessica, Squirrel Girl, and Iron Fist resign from the Avengers.[89] In volume 2 of The Mighty Avengers, Luke Cage wears a costume reminiscent of his yellow Bronze Age outfit, with a yellow top and blue jeans.[90]

Marvel NOW!

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During the series The Superior Spider-Man, Cage assembles an incarnation of the Mighty Avengers, and officially declares the new assembled group to be Avengers.[90]

All-New, All-Different Marvel

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As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel", Luke Cage and Iron Fist take on the murder case of their former secretary, Jennifer "White Jennie" Royce, and discover she has been corrupted by an ancient African artifact called the Super Soulstone.[91]

During the "Civil War II" storyline, Luke Cage hears about the talents of Ulysses Cain and the fight over him. After thinking this through, Luke tells Iron Fist that he is sitting this fight out.[92]

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Luke Cage became a member of the Defenders alongside Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones. They alongside Cloak and Dagger, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Woman fought the Army of Evil during Hydra's rise to power where they were defeated by Nitro. Luke Cage and those with him were trapped in the Darkforce dome by Blackout when his powers were enhanced by Baron Helmut Zemo using the Darkhold.[93]

During the "Hunt for Wolverine" storyline, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones assist Iron Man and Spider-Man in finding Wolverine when his body has gone missing from his unmarked grave. When the four of them arrive undercover at a submarine in international waters upon hearing that a genetic material will be auctioned off, Luke and Jessica are shocked to find that the genetic material that will be auctioned off belongs to their daughter Danielle.[94] When Mister Sinister crashes the auction and attacks the unidentified seller claiming that he stole the DNA of Wolverine from him, the attack causes a hole in the submarine as Jessica Jones uses Luke Cage's body to help plug it up.[95] After Mister Sinister is defeated with the help of X-23 and the seller Declan Foy is questioned, Luke Cage is given a special Iron Man armor as part of their attack on Mister Sinister's base on the Kerguelen Islands.[96] After the database was destroyed and the mission was over, Luke and Jessica head home with Tony Stark, Peter Parker, and X-23 where Iron Fist had been babysitting Danielle Cage. After a talk with X-23, Tony informs Luke and Jessica that the destroyed database reveals that one of the X-Men members is not a mutant and there is a genetically altered sleeper agent among them.[97]

Fresh Start

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During the "Empyre" storyline, Vision and Doctor Nemesis meet up with Luke Cage as they investigate the Cotati's plants that have taken over Central Park.[98] As Vision brings the fight with his plant-like opponent outside of Central Park, Luke Cage and Doctor Nemesis mistake it for a Cotati only for Vision to correct them by stating that his opponent is actually Plantman.[99] Doctor Nemesis, Luke Cage, and Vision continue their fight with Plantman and his Sprout Soldiers. They managed to defeat Plantman, but are unable to make contact with Black Panther.[100]

When Fisk attempts to start a new campaign against superhumans,[101] the heroes decide to oppose this plan by having Luke Cage run for mayor against him (Tony Stark initially volunteered, but others noted that this would involve two rich men competing for a position of power, and they wanted to establish themselves as different from Fisk, and the "Tony" who volunteered was later revealed to be the Chameleon in disguise[102]). After Fisk was forced to flee the city,[103] Cage won the election by default, but is forced to maintain the anti-vigilante laws as he lacks the authority to have them dismantled right away. His first step to control these laws is to appoint Clint Barton the leader of a new branch of the Thunderbolts, which Fisk had restarted as an anti-vigilante taskforce.[104]

Consequentially, at the end of the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Luke Cage is elected Mayor of New York.[105]

Powers and abilities

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Luke Cage possesses superhuman strength and stamina, and has extremely dense skin and muscle tissue which render him highly resistant to physical injury. Cage possesses these abilities as a result of a cellular regeneration experiment which fortified the various tissues of his body. His skin can resist large-caliber bullets, puncture wounds, corrosives, biological attacks, and extreme temperatures and pressures without sustaining damage.[106] A second exposure to said experiments further enhanced his strength and durability.[107]

The same experiment which granted him his great strength and durability has also given him a faster-than-normal recovery time from injury.[108]

Luke Cage is an exceptional street fighter and was a gifted athlete before receiving superhuman abilities. He has also studied martial arts under Iron Fist's instruction, learning how to couple leverage with his strength to increase his combat effectiveness against more powerful opponents.[citation needed]

He owns a jacket that is as durable as his skin, having been exposed to the "Power Man" treatment during his second exposure.[107]

Supporting characters

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Main article: List of Luke Cage and Iron Fist supporting characters

Luke Cage is closely tied to the character Iron Fist. They were brought together for the shared series Power Man and Iron Fist in 1978 where they came to be partners.[27] Cage's primary romantic interest is Jessica Jones. Their relationship becomes central to his character after their marriage, and they have a daughter named Danielle.[109] Cage formed a team, the Defenders, with Jones, Iron Fist, and Daredevil.[110]

In the first issues of his original series, Cage is established with the supporting characters Claire Temple, a doctor who operates a clinic with the man who gave Cage his powers, and David Griffith, the nephew of his landlord who becomes a friend of Cage.[111] Cage's first love interest is Reva Connors. In his origin story, Willis Stryker competes with Cage for her attention, eventually framing Cage and getting him sent to prison. Connors is then accidentally killed in a mob hit targeting Stryker.[112]

Villains

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Luke Cage's original nemesis is his friend-turned-rival Willis Stryker, who calls himself Diamondback.[8] The pair were partners who became involved in gangs, but Cage left the lifestyle while Stryker became more involved in it.[113] Diamondback becomes his own version of a hero for hire, using trick knives with different functionalities.[8] Shades and Comanche are also villains Cage encounters in his origin, meeting them as fellow prisoners during his origin story.[114] Other recurring villains introduced in Cage's original series include Gideon Mace, Black Mariah, Chemistro, Stiletto, Steeplejack, Cockroach Hamilton, Mr. Fish, and Piranha Jones.[115]

Cage's earliest villains were underworld criminals, typically working for a crime boss or a criminal organization. He has faced several villains of this type, including Cottonmouth, Diamondback, Steeplejack, and Stilleto.[116] Many of Cage's villains are people who became criminals because they were unable to achieve social mobility, including Big Brother, Chemistro, Mr. Fish, and Piranha Jones.[117] Cage shares the name "Power Man" with the villain Erik Josten, introduced in The Avengers #21 (1965), and the two first encounter one another in Power Man #21 (1974).[20]

Power Man and Iron Fist writer Jo Duffy commented on the difficulty of writing villains for the titular characters, saying that they are too strong to fight common criminals but too weak to fight powerful supervillains.[118] To address this, she introduced the superpowered swordsman El Águila and the scheming mountaineer Montenegro.[119]

Cultural impact and legacy

[edit]

First appearing in June 1972, Luke Cage was one of the first Black comic book characters to play either a major or supporting role in the big two comic book houses, Marvel Comics and DC Comics. In Marvel Comics, preceding characters were Gabe Jones (debuted in 1963), Black Panther (1966), Bill Foster (1966), Spider-Man supporting characters Joe Robertson (1967), his son Randy (1968), Hobie Brown (the Prowler) and The Falcon (both 1969). In DC Comics, he was preceded by Teen Titans member Mal Duncan who debuted in 1970, and Green Lantern wielder John Stewart (1971).

Sharon Packer of Priory Group made connections between Cage's origin story and historical events taking place in the time of the comics' publication. Carl Lucas uses his newfound power to crash through the prison's cement barricades, he symbolically breaks through barriers that were once closed to him, similar to other black people of his era. Luke Cage's story has a distinct connection to unethical medical experiments; his comics presumably enhanced awareness of the Tuskegee syphilis experiments that made New York Times headlines in the very same month and year that Luke Cage debuted. Dr. Altman published a book on self-experimentation ethics, one of many texts discussing ethical breaches in medical experiments at that time, meaning that the Luke Cage stories likely picked up on the rhetoric on prison experiments during that time and tapped into opprobrium about ethics. Since his comics were released at the same time that the news broke about the Tuskegee syphilis experiments on black men in Alabama, an event which caused public outrage and swayed public opinion against non-consenting or coercive human experimentation, it can be inferred that Luke Cage's story influenced some of the aforementioned public opinion.[120]

Accolades

[edit]
  • In 2008, Wizard Magazine ranked Luke Cage 34th in their "Top 200 Comic Book Characters" list.[121]
  • In 2011, IGN ranked Luke Cage 72nd in their "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" list.[122]
  • In 2012, IGN ranked Luke Cage 72nd in their "Top 50 Avengers" list.[123]
  • in 2015, Gizmodo ranked Luke Cage 23rd in their "Every Member Of The Avengers" list.[124]
  • In 2015, Entertainment Weekly ranked Luke Cage 11th in their "Let's rank every Avenger ever" list.[125]
  • In 2019, ComicBook.com ranked Luke Cage 45th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes Ever" list.[126]
  • In 2022, Screen Rant included Luke Cage in their "10 Most Powerful Avengers In Marvel Comics" list.[127]
  • In 2022, CBR.com ranked Luke Cage 2nd in their "10 Coolest Avengers" list,[128] 2nd in their "Thunderbolts' 10 Best Leaders" list[129] and 10th in their "10 Best Mercenaries In Marvel Comics" list.[130]

Other versions

[edit]

Earth X

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X. This version is a police officer.[131]

Exiles

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage, amalgamated with Iron Fist, appears in Exiles: Days of Then and Now.[132]

"Heroes Reborn"

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-21798 appears in "Heroes Reborn". This version is the commissioner of the New York Police Department.[133]

"House of M"

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-58163 appears in "House of M". This version is the leader of a crime syndicate in Hell's Kitchen, which he later turns into a resistance against Magneto.[134][135]

Marvel MAX

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage who lacks bulletproof skin appears in the Marvel MAX series Cage.[136][137][138]

Marvel Noir

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-90214 appears in Marvel Noir.[139]

Marvel Zombies

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-2149 appears in Marvel Zombies.[140][141]

"Secret Wars"

[edit]

Several alternate universe variants of Luke Cage appear in "Secret Wars".

  • The Luke Cage of Earth-19919 (Spider-Island) is a member of the resistance against the Spider Queen.[142]
  • The Luke Cage of Earth-51920 (the Valley of Doom) is a sheriff who helps maintain order in Timely following the death of Mayor Wilson Fisk.[143]
  • The Luke Cage of Earth-32323 (Warzone) is an ally of Captain America during the Civil War.[144]
  • The Luke Cage of Earth-16191 (Arcadia) helped fight a horde of zombies from the Deadlands after Loki attacked part of the Shield.[145]
  • The Luke Cage of Earth-21722 (the Walled City of New York), is married to Jessica Jones.[146]

Ultimate Marvel

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Luke Cage from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe.[147][148][149]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Video games

[edit]

Miscellaneous

[edit]
  • Luke Cage appears in the motion comic Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D, voiced by Jesse Falcon.[152]
  • Luke Cage appears in the motion comic Wolverine: Weapon X, voiced by Trevor Devall.[152]
  • Luke Cage appears in the motion comic War of the Realms: Marvel Ultimate Comics, voiced by Deven Mack.[152]
  • Luke Cage appears as a playable character in Unmatched: Redemption Row, published by Restoration Games and featuring art by Matt Taylor.[181]

Collected editions

[edit]
Title Material collected Published date ISBN
Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 1 Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1–16; Luke Cage, Power Man #17–27 March 2005 978-0785116851
Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2 Luke Cage, Power Man #28–47, Annual #1 August 2006 978-0785121473
Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage, Hero For Hire Vol. 1 Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #1–16 August 2015 978-0785191803
Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage, Hero For Hire Vol. 2 Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #17–31 September 2017 978-1302903435
Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage, Hero For Hire Vol. 3 Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #32–47, Annual #1 February 2019 978-1302916350
Luke Cage Epic Collection Vol. 1: Retribution Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1–16; Luke Cage, Power Man #17–23 February 2021 978-1302928315
Luke Cage Omnibus Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1–16; Luke Cage, Power Man #17–47, Annual #1 May 2022 978-1302944964
Luke Cage: Second Chances Vol. 1 Cage (vol. 1) #1–12, material from Marvel Comics Presents #82 September 2015 978-0785192985
Luke Cage: Second Chances Vol. 2 Cage (vol. 1) #13–20, Terror Inc. #11–12, material from Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #13–14 April 2016 978-0785195078
Marvel MAX: Cage Cage (vol. 2) #1–5 August 2003 978-0785113010
New Avengers: Luke Cage - Town Without Pity Avengers: Luke Cage #1-3, Daredevil: Cage Match #1, Hero for Hire #1 October 2010 978-0785144175
Luke Cage: Avenger Avengers Origins: Luke Cage, New Avengers (vol. 1) #22, 49, New Avengers: Luke Cage #1-3, Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 August 2016 978-1302901943
Luke Cage Vol. 1: Sins of the Father Luke Cage #1-5 November 2017 978-1302907785
Luke Cage Vol. 2: Caged Luke Cage #166-170 May 2018 978-1302907792
Luke Cage: Everyman Luke Cage MDO Digital Comic #1-3 November 2018 978-1302912918
Luke Cage: City on Fire Luke Cage: City on Fire #1-3 December 2022 978-1302932787
Luke Cage Noir Luke Cage Noir #1–4 March 2010 978-0785139423
Marvel Noir: Daredevil/Cage/Iron Man Luke Cage Noir #1-4 and Daredevil Noir #1-4, Iron Man Noir #1-4 June 2013 978-0785184041
Cage! Cage! #1-4 May 2017 978-0785127864

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Power Man #50
  2. ^ Marvel Legacy: The 1970s Handbook
  3. ^ Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972) at the Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on February 14, 2018. "Out of Hell -- A Hero! / Luke Cage / comic story / 23 pages / Script: Roy Thomas; John Romita; Archie Goodwin."
  4. ^ Child, Ben (September 30, 2016). "A bulletproof black man: Luke Cage is the superhero America needs now". The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016. He was the first black superhero to get his own comic book. Now, Luke Cage is the first black superhero with his own TV show.
  5. ^ a b Friedenthal 2021, p. 41.
  6. ^ a b Bukac 2019, p. 73.
  7. ^ a b c d e Riesman, Abraham Josephine (2016-09-30). "How Luke Cage Went From Cutting Edge to Caricature, and Then Back Again". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2024-04-16.
  8. ^ a b c d e Hagen 2019, p. 10.
  9. ^ Gual Boronat & Millanes Vaquero 2023, p. 147n8.
  10. ^ a b Eury 2005, p. 6.
  11. ^ Davis 2018, p. 151.
  12. ^ Friedenthal 2021, pp. 41–42.
  13. ^ Hagen 2019, pp. 6–7.
  14. ^ Hagen 2019, p. 3.
  15. ^ Fawaz 2016, p. 22.
  16. ^ Bealer 2017, p. 181.
  17. ^ Howe 2012, p. 142.
  18. ^ Howe 2012, p. 131.
  19. ^ Hagen 2019, p. 12.
  20. ^ a b c Hagen 2019, p. 13.
  21. ^ Hagen 2019, p. 9.
  22. ^ Nama 2011, p. 65.
  23. ^ a b c Hagen 2019, p. 14.
  24. ^ a b Borenstein 2023, pp. 181–182.
  25. ^ a b c Hagen 2019, p. 15.
  26. ^ Howe 2012, p. 197.
  27. ^ a b Callahan 2010, p. 4.
  28. ^ Bealer 2017, p. 179.
  29. ^ a b Callahan 2010, pp. 4–5.
  30. ^ a b Callahan 2010, p. 9.
  31. ^ Callahan 2010, p. 8.
  32. ^ Callahan 2010, p. 10.
  33. ^ Nama 2011, p. 62.
  34. ^ "Lament For the Lost". Wizard. No. 29. 1994. p. 124.
  35. ^ Nama 2011, p. 113.
  36. ^ "Top Ten Funny Comics". Wizard. No. 45. 1995. p. 127.
  37. ^ "How Luke Cage Went From Cutting Edge to Caricature, and Then Back Again". Vulture. 30 September 2016.
  38. ^ Arrant, Chris (February 9, 2010). "Luke Cage Powers Into Thunderbolts as Heroic Age Leader". Newsarama. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  39. ^ "Luke Cage Is a New Avenger Again". Comic Book Resources. March 1, 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  40. ^ Larnick, Eric (17 September 2012). "Genndy Tartakovsky on The Status of His Luke Cage Comic". ComicsAlliance.
  41. ^ "Tartakovsky On Returning to Luke Cage, Directing for Marvel, and Hotel Transylvania 2". Newsarama. 18 July 2023.
  42. ^ Cage #8-10. Marvel Comics.
  43. ^ a b c Hero For Hire #1. Marvel Comics.
  44. ^ Wolverine & Captain America: Weapon Plus #1. Marvel Comics.
  45. ^ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-1-4165-3141-8.
  46. ^ Hero for Hire #2. Marvel Comics
  47. ^ Hero for Hire #9 (1973). Marvel Comics.
  48. ^ Bendis, Brian Michael (w). Pulse #14. Marvel Comics.
  49. ^ Power Man #17. Marvel Comics.
  50. ^ Power Man #21. Marvel Comics
  51. ^ The Defenders #17–19. Marvel Comics.
  52. ^ The Defenders #24–25. Marvel Comics.
  53. ^ The Defenders #36–46. Marvel Comics.
  54. ^ Power Man #48–49. Marvel Comics.
  55. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #50. Marvel Comics.
  56. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #54. Marvel Comics.
  57. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #51. Marvel Comics.
  58. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #125. Marvel Comics.
  59. ^ Marvel Comics Presents #82. Marvel Comics.
  60. ^ Namor, the Sub-Mariner #15-25
  61. ^ Punisher #60–62. Marvel Comics.
  62. ^ Cage #1. Marvel Comics.
  63. ^ Cage #6. Marvel Comics.
  64. ^ Cage #14. Marvel Comics.
  65. ^ Marvel Comics Presents #131–136 (June–September 1993). Marvel Comics.
  66. ^ Heroes for Hire #19. Marvel Comics.
  67. ^ Alias #1–2. Marvel Comics.
  68. ^ Alias #15. Marvel Comics.
  69. ^ Alias #25–26
  70. ^ Alias #28
  71. ^ The Pulse #1. Marvel Comics.
  72. ^ The Pulse #4. Marvel Comics.
  73. ^ The Pulse #5. Marvel Comics.
  74. ^ The New Avengers #1. Marvel Comics.
  75. ^ The New Avengers #34. Marvel Comics.
  76. ^ The New Avengers Annual #1. Marvel Comics.
  77. ^ Black Panther vol. 4 #10–13 (2005–2006). Marvel Comics.
  78. ^ In a case of retroactive continuity, this is depicted as the first encounter between Luke Cage and the Black Panther, even though they previously met when all of Earth's superheroes were abducted by the Grandmaster, as part of a cosmic game he was playing with Death. Contest of Champions #1, p. 16 (June 1982). Marvel Comics.
  79. ^ The New Avengers #22. Marvel Comics.
  80. ^ Civil War #7. Marvel Comics.
  81. ^ Civil War #2–7. Marvel Comics.
  82. ^ a b The New Avengers #28. Marvel Comics.
  83. ^ The New Avengers #48. Marvel Comics.
  84. ^ The New Avengers #51. Marvel Comics.
  85. ^ Thunderbolts #144 (2010). Marvel Comics.
  86. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #1–6. Marvel Comics.
  87. ^ The New Avengers #7. Marvel Comics.
  88. ^ The New Avengers #30. Marvel Comics.
  89. ^ The New Avengers vol. 2 #34. Marvel Comics.
  90. ^ a b Slott, Dan (w). Mighty Avengers vol. 2, #1–3. Marvel Comics.
  91. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 3 #1–4. Marvel Comics.
  92. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 3 #6. Marvel Comics.
  93. ^ Secret Empire #0. Marvel Comics.
  94. ^ Hunt for Wolverine: The Adamantium Agenda #1. Marvel Comics.
  95. ^ Hunt for Wolverine: The Adamantium Agenda #2. Marvel Comics.
  96. ^ Hunt for Wolverine: The Adamantium Agenda #3. Marvel Comics.
  97. ^ Hunt for Wolverine: The Adamantium Agenda #4. Marvel Comics.
  98. ^ Empyre: Avengers #1. Marvel Comics.
  99. ^ Empyre: Avengers #2. Marvel Comics.
  100. ^ Empyre: Avengers #3. Marvel Comics.
  101. ^ Devil's Reign #1
  102. ^ Devil's Reign #3
  103. ^ Devil's Reign #6
  104. ^ Devil's Reign: Omega #1
  105. ^ Devil's Reign Omega #1
  106. ^ New Avengers #7
  107. ^ a b Cage #5–8. Marvel Comics.
  108. ^ Civil War: Battle Damage Report (March 2007). Marvel Comics.
  109. ^ Brown 2021, pp. 53–55.
  110. ^ Fentiman 2019, p. 107.
  111. ^ Hagen 2019, p. 11.
  112. ^ Hagen 2019, p. 6.
  113. ^ Bealer 2017, pp. 173–174.
  114. ^ Hagen 2019, pp. 4–5.
  115. ^ Hagen 2019, pp. 11–15.
  116. ^ Nama 2011, p. 58.
  117. ^ Gual Boronat & Millanes Vaquero 2023, p. 138.
  118. ^ Callahan 2010, p. 5.
  119. ^ Callahan 2010, pp. 5–7.
  120. ^ Packer, Sharon. "Luke Cage Comics And Race-Based Unethical Medical Experiments". www.priory.com. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  121. ^ "Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken". Wizard magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  122. ^ "Luke Cage is number 72". IGN. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  123. ^ "The Top 50 Avengers". IGN. April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  124. ^ Bricken, Rob (February 26, 2015). "Every Member Of The Avengers, Ranked". Gizmodo. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  125. ^ Franich, Darren (April 29, 2015). "Let's rank every Avenger ever". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  126. ^ Cartelli, Lance (February 25, 2019). "Ranking The 50 Most Important Superheroes Ever". Movies. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  127. ^ Harn, Darby (June 25, 2022). "10 Most Powerful Avengers In Marvel Comics". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  128. ^ Harth, David (September 19, 2022). "10 Coolest Avengers". CBR. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  129. ^ Allan, Scoot (October 12, 2022). "Thunderbolts' 10 Best Leaders, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  130. ^ Eckhardt, Peter (December 15, 2022). "The 10 Best Mercenaries In Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  131. ^ Earth X #1 (April 1999). Marvel Comics.
  132. ^ Exiles: Days of Then and Now One Shot. Marvel Comics.
  133. ^ Heroes Reborn vol. 2 #5. Marvel Comics.
  134. ^ House of M: Avengers #1–2. Marvel Comics.
  135. ^ House of M #4. Marvel Comics.
  136. ^ Cage #4. Marvel Comics.
  137. ^ Cage #5. Marvel Comics.
  138. ^ Brian Azzarello (w), Richard Corben (p), Richard Corben (i), Jose Villarrubia (col), RS and Comicraft's Wes Abbott (let), Axel Alonso (ed). Cage, vol. 2, no. 1–5 (March 2002 - September 2002). United States: Marvel Comics.
  139. ^ Luke Cage Noir #1–4. Marvel Comics.
  140. ^ Black Panther #28–30 (July - September 2007). Marvel Comics.
  141. ^ Marvel Zombies Return #3 (2009). Marvel Comics.
  142. ^ Spider-Island #1. Marvel Comics.
  143. ^ 1872 #4. Marvel Comics.
  144. ^ Civil War vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics.
  145. ^ A-Force #5. Marvel Comics.
  146. ^ Secret Wars: Secret Love #1. Marvel Comics.
  147. ^ Ultimates 2 #6. Marvel Comics.
  148. ^ New Ultimates #5. Marvel Comics.
  149. ^ New Ultimates #1. Marvel Comics.
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References

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luke_Cage&oldid=1270173222"