Issue 8- Hollywood Goggles: Luke Cage
In a time when the discussion about race and America has become ever more heated, Marvel has put out two amazing heroes who face these issues head on. Black Panther broke the mold this earlier this year for movies, putting afro-futurism front and center and more than proving a black superhero can succeed just as well as anyone else at the box office, better even then most.Before that however, Netflix released their version of the bulletproof black man, Luke Cage
(Sweet Christmas, that is badass.)
Movie Netflix Recap
Appearing first in Jessica Jones, you can view my Hollywood Goggles of her here, Luke was an extra ordinary bartender before the events of that series caused him to return to Harlem.
In his own series, Luke faces off against crime lord Cottonmouth, his sister and politician Black Mariah, and others for the soul of their historically black neighborhood. Working with, and butting heads with detective Misty Knight who is another badass woman, Cage explores his past.
Experimented on while he was wrongly convicted of a crime, Luke escaped prison and eventually goes on to join Jessica as the Defender’s strongest, and most indestructible, member.
Back Issues- Hero For Hire
Saying Black characters in comics didn’t really have it good to start is an understatement. Many began as racist caricatures that were played around as comedy relief, or big villainous brutes. Actual black heroes were almost non existent till the 60’s when characters like Black Panther began to appear in Fantastic Four #52. The first black man to actually star in his own comic was Lobo in 1965, no relation to Dc’s character.
(Unfortunately this comic only lasted two issues.)
Luke however broke that mold in comics as well. Being the first black hero to ever grace his own title, the eponymous Luke Cage: Hero For Hire #1 , he was the a street level hero who looked out for the little guy.
Luke was created during the height of the blaxploitation moment of the 70’s by Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, and the legendary artist, John Romita, Sr.
Cage’s series carried on through most of the seventies till in 1978 he was teamed up with future fellow Defender, Iron Fist in order to cash in the popular martial arts film genre as well. Unfortunately the series was cancelled in 1986.
Bouncing around from comic to comic, guest star to team, Luke has done almost everything from solo mini series, to even leading his own Avengers. There’s no telling where he’ll end up next.
(Look at that original costume!)
Before we move on, a side note. Luke's trademark saying, Sweet Christmas, was just a random catchphrase and a way for Luke to have an expletive without actually cursing.
Sweet Christmas- A Tiara?
Surprisingly, there’s not a lot of differences between Luke’s comic persona and his appearance on his Netflix series. Born Carl Lucas, after starting life in a gang with his friend Willis Stryker, our hero decided to change his ways when he found out how much his criminal activities were hurting his family and community.
Unfortunately Stryker decides to frame Carl, sending him to prison where he was continuously harassed by a racist guard. After being selected for an super soldier experiment, the guard decided to mess with the controls causing an explosion gifting Lucas with his strength and invulnerability, and allowing him to escape.
Taking the name Luke Cage, our hero returned to New York hoping for a new life as he sold himself as A Hero for Hire. Helping people for a price, sort of like a one man A Team. Eventually with the help of Misty Knight and her boyfriend at the time, Danny Rand the Iron fist, they find the evidence to eventually exonerate Luke. This is the start of their long partnership together, till Rand is killed off and once again, Cage is framed for his murder.
(Seriously, even in comics a black man in America can’t get a break! Why would he ever kill his best bro!)
After surviving that fiasco and many more adventure, Luke’s history finally merges with that of our favorite hard drinking P.I. Jessica Jones, and well, you know where it goes from there. Baby Danielle! Of course named after Danny Rand.
Season Two This Week!
Why pick Luke Cage to do this week? Well as the last heading mentions, season two of Netflix and Marvel’s Luke Cage comes out this week and it’s a show I really think everyone should support. Between it’s amazing cast, great writing and acting, and massive amounts of representation, this is a series that deserves love and support.
But that’s about all the time I have for this issue of Hollywood Goggles. I’ll be trying a different article type next Tuesday but stay tuned this Saturday for the next issue when we celebrate Pride month with my favorite LGBT comic characters. Excelsior!
(Just like Jessica Jones, we’ll end on the Netflix series referencing his Luke’s original look. Behold!)
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobo_(Dell_Comics)
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