I have to acknowledge the fact that he was one of the first black
superheros to receive his own comic book and for that reason he is
sometimes called The First Black Superhero. Although the first was Lobo in 1965, who got a spinoff from All Negro Comics.
But Luke was the second in 1972 and largely more successful. I didn't
mean to give a history lesson but you won't find any of that on Comic
Vine.
Luke,
real name Carl Lucas, was born in a dark Harlem slum and spent most of
his youth in a gang known as The Rivals. That was a horrible name choice
for a gang. Eventually Luke went beyond scared straight. He was
incarcerated at a young age. He wasn't scared, he was hurt. Luke saw all
the pain he had put his family through with all his gang fights and
crimes.
Once released Luke changed his life. Luke joined the NYPD. He tried to convince his best friend Willis Stryker to join him on the right side of the law. But Willis rose through the ranks of The Rivals and eventually became a leader. However Willis angered a local crime syndicate. They put a hit out on his life. He was seconds before death but an annoying Luke Cage was making another visit to recruit for the forces of good. Luke of course saved Willis.
This is when it gets messed up. Willis' girlfriend left him because she feared the life that he was living. She went to talk to Luke about it. Willis saw this and assumed Luke had been putting the D from NYPD in her. So instead of confronting them he placed a large amount of drugs inside of Luke's home and called the police. Luke was arrested and convicted. Luke was once again back in jail.
Once again in the same position he changed his life to avoid Luke was angry. Luke got into jail fights with anybody from his old gang and won. He also attempted prison escapes on the regular basis. The beast was caged and he didn't like it. Luke was too much for New York prison, so they sent him to Georgia. There he met Albert Rackham, a racist guard who Luke clashed with frequently.
Eventually Luke volunteered for one of Dr. Noah Burstein's experiments to decrease his prison sentence. Luke was left in a container of chemicals with electricity flowing through. When Burstein left Luke was to be guarded by Racham. That racist asshole can blame himself for the beat down that came next. He decided to turn the controls up to the max. This not only sent Luke into excruciating pain but it also gave blessed him with his superpowers. Racham was the first to get a beat down in Lukes prison escape.
Luke headed back for New York after his escape. Luke wanted revenge on Willi. Willis was now one of the city's top crime lords going by the name of Diamond Back. During the battle Luke was beating that ass for years of pain. On the edge Diamondback attempted to use one of his exploding knives but it backfired & blew off his arm, he died from blood loss.
Afterwards Luke became a Hero for hire. I have to include a picture of his costume. He kept it groovey.
He set up an office right in the middle of Time's Square. Luckily he was exonerated for his crimes and received time served for the prison break. The funny thing is Luke wasn't really a hero. He worked for whoever could afford him. He was hired by Dr. Doom to take out the Fantastic Four. He did it but when Doom couldn't pay he temporarily joined with the Fantastic 4 to take out Doom. On another occasion he captured Spider-Man for J. Jonah Jameson. But Luke got know him and gave the money back.
Luke met Jewel, another black superhero, although she wasn't for hire, little did he know it would be his future wife and mother of his child. Unlike Black Panther and Storm, whose wedding was more public, Luke and Jewel are still together years later and have a daughter. That's strong black family. Seriously they will kick your ass. Back to Luke.
Luke got the codename Power Man, from the public, he hated it. When Ben lost his powers Luke was a member of the Fantastic 4. He went from beating them down to a member of the team. For a while after Luke was just out beating up bad guys for cash after founding Hero's for Hire. When that crumbled Luke started working for free.
Remember Jewel, well Luke had a one night stand with a woman named Jessica who turned out to be Jewel. She was pregnant with his daughter. Luke did the right thing and married her. Now I know what you're saying so let me hit you with a Nas quote.
Luke Cage
Once released Luke changed his life. Luke joined the NYPD. He tried to convince his best friend Willis Stryker to join him on the right side of the law. But Willis rose through the ranks of The Rivals and eventually became a leader. However Willis angered a local crime syndicate. They put a hit out on his life. He was seconds before death but an annoying Luke Cage was making another visit to recruit for the forces of good. Luke of course saved Willis.
This is when it gets messed up. Willis' girlfriend left him because she feared the life that he was living. She went to talk to Luke about it. Willis saw this and assumed Luke had been putting the D from NYPD in her. So instead of confronting them he placed a large amount of drugs inside of Luke's home and called the police. Luke was arrested and convicted. Luke was once again back in jail.
Once again in the same position he changed his life to avoid Luke was angry. Luke got into jail fights with anybody from his old gang and won. He also attempted prison escapes on the regular basis. The beast was caged and he didn't like it. Luke was too much for New York prison, so they sent him to Georgia. There he met Albert Rackham, a racist guard who Luke clashed with frequently.
Eventually Luke volunteered for one of Dr. Noah Burstein's experiments to decrease his prison sentence. Luke was left in a container of chemicals with electricity flowing through. When Burstein left Luke was to be guarded by Racham. That racist asshole can blame himself for the beat down that came next. He decided to turn the controls up to the max. This not only sent Luke into excruciating pain but it also gave blessed him with his superpowers. Racham was the first to get a beat down in Lukes prison escape.
Luke headed back for New York after his escape. Luke wanted revenge on Willi. Willis was now one of the city's top crime lords going by the name of Diamond Back. During the battle Luke was beating that ass for years of pain. On the edge Diamondback attempted to use one of his exploding knives but it backfired & blew off his arm, he died from blood loss.
Afterwards Luke became a Hero for hire. I have to include a picture of his costume. He kept it groovey.
He set up an office right in the middle of Time's Square. Luckily he was exonerated for his crimes and received time served for the prison break. The funny thing is Luke wasn't really a hero. He worked for whoever could afford him. He was hired by Dr. Doom to take out the Fantastic Four. He did it but when Doom couldn't pay he temporarily joined with the Fantastic 4 to take out Doom. On another occasion he captured Spider-Man for J. Jonah Jameson. But Luke got know him and gave the money back.
Luke met Jewel, another black superhero, although she wasn't for hire, little did he know it would be his future wife and mother of his child. Unlike Black Panther and Storm, whose wedding was more public, Luke and Jewel are still together years later and have a daughter. That's strong black family. Seriously they will kick your ass. Back to Luke.
Luke got the codename Power Man, from the public, he hated it. When Ben lost his powers Luke was a member of the Fantastic 4. He went from beating them down to a member of the team. For a while after Luke was just out beating up bad guys for cash after founding Hero's for Hire. When that crumbled Luke started working for free.
Remember Jewel, well Luke had a one night stand with a woman named Jessica who turned out to be Jewel. She was pregnant with his daughter. Luke did the right thing and married her. Now I know what you're saying so let me hit you with a Nas quote.
"And all I seen was selfish cowards, under they breath
Saying “why did Nas trust her?”, but look at yourself, speak louder bruh
You live with your babymoms and scared to make an honest woman out of her
And make her your bride, fake bitch you ain’t even alive
At least I can say I tried plus enjoyed the ride
Plus we got our little boy, my little joy and pride
He got my nose, my grill, your colour, your eyes"
Saying “why did Nas trust her?”, but look at yourself, speak louder bruh
You live with your babymoms and scared to make an honest woman out of her
And make her your bride, fake bitch you ain’t even alive
At least I can say I tried plus enjoyed the ride
Plus we got our little boy, my little joy and pride
He got my nose, my grill, your colour, your eyes"
Funny
thing is it worked out and they're still happily married. Luke also
took this time to join the New Avengers. Much to J. Jonah's dislike.
Calling Luke a gangbanger, mercenary, heroin dealer. Luke laughed it off
and convinced the team to clean up a Detroit park on their day off.
During
the Civil War Luke stated the Superhero Registration Act was nothing
more than a new form of slavery. SHIELD came to his home. They made a
mistake. They expected Luke to come quietly because of his wife and
newborn daughter. Luke is a lot smarter than they think he is. Luke had
sent them to Canada to be safe from the law a week prior. Luke took out
an entire SHIELD platoon right on his front lawn. He then calmly walked
off in the sunset, next being seen with Captain America and the Secret
Avengers.
After
Captain America's death, Luke took over the team and despite his
warning, his wife returned to be by his side in the fight. Later he
began to suspect a member of the team was a Skrull in disguise. He
argued with his wife about this until they found a crashed ship where
the Skrull had failed to copy many of the heroes they had fought in the
past. The Secret Avengers were then ambushed by more Skrull after
Spider-Woman revealed herself to be Skrull. Jewel apologized, they
kissed and made up then beat some ass.
After
the fight a Skrull telaported in and kidnapped his daughter. Why did
Jewel bring her to the fight. Luke continued to lead the team and search
for his daughter rarely ever sleeping. Meanwhile Jewel was having a
breakdown due to her feelings of guilt. Eventually he promised Norman if
he could find his daughter he would do anything. Osborn found his
daughter. Luke didn't want to involve the team so he left a note and
proceeded in a one man assault on Jarvis Skrull's base. He came back
with his daughter.
Luke
had no intentions of working for Osborn. So Osborn brain washed Iron
Fist to kill Luke. But they were best friends so that didn't work out.
Osborn continued to track The Avengers somehow. Eventually they traveled
to Asgard where they helped Thor do some stuff, doesn't matter.
When
the New Avengers are threatened again. Luke turns himself in to Osborn.
The team can't let this happen and later rescue their leader. It is
revealed Luke has a tracker inside of his heart. Dr. Strange removes it
and put's it in Osborn's home. When the missile sent to destroy Luke is
sent it blows up Osborn's home.
Later
after the real Captain America was revived he joined up with Luke and
the New Avengers, Furry's secret Warriors and The Young Avengers to take
down HAMMER. Luke gave a great speech but Captain America had to show
him up. Too bad Luke won MVP in the fight. After they defeat HAMMER and
put Osborne out of commission Luke takes a new role.
With
Steve Rodgers now the head of Shield he removes Luke from the Avengers
stating "Luke, you've been unfairly incarcerated, attacked and had more
reasons to turn to evil more than anyone else, yet here we are. I want
you to lead a new team." Luke was chosen to lead a team of reformed
supervillains.
Later
during Dare Devil's Shadow Land Luke and Iron Fist went to talk to him.
They attempted to stop a fight between Dare Devil and Bullseye but Dare
Devil took that as an opportunity to murder Bullseye.
Abilities
- Superhuman Strength: Up to thirty tons
- Superhuman Endurance: Why do you think she married him after a one night stand?
- Near Invincibility: Lasers, guns, knives, bats, vehicles, none of that works
- Increased Healing Rate: Just as fast as Wolverine
- Natural Leader
- Bad Ass
