“Red room? Who are you, David Lynch?”
Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #1
Marvel Comics Group (June, 1972; using ComiXology version)
“Out Of Hell–A Hero!”
WRITER: Archie Goodwin
PENCILERS: George Tuska & John Romita
INKERS: Billy Graham & John Romita
no colorist listed according to Grand Comics Database
LETTERER: Skip Kohloff
EDITOR: Stan Lee
A prisoner named Lucas was framed by a former friend from the mean streets, Willis, that he used to run with, thinking he turned his girl against them since she was the only thing they competed for. Lucas is sure Willis framed him and sent him to prison, using that to try to get back with the girl, Reva, until she was killed by a rival gang who was shooting at him. Meanwhile, Lucas deals with a racist prison captain and his flunky guard Rackham until a new warden shows up to reform the prison. He demotes the guard and kicks the captain out. Meanwhile, Lucas is talked into taking part in an experiment to create a new healing process but Rackham tries to use it to kill Lucas rather than see him earn parole. The plan backfires and Lucas instead gains superhuman strength and endurance. Lucas escapes prison rather than be accused of Rackham’s murder (we don’t see if he survived or not) and proceeds on his path of revenge on Willis, now going by Diamondback. After getting a reward for stopping a robbery, Lucas comes up with a job. Now calling himself Luke Cage he starts his “Hero For Hire” business, a sort of paid crimefighter, with plans of finally getting Willis.
What they got right: A lot happens in 24 pages, and yet none of it feels rushed. Lucas’ story is told through flashback while the events in prison feel like a present day (though the text indicates the whole story is flashing back to his origin). It’s easy to tell which time period a particular scene is set in, which is always nice. The origin itself is not a bad one.
What they got wrong: Was the scientist working for Tony Stark? Did he ever try to use this machine again? Why did the new warden not fire Rackham as well when he clearly was a violent guard? Was there even a point to the bit with the extremist “black power” riot plan when it has nothing to do with this story?
What I think overall: This is the first time I’ve read Luke Cage’s origin and it’s a really good debut for Cage. I wonder when he started going by Power Man and when and why he stopped, even after beating Erik Josten for the rights to the name? This was made to cash in on the “blacksplotation” movies of the 1970s just as Iron Fist and Shang-Chi were for the two types of martial arts films popular at the time (the American learning martial arts and the kung-fu movies from China before “wire-fu” and all the mystical elements) but it still manages to be a good introduction to a character who has had strong staying power in the Marvel Universe to the point of getting his own Netflix series that people liked. So don’t tell me there are no good black characters in comics when you have ones like Luke Cage to point to.
BW Media Spotlight 