On Friday, September 30 at midnight, Netflix will be unveiling Marvel’s Luke Cage, the third in their series of interconnected shows based on Marvel Comics characters that will lead to a team-up in The Defenders. The character of Luke Cage, as played by Mike Colter, was prominently featured in Jessica Jones late last year; this, however, is his story.
For those unfamiliar with the comics, Luke Cage was one of the first African-American superheroes to have his own comic book title; despite some changes in the name of his first comic book series, he had an 125-issue run, which is spectacular for any hero. But let’s not focus on the comics here: Let’s talk about the show.
First off, I have to credit showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker in creating a world where character motivations are clear, even when you don’t agree with them, and to those who assembled the cast of this show, in finding actors you can believe in. Mike Colter has that “heart of a hero” that the best in the genre do; even though he’s had a very rough past full of tragedy, he has a good heart, and even if someone might treat him badly at one point, he will still do the right thing if an injustice is done. Also great about Colter’s Cage is that even if he didn’t have enhanced abilities, he’d still be an interesting character. Mahershala Ali’s “Cottonmouth” Stokes is a character that could easily have been done over the top; Ali plays him smoothly and you wonder if there is a conscience underneath all of that smoothness. Alfre Woodard is also a part of the cast, as a different character from Civil War (oops), but as a local politician involved in some shady deals.
Another Marvel Comics icon is present in the series in the form of Misty Knight (Simone Missick), a character who has an unexpected first interaction with Luke. All of these great characters converge in Harlem, a place that becomes immersive in the way that Hell’s Kitchen was on Daredevil. The talent assembled on these shows really knows how to make it feel like a connected universe in a way I have not seen in other connected movies or shows before.
If I had any complaint to make about the Luke Cage episodes I’ve seen thus far, it is the occasional use of the “N-word” (you know which one). I understand it is often said to make other people uncomfortable, and that discomfort is purposeful, but I really, really don’t like that word. I do admit, though, that even if it wasn’t said in the Luke Cage origin story from the comics (thank you, Comics Code Authority), it was implied to be there without being said out loud.
While not completely following the comics, there are a lot of aspects that are direct references to them. Frankie Faison’s character “Pops” calls him “Power Man.” We may see the yellow shirt and the tiara at some point. And episode 4 is definitely a Luke Cage origin story. An interesting side effect from watching this series, though? As much as the “Power Man and Iron Fist” team has been great to read in comics, including the current series, I’d love to see a seriously done and well done Luke Cage solo comic book series again.
Marvel and Netflix are now 3-for-3 as far as creating good serialized television goes that feels like a continuous movie. I’d be curious to see how something like this would go down one week at a time, when we all have time to process and discuss it together, but I do find the show so far to be addictive. I’m amazed and loving that icons that I know from the comics like Cage, Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones can exist in this medium; I do wish we had a series in this vein on broadcast TV, though, because Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t give me this same feeling. Check out Luke Cage as soon as you can; it’s definitely worth watching.
KSiteTV Editor-In-Chief Craig Byrne has been writing about TV on the internet since 1995. He is also the author of several published books, including Smallville: The Visual Guide and the show's Official Companions for Seasons 4-7.
