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Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage #1
Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage, Hero For Hire, Vol. 1
Luke Cage burst onto the comics scene in 1972 as the “Hero for Hire.” Equal parts Marvel Method and Blaxploitation boldness, he was a new kind of hero for a new era. Now, the Marvel Masterworks proudly present the complete Luke Cage, Hero for Hire — the historic first title to headline an African-American super hero — in one hardcover volume! Cage’s adventures depicted New York City’s 1970s grit and the plight of its people unlike any other, all while incorporating larger-than-life villains including Black Mariah and Doctor Doom.
Collects Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (1972) #1-16.
Collects Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (1972) #1-16.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2015
29 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Archie Goodwin
972 books69 followersArchie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work. For Warren he was chief writer and editor of landmark horror anthology titles Creepy and Eerie, and for Marvel he set up the creator-owned Epic Comics as well as adapting Star Wars into both comics and newspaper strips. He is regularly cited as the "best-loved comic book editor, ever."
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 2, 2021
Seeing the beginnings of Luke Cage was so exciting!
His point of view was vastly different to many of the other comic book heroes I've read before. I enjoyed seeing so many of the same characters I really liked in the show (RIP) and observing the similarities and differences!
Overall, for any fan of the Luke Cage Netflix show, I recommend giving this volume a read to see how it all began!
His point of view was vastly different to many of the other comic book heroes I've read before. I enjoyed seeing so many of the same characters I really liked in the show (RIP) and observing the similarities and differences!
Overall, for any fan of the Luke Cage Netflix show, I recommend giving this volume a read to see how it all began!
June 25, 2017
With another blowout Netflix series to pump me up, I figured I'd give the original Luke Cage comics a lookie - see what kind of context I can place for some of the villains I've never heard of.
Surprisingly easy to read - dialogue doesn't clang, low tell:show ratio, not a lot of 20 second monologues between punches. Is Archie Goodwin the anti-Claremont of the pre-Dark(Knight Returns)ening era of comics?
They were surprisingly self-aware of how whacky the costume design was, even back then:
Though there was some heavy use of 'street slang':
And I loved the inside joke they hid in there:
(Marvel and DC got into a tussle about who owned the rights to the name "Captain Marvel")
Hell, I was impressed by how faithful to the origin story the Netflix series was:
(Maybe I take back that Claremont compliment - nobody talks out loud to themselves like that, not even when the artist *can't* show what the words are there to fill in)
The artist though? Hasn't quite mastered "drawing from reference":
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(Wait, did someone actually *make* a gun that looks like it'd bleed you to death every time you popped it out of its holster?)
Or not making the villain look like a tool:
There's an undercurrent of morality plays in the one-shot stories like Mace, and that's fine for what it does - at least they didn't drag these out into Bendis-inflated six-issue story arcs.
Surprisingly easy to read - dialogue doesn't clang, low tell:show ratio, not a lot of 20 second monologues between punches. Is Archie Goodwin the anti-Claremont of the pre-Dark(Knight Returns)ening era of comics?
They were surprisingly self-aware of how whacky the costume design was, even back then:
Though there was some heavy use of 'street slang':
And I loved the inside joke they hid in there:
(Marvel and DC got into a tussle about who owned the rights to the name "Captain Marvel")
Hell, I was impressed by how faithful to the origin story the Netflix series was:
(Maybe I take back that Claremont compliment - nobody talks out loud to themselves like that, not even when the artist *can't* show what the words are there to fill in)
The artist though? Hasn't quite mastered "drawing from reference":
(Wait, did someone actually *make* a gun that looks like it'd bleed you to death every time you popped it out of its holster?)
Or not making the villain look like a tool:
There's an undercurrent of morality plays in the one-shot stories like Mace, and that's fine for what it does - at least they didn't drag these out into Bendis-inflated six-issue story arcs.
October 16, 2015
I rather like these comics, the dialogue a bit corny, and I get sick of Luke continually telling the World about his 'bullet proof skin' bur on the whole rather good!
September 29, 2016
One of originals
From the early 70s, Luke Cage is a hero for hire in this collection of 16 issues. A series of unique foes and even an appearance by Dr. Doom himself.
From the early 70s, Luke Cage is a hero for hire in this collection of 16 issues. A series of unique foes and even an appearance by Dr. Doom himself.
August 23, 2017
This is precisely the kind of Marvel comic book collection that will set off triggered navel-gazers with stunning reliability. No, that's not why I enjoyed it, but it is a laughable, if sadly logical outgrowth of our society's politically correct zealousness. Sure, there are some cringe-worthy stereotypes, ala Blaxploitation films of the same era, but it's hard to argue that there was even the slightest malice or racist intent. In fact, it's interesting that the tame, soap opera-ish Netflix series based on the character often has Luke referencing such authors as Chester Himes, whose Harlem Detective novels parallel Marvel's 1970's universe.
Those issues aside, in this compilation of the first sixteen comic books, Luke Cage is a gritty and engaging character, driven by anger and distrust. He's not the morally conflicted character in the tv show, a point of diversion I welcomed. The comic book version is more honest, more real to me. This is a man who's a product of his past and is thusly carrying a roiling inferno of borderline misanthropic rage. He is a man who was nearly killed by experimentation who decides to use his newfound powers to get some money while simultaneously trying to avoid discovery following his escape from prison. That's it. Very little morality. Very little conscience. Just a lot of lone wolf ass-kicking in a world that is a million miles away from Smallville. Talk about a rage in Harlem.
Those issues aside, in this compilation of the first sixteen comic books, Luke Cage is a gritty and engaging character, driven by anger and distrust. He's not the morally conflicted character in the tv show, a point of diversion I welcomed. The comic book version is more honest, more real to me. This is a man who's a product of his past and is thusly carrying a roiling inferno of borderline misanthropic rage. He is a man who was nearly killed by experimentation who decides to use his newfound powers to get some money while simultaneously trying to avoid discovery following his escape from prison. That's it. Very little morality. Very little conscience. Just a lot of lone wolf ass-kicking in a world that is a million miles away from Smallville. Talk about a rage in Harlem.
October 30, 2016
This is a bit of a mess. It is essentially what you would expect a story about a black hero to be if it were written by white middle-aged men in the early 70's. It's so filled with racial stereotypes that it's hard to keep track of them. However, I believe this does have some value as an educational resource. It can provide examples of stereotypes that can be contrasted with a more modern approach to writing minority superheroes. There is one story element that I did enjoy though. In practically every story, Luke Cage's shirt is destroyed in battle. It seems that he is channeling a bit of Captain Kirk in this regard.
February 14, 2017
Groundbreaking concept
When this came out it looked like no other comic. A black superhero who acted like a black person. The Harlem locations looked good as well.
When this came out it looked like no other comic. A black superhero who acted like a black person. The Harlem locations looked good as well.
April 18, 2024
Luke Cage. Originally just a Hero for Hire that became the “all-new, all-different” Power Man. First conceived and developed in the era that gave American popular culture the black-exploitation wave in cinema, Luke Cage was another attempt to cash in on the popular culture trend-of-the-day. This same mentality at Marvel also gave us the likes of Master of Kung Fu Shang-Chi, Iron Fist the Living Weapon and The Sons of the Tiger (although these were riding the similar popular culture wave of martial arts films). Luke Cage instead took to the streets and offered, in many ways, Marvel’s first attempt at tough-street-level action. There’s a lot of pandering to the expectations of blackploitation but Luke Cage still shines through as a remarkable and interesting character, with lots of potential. It’s nice to have these issues collected in beautiful color instead of merely in black & white in the pages of Essential Luke Cage, Power Man, Vol. 1. Eagerly looking forward to volume two.
January 4, 2021
Luke Cage Hero for Hire is sooooo cool.
In this volume we get his origin story and how and why he started his Hero for Hire business.
Bullets fly and bounce off his steel hard skin. A swing of a steel cuffed wrist attached to a bone breaking fist connecting to a face of a dire villain is pure joy.
This book definitely brings back memories of me as a kid picking up a 25 cent comic off the spinner rack at the local convenience store and sitting down at home and enjoying every bright colored and action packed page.
In this volume we get his origin story and how and why he started his Hero for Hire business.
Bullets fly and bounce off his steel hard skin. A swing of a steel cuffed wrist attached to a bone breaking fist connecting to a face of a dire villain is pure joy.
This book definitely brings back memories of me as a kid picking up a 25 cent comic off the spinner rack at the local convenience store and sitting down at home and enjoying every bright colored and action packed page.
April 9, 2021
Luke Cage has changed a lot since these early comics
(as has a lot, of course.) Still an enjoyable run. I’ve known for years about Chemistro’s early appearances but hadn’t seen them, for instance. Claire Temple, played on TV by the terrific Rosario Dawson, is first seen in these...
(as has a lot, of course.) Still an enjoyable run. I’ve known for years about Chemistro’s early appearances but hadn’t seen them, for instance. Claire Temple, played on TV by the terrific Rosario Dawson, is first seen in these...
December 16, 2017
One of the comics that's so bad it's good. Hysterical, absurd, lame cartoonish villains and oh so much bad jive. It's a bad comedy more than anything else.
January 5, 2021
Fairly solid. And not one “Sweet Christmas” to be found.
November 15, 2020
This had the vibe of a 1970s detective novel and it worked really well with the characters. Also, I loved the inside joke at Shazam's expense. Good times.
I interviewed author Steve Englehart for the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/in...
I interviewed author Steve Englehart for the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/in...
August 28, 2018
This volume collects the first sixteen issues of Luke Cage, Heroes for Hire.
The book starts out with a solid origin story written by Archie Goodwin for Luke Cage befitting of the blacksploitation wave Marvel was playing into. Lucas is a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, chosen for prison experiment which goes wrong thanks to a sadistic guard and gives Lucas skin that' not hurt by bullets. He then escapes prison, takes the name of Luke Cage and becomes a hero for hire.
From Issue 3-13, the book is fun (Steve Engelhart took over for Goodwin with Issue 5), although a bit sillier than you'd expect a Marvel comic at the dawn of the Bronze age to be. Cage battles Gabriel Mace, a man whose hand is a mace. He sleuths out a couple mysteries in Scooby Doo style. He's hired by Doctor Doom to fight robots who are disguised as Black men, and faces a Christmas plot to wipe out the human race.
During these issues, the action is good, even though the attempts to give Luke Cage a supervillain rogue's gallery mostly fizzle. Black Mariah is the classic. Engelhart decided to take the typical nickname for a paddy wagon and give it to a large Black supervillain whose entire gig is running out phony ambulances to take dead bodies and roll them.
Luke Cage has a great style of dialogue fitting the times. However, his catchphrase, "Sweet Christmas!" isn't uttered in this book as it wouldn't be used until Issue 27 although we get a few, "Sweet Sister!" and "Christmas!" exclamations
The book takes a turn for the awesome with the three issue story, "Retribution" which also featured a shift from Engelhart to Tony Isabella with artist Billy Graham helping plot it. Several plot threads from previous issues are brought together as sadistic guard responsible for Cage's powers has retired to the city, two prison buddies of Cage break out to hunt down the guard, a gossip columnist has gained a journal from the Doctor Who was experimentin on Cage and wants to blackmail, and the woman he loves finds herself a murder supect. It's a high flying conclusion and easily the best issues of the book.
The book starts out with a solid origin story written by Archie Goodwin for Luke Cage befitting of the blacksploitation wave Marvel was playing into. Lucas is a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, chosen for prison experiment which goes wrong thanks to a sadistic guard and gives Lucas skin that' not hurt by bullets. He then escapes prison, takes the name of Luke Cage and becomes a hero for hire.
From Issue 3-13, the book is fun (Steve Engelhart took over for Goodwin with Issue 5), although a bit sillier than you'd expect a Marvel comic at the dawn of the Bronze age to be. Cage battles Gabriel Mace, a man whose hand is a mace. He sleuths out a couple mysteries in Scooby Doo style. He's hired by Doctor Doom to fight robots who are disguised as Black men, and faces a Christmas plot to wipe out the human race.
During these issues, the action is good, even though the attempts to give Luke Cage a supervillain rogue's gallery mostly fizzle. Black Mariah is the classic. Engelhart decided to take the typical nickname for a paddy wagon and give it to a large Black supervillain whose entire gig is running out phony ambulances to take dead bodies and roll them.
Luke Cage has a great style of dialogue fitting the times. However, his catchphrase, "Sweet Christmas!" isn't uttered in this book as it wouldn't be used until Issue 27 although we get a few, "Sweet Sister!" and "Christmas!" exclamations
The book takes a turn for the awesome with the three issue story, "Retribution" which also featured a shift from Engelhart to Tony Isabella with artist Billy Graham helping plot it. Several plot threads from previous issues are brought together as sadistic guard responsible for Cage's powers has retired to the city, two prison buddies of Cage break out to hunt down the guard, a gossip columnist has gained a journal from the Doctor Who was experimentin on Cage and wants to blackmail, and the woman he loves finds herself a murder supect. It's a high flying conclusion and easily the best issues of the book.
June 14, 2018
This collection starts alright (maybe a little too much dialog for my tastes, too much explaining) and gets better as Steve Englehart goes on and takes charge of the tone and dialog. If you are expecting the Netflix show then you may be disappointed - lest you forget this is Luke Cage: *Hero for Hire* and takes place in a midtown and even Harlem that are much different than the ones we see today (the former has to cover up for the kids, but a lot of Cage's operations with "DW" Griffith - god what a friggin ODD name for a sort of white sidekick - at the 42nd st theater). Lots of fun action, bad-ass set pieces and sometimes over the top characters (Black Mariah... hasn't really aged well). It's 70s Marvel at its goofiest and most and confident.
July 22, 2016
I have a weakness for 70's Marvel Comics, which is the reason this rates so high. Art is great and hits all the Marvel standards. However, by the end of this volume, the main character still doesn't have much of a personality outside of angry with a heart of gold. To me, this is a really a good setup for the later John Byrne/Chris Claremont stuff that I know is following.
October 28, 2015
It's a little hard reading past the rampant racism and sexism, as well as the amazingly garish costumes, but I've tried to take a relativist view of it. About par with most early marvel, but I know that it gets better!
September 30, 2016
Read in preparation for the show. Dated but still fascinating.
October 10, 2016
A collection of comics which could only have come out of the drug haze of the 1970s.
October 23, 2016
Sweet Christmas! So much going on here worth discussing...
December 5, 2017
Oh man, that outfit. Even Captain America would shake his head. Luke's shirt was always getting ripped up so I don't see why he bothered to wear one. Just go topless.
Then there's the language. No, not foul language. For a cat from the streets the worst swear word Cage could exclaim was "Christmas!" I'm talking about the Seventies slang. Jive talking and rapping and collecting his bread before the Man could come down on him. Where's Turkey Volume Guessing Man when you need him?
Finally, and this is the death blow to any comic, the villains were bland and forgettable. Even when this comic could borrow a professional villain from another franchise they totally wasted the talent. Luke Cage and Dr. Doom's big throwdown was over an unpaid bill! Lame.
Then there's the language. No, not foul language. For a cat from the streets the worst swear word Cage could exclaim was "Christmas!" I'm talking about the Seventies slang. Jive talking and rapping and collecting his bread before the Man could come down on him. Where's Turkey Volume Guessing Man when you need him?
Finally, and this is the death blow to any comic, the villains were bland and forgettable. Even when this comic could borrow a professional villain from another franchise they totally wasted the talent. Luke Cage and Dr. Doom's big throwdown was over an unpaid bill! Lame.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews