Luke Cage: Everyman

Luke Cage - Marvel Digital Original #1-3

by Anthony Del Col, Jahnoy Lindsay (Illustrations)

With Harlem in the grips of an unprecedented heat wave, the people look to their hero—the unbreakable man, Luke Cage! But the heat wave turns out to be the least of Harlem’s worries. Someone has their sights set on the city’s 1%, and the rich and powerful are dropping dead from mysterious illnesses. It’s up to Luke Cage to stop the Everyman Killer—even though he’s just received a grim diagnosis of his own… By the time Luke discovers the true identity of the Everyman Killer he’s too late to stop them from abducting one of the most important people in his life. Can Luke neutralize the killer in time to save his beloved city? Collects Luke Cage MDO Digital Comic #1-3.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2018

About the author

Anthony is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/producer of podcasts and comics. His stories include KILL SHAKESPEARE, ASSASSIN'S CREED, the controversial graphic novel THE DEATH OF NANCY DREW, and the award-winning Insider comic I ESCAPED A CHINESE INTERNMENT CAMP, a first-person exploration of one Muslim Uyghur woman’s imprisonment by the Chinese government (2022 Pulitzer Award for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary).

His 2020 audio drama ASSASSIN’S CREED: GOLD, starring Oscar-nominee Riz Ahmed, was Audible’s top-rated release of the year. HIs first project with Audible, the found-footage thriller UNHEARD: THE STORY OF ANNA WINSLOW, hit #1 on Audible and broke download records.

Other projects include the Ringo Awards-nominated graphic novel SON OF HITLER (“few war stories are this much fun” - NPR); LUKE CAGE: EVERYMAN (Marvel), three seasons of Wondery’s hit podcast AGAINST THE ODDS, over 50 episodes of the Army Matters podcast and a series of acclaimed and award-winning comics for Insider that explore subjects such as anti-Muslim policies in India, filtration camps in Ukraine and migrant workers in Qatar.

A proud Canadian, he lives in Brooklyn with his lovely - and patient - wife Lisa, son Dashiell and daughter Siena.

Reviews

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only people who probably have receive more concussions than NFL players are super heroes who seem to get knocked out ALL THE TIME in comics. The consequences of all that brain trauma have never been addressed in any comic or graphic novel I've read until this one. Luke Cage, for the first time has to come to terms with the lifetime of beatings he has taken and the damage it has done to his brain. It's handled well even if the long term consequences of CTE are yada yadaed away by the end of the book I'm still giving high marks here for putting some real world in my comic book.

[Frédéric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Decent plot to start with but so awkwardly executed it hurts. Warning, spoilers ahead.

While trying to protect some rich people targeted by the so-called Robin Hood of Harlem, Luke discovers he's suffering from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopaty). His skin's unbreakable but not his brain!

So that's the basic idea: social issues are adressed while our hero is in a weakened, credible, state. Not unseen before but can do the trick if well crafted.

Except it's not.

The story drags on for at least an issue too many. Lots of talks, few action, not much more tension. The riots at the end are poorly managed and fall totally flat, a shame considering they should mark the climax of Harlem's contained rage. The other point that really put me off was the unlikely partnership of "Robin Hood" and... Omega Red?
What.the.fuck? What in Del Col's mind made him think that would NOT seem unbelievable AND ridiculous? Of all the villains existing in the MU, he had to pick this one? Couldn't he have think of less contrived reasons to pair Robin Hood and a bad guy? Sorry but I son't buy it.

As for the art, it is mediocre at best and simply bad most of the time. I honestly can't understand how any editor could let so amateurish stuff be printed.

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a long time fan of Luke Cage and this is a good story. I had a problem with the art though. Luke's daughter, Danielle, looks more like a 6 or 7-year-old instead of the two-year-old she speaks like.

[Alex Sarll]

Luke Cage is very much the people's hero, a street-level defender of those at the bottom of the heap. So I'm not sure what possessed the creators of this to have the villain be someone taking down the 1%, and then set Cage firmly against them, as if trying to make a superhero comic out of the most firmly leftist idea of what centrists are like. Almost every time the Everyman killer goes for one of the wealthy, we see why that was wrong – this guy used to be a mean businessman, but now he's helping the poor! Yes, this is a posh restaurant, but look – you're also ruining the night for a mixed-race lesbian couple who've not been there before and are getting engaged! This tycoon is literally Iron Fist, who unlike on Netflix, is not terrible in the comics! If you remember the Doctor Who story about how anti-Amazon protesters are the real villains, then my condolences, but also this is a lot like that. As if that weren't mess enough, mixed in with it is a Very Special Episode where, despite his unbreakable skin, Cage looks likely to have CTE, the neurological disorder caused by repeated cranial impacts. There might have been some pathos to this were it not blatantly obvious throughout that it'll be fixed by story's end. Additionally, and despite the afterword, del Col is hardly introducing the condition to the Marvel Universe when it was a major part of the Doctor Octopus arc that led to Superior Spider-Man.

[Lauren (Northern Plunder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.

SLAMS HANDS ON THE TABLE!
I am so excited to share this review with you because oh boy it has been a long time since I’ve read anything Marvel published.
Not super by choice; more like being scared of where to dive in and instead sticking to other less interwined series.
But boy am I glad I picked this up.
I don’t think I’ve read a Luke Cage series before so my only exposure to him as a character are the 2 series on Netflix (which RIP btw! I was very invested in seeing more of this series especially our queer lil babe Shades).
So if you’re like me and are ready to wade back into your love for Superheroes then I can definitely say Luke Cage: Everyman is a good place to do so.
It has elements that watchers of the Netflix show will be familar with (Jessica, Danny, important messages about inequality and morality) but also new aspects that will encourage reading (new villain, new illness’, and new characters).
If you’re totally new to Luke Cage though you are provided with a small back story which allows the rest of the graphic novel to be read with very little confusion.
I was really impressed with how this story started as it dives straight in with a mysterious murder and we follow the trail until we’re at Luke’s door and he’s being hired to keep someone safe and figure out who this murder is.
I really enjoyed the villain of this story because it really got you as a reader to reflect on what you’d do if you and your own had experienced such inequalitys in your life.
But what there are two other things that I loved about this story.
Introducing and exploring the idea of Luke Cage having CTE. I only heard about CTE last year when reading a YA “horror” and that was only briefly to see it again and explored in a more detail I thought was pretty great. This really humanises Luke and allows him to have more perspective with how he treats his otherwise indestructable body, life choices, and what would happen to his family if the CTE got worse.
(CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma – often athletes)
Whilst this is relevant to the main story line of this graphic novel I can definitely see it being something that influences Luke’s actions in the future and has added an interesting development of his character.
Oh? You saw how I bolded family there did you?
Yes, in this series Luke has the sweetest daughter.
So not only does he have to run around the city protecting people and fighting for what is right. He’s also trying to juggle being a father who’s daughter is little sick.
This is definitely another aspect I really liked as it gave Luke more depth and their interactiosn were the sweetest.
(Oh and Danny is much more tolerable in this than the tv series imo)
This graphic novel did leave me with a few (not too series) questions so I hope Everyman continues as I’d very happily read that or whatever comes next from this author with Luke.
I hope you give this a try!

[Emma Gear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series with an execution that doesn't go quite far enough. It seems the city's wealthiest inhabitants are suddenly dying by, to not spoil anything I'll just say a "Super virus". It's unknown what's causing it, who's responsible, etc. Luke Cage is hired to protect a man but when he suddenly dies Luke realizes he's got bigger problems to deal with.

Channeling vibes similar to All-Star Superman Luke Cage is forced to contend with his mortality. He may be superhuman and his skin may be nigh-unbreakable but he still has a regular human brain and impacts to the head could cause damage regardless of if he bleeds because of it. Noticing that he's having trouble remembering things, and being more irritable with a short fuse Luke visits a doctor and discovers that he's got CTE, and has only a little bit of time left to live. He's then torn between trying to do what good he still can for the people in the midst of this spree killer, or cutting his hero days short to spend what time he still has with his daughter.

Honestly I thought all of that was handled great. The weaker aspect is the attempts to dive into issues of class and wealth. The Everyman killer is targeting the wealthy, which is about as blatant of a metaphor for class that you can imagine. The killer wants the poorer people to rise up and strike back against the wealthy who are responsible for them not having as much, which is all well and good and an excellent idea for a plot. And the inclusion of Omega Red as one of the Everyman's henchman is more than a bit on the nose.

Class war, riots, all kinds of big ideas that would be excellent for a superhero who's very much a man of the people like Luke Cage. Sadly it all kind of pulls back at the last moment when it could deliver on all the ideas its been building up on. Nothing is done to fundamentally change the system that was in place that caused riots with only a little bit of a push. It's a return to normalcy rather than a time for radical demands of change.

That being said, it's still good and I'd still certainly recommend it, but the ending just leaves me wanting more. Wanting to see things get pushed just a little further to get to the grand ideas that this is definitely flirting with.

[Mutated Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Cage may be indestructible, but in this volume, he learns that he is still human after all, the hard way. When I picked this up, I couldn't wait to start reading it, and devoured it. I loved the Netflix series, so naturally, I loved this. I think it's perfect, and it really grounds you to read it, because even the strongest people have their own problems. And that's something that everyone should know.

Check out my full review here!

https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...

[Sean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an absolute disaster. We'll start with the terrible antagonist who was obvious from the start. Their power set was poorly conceived, motivations cliched, and were beyond bland. Luke has no edge here. All the things that make him compelling are completely missing. The premise of this could have been cool. Harlem revolting against the rich at the hands of a villain. However, what you get is boring, lifeless, and predictable. The art was extremely one note and similar to the quality of the story. Overall, a complete time waster.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed like an effort to grab some comics cash off Netflix. But honestly a pretty solid street level story that has real stakes for Luke.

[Meya Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyman is not who you're expecting, but this graphic novel is everything and more I could have hoped for. Great art and plot line.

[Laura Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like reading Luke Cage and espically as a Dad. A fun story and want more!

[Michael Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story but I was not a fan of the art.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke Cage, super hero man human just the same.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 a very human super hero story.

[Mik Cope · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp with a healthy dosage of social commentary. The artwork was ok, but the villain was a bit ridiculous.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring story. Terrible art. Enough said.

[Brandon Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel allows to see how the man with unbreakable skin works on the inside. Yeah he is physically impressive, but what about his mind? What makes him tick, and how does he deal with trauma? It's refreshing to see another big black man allow himself to be raw and vulnerable.

[Nabil Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and Dramatic Luke Cage story

This graphic novel is compelling to read and featured stunning artwork. The story featured Luke Cage pursuing the identity of the Everyman killer. It was thrilling to read and a great pleasure to behold. A fabulous ebook.