Luke Cage

Luke Cage
Luke Cage as depicted in New Avengers vol. 2 #1 (June 2010). Art by Stuart Immonen.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972)
Created by	Archie Goodwin George Tuska Roy Thomas John Romita Sr.
In-story information
Alter ego	Lucas Cage (legally changed from Carl Lucas)
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	Avengers New Avengers Heroes for Hire Defenders Fantastic Four Marvel Knights Thunderbolts
Partnerships	Iron Fist Misty Knight Colleen Wing Jessica Jones
Notable aliases	Power Man
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability Regenerative healing factor Nigh-invulnerability Skilled hand-to-hand combatant

Lucas "Luke" Cage, born Carl Lucas and also known as Power Man, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr. in 1972, during the height of the blaxploitation genre, he was the first African–American superhero by Marvel Comics to be the main character in his own series. Stories featuring Luke Cage often relate to issues of race and class. His origin invokes criticism of police brutality and the prison system in the United States, and his 1970s stories focus on his efforts to support himself as a businessman. The character was intensely masculine and sexualized in his 20th century appearances, but these aspects were tempered as Cage's focus shifted to his life as a husband and father. Mike Colter portrays Luke Cage in Jessica Jones (2015), Luke Cage (2016), and The Defenders (2017) in Marvel's Netflix television series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cage was introduced in the series Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (1972), which was renamed Power Man with issue #17 (1974) and then Power Man and Iron Fist when Iron Fist became its costar with issue #50 (1978). The series ended after issue #125 (1986), and he received then starred in the miniseries Cage (1992). Writer Brian Michael Bendis redesigned Cage for Alias (2001), and the character then another series titled Cage (2002) under the Max imprint. Bendis subsequently featured Cage as a main character in The New Avengers (2004–2010), The Pulse (2004), The Mighty Avengers (2013–2015), and The Defenders (2017–2018). Other series featuring Luke Cage have been published, such as new volumes of Power Man and Iron Fist and Luke Cage, Luke Cage: Noir (2009), the comedic series CAGE! (2016), and Luke Cage: Gang War (2023).

Carl Lucas gained superhuman strength and unbreakable skin after being the subject of an experiment while in prison. Having been falsely imprisoned, he uses his powers to escape and starts a business as the Hero for Hire under the name Luke Cage. He then teams up with Iron Fist and clears his name. He marries Jessica Jones and they have a daughter together while Cage joins the New Avengers, the Mighty Avengers, and the Defenders. Cage runs in the New York mayoral election against Wilson Fisk and is elected mayor. Along with Iron Fist and Jessica Jones, Cage's supporting characters include his friend David Griffith and the doctor Claire Temple. His archenemy is Diamondback, a career criminal and Cage's friend-turned-enemy who caused him to be wrongfully arrested. Other recurring villains faced by Cage include Black Mariah, Cockroach Hamilton, Comanche, Cottonmouth, Gideon Mace, and Shades.