The Amazing Story of Luke Cage

You know what's hard? Blogging every day when you're not getting paid in any way for doing it.

Hard.

Which may explain why I've been unable to blog every day successfully. Anyway...

Ok, this isn't really going to be some kind of Luke Cage biography or anything, just kind of an observation on my part. So, there's this Marvel Comics character called Luke Cage. Back in the day, he wore a puffy yellow disco shirt when he fought crime. He had super strength, bullet-proof skin, and a bad attitude. In short, he was the $#!t.

Then the early 80s came along and brought with it the end of his comic book. Then, the 90s came, and he got a new comic book. It wasn't so great, so it got canceled. Then, he had a couple less significant false starts, but no one was able to capture the character and give him the respect that I thought the character deserved.

Then, sometime around 2005, I had an idea for a short film in which Luke Cage and a few other black Marvel characters would talk about how they had been mistreated all these years. Well, the film didn't get made, but I did start up a little webcomic called The Adventures of Luke and Sam which featured Luke Cage and the Falcon (Sam Wilson). In my eyes, the world had been set right since Luke Cage was once again headlining a comic (of sorts).

Then I hear about a guy by the name of Brian Michael Bendis who features Luke Cage in Alias, Daredevil, and the New Avengers. Ok, ok...truthfully, I already knew about Bendis since I was a big reader of his Powers title, but I didn't know he was such a Cage fan. In a way, Bendis inspired me to finally complete the short film that I had planned. Only, I didn't film it, I used the script as a blueprint for a special episode of Luke and Sam, and I included an additional couple of panels at the end giving a nod to Bendis.

Alas, I didn't think the Luke-love would last, but Bendis has really done right by the character. He's added depth and emotion to the character that had been missing in past incarnations, and it's just been revealed that Luke will not only lead the new Thunderbolts, but he'll also remain as an Avenger as well.

Now, if Marvel would only allow Luke to wear his yellow shirt again, it would be perfect... :)