Luke Cage

GrizzlyBearTalon · May 23, 2009, 11:11:19 PM

Does anyone actually like him?

He was fun way back when with Iron Fist... but since? I do not however miss his old costumes... they were very very hilariously bad.

Also what kicked his powers up a notch? I remember him *MAYBE* being as strong as Spiderman once... now he's probably in Thing or Colossus' league.

Glitch Girl · May 23, 2009, 11:18:04 PM

I'll be honest, I haven't followed him lately, but this cover makes him look WAY cool.
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/57_LUKE_CAGE_NOIR_1.jpg

Courtnall6 · May 23, 2009, 11:19:57 PM

I'm a fan

QuoteI do not however miss his old costumes

I do! The metal headband, chainbelt, and silver bracers were all kinds of awesome. Way better than Luke "Thug Life" Cage we got now.

herodad1 · May 23, 2009, 11:23:33 PM

i'm with c6. that 70's look was classic.i also liked him better when his strength level was at 3 tons.every issue his shirts would get shredded.him and danny rand made a good team.

captmorgan72 · May 24, 2009, 12:32:23 AM

How can you not like Cage? He is sooo cool. I like his old look as well, very classic.

tommyboy · May 24, 2009, 01:15:10 AM

Englehart Cage? Yes.
Isabella Cage, even? Yes.
Bendis Cage? No.

Podmark · May 24, 2009, 01:45:54 AM

With apologies to C6 and herodad, Cage's old costumes are some of the lamest I've seen. His current 'non-costume' look is better, but still not great.

Honestly if Bendis didn't love Cage he'd be so c-list right now.

tommyboy · May 24, 2009, 02:15:47 AM

Quote from: Podmark on May 24, 2009, 01:45:54 AM
With apologies to C6 and herodad, Cage's old costumes are some of the lamest I've seen. His current 'non-costume' look is better, but still not great.

No!
Yellow shirt, leather trousers, chain belt and headband. That's a non-costume. In it's day it was a much more radical departure for a superhero than "I don't wear a costume" is now.

Quote from: Podmark on May 24, 2009, 01:45:54 AM
Honestly if Bendis didn't love Cage he'd be so c-list right now.

Possibly, if we assume that nobody else at marvel liked the character.
Which I doubt.
Meh..

GrizzlyBearTalon · May 24, 2009, 02:33:34 AM

Ok... ok... so some actually like Cage's old costume... which surprises me quite a bit but....

Do any of you like the 70s flair of Blade's old get up?

Oh well at least no one seems to love Bendis Cage... EXCEPT my little brother. I blame rap music.

And to GG yeah wow he looks cool on that cover.

BentonGrey · May 24, 2009, 02:50:02 AM

I don't know much about him, and I avoid modern Avengers like the plague, but I do like his old look. The little experience I have with the character is in the classic costume, and I like the concept, both visually and fictionally.

Courtnall6 · May 24, 2009, 03:05:14 PM

Quote from: Podmark on May 24, 2009, 01:45:54 AM
With apologies to C6 and herodad, Cage's old costumes are some of the lamest I've seen.

Not really surprising if you think T-shirt and jeans make a great costume!

steamteck · May 25, 2009, 03:20:59 PM

I used to like him before he powered up in the old days. I really wish characters would stay in their niche. I don't care for the modern interpretation. He looks to much like a thug the heroes should be beating up.

herodad1 · May 25, 2009, 03:59:35 PM

ok c6, design us a new powerman costume.a touch of classic with modern thrown in.

lugaru · May 25, 2009, 04:27:46 PM

I really like Cage, but I dont particularly like that they boosted his powers. His current incarnation is pretty cool, basically the superhero who is finally over all the costumes and stuff and has settled into being himself, since "himself" is bulletproof. I was OK with Max cage, and I have grown to love oldschool cage.

Courtnall6 · May 27, 2009, 03:46:04 AM

Quote from: herodad1 on May 25, 2009, 03:59:35 PM
ok c6, design us a new powerman costume.a touch of classic with modern thrown in.

I have a few ideas in mind...

Star · May 27, 2009, 04:07:10 AM

I am fairly confident that Brian Michael Bendis likes the Luke Cage character...

GrizzlyBearTalon · May 27, 2009, 05:47:48 AM

Quote from: Star on May 27, 2009, 04:07:10 AM
I am fairly confident that Brian Michael Bendis likes the Luke Cage character...

I think he hates Luke Cage myself, and that he actually likes Shaft & possibly Mr. T/Clubber Lang to which he seems to want to turn Luke Cage into. Thus replacing the old Cage entirely because he hated him, and using the vehicle of the New Avengers, etc. to totally remove the old Cage from existence.

Or he is a Skrull...

Obstinate One · May 29, 2009, 06:58:41 PM

Quote from: Courtnall6 on May 24, 2009, 03:05:14 PM
Quote from: Podmark on May 24, 2009, 01:45:54 AM
With apologies to C6 and herodad, Cage's old costumes are some of the lamest I've seen.

Not really surprising if you think T-shirt and jeans make a great costume!

Superboy seems to think so. At least you can give Luke a different color top&bottom!

Quote from: GrizzlyBearTalon on May 27, 2009, 05:47:48 AM
Quote from: Star on May 27, 2009, 04:07:10 AM
I am fairly confident that Brian Michael Bendis likes the Luke Cage character...

I think he hates Luke Cage myself, and that he actually likes Shaft & possibly Mr. T/Clubber Lang to which he seems to want to turn Luke Cage into. Thus replacing the old Cage entirely because he hated him, and using the vehicle of the New Avengers, etc. to totally remove the old Cage from existence.

Or he is a Skrull...

No he had sense enough to kill the old stereotype. The old Cage was just DUMB(SWEET X_MAS!!!! ) Other writers were STILL makin him say that during the 90's. What the hell were they thinking???

The power boost makes sense because almost all Marvel black superheroes were nowhere near as strong, fast, or smart as their counterparts. Thats why Luke, Falcon, & the Panther all got an upgrade.

GrizzlyBearTalon · May 29, 2009, 08:46:46 PM

Quote from: Obstinate One on May 29, 2009, 06:58:41 PM
No he had sense enough to kill the old stereotype. The old Cage was just DUMB(SWEET X_MAS!!!! ) Other writers were STILL makin him say that during the 90's. What the hell were they thinking??? The power boost makes sense because almost all Marvel black superheroes were nowhere near as strong, fast, or smart as their counterparts. Thats why Luke, Falcon, & the Panther all got an upgrade.

*sigh* I had a great reply written up then hit the shortcut to go back instead of copy to make sure I didn't lose it. Bleh...

Where did that "Sweet Christmas!" expression of his come from anyways?

In short, Cage, Falcon & Panther got powered up at the start of their respective mini series to garner attention at new things being done with each of them more so than because they were black. While it could be argued they were weaker because they were black, I'd wager it was more so because they had been under utilized before because they were never really that popular. It was also in my opinion at least, mostly done to simply sell comics.

The bringing them up to match their counterparts though is true, just about any character that is around and stays so for years on end expereinces ups & downs along with power fluctuations and/or changes. This black trio however had very long stints in which they were just accessory character or out of the spotlight altogether. If that goes on for long enough when you dust them off you need to bring them up to speed.

Cage got hit with the same experiment that gave him his powers sometime in his solo series (titled Cage, not the max series) in the 90s.

Falcon got his suit messed up and got a new fancier one from some Wakandians in a series with him & Capt. America in Capt. America & The Falcon in 2004.

Black Panther got some new toys and expanded arsenal along with some mystical goodness in his solo series that kicked off in 1998. Though the country of Wakanda got more of a boost than he did, as it is now one of the world's most powerful nations.

On a random note Brother Vodoo is apparently the new Sorcerer Supreme... so I guess every dog does have his day.

Unless you are Black Talon

tommyboy · May 29, 2009, 11:58:21 PM

If I was a supervillain, I'd dress as a giant chicken. It's scary...

Xenolith · May 30, 2009, 12:43:28 AM

I'm a fan of Luke Cage's old costumes. I like all the '60s and '70s costumes, but i grew up during that time, so what do I know? His new non-look does nothing for me at all. I just like big, bright super-heroes and villains.

Power Man was popular enough to last 50 issues on his own, and another 100 teamed up with Iron Fist. Not many characters have had a run like that.

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Luke Cage