by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
The people of Harlem can rest easy, because Luke Cage has finally arrived! After debuting in Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Mike Coulter now gets to be in the spotlight in the latest Marvel Netflix series, which debuts on September 30th. How does this series compare to the past Marvel installments?
Taking place several months after the events of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage has relocated to Harlem and is basically trying to stay off the radar. While working small jobs at a barbershop and at a club, Cage soon finds that he can’t just idly sit back and watch as people get hurt. Lives are at risk, people need saving, and “Power Man” is finally ready to step up and make a difference for the little guy.
One of the most interesting things about the Marvel Netflix Series are the completely different tones. Daredevil focused on gritty action. Jessica Jones took a noir approach to its characters. Luke Cage makes a fantastic creative choice and focuses on a 70s throwback vibe. The color palate and music selections significantly enhanced the pilot and helped to solidify that Luke Cage is truly its own distinct series within the Marvel Universe.
The cast for Luke Cage features the return of Mike Coulter (Jessica Jones) as the titular hero, Simone Missick (Ray Donovan) as Misty Knight, Mahershala Ali (The 4400) as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, Erik LaRay Harvey (Boardwalk Empire) as Diamondback, Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy) as Shades, Alfre Woodard (The Last Ship) as Mariah Dillard, and Darius Kaleb (Delores & Jermaine) as Lonnie. Coulter continues to shine as Cage and demonstrates a solid understanding of the character as we start to explore his backstory. Missick as Misty Knight was the standout from the pilot, and this casting choice couldn’t have been more perfect. Knight is an impressive addition to the Marvel series, I can’t wait to see how her character develops throughout the series. Ali as Stokes was another great casting choice, and I loved seeing the dynamic range that he brought to the premiere.
Overall
The first episode of Luke Cage really paints a drastically different picture of this unexplored corner of the Marvel Universe. This series is not afraid to tackle some challenging racial issues and stereotypes, and it is definitely off to a phenomenal start. This is the show that your friends will be talking about for the next month.
Rating:[5/5]
ComicsOnline gives Marvel’s Luke Cage (SERIES PREMIERE) 5 out of 5 barbershop introductions.
