Netflix has done it again with its latest Marvel superhero adaptation, “Luke Cage.”Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr. during the 1970s “Blaxploitation” era, where he was portrayed as a “hero for hire” in crime-ridden Harlem.
Since then, Luke Cage, the super-strong, bulletproof, hero has been reimagined numerous times and has been part of many superhero alliances, including his latest foray into the Marvel cinematic universe. Luke Cage first appeared in the MCU in Netflix’s recent series “Jessica Jones,” in which he assists the titular character in her crime-fighting missions.
Last week, Luke Cage’s self-titled series was released on Netflix. In accordance with the streaming company’s calling card, the entire first season was release at once — 13 episodes in total, each roughly an hour. It took me over 13 hours to finish the series, but like a good book, you just can’t stop.
Beginning from the point in “Jessica Jones” where Luke Cage (played by Mike Colter) leaves Hell’s Kitchen, the story begins in Pop’s Barbershop, a location in Harlem that carries a lot of weight in the plot.
The opening scene introduces Pop (Frankie Faison), a local patriarch, Wilfredo “Chico” Diaz (Brian “Sene” Marc), and Shameek Smith (Jermel Howard), who are the two catalysts that set off the chain of events that transpires in the series storyline. Chico and Shameek steal guns from the arms dealer Cottonmouth, leading him to put hits out on the two thieves and sparking Luke Cage’s mission to clean up Harlem.
Mahershala Ali, famous for his role as Remy Danton in “House of Cards,” dons the role of Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, Luke Cage’s primary nemesis for the season. Stokes is the owner of the Harlem nightclub “Harlem’s Paradise,” and an arms dealer that provides Harlem gangs with their firepower.
Ali’s performance is riveting — he relinquishes the clean-cut political lobbyist for a stone-cold gangster. The role definitely shows Ali’s versatility as an actor, as his performance as Cornell Stokes is riveting. If I could nominate him for an Emmy, I would.
Mark Colter’s performance borders on that of an archetype. While Colter kills it in his role, the character of Luke Cage is almost derivative of the majority of black protagonists in Hollywood, which may imply that Luke Cage is a neo-blaxploitation production. But that aside, Colter’s portrayal of Cage gives justice to the character.
The series starts off as with soul music and a montage of Harlem, showing its culture and the makeup of the neighborhood. You’d think the scene belongs in a ‘70s blaxploitation flick, but overall it fits into the story’s aesthetic and narrative, as the series revolves around a theme of nostalgia for preserving the history and culture of Harlem.
Staying true to its comic book roots, “Luke Cage” has tight dialogue and cuts of humor that are straight out of the style of Marvel comics. The dynamic camera angles, music and acting all add up to a series that is a fine addition to the Marvel cinematic catalog.
Fin Martinez is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @FinMartinez.
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