Luke Cage on Netflix is a throw back to the 70s Marvel Comics. Marvel Comics at that time reflected a complicated period in American History. Not many people realize that Marvel Comics has a a history of Social Commentary during this time period. It was refection of the changes brought about by the Civil Rights Movement. People were tiring of the same old product of superhero. Marvel decided to take a chance on Luke Cage. So did Netflix, and the series extended the story line to today's current events.
Luke Cage is set in Harlem. It combines many of the themes we are use to seeing. Corruption, betrayal and fighting crime go well together. However, the first African American superhero also deals with the elephant in the room. The color of his skin.
The writing is very subtle. They talk about the other guys uptown as if they were in another class system. The other guys being the Avengers. The series tackles black on black crime. Luke Cage also is the anti-hero at times. Is he getting a bad wrap because he is black?
One of the best themes whether on purpose or not is the use of the hoodie. Mistaken identity was cleverly placed in the series in my opinion to pay tribute to Trayvon Martin. After all, Luke himself was falsely accused of a crime. That is how he becomes Luke Cage.
This was a terrific series. A bit lighter than Jessica Jones and Daredevil. Humble at times, and more representative of the human side of the Marvel Universe. Minus the first episode, you could watch it with your teenagers, who are also beginning to identify with their world as Luke Cage had to after getting out of jail. Definitely
worth the binging.
