Luke Cage #1
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Luke Cage #1

Writer: David Walker Artist: Nelson Blake Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: May 17, 2017 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 19 User Reviews: 14
8.0Critic Rating
7.7User Rating

CAGED VENGEANCE!
Dr. Noah Burstein, the man who made Luke Cage into the unbreakable hero he is today, is dead. When Luke goes down to New Orleans for the funeral, he finds The Big Easy to be pretty &$#% difficult. Mysterious billionaires, a woman with a secret, amped-up gangs and a shadowy figure all lead Luke to the conclusion that there's more to his father-figure's death than meets the eye. He's looking for answers, and it's a bad day for anyone in his way!
Rated T+

  • 10
    You Don't Read Comics - Ronald Simmons May 22, 2017

    Best book I read this week, and I read Hella books. Get it NOW! Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Bleeding Cool - Joshua Davison May 28, 2017

    Weird lettering complaints and continuity questions aside, Ilovedthis book. It was a fun read, and I cant wait to see what adventures lie ahead of Luke Cage in this series. Pick this up. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Weird Science - Jim Werner May 22, 2017

    This is an outstanding number one issue. It gave me all the information and tone I need to keep moving on with the story. It also gave me all the action and intrigue I need to keep buying the comic. The dialogue is great. Walker gives everyone in the comic their own voice. The art team is stupendous. They convey action and emotion extremely well. Read Full Review

  • 9.2
    Black Nerd Problems - William Evans May 18, 2017

    Cage reads and looks great straight out of the box. Still a rooted story that hits close to home on numerous levels for our titular hero, but the team of Walker and Blake might have something great on their hands if they can fulfill the promise of this opening for issues to come. Read Full Review

  • 8.6
    Major Spoilers - Matthew Peterson May 22, 2017

    This is perhaps my favorite Luke Cage story since his appearances in 'Alias' and 'The Pulse', giving him a well-rounded personality, a strong character voice and imposing visuals, all the while reminding us that there's a human being inside that steel skin. Luke Cage #1 is excellent, setting up a mystery and bringing in unexpected players to deal with story elements dating back to Hero For Hire #1 in '73. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    SciFiPulse - Ian Cullen May 23, 2017

    As things stand. Luke Cage is pretty much a beaten man by the close of this issue. But the fight sequence and the panels didn't really leap out at me or inspire that dropped jaw moment. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicWow!TV - Huck Talwar May 19, 2017

    This issue stays pretty close to home and shows us where Luke Cage's roots lie. At the same time, Walker and Blake are onto a bigger story that stays pretty open-ended at the conclusion of this book. It's definitely a series for any and every Luke Cage fan, and isn't something you'd want to miss out on. We get to see Cage's power, but we also see his vulnerability"something that doesn't show too often. Sound intriguing? Head to your local comic shop and grab a copy of this issue for yourself! Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills May 20, 2017

    I lament the loss of Walker's previous comic, but he's already got Luke Cage firing on all cylinders with its first issue. Stellar character work and a solid, character-focused mystery make for a strong debut. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    AIPT - David Brooke May 17, 2017

    A solid intro issue that sets up the character well. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comic Spectrum - Shawn Hoklas May 21, 2017

    Luke Cage number one is a solid first issue that does all it needs to do to set the tone for the series. The ending of the story may leave some newer Luke Cage fans a bit confused, but to me it got me excited for what's ahead and I quite enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what this team has to offer. If you're looking for more Luke Cage, I think this is a worthy addition to all the other places he's been appearing lately. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    We Got This Covered - Christian Bone May 17, 2017

    The Hero for Hire's newest solo series opens with a strong start, thanks to some first rate writing that nails the voice and personality of the titular character. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Multiversity Comics - Matt Lune May 22, 2017

    A slow burn debut issue for the unbreakable Defender, with a character-driven plot and bold, crisp art. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Newsarama - Robert Reed May 22, 2017

    Font size aside, Luke Cage #1 is an entertaining debut for a hero that's had a mixed bag of solo efforts. Writer David Walker uses his experience with Luke Cage to exciting results, first lulling readers into a sense of familiarity and then quickly transitioning to something new for the character. The artwork by Nelson Blake II and Marcio Menyz gives the book the sense of personal drama that it needs, while also showing off some great action beats. With Luke Cage out of his element, fans should be excited to see just what the series has in store for the hero. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Beat - A.J. Frost May 18, 2017

    Overall, what we have here with Luke Cage #1 is the consummate combination of solid scripting and inspired aesthetics. It's bound to be an enjoyable issue for old and new fans alike. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    411Mania - RobF May 25, 2017

    If you are a fan of Luke Cage, new or old, there is something for you here. A classic villain, action, intrigue; it would be hard not to recommend this one. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon May 18, 2017

    Walker's comfort level with the character is clear - there's no learning curve. This is the Luke Cage that readers know and love right from the jump. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Weekly Comic Book Review - Noah Sharma May 24, 2017

    This is a welcoming open to a series that is already brimming with heart and depth. Walker's distinctly noir-ish sensibility combines with Blake's wonderful storytelling and Luke Cage's clear and likable personality to provide a reading experience that not only has great fun with the tropes it invokes, but seems destined to stay relevant on bookstore shelves long after it fades from the new releases wall. This issue puts in the work, the down and dirty of storytelling. And, though it could benefit from a bigger hook for those who haven't yet realized the inherent appeal of Luke Cage, like its protagonist this issue stands strong, primed for incredible possibilities. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Graphic Policy - Ryan C. (trashfilmguru) May 21, 2017

    Odds are that I'll stick around to see how the first arc plays, out, though, and go from there.Luke Cage #1 didn't knock my socks off, by any means, but the story, while predictable, was engrossing enough to pique my curiosity and Walker, in my experience,always delivers a payoff that rewards your continued reading. I don't see myselfloving this comic the way I didPMIF, but Iliked it well enough, and there's no shame in reading comics you like. Read Full Review

  • 5.8
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen May 18, 2017

    Luke Cage #1 is, at best, a blandly competent comic. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    CrazyforRAMU Nov 25, 2017

    A supposed suicide draws Luke Cage to New Orleans to explore his superhero roots. A positively beautiful character introduction leads into a slow mad science mystery, but then we wrap up with a nice fight scene with some startlingly high stakes. David Walker has definitely started an intriguing story here, and most impressively he's captured the neo-noir detective feel of the old-school 70s Cage comics. Nelson Blake's art is clean and spare, but it those traits have negative consequences. That final fight is apparently set on America's Loneliest Highway. Blake's clear talent for inventive action layouts fills me with hope, though.

  • 8.0
    Rick Jonez May 22, 2017

    The funeral, the Morgan estate, and the car ride were slow parts but the rest of it was quite interesting and it's good to see a Cage title that I find entertaining again that earns it a strong rating mark.

  • 8.0
    WestCoastKent May 22, 2017

    Luke Cage #1 is worth the read. I loved it. From beginning to end, the comic showed a familiar Luke Cage while also delving into early character development. David Walker setups a plotline and conflict that makes you wonder where things are going to lead. Blake's art is definitely different from Sanford Greene's, who's art I loved in Power Man and Iron Fist. Blake is very clean in his art, though he doesn't grab me. Marcio Menyz almost tells his own story with his color work. Each page seems to have its own tone that gradually shifts with the story. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds.

  • 7.5
    Gizmo May 29, 2017

    I haven't been following Luke and Jessica for the past year, does anyone know what happened to their daughter Danielle? This book was pretty good. We take a look at aspects of Luke's backstory in an organic way, which carries us to the current threat he's facing and an unexpected reveal at the end.

  • 7.5
    DDJamesB May 22, 2017

    I really loved the Power Man Iron Fist book that just ended. With that being said I do like Luke Cage as a character so I gave this try. I thought the story was pretty good. It was not anything special but, interesting nonetheless. My real gripe was the art. The last series' art was so unique and fit the street level tone. This art really just doesn't do it for me in this book. Luke looks like a state farm insurance agent and its not very detailed. The ending fight though was nicely done and really something I have never seen with Luke Cage before ( not saying I have seen everything anyway ). I will definitely pick up the next issue.

  • 7.0
    Jack's Yattering May 19, 2017

    I was,initially drawn to David Walker's POWER MAN AND IRON FIST because Iron Fist is my favorite Marvel property (neck-in-neck with Black Panther, the Inhumans and Union Jack). However, I stuck around because it was just a damnn good comic. The reason I came to check out Luke Cage, despite not being a fan of him as a solo character, is because, in the end, PMaIF might as well have been called LUKE CAGE AND THE OTHER GUY...I loved the book but, let's be honest, it was Luke's book...and he was written SO WELL. Unfortunately, the Luke we get in LUKE CAGE #1 feels less like THAT Luke and more like the Luke frim the Netflix show. This isn't bad...it's just not great. I would still say that LUKE CAGE #1 is a decent read. It just isn't what more

  • 6.5
    Spock's Brain May 21, 2017

    This is a fairly lacklustre comic, totally lacking the charm that made "Power Man and Iron Fist" so fun. I know Walker is going for a different tone here, but I just didn't find it that interesting. Also, the pencils of Nelson Blake are pretty pedestrian. I think I'm going to wait until "The Defenders" to check back on Luke.

  • 9.5
    Wolf Warner May 19, 2017

  • 8.5
    Khan/Murdock Jul 26, 2017

  • 8.0
    TA13OO Apr 2, 2018

  • 8.0
    Pantheon36 May 21, 2017

  • 8.0
    Al B. Harper May 21, 2017

  • 6.5
    Jabberwocky_Superfly May 22, 2017

  • 6.5

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