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Luke Cage Reading Order, Marvel’s Power Man

At the beginning of the 1970s, Blaxploitation movies became quite popular and Marvel Comics wanted to cash in on the trend–as well as with other trends, see Ghost Rider or Werewolf by Night. Luke Cage was then introduced as an urban African-American hero like no other.

Described at the time as “a combination of Superman and Shaft,” Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr. He made his first appearance in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972). He was the first black American superhero to have his own comic book series at Marvel Comics (Black Panther is not an American!).

Introduced as a prisoner in “Little Alcatraz,” the Seagate Prison, Carl Lucas is recruited by research scientist Dr. Noah Burstein to be a test subject in a cellular regeneration experiment based on a variant of the Super-Soldier process. Lucas gains superstrength and escapes. He ends up in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood where he grew up and reinvents himself. Now call Luke Cage, the “Power Man,” he becomes a freelance “hero for hire.”

The Hero for Hire comics was not a hit, but Luke Cage rapidly found his place in the Marvel universe. He befriended the Fantastic Four, fought next to the super-team the Defenders, developed a relationship with Dr. Claire Temple, and teamed up with Iron Fist and Misty Knight…

Luke Cage Reading Order:

Power Man, The Hero for Hire

Originally titled Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, this Luke Cage comics was renamed Power Man with #17. As blaxploitation and martial arts genres lost their appeal, Marvel Comics decided to save Power Man and Iron Fist by combining the two series. The duo became the stars of the Power Man and Iron Fist comics–being published in the continuation of the Power Man comic book, the numbering remained the same.

Luke Cage made his first appearance in the Defenders comics in issue #17 of the series, set around Luke Cage, Power Man #21. You can collect those stories in multiple formats:

The Luke Cage Comics Omnibus Collection

All the Luke Cage comics from that period have been collected in one big omnibus book.

  • Luke Cage Omnibus
    Collects Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1-16; Luke Cage, Power Man #17-47, Annual #1.

The Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage Collection

The same Luke Cage comics, but in the smaller hardcover Marvel Masterworks collection

The Luke Cage Epic Collection

You’ll find the same Luke Cage comic books in the two following volumes of the paperback Epic Collection:

After #21, Luke Cage joined the Defenders in The Defenders #17-19 available in Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 3, and again after #25, in Defenders #24-25 available in Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 4.

After #35, Power Man joined the Fantastic Four in FF #168-170 collected in The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 16. And after that, he teamed up again with the Defenders in The Defenders #37-40, 42-46, and Annual #1 available in Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 5. & Vol. 6.

Power Man #73 is a crossover with the ROM series (between ROM #22-23), but Marvel lost the rights to the character for a time and, as a consequence, the issue is not included in this collection. You can find it in ROM: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1.

Luke Cage came back in the 1990s

For half a decade, Luke Cage mostly disappeared. In the early 1990s, Marvel Comics decided to bring him back for a new ongoing comic book series simply called Cage, written by Marcus McLaurin and drawn by Dwayne Turner.

After that, Luke appeared in Marvel Comics Presents #131-136 before joining the Secret Defenders comics in Secret Defenders #15-17.

With The Avengers and the Fantastic Four disappearance (see the Heroes Reborn storylines), Power Man and Iron Fist reformed the Heroes for Hire comics, but with some new players under the guidance of writer John Ostrander:

“Luke Cage and Danny Rand reunite in team-ups with Spider-Man and …Sabretooth?! And they’re just in time to relaunch the expanded Heroes For Hire! A supervillain prison break inspires Iron Fist to fill the void left by the Avengers and Fantastic Four — but his ex-partner Luke will take some convincing. Hercules and White Tiger are eager recruits, but is the Hulk a joiner? Maybe She-Hulk would be a better fit. A transformed Black Knight rides in, and Luke has his arm twisted by the master of the World. But will he stay after Power Man battles Iron Fist? The team will face Deviants, Punisher, and the Thunderbolts — there must be a little room left for Ant-Man to help out.”

After that, Marvel Comics organized the Contest of Champions II, and Luke Cage appeared in two issues (#3 & 5), before joining Black Panther, also in two issues (Vol. 3 #16-17). And then, once again, he helped his friend Danny Rand in:

  • Iron Fist: Return of K’Un Lun
    Collects Iron Fist & Wolverine #1-4, Iron Fist (1996) #1-2, Iron Fist (1998) #1-3, Iron Fist (2004) #1-6, Uncanny Origins #14.

Luke Cage, the Marvel Knight in the 2000s

As we entered the 2000s, Luke Cage found a new place in the Marvel Universe, within the Marvel Knights imprint and the MAX line, comics designed for an adult audience. Most notably, his appearances in the Alias comics by Brian Michael Bendis were crucial for establishing his future with Jessica Jones.

Luke Cage only appeared in Alias #1-2, 15, 25-26, 28. Also, in the middle of that, Luke Cage also appeared in another of Bendis series, the Daredevil comics (#38-40 in Daredevil Vol.5: Out)

  • Cage
    Collects Cage #1-5. This series by Brian Azzarello is not in continuity as part of the MAX lines.

When the Alias comics evolved and became The Pulse, Luke Cage staid on board as a recurring character.

Luke Cage: The New Avengers

B.M. Bendis likes Luke Cage and he used him in his Avengers comics. In fact, this happened during The Pulse.

During that period, Luke Cage started to appear in a lot of series as a guest star (it comes with being an Avengers). It’s hard to track every appearance. We are focusing here on his major contribution, mostly the New Avengers.

Being part of the Avengers team implied taking part in all the major events. For Luke Cage, it started here with the House of M crossover event. The Avengers and the X-Men are faced with a common foe that becomes their greatest threat: Wanda Maximoff! The Scarlet Witch is out of control, and the fate of the entire world is in her hands. 

It’s The Civil War! The U.S. Government proposed the Superhuman Registration Act, intending to register all super-powered beings as living weapons of mass destruction and requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government and subject themselves to federally mandated standards. Heroes had to choose between rallying behind either Iron Man’s pro-registration forces or Captain America’s opposition. The Civil War began and it was massive. I’d recommend you to check out our guide to reading the Civil War comics in order for a complete experience.

Post-Civil War, Luke Cage joined his friend Danny Rand as a supporting character in Immortal Iron Fist.

The Secret Invasion begins with a brutal battle between the New Avengers and the Hand—one that claims the life of Elektra and reveals that she was a Skrull all along! What does this mean for Tony Stark and his Mighty Avengers? How about the Illuminati? As usual, we have a guide to help you go through the Secret Invasion comics in order!

Post-Secret Invasion, the Marvel Comics Universe entered what is called The Dark Reign Era.

Marvel Siege LogoAnd now, Siege! It’s the end of the Dark Reign Era. Coerced by Loki and on the brink of madness, Osborn, in his final bid to take total control, targets the final obstacle in his mission…Asgard. Follow the guide to read the Siege comics in order.

  • Siege
    Collects Siege: The Cabal, Siege #1-4, and Avengers: The Way Things Are.
  • Siege: New Avengers
    Collects New Avengers Annual 3, Dark Reign: The List – Avengers, New Avengers #61-64 & New Avengers Finale.
  • Siege: Thunderbolts
    Collects Thunderbolts #138-143. Luke Cage joined the Thunderbolts in #143.

Luke Cage: Avengers and Thunderbolts

Following the events of Siege, the Marvel Universe entered the Heroic Aga. Still in the New Avengers comics, Luke Cage also takes on a new role with the Thunderbolts team.

Shadowland! Matt Murdock dared evil … and lost! The battle for the soul of a hero begins! Pushed beyond his limits, Daredevil faces off for a final time against his deadliest foe–Bullseye–in their most brutal battle ever with more than just Hell’s Kitchen at stake. Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Punisher, and more join forces to stop a war that is breaking out throughout New York, with Daredevil at the center. Follow our guide to reading the Shadowland comics in order for more information.

Those Shadowland comics are also collected in Daredevil: Shadowland Omnibus

Be afraid of Fear Itself! A 2011 crossover Marvel Comics event written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen. It’s not from Bendis, but it affected all of the Marvel Comics Universe, including the Avengers team of course. The entire planet has been seized by Fear and only chaos reigns. The Serpent, Asgard’s most ancient evil, has awakened and is feeding off the fear of Earth’s populace. Don’t be afraid, the Fear Itself Reading Order is here.

Welcome to Spider-Island, where a million New Yorkers suddenly possess Spider-Man’s powers – but none of the responsibility! Can Spidey play a world-saving superhero while the Big Apple gets eaten alive from the inside out when he’s suddenly not quite so special? Check out our Spider-Island reading order to learn more.

The Avengers and the X-Men go to war in the Avengers vs. X-Men crossover event! This 2012 crossover event involved the return of the Phoenix Force and the subsequent war between the Avengers and the X-Men.

Luke Cage: Dark & Mighty Avengers in the Marvel Now!

If you read Thunderbolts up to that point, you know that, with the team lost in time, a new group stepped in to replace them: the Dark Avengers! The comics was renamed to reflect this reality, with the same numbering and still Luke Cage as a leader. Then, he joined the Mighty Avengers team!

Original Sin! The story begins when Uatu, the mysterious space god who’s been watching mankind from the moon for as long as we can remember … is found dead. But who shot the Watcher?

AXIS Reading OrderThe Red Onslaught is broadcasting waves of telepathic hate across the globe, and Marvel’s greatest heroes have turned on their moral axis! And with the heroes “inverted” to evil, who will stand against them? For the Answer, follow our guide to the AXIS comics in order.

The 2015 Secret Wars! The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated each and every alternate universe one by one. And now, the Marvel Comics Universe and the Ultimate Universe have collided…and are being destroyed! All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! It’s a massive event, check out our Secret Wars reading guide.

  • Secret Wars
    Collects Secret Wars #0,#1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015.

Luke Cage is mostly absent during The Secret Wars, but the event marked the end of the era. In fact, it partially rebooted the Marvel Comics Universe!

Luke Cage in the All-New, All-Different Marvel

Luke Cage’s time with the Avengers team is over and, once again, he teams up with his friend Danny Rand in the new Power Man and Iron Fist comics.

Civil War 2! When a new Inhuman emerges, with the ability to profile the future, Captain Marvel wants him to work with the Ultimates team to preemptively tackle disasters before they happen, but Iron Man opposes the idea, suggesting it is dangerous to take his visions for granted for several reasons. For more, follow our guide to reading the Civil War II comics in order.

We are entering the “Netflix” era. The streaming platform launched its version of the Marvel Universe and the comic books put out at that time tried to reflect that. This led to a new Luke Cage comics, but also a new Jessica Jones comics!

Secret Empire! Captain America is living a lie! The Cosmic Cube has remade him into a secret true believer in the cause of Hydra! Now, Steve Rogers makes Hydra’s ideals a reality—and changes the landscape of the world dramatically! The Secret Empire is taking over!

  • Secret Empire
    Collects Secret Empire #0-9, Free Comic Book Day 2017 Defenders #1.

The Secret Empire event was used to launch the new Defenders comics (the same team composition as the Defenders Netflix show).

Luke Cage Takes a Fresh Start

In 2018, after the All-New, All-Different Marvel and the Legacy era, Marvel entered the Fresh Start! era. Luke Cage is not as visible as he was before. He was part of the Digital Comic line launch at that time, first in his own short comic book series, then as a recurring character in Jessica Jones and Iron Fist, as always.

Daredevil Reading OrderDevil’s Reign! Daredevil and other Marvel superheroes go face to face with the mayor of the biggest city in America, Wilson Fisk during Devil’s reign. To know more about it, go check out our Devil’s Reign reading order. In the aftermath of this event, Luke Cage rebuilt the Thunderbolts team.

Gang War! In this mainly Spider-Man event, as the mayor of New York, Luke Cage had to deal with a massive Gang War and the fact that the law was stopping him and his friends from putting on their iconic costumes and joining the fight. Luke appears as a supporting character in multiple series, but also as his own miniseries. Check out our guide to reading the Gang War comics in order.

More to come as the story continues!

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