Anyone remember that one time Luke Cage shook Doctor Doom down for money?
The 1970's was a weird era for comic books. Like, the 50's and 60's nonsense like Batman fighting aliens and Superman splitting himself into two people was excusable because of the times, but by the 1970's it seemed as if comics were trying to become relevant pieces of pop culture. Kung-Fu movies had become popular in the US and so characters like Iron Fist and Shang-Chi were invented, spy movies were also pretty big so Nick Fury got his title. Blaxploitation had become popular and so Marvel's creators Archie Goodwin, John Romita Jr., and George Tuska created a new Black superhero for the era. Luke Cage: Power Man and Hero For Hire. It was a pretty simple concept, a black man who reformed from crime is framed and thrown in prison, he volunteers for a special project with the hopes he'd be released early, this man gets superpowers as a result of the project and accidentally murders someone and is forced to escape the prison and change his name. Now as "Luke Cage", the man returns to the streets of Harlem to clean up his neighborhood and become a local legend. Marvel Comics is well-renowned for their street-level heroes like Daredevil, The Punisher, and even Spider-Man to some regard, so the creation of a street-level hero who could appeal to the African-American audience was welcomed. Especially when Marvel's other Black heroes like Black Panther and Storm were Black, but not American. Luke Cage provided an outlook and a moral code unseen in comic books, he did what he did for money, but never crossed a line he wasn't comfortable with. He was his own boss and a figure respected by even the likes of Captain America and Thor.
Now, how the hell did Doctor Doom-King of Latvaria, technological genius, master sorcerer, and foe of the entire Marvel pantheon-owe Cage money? Well, Luke was hired for a case involving a Latvarian robot and when the case was finished Luke expected to meet up with his employer. His employer-Doctor Doom-quickly fled into his limo and left the country. Luke Cage-determined to get his payment-broke into The Baxter Building and demanded to take The Fantastic Four's flying craft The Fantasticar. He knew the Four had the coordinates to Latvaria and-knowing how much of a pain in the ass Doom has been to them-he knew they'd agree to let him borrow the craft.
When he got to Latavaria, Luke charged through Doom's castle tossing guards like paper airplanes along the way. When he finally got to Dr. Doom, Luke demanded his money, honey. Doctor Doom is stunned, "You came all the way here for that? A poultry $200! Are you crazy" Doom remarked. The two of them fight and-because it's the 70's and not every Marvel writer was riding Dr. Doom's joystick-Doom is equally matching Cage. The fight it interrupted by an alien known as The Faceless One who tries to Dr. Doom over a prior engagement. Luke presents his greatest superpower: Not letting some bulls*** get in the way of getting his money. Luke helps Doom defeat the alien and Doom shows his gratitude by paying him the $200 dollars and giving him a quick escape route from the castle.
Doctor Doom and Luke Cage are rarely put in the same room, but this story of Doctor Doom being shocked and later impressed by Cage's determination to get what was offered to him is pretty cool. While it is hilarious to see Cage treat Doom like a common punk, you have to respect the lengths he went to, the things he had to do and put up with, and then having to whip the butt of some Faceless One nonsense? Cage deserved twice of what Doom promised him after that. Or, I dunno, maybe name a town after him? Cage City? Lukesberg? Hmm.
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Now, how the hell did Doctor Doom-King of Latvaria, technological genius, master sorcerer, and foe of the entire Marvel pantheon-owe Cage money? Well, Luke was hired for a case involving a Latvarian robot and when the case was finished Luke expected to meet up with his employer. His employer-Doctor Doom-quickly fled into his limo and left the country. Luke Cage-determined to get his payment-broke into The Baxter Building and demanded to take The Fantastic Four's flying craft The Fantasticar. He knew the Four had the coordinates to Latvaria and-knowing how much of a pain in the ass Doom has been to them-he knew they'd agree to let him borrow the craft.
When he got to Latavaria, Luke charged through Doom's castle tossing guards like paper airplanes along the way. When he finally got to Dr. Doom, Luke demanded his money, honey. Doctor Doom is stunned, "You came all the way here for that? A poultry $200! Are you crazy" Doom remarked. The two of them fight and-because it's the 70's and not every Marvel writer was riding Dr. Doom's joystick-Doom is equally matching Cage. The fight it interrupted by an alien known as The Faceless One who tries to Dr. Doom over a prior engagement. Luke presents his greatest superpower: Not letting some bulls*** get in the way of getting his money. Luke helps Doom defeat the alien and Doom shows his gratitude by paying him the $200 dollars and giving him a quick escape route from the castle.
Doctor Doom and Luke Cage are rarely put in the same room, but this story of Doctor Doom being shocked and later impressed by Cage's determination to get what was offered to him is pretty cool. While it is hilarious to see Cage treat Doom like a common punk, you have to respect the lengths he went to, the things he had to do and put up with, and then having to whip the butt of some Faceless One nonsense? Cage deserved twice of what Doom promised him after that. Or, I dunno, maybe name a town after him? Cage City? Lukesberg? Hmm.
Thanks for reading!
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