Warning! Spoilers for Devil's Reign Omega #1 by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is failing Luke Cage, as his most recent chapter in the Marvel Universe shows the missed potential and much-deserved spotlight the hero should have. But, as Luke Cage becomes the mayor in the Marvel Universe, the publisher still hasn't fully revealed what's next for the character, showing a frustrating trend that he's not considered an A-List hero or deserving of his own solo series - when in reality, Cage is more than worthy.
Luke Cage has a storied history in the pages of Marvel Comics, as the hero became the first Black superhero to get his own comic series when he debuted in Hero for Hire #1 in 1972. Co-created by Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr., and George Tuska, the bulletproof hero became a key player in the Marvel Universe, most notably co-starring in the iconic Power Man and Iron Fist series with Danny Rand, being a member of the Defenders, and his later adventures alongside his wife, Jessica Jones. In his most recent stories during the Devil's Reign event, Luke Cage becomes the mayor of New York. But, despite the reveal, it doesn't mean much with Marvel's middling plans for him in the future.
Luke Cage seemed to be retaking the spotlight when Marvel Comics announced he'd be starring in his own three-issue miniseries, Luke Cage: City of Fire, from Ho Che Anderson and Farid Karami, a tie-in for the Devil's Reign event. Promised as a "hard-hitting" and "ambitious" story about Cage battling police corruption, the story was shockingly canceled by Marvel despite reportedly an issue being finished and solicits teasing the series well ahead of time. It was suggested Marvel/Disney might have gotten cold feet due to its potential commentary about police brutality and corruption and wanted to stay out of "politics." If that's the case, yikes.
So, with the miniseries canceled, Luke Cage would continue to play an important part in the Devil's Reign event, where he ran for mayor and fought against mayor Wilson Fisk's attempt to control superheroes through his own means. Honestly, the story was a refreshing take on Luke Cage, as he was given a serious role alongside Jessica Jones. However, in the recent conclusion to the event, Devil's Reign Omega #1, Cage is suddenly the mayor, as his victory (while teased previously) happens off-.
Devil's Reign tries its best to tease new Cage stories, as he gives Monica Rambeau his approval to a new Thunderbolts team, while the second backup story shows his first press conference as mayor, where he promises to fight for the city, which seems to tease the Thunderbolts again. Both stories are fine, but giving Luke Cage the mayorship and then having him play a potentially ing role in a Thunderbolts series isn't exactly a vote of confidence.
With his 50th anniversary with Marvel coming in June, the publisher is failing Luke Cage by not giving the hero a much-deserved solo book - miniseries or ongoing - exploring the corruption and chaos he faces as mayor while balancing his superhero life and marriage to Jessica Jones. Instead, readers are left following his journey in stories he's not even a leading player in. For a character who's such an important figure for Marvel for over 50 years, it's a damn shame how he's being sidelined.
Marvel misfired in a big way by Luke Cage: City of Fire, as the series would have shined a light on real-world corruption through the lens of a Black superhero with power. It would have been highly relevant in today's climate. Instead, Cage's future is murky when it should be set in stone, especially as he becomes mayor. As the hero;'s 50th anniversary of his Marvel Comics debut is just days away, Marvel needs to put their past failure behind them, it they screwed up, and give Luke Cage the spotlight he deserves.
