SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luke Cage Hero for Hire Issue 3:
Hmm... after a strong start for this blaxpoitation-infused series, it starts to skirt towards the more traditional superhero fare of the age. Last issue saw Luke carry out his revenge against his former friend now enemy Willis Stryker, this issue sees the formula of the series set in place. A man on the run stumbles into Luke Cage’s office, tells him of a plan to hold Manhattan Island hostage by Vietnam Vets (veterans not veterinarians, tho’ that would be cool), and then ends up killed. Luke having been paid by the dead man (remember, he’s a hero for hire) goes to find his killers and bring them to justice.
This issue is like many other 70s comics, particularly those Amazing Spiderman issues featuring the Punisher. The villain of the piece is no longer a scientist who has been mutated in some experiment and goes on a robbing spree for little reason or an evil communist. During this period the motives for the villains tend to be a bit more socially relevant or urban realistic, like the Tarantula (a revolutionary terrorist and government operative, who was his South American country’s answer to Capt. America)from those 70s Spiderman tales, Mace is a man that on the surface has a legitimate gripe against the authorities and wishes to make the public at large aware of the difficulties faced by veterans returning home to an indifferent (and sometimes hostile) nation. He seems to believe that by holding Manhattan Island hostage it will help his cause, he has managed to enlist the help of other disgruntled vets. However we soon learn this is just a cover for Mace to rob Wall Street (in a plan weirdly reminiscent of Die Hard with a Vengeance, coincidence? U-Decide!).
Cage at the end, returns the money to the dead vet’s family, taking us further into familiar superhero territory. Although I’m a little disappointed that Luke seems to be losing his mercenary edge in this tale, the comic still contains enough excitement and 70s social relevance to be an entertaining read.
Hmm... after a strong start for this blaxpoitation-infused series, it starts to skirt towards the more traditional superhero fare of the age. Last issue saw Luke carry out his revenge against his former friend now enemy Willis Stryker, this issue sees the formula of the series set in place. A man on the run stumbles into Luke Cage’s office, tells him of a plan to hold Manhattan Island hostage by Vietnam Vets (veterans not veterinarians, tho’ that would be cool), and then ends up killed. Luke having been paid by the dead man (remember, he’s a hero for hire) goes to find his killers and bring them to justice.
This issue is like many other 70s comics, particularly those Amazing Spiderman issues featuring the Punisher. The villain of the piece is no longer a scientist who has been mutated in some experiment and goes on a robbing spree for little reason or an evil communist. During this period the motives for the villains tend to be a bit more socially relevant or urban realistic, like the Tarantula (a revolutionary terrorist and government operative, who was his South American country’s answer to Capt. America)from those 70s Spiderman tales, Mace is a man that on the surface has a legitimate gripe against the authorities and wishes to make the public at large aware of the difficulties faced by veterans returning home to an indifferent (and sometimes hostile) nation. He seems to believe that by holding Manhattan Island hostage it will help his cause, he has managed to enlist the help of other disgruntled vets. However we soon learn this is just a cover for Mace to rob Wall Street (in a plan weirdly reminiscent of Die Hard with a Vengeance, coincidence? U-Decide!).
Cage at the end, returns the money to the dead vet’s family, taking us further into familiar superhero territory. Although I’m a little disappointed that Luke seems to be losing his mercenary edge in this tale, the comic still contains enough excitement and 70s social relevance to be an entertaining read.
posted by James Plumb at 1:05 pm
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