History[]
Early Years[]
Originally born as Carl Earl Lucas Lucas "Luke" Cage (born March, 1980) was the only son and child born between highly popular and influential preacher James Lucas and his then wife Esther Lucas. Who for years had been trying to have children to no avail, until Luke was born. As such he was dubbed a "miracle child" by his parents. Though as he grew older Luke disliked being referred to as such, especially because his father would use the circumstances of his birth in his sermons, casting a spotlight on Luke he did not at all appreciate. So much so he started causing trouble. Where he was eventually joined by Willis Stryker, the son of the secretary of the church Dana Stryker, who soon became his close friend. Luke having no idea that Willis was in fact his half-brother, born from an affair between his father and Ms. Stryker. The latter of whom Luke grew to like, since she was always kind to him and treated him like a normal kid, unlike his own parents. Who Luke noticed had a great disdain for Dana and Willis. Though it wouldn't be until many years later into his adulthood that he found out the reason why this was the case.
As Luke continued to grow he found himself drawn to sports, and with his natural athletic prowess he began to excel in them, especially football. Though despite this it didn't put a stop to Luke's trouble-making ways, as he joined a local gang known as The Rivals with Stryker. A thing his girlfriend at the time, Reva Connors, did not like at all. But in the end Luke ignored her warnings. Which landed him in big trouble, when he and Willis were arrested for stealing Chevrolet Corvette on order from a senior member within The Rivals gang. But instead of getting jail time the judge allowed Luke to instead join the Marine Corps, all due to his father's influence behind the scenes. Though he didn't do the same for Willis, who got prison time. Making the hatred and resentment he felt for the the Lucas family only grow. Luke none the wiser to Willis' ordeal. Instead he simply went on and did what he was told, joining the marines, where he then served several tours of duty as a member of Force Reconnaissance, before turning home, now having changed from a boy into a man. One who stopped all his outburst and instead tried to make society a better place by joining the Savannah Police Department.
However the life track Luke was now traveling down was majorly derailed when his girlfriend, whom he had asked to marry him actually making her his fiancée, Reeva Connors was murdered and he was convicted of the crime. No matter how much he proclaimed his innocence. Which in fact was the truth, Reeva having been murdered by Willis who then framed Luke for the crime, all to get his revenge against him and his family. With that Luke found himself incarcerated in Seagate Penitentiary, where he endured abuse from the guards, one in particular named Albert Rackham. That is until a Dr. Noah Burstein came to the prison and asked Luke to be a volunteer in secret medical research he was conducting, to which he agreed. Having no idea Burstein's actual goal was to use the prisoners of Seagate as human test subjects for a method he had developed in hopes of re-creating the super-soldier serum that gave birth to Captain America. So with that one day Luke found himself in an organic chemical compound in an Electro-Biochemical System. Where when he had the chance Rackham tampered with the controls, hoping to kill Luke. But instead it allowed him to become the only human test subject ever to survive the process, altering his physiology as Burstein had always intended, granting him unbreakable skin as well as an immense boost in strength, speed and stamina. With these new powers in hand Luke broke out of Seagate and then made his way to New York, where he first adopted the alias that would eventually become his true and legal name, Luke Cage.
Hero of Harlem[]
After arriving in New York City Luke began trying to live a quiet life. Moving to the neighborhood of Harlem he began working odd jobs to make a living. One of which was at a local barbershop run by Henry Hunter, also known by his nickname Pops. Who became a good friend to Luke. Until he ended up murdered by members of the Stoke's Crime Family, run by the ruthless Harlem gangster Cornell Stokes, also known as Cottonmouth. When this occured Luke could not sit idly by, especially with Cottonmouth and his family terrorizing the rest of the neighborhood, so with that he decided to use the powers he had been trying to hide and started to fight against Stokes and his criminal empire. Getting assisting from other friends he had made since arriving in New York which were a local boy and cinematographer D.W. Griffith, then NYPD detective Mercedes "Misty" Knight, and finally nurse Claire Temple whom Luke eventually entered a romantic relationship with. Then by his side Luke was not only to defeat Cottonmouth, but also his brother Willis when he came to New York to kill Luke after hearing about his activities there. It was at this time Willis also revealed his immense hate for Luke, the things he had done to him, and the reasons why. Shocking Cage. But that still didn't stop him from standing his ground. After which he was cleared of any and all criminal charges, including the murder of Reva. Then after he was he decided to stay in Harlem and legally adopt the name Luke Cage. He also continued to live in Harlem and protect it, his actions earning him the title Hero of Harlem.
A Defender of New York[]
As Luke continued to live in Harlem, and use his powers to protect it, he eventually found himself involved with other superhuman individuals that called New York City home including Daredevil, his former fling and private investigator Jessica Jones, and the man who would become his best friend, even though Luke would never admit it out loud, Daniel Rand. It was with these individuals Luke found himself as a founding member of a local superhero team known as the Defenders.
Battle of New York[]
Along with his fellow Defenders Luke moved out to protect New York City and it's residents in the spring of 2010 when the Chitauri, led by the Asgardian Prince Loki, invaded the Big Apple. This led to him and his teammates gaining even more recognition from the communities of New York. But it also drew them to the attention of the governmental authorities, in particular S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the newly formed Avengers. Who attempted to intervene in the heroic actions of Luke and his teammates. Bringing him and the Defenders into short conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. But it was quickly resolved when the Defenders went up against and defeated the Wrecking Crew. Leading to both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers to approve and let them continue their heroic activities.
Heroes For Hire[]
As the public opinion of heroes became worse after the events of the Ultron Offensive in 2012, followed by World War X in 2013, Luke and his allies found themselves now targeted by the police. To rectify this the groups attorney Jeryn "Jeri" Hogarth came up with the idea for a business known as Heroes For Hire, where people would actually pay and request for Like and his fellow Defenders to use their powers to aid them. An idea Daredevil and Jessica were reluctant to accept, but not Danny and Luke. Thus they became the founding members for the business.
Bigger and Better Things[]
Amidst the actions of the Cabal, which kick started the Ultimate Alliance War, leading the Luke and his fellow Defenders to protect New York even more fiercely than ever before, he ended up renewing his romance with Jessica Jones, marrying her right after the war ended. Though Luke then found himself as a fugitive again shortly after, along with his new wife and many of their allies, as they refused to comply with the Superhuman Registration Act conceived in the aftermath of the war. With that Luke and his comrades joined Captain America secret Avengers, fighting with them through the Civil War, the Skrull Secret Invasion, ans Norman Osborn short-lived, but terrifying Dark Reign. Where at the end of it all Luke found himself a father, as his first child Danielle Cage was born in late summer 2017. Where after he returned to New York he found himself facing a new threat in Harlem in the form of the criminal Bushmaster, who was aiming to take down Mariah Dillard. Leading to an all-out gang war in Harlem, that Luke eventually put a stop to. With some aide from Misty Knight and his wife Jessica. Two people knew in his heart he could always count on. That's why he turned to them for support when his father, James Lucas, turned up in Harlem looking to reconcile. Which he and Luke eventually did. Putting another piece of his troubled past behind him. Just in time to, as Luke was busier than even in the wake of the infamous Snap in 2018, and the birth of his second child and son, Phillip Cage, in 2019. But Luke handled it all.
This was probably why it was so easy for him to step into the position of Mayor of New York City in early 2022, after the final defeat and downfall of Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin of Crime. But despite now wearing a suit it didn't take away from Luke stepping onto to the streets to handle business himself.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Burstein Process: Luke Cage possesses various superhuman physical enhancements after undergoing a Super-Soldier experiment known as the Burstein Process, which was designed to increase his body's cellular regeneration rate.
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Reflexes
- Nigh-Invulnerability
- Accelerated Healing Factor
Former Powers[]
None
Abilities[]
- Expert Combatant
- Expert Strategist
- Leadership
- Business Management Expert
- Multilingual
- Expert Investigator
- Marksmanship
- Skilled Athlete
Strength Level[]
Class 8
Weaknesses[]
- Near-Unbreakable Skin
- Radiation
Paraphernalia[]
Equipment[]
Unknown
Transportation[]
Unknown
Weapons[]
Unknown
Notes[]
- Luke catchphrase is "Sweet Christmas!"
- Luke once had a one njght stand with Misty Knight.
- Luke codename Power Man was coined by the people around him, and he simply just accepted it as his own.
- Luke clothing size is either XXL or XXXL depending on the brand.
- Despite having no formal education relating to business Luke is involved with several, either as the owner himself, or an investor.
- Luke is independently wealthy.
- Luke considers Danny Rand his best friend, even though he would never admit it.
- In 2014 when Kilgrave returned to torment Jessica Luke briefly fell under his control.
Trivia[]
- Although he met Jessica before the Defenders formed Luke was still reeling from the death of Reeva, his time in prison, and his new powers, so he couldn't start a real relationship with her at the time.
- Luke chose the name of his and Jessica son as Phillip to honor his wife brother.