Hero For Hire #1 (Marvel, 1972)

The landmark debut of Luke Cage, one of Marvel's most important first appearances of the 1970s. Harlem closes in as Cage unleashes a primal scream, surrounded by crime, gambling, dancers, and police. This page captures the transformation of Carl Lucas and reflects Marvel's early 1970s embrace of Blaxploitation-era storytelling, shaped by the success of Black-led action films like Shaft and Superfly. It also launches Marvel's first self-titled series led by a Black hero. A debut that feels rooted in its time while shaping what followed.