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Cage Matches: Luke Cage's Greatest Hits

Luke Cage was the first black superhero to star in his own title. He was born out of what is called by some the "blaxploitation" era. It was time when you could go to the movies and see a private black dick that was a sex machine to all the chicks -- I'm talkin' bout Shaft -- and Pam Grier was the sexiest thing my adolescent eyes had ever seen on a big screen. Anyway, Marvel jumped on the bandwagon and introduced a title called "Luke Cage, HERO FOR HIRE," and the rest, as they say, was history.

Although Luke didn't quite talk like any of the black people that I knew and grew up with, it didn't matter to me. There was Luke shrugging off bullets and smashing steel, something no hero of color had ever done. Add to that his endless trash talkin' -- albeit pseudo street-slang -- and well, that meant I'd be picking him up off the spinner rack every month. Luke, you had me at "Christmas!"

And by the way, Luke Cage NEVER, EVER said "Sweet Christmas" during the entire run of his first series. What he said was "Sweet Sister!' at times, and other times he'd say "Christmas!" and over time fans just morphed the two phrases together. The great Kurt Busiek taught me that little trivia tidbit.

Anyway, I'll always have a fondness in my heart for the old H4H/POWER MAN series. This gallery will be devoted to capturing some of what I consider to be Luke's most memorable moments, including some not-so-memorable ones. But they were all fun to me, and I hope you'll get a kick out of going down memory lane with me as some of the most talented artists in the biz help revisit Luke in all his glory.

In closing, a special hat tip to my fellow CAF member and friend, the incomparable MICHAEL RANKINS, whose brilliant mind came up with the name "Cage Matches" for this gallery. Certainly beats the one I came up with, "Luke Cage fighting people and stuff."

There are 11 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

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More Than a Woman

Art Details

Artist:	Darryl Banks (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	910
Comments:	9
Added to Site:	2/16/2012

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

More Than a Woman
Artist: Darryl Banks (Penciller)
910 Views, 9 Comments

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Down Goes Foster! Down Goes Foster! (inked)

Art Details

Artist:	Darryl Banks (Penciller) Bob Almond (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	831
Comments:	10
Added to Site:	10/2/2011

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Down Goes Foster! Down Goes Foster! (inked)
Artist: Darryl Banks (Penciller)
Bob Almond (Inker)
831 Views, 10 Comments

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Who's the Power Man?! Say it! Say it! (inked)

Art Details

Artist:	Darryl Banks (Penciller) Bob Almond (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	749
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	10/1/2011

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Who's the Power Man?! Say it! Say it! (inked)
Artist: Darryl Banks (Penciller)
Bob Almond (Inker)
749 Views, 5 Comments

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Something Fishy Going On Here

Art Details

Artist:	Yvel Guichet (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	839
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	3/18/2011

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Something Fishy Going On Here
Artist: Yvel Guichet (All)
839 Views, 8 Comments

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A Roach Problem (Inked)

Art Details

Artist:	Arvell Jones (Penciller) Bob Almond (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1704
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	12/19/2010

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

A Roach Problem (Inked)
Artist: Arvell Jones (Penciller)
Bob Almond (Inker)
1704 Views, 6 Comments

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Cage Match: A Roach Problem

Art Details

Artist:	Arvell Jones (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	885
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	9/6/2010

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Cage Match: A Roach Problem
Artist: Arvell Jones (Penciller)
885 Views, 3 Comments

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Down goes Foster! Down goes Foster!

Art Details

Artist:	Darryl Banks (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	895
Comments:	10
Added to Site:	8/3/2010

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Down goes Foster! Down goes Foster!
Artist: Darryl Banks (Penciller)
895 Views, 10 Comments

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B!+ch better have my money! (inked)

Art Details

Artist:	M.C. Wyman (Penciller) Bob Almond (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	2200
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	6/28/2009

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

B!+ch better have my money! (inked)
Artist: M.C. Wyman (Penciller)
Bob Almond (Inker)
2200 Views, 2 Comments

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Swing low, sweet chariot

Art Details

Artist:	Cedric Nocon (Penciller) Cedric Nocon (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1400
Comments:	4
Added to Site:	4/18/2009

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Swing low, sweet chariot
Artist: Cedric Nocon (Penciller)
Cedric Nocon (Inker)
1400 Views, 4 Comments

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Who's the Power Man?! Say it! Say it!

Art Details

Artist:	Darryl Banks (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1166
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	3/19/2009

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

Who's the Power Man?! Say it! Say it!
Artist: Darryl Banks (Penciller)
1166 Views, 7 Comments

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B!+ch better have my money!

Art Details

Artist:	MC Wyman (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1623
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	3/14/2009

About the Owner

Damon Owens
Member Since:	December 2005

B!+ch better have my money!
Artist: MC Wyman (Penciller)
1623 Views, 7 Comments

There are 11 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

About the Owner Damon Owens Joined: December 2005 Last Login: September 2025 On CAF: Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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