TGIF! Here we are again with another Fangirl Friday! I know I’m supposed to be on break, but I just had to write about this show…it would be criminal not to! This week I’m covering the Netflix original series that has me craving a hot cup of coffee! Yes, ladies and gents, I’m covering Marvel’s Luke Cage!!
If you all didn’t already know this, I’m a huge fan superhero films and comics. So when I saw that Netflix was teaming up with Marvel to bring another comic book hero to the small screen I was ready. But, when I saw that they were going to give the Blaxploitation era superhero, Luke Cage (aka. Power Man) his own series, let’s just say the premiere couldn’t come soon enough!
After the introduction of Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, I was eager to see Marvel showcase some more sun kissed heroes… and in walks Luke Cage, bringing Sweet Christmas a little early this year! After years of seeing reports about innocent black men and women being gunned down in the streets, the irony of a bulletproof black man isn’t lost on me. But, I think that makes Luke Cage and everything he stands for even more relevant for this generation. With so many negative black images in the news, it’s a welcome treat to finally see something positive.
The character was first introduced in Marvel’s Jessica Jones as a love interest for the eponymous leading lady down in Hell’s Kitchen. This time around, Cage is using his righteous fists to clean up the streets of Harlem one crime boss at a time. But, he isn’t just a super powered vigilante, in a world where black characters are either tokens or comedic relief, Luke is a welcome surprise. He’s a thoughtful, intelligent man, with a lot of heart; he’s an every man’s hero and that makes him much more relatable than some of Marvel’s big name superheroes. Don’t get me started on how fine, Mike Colter is, *fans self* that man is gorgeous… I’d grab a coffee with that man any day of the week, and I don’t even like coffee!
This is a fantastic series with a fabulous cast and a story that is both socially conscious and captivating. Luke Cage is real, it’s fresh, and it’s gritty, and a lot of that can be attributed to the dynamic characters. But, I was especially impressed with the series’s portrayal of strong women of color! Misty Knight (played by Simone Missick), Clair Temple (played by Rosario Dawson), and Mariah Dillard (played by Alfre Woodard), are powerful and dynamic women, who managed to steal the spotlight away from leading man on occasion. But, each character brings something special to the narrative and I can’t wait to see more of them in future Marvel properties!
This is a new stage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a long time overdue if you ask me! Luke Cage will have you craving a hot cup of coffee… and I don’t mean the drink! I highly recommend giving this series a watch if you have the chance. It’s full of dynamic and positive black characters and it’s just a great addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe!!
Have you seen Luke Cage? Do you think this will start a trend of more positive black images in the media? What other POC characters do you want to see more of? Do you have some show suggestions for future Fangirl Moment posts? Feel free to Comment on this post or Ask Me on my tumblr! As always Thank You for reading!!