Sunday, October 2, 2016

On The Air: Luke Cage (2016)

In 1972, on the heels of "Shaft", Marvel Comics introduced readers to Luke Cage, Hero For Hire. Cage, born Carl Lucas, was an escaped convict who had taken part in a prison experiment that gave him bulletproof, steel hard skin and super strength.

In 2016, the world of Luke Cage isn't entirely different. Not by any stretch. Cage (Mike Colter, reprising his role from Jessica Jones) now works by day sweeping hair off the floors of a Harlem barber shop, and at night works in the kitchen of a club owned by mobster Colton "Cottonmouth" Stokes, whose cousin is a city councilwoman trying to clean up Harlem and keep Colton out of trouble at the same time. Kind of hard, of course, as Cottonmouth is this show's answer to Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) over on Daredevil, a ruthless crime lord. Long time comics fans will remember Cottonmouth as one of Cage's oldest foes.

The supporting cast also includes Alfre Woodard, Frank Whaley, and, inevitably, Rosario Dawson will reprise as "Night Nurse" Claire Temple, who in the books was Cage's long-time girlfriend, long before being rebooted as the Night Nurse.

The show is augumented with a R & B/rap soundtrack featuring 90's stars Faith Evans, Raphael Siddiq, and rapper d-Nice. One gets the feeling that if there's enough interest, there will be a soundtrack CD forthcoming. Cottonmouth keeps a portrait of slain rapper Notorious B. I. G. in his office, reflecting, if you will, his musical tastes.

Scope the trailer:



You might say Christmas has come early.

Rating: A.

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