50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

41. Luke Cage

(Write-up by Steve Lam, Bam Smack Pow Site Expert)

To not have Power Man in a ranking of the Greatest Superheroes would be silly. And it would basically nullify the validity of this overall list. Why? Think about it. This list isn’t just about who’s the most powerful (although Luke Cage is pretty strong), has the best gadgets, or is the most famous. It’s also about the impact a character has had on our collective consciousness and society as a whole.

Luke Cage was created during an era when Blaxploitation films were rising in popularity. However, the character resonated so well with audiences that he continued to find success in his own series—even after the fad had ended.

Luke wasn’t just a side character who would fade into the background. He joined forces with the best of them: Spider-Man, Iron Fist, Daredevil, and the Avengers. In fact, he would later become a founding member of the re-formed Avengers team.

Most recently, Power Man has been brought to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Netflix series Marvel’s Luke Cage. Starring Mike Colter as the titular hero, the series reinterpreted the origins of the character—and it worked perfectly.

Like Luke Cage’s comics in the past, the Netflix series brought to light many social issues facing African-Americans today. However, guided by Marvel Studios’ storytelling prowess, none of it became too preachy. It did, though, help to solidify the character as one with a true inner struggle trying to help Harlem. His journey from ex-cop, convict, fugitive, and superhero has mesmerized audiences everywhere.

If you want more live-action Luke Cage, look no further than next year’s Marvel’s The Defenders—where he’ll be fighting the good fight next to Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and The Punisher. To that, we say, “Sweet Christmas!”

Next: No. 40: Maybe size doesn't matter