“Marvel’s Luke Cage” is a needed dose of cool at a painful time

[RandySF]

As of this writing, Netflix is still dropping “Luke Cage” on Friday, Sept. 30, which is as it should be, although many an episode of broadcast or cable shows has been delayed or even pulled completely following news of significant tragedy. But one could make the grim observation that if Netflix were to follow this model of deference, “Luke Cage” would never see the light of day. The miserable horror behind those headlines is that there’s no sign that these senseless killings will cease any time soon.

Then again, Netflix’s model makes that idea somewhat moot by putting entertainment consumption into the hands of its users; we can watch as many episodes of its shows as we like, whenever we’re ready to. Or we can never watch them at all.

You should watch “Luke Cage,” of course, because the story takes the character beyond the simple constructs of comic book entertainment, making it about much more than a black man with unbreakable skin. This is a drama that examines the risk and value of remaining upright in a crooked world, and what can be lost when people disregard their place in history. “Luke Cage” is not a quick binge, but there’s something to appreciate in its 1970s noir-influenced pacing. As slow burns go, this one rewards patient viewing; if nothing else, it’s a music and film nerd’s dream, buoyed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge’s original score. It’s incredibly cool.

Netflix’s entries into Marvel’s “Avengers”-related universe have made interesting divergences from their original comic book versions, and some of this is out of necessity. Cage, introduced to audiences as the main love interest in last year’s excellent “Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” originated on the page as a “Hero for Hire” in 1972. In Netflix’s version, he doesn’t charge for his heroism. He’s also less interested in reconciling with his past, which includes a wrongful conviction and a stint behind bars, than in hiding from it.


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