Countdown to Luke Cage

SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 21: Actress Simone Missick during Netflix/Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage’ panel at Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Dave Mangels/Getty Images for Netflix)

Strong Female Characters

Marvel TV shows are not short on strong female characters and Luke Cage looks to be no exception. But it is also doing something special: introducing Misty Knight (Simone Missick), Marvel’s first black female superhero. In the comics Misty is an officer in the NYPD who loses her arm while trying to prevent a bomb explosion. (She is also given a bionic arm by Tony Stark which we may or may not see in the series). There was even a rumor for a short time of a Misty Knight solo show because of the positive feedback of  Missick’s performance. And while that is on hold for now, having a two black superheroes appearing together is still something that has never been done before. And that’s pretty exciting.

Besides Missick, Luke Cage also features Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard. In the comics Black Mariah as she is known is the leader of a gang known as The Rat Pack. However, according to Marvel, the show version of Mariah will be a politician, “looking to bring a new era of change to the streets she grew up on.” Will she be a friend or foe to Luke? Only time will tell, but the Harlem political scene looks to play a big role in the series.

Luke Cage also sees the return of Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, nurse of the NYC heroes. So far she is the only character to appear in all three Netflix shows.

Next: Hip-Hop in Harlem