A brand new Marvel Digital Original, Luke Cage: Everyman finding himself battling a serial killer during a horrible summer heat wave in Harlem and then is diagnosed with CTE, the neurological syndrome best known as afflicting football players.

Written by Anthony Del Col, with art by Jahnoy Lindsay, and Ian Herring on colors, the first chapter sets things up nicely with a mysterious villain and unknown hurdles to follow. The digital chapter is a solid start in that it feels like it grounds the character, who is one of the more grounded in the Marvel universe, and has him facing health. Del Col starts intelligently by focusing in on his daughter helping to transition into what he’s facing himself, traumatic brain injury.

There’s an intelligence about it all in that it really does have him facing an issue more heroes, and villains, should be facing. There’s so much damage done to them, there has to be long lasting issues. While the first chapter doesn’t quite dive into that, it’s the set-up, the end does. We, like Luke, are faced with the implications and it feels very original as far as concept. This is a man who can’t be hurt by so many things, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it or deal with the ramifications.

The second chapter of the first issue ups the action a bit with a surprise villain I wasn’t expecting at all. While the CTE aspect is in the background we don’t get too much depth as to what’s going on, just the fact he’s suffering from something. The villain is an intriguing one, someone I’d not have expected and saying something I’m not sure what he’s going on about.

The art is solid and I can’t really comment on how it reads on Marvel Unlimited or comiXology, as I read it as a PDF, but there’s a good flow to it all and the art is solid. Much like the story itself, it’s a bit dialed back focusing on the human aspect of it all. It’s grounded in a very good way. When the action does dial up, it’s a quick fight that feels rather appropriate and again muted in a way.

Issue #2 of Luke Cage releases on September 19^th, and the full series will be available in print for the first time as a Marvel Premiere Graphic Novel (MPGN) on November 14^th. But, you can get the first chapter digitally now, and it’s solid. There’s an originality of it all that has me hooked and I can’t wait to see what the second chapter is like as Luke faces the physical repercussions of his being a hero.

Story: Anthony Del Col Art: Jahnoy Lindsay Color: Ian Herring
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review