Luke Cagewas one of a string ofNetflixshows about street-levelMarvelheroes. While tonally distant from their blockbuster peers, they are still unmistakable products of the comic colossus.Luke Cageis no exception to this, as it comes with a slew of references to both theMarvel Cinematic Universeand the source material.
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Like its peers, the show has since moved toDisney Plus, meaning that many fans are experiencing it for the first time. That definitely changes the context of some easter eggs. What doesn’t change, though, are the smiles on fans' faces whenever they catch one.
7Power Man
The show wastes no time with this one. Early in the first episode, Pop makes a comment about Luke’ssuper strength. The old guy then refers to him as “Power Man.”
This was Cage’s superhero name in the comics. He adopts the title a few issues in. However, he soon abandons it and goes back to simply being “Luke Cage, Hero for Hire.” That image has largely stuck with him ever since. It’s reminiscent of Jessica Jones once going by “Jewel” before ditching that moniker, which itself is fortuitous since Luke started as a recurring character in her show.
6Original Costume
This tongue-in-cheek reference is a trend with superhero adaptations. After breaking out of prison, Luke steals some clothes hung out to dry. He looks at his reflection, and his outfit is the spitting image of his original comic costume.
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Sadly, he thinks he looks like a fool and quickly takes it off. His wardrobe then consists of street clothes for the rest of the show. It’sthe same bait-and-switch tease seen in works likeJessica Jonesand a fewX-Menfilms. The filmmakers tip their hats to the comic roots while asserting their own version as an update.
5Quentin Tarantino
This may seem like a random pop culture reference typical in Marvel flicks, but it carries more meaning for those eagerly awaiting aLuke Cageadaptation. After Cottonmouth’s thugs shoot up Pop’s place, they celebrate their massacre with a callback. One likens it to Candyland fromDjango Unchained, saying that somebody should callQuentin Tarantino.
How ironic thatTarantino nearly made aLuke Cagemovie in the ’90s. He even had Laurence Fishburne in mind to star, but the project ultimately fell through. As such, this line seems like a deliberate wink at what might have been.
4Ghost Rider
During the montage of his superhero exploits, Luke encounters the rapper, Method Man. Fans will note that the artist sometimes goes by “Johnny Blaze.” This is also the name ofGhost Rider, another Marvel hero. It doesn’t stop there, though.
Some street punks later liken some chaotic events to Blaze. In this instance, they’re probably referring to Method Man. Ghost Rider may exist in the MCU throughAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but he’s not the Johnny Blaze version. Instead,Robbie Reyes assumes the mantle. Either way, this dual-pronged cameo is sure to ignite fans of the flaming biker.
3Hammer Tech
Fed up with Harlem’s hero, Cottonmouth commissions a specialized weapon against Luke Cage. This missile can penetrate his unbreakable skin and explode in a heap of shrapnel. It comes courtesy of Hammer Industries, the weapons manufacturer underJustin Hammer. He was the rival of Tony Stark inIron Man 2.
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As that film showed, his products don’t work. Cottonmouth should know better than to invest in cheap knockoffs like these. Not to mention, Hammer is currently rotting in jail, so his brand would obviously be tainted. Maybe that’s why his toys are kicking around the criminal underworld.
2Colleen Wing
The first season ends with Claire Temple looking for something to occupy her time while Luke is in jail. She spots a flyer for a martial arts class taught by Colleen Wing. Marvel fans know her as a powerful ally of Iron Fist, andthis sets the stage for Temple’s appearance in that show.
It continues the trend of her functioning as the Nick Fury of the Netflix series, popping up in all of them to set upThe Defenders. If only viewers had known how bad theIron Fistshow would be, then they wouldn’t have been as excited. At least Colleen Wing herself was one of the few bright spots.
1Night Nurse
During one of the romantic interludes of the second season, Luke and Claire dance to some music. The song playing is “Night Nurse” by Gregory Isaacs, which is another reference to a comic alias.
Claire Temple here is a mix of her comic counterpart and a character called “Night Nurse.” Held by a few people over the years, it’s a mantle that provides medical aid to superheroes. Temple wasn’t originally one of these women, but the duty has fallen on her several times in the TV shows. Because of that, the song feels like a celebration of her role.
In hindsight, though, it’s a somewhat confusing label.Christine Palmer, who actuallywasa Night Nurse in the comics, has since debuted in theDoctor Strangefilms. The irony, however, is that Temple is a more faithful rendition.
