Cage #1
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Cage #1

Writer: Genndy Tartakovsky Artist: Genndy Tartakovsky Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: October 5, 2016 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 17 User Reviews: 13
7.6Critic Rating
6.2User Rating

From the Award-Winning creator of Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Hotel Transylvania! On the mean streets of Harlem, shoes are big, shirts are large, bottoms are belled and crime is rampant! But in the heart of the city, the world's hardest-working, smack-talking, chain-wearing super hero is on the street and on the case! And his rates are reasonable! He's CAGE! and he'll save your behind. Dig it!
Rated T+

  • 9.0
    The Source by SuperHeroStuff - Bruce Cook Oct 17, 2016

    Don't come into CAGE! expecting the Bendis/Netflix iteration of the character. Pick up this book if you're looking for something fun to read. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    CourtOfNerds - Benjamin Raven Oct 11, 2016

     All right. Cage! #1 from Genndy Tartakovsky is insane. Like insane-insane, but also insane as in good insane. Impressive work on a fun story and even more fun art.  Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Outright Geekery - Leroy Dee Oct 7, 2016

    In many ways this book feels like a love letter to the early Hero For Hire comics as much as it is a parody or spoof. There's a fine line, but if anyone can walk that like it's Tartakovsky. There's 70's slang, Cage rhymes sometimes in his dialogue, but it's all done tongue and cheek. His impatience is also played for laughs, since he completely loses his cool when Misty is ONLY 35 minutes late. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Graphic Policy - pharoahmiles Dec 14, 2019

    Overall, a gritty version of Luke Cage, one that despite some of its problematic undertones, is also an entertaining story, The story by Brian Azzarello is appealing. The art by Richard Corben is incandescent. Altogether, if you are a fan of Luke Cage, this may be the story that gives you a whole new look at this superhero. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Spectrum - Shawn Hoklas Oct 7, 2016

    This story is outside of current Marvel continuity, but that doesn't mean you should let this one pass you by. Think of it as standalone and not mired in current Marvel continuity with all the Civil Wars and crossovers. Tartakovsky is a wonderful talent doing a fun and retro take on a character that is getting his well deserved time in the limelight. It is a nod to a simpler time in comics that some people just may not 'get', but if you do, I think you'll definitely Dig It! Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen Oct 5, 2016

    It's been a long time coming, but now that Cage! is finally here, the series doesn't disappoint. Tartakovsky offers a fun, goofy and very self-aware romp through the '70s-era Marvel Universe. His distinctive art style lends itself very well to that setting and ensures that Luke really earns the title of "Power Man." Read Full Review

  • 8.3
    Heroes Direct - Adam Fitch Oct 5, 2016

    If the old school costume and art doesn't do it for you, perhaps the frequent appearances and mentions of other Marvel heroes will. This comic isn't the best thing we've ever seen, it feels like an animated Luke Cage series – and that's great. We feel like we can continue to find time in our day to read this series. Another hit for Marvel NOW! Read Full Review

  • 8.3
    SciFiPulse - Oral Frier Oct 15, 2016

    Cage is an outlandish comedic romp. Ridiculous doesn't seem like a strong enough word to describe what the series is. This comicis accessible, and lacks any of the demonstrative soberness that many modern comics exude in mass quantities. Though it may not be suitable for everyone's pallet, Sweet Christmas! is it a blast for the rest of us. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    411Mania - Luke Scarpa Oct 20, 2016

    Cage #1 is a fun romp in a loony era. Watch his new show while you read this. Luke's a great hero and he should be digested different ways. Luke and the radical visionary are actually alike in one big way: you can't help feel that they're reaching if not hammering at their potential. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Lost Lighthouse - thelostlighthouse Oct 6, 2016

    Cage! is a hell of a lot of fun. It may have been hugely delayed, but hopefully that means that the release schedule will be pretty consistent for this four-issue mini. Fans of the Netflix series should definitely check this out, even if it is a little tonally different, but equally fans of anything Genndy Tartakovsky has ever put out will love this too. Check it out at your LCS or digitally today! Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    All-Comic - Arron Ferguson Oct 7, 2016

    In many ways Cage! #1 sets up this four-part mini to be to Luke Cage whatBatman '66 was to Batman. Some will see it as mindless, campy fluff. Others will see it as glorious, visually inventive,fun. If youread comics for some trashy fun instead of Alan Moore-style heaviness, this is a book you need to check out. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon Oct 5, 2016

    It’s a simple and straightforward story, and Tartakovsky doesn’t lean heavy into the era’s bad scripting habits (particularly with dialogue) that would make modern readers cringe. The art is expressive and outsized. The pacing comes at a good clip. The script has a couple of fun cameos. It might stand in stark contrast to the Cage we see on the small screen but Tartakovsky’s reverence for the character is clear. This is his love letter to an era of comics that he grew up reading and that’s why it works so well. It combines his unique sense of humor with the best parts of ‘70s Power Man, while leaving the more problematic bits by the wayside. Ya dig? Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    AIPT - David Brooke Oct 5, 2016

    Though untethered from the show or the main comics, Cage #1 is a lot of fun with expressive and kinetic art and plenty of chuckle worthy moments. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    The GCRN - Daniel Clark Oct 6, 2016

    By far what this book has going for it is its resolute dedication to having fun. You can feel the joy Tartakovsky had while crafting this comic. It is clear he had a desire to recreatea type of comic he used to love reading that no longer exists. Cage #1 may not convert new readers to become Luke Cage fans, but for those that have any fondness for the character and his history there is a lot to get excited about. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    Weird Science - Reggie Hemingway Oct 10, 2016

    Ever wonder what a Genndy Tartakovsky-produced Power Man cartoon would look like? Well, here's your answer. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Comics: The Gathering - Ryan.L Oct 5, 2016

    This book isn’t pulling any punches, and really is just trying to make you laugh. That being said one would question why we even needed this mini-series. With the Netflix show being so popular, it could have led to the possibility of Luke getting a successful solo series again. But instead we are being given this over the top farce that makes the character look like a big dumb oaf. With so many books being pumped out and Marvel Now! in full swing, this book might just get lost in the mix as most readers will be looking for something with a little more substance. Read Full Review

  • 1.5
    Fortress of Solitude - Rick Austin Oct 10, 2016

    If you want a modern homage starring Cage set in that time period, you'd be far better off reading the hilarious True Believers: The Groovy Deadpool. If you want authenticity, read the classic 1972 Luke Cage " Hero For Hire. If you're a fan of Luke Cage in any way, read anything else. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    The Villain Oct 14, 2016

    I thought this was a very fun issue. Its very simple and it puts Cage back in the detective role that he had in the original series. I'd assume this series isn't really considered canon as its set in the 1970's but we get some more classic characters that just appear out of the blue for hardly any other reason than to me the reader laugh. I'm very intrigued by this book and it has a very "Saturday morning cartoon art style".

  • 4.0
    Gizmo Oct 23, 2016

    This is really bad. The plot is nonexistent, it's literally just Luke Cage running around and punching things. Given that this is set in the 70s, he should be going by Power Man, not Luke Cage. There is some comedy to redeem the comic, but I'm awkwardly wondering if this is racist, lol.

  • 3.0
    TheMatteo0 Oct 5, 2016

    I feel slightly bad for giving this a three, primarily because the surprising cameo appearance in the middle is absolutely hilarious (along with the editors note) and is probably still worth giving this one a read. That said, the comic itself is 3.99$ for about 2 minutes of flicking through. To which all you really get is a few fights, a weirdly incoherent and completely depthless storyline (the extent to which this is the case is in itself quite an achievement). The occasional text box is used to fill out huge sections of key story related which they couldn't be bothered to draw or expand upon (e.g."and Cage doesn't know the whole story, for some mysterious silhouettes have been following him the whole day"), and the 'villains' appear comp more

  • 9.0
    Grifter Feb 12, 2018

  • 8.0
    Kreniigh Jan 3, 2017

  • 8.0
    FT Metler Nov 25, 2016

  • 7.5
    Spock's Brain Oct 8, 2016

  • 7.0
    DXO Oct 19, 2016

  • 7.0
    EggMath Oct 5, 2016

  • 6.5
    Herptydoo Oct 5, 2016

  • 6.0
    BLANkCCr Jan 27, 2017

  • 3.5
    Jack Hastings Apr 14, 2017

  • 2.5
    Jabberwocky_Superfly Oct 13, 2016

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