Cage

Marvel’s 2002 Cage series is a gritty, one-shot reimagining of Luke Cage by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Richard Corben. In this standalone story, the unbreakable hero navigates a corrupt, rain-slicked New York, where his powers are tested not just by bullets, but by the city’s moral decay. Azzarello’s hard-boiled dialogue and Corben’s visceral, shadow-drenched artwork deliver a raw, street-level noir that distills Cage’s character to his core. It’s a bold, self-contained take that stands apart from the hero’s usual adventures, showcasing the creative freedom of Marvel’s early-2000s mature-readers line.