Hero for Hire

Marvel launched Hero for Hire in 1972, introducing Luke Cage as the first Black superhero to headline his own series. Written primarily by Steve Englehart and Archie Goodwin, with gritty, street-level art by George Tuska and Billy Graham, the book blended blaxploitation cinema with superhero action as Cage—a man with unbreakable skin and superhuman strength—set up shop as a hero for pay in New York City. Over its 16-issue run, the series established a distinctive urban tone, pitting Cage against foes like Diamondback and the Phantom of 42nd Street while exploring themes of race and justice. It remains a landmark for its cultural impact and for launching a character who would become a cornerstone of Marvel's modern mythos.