Marvel Loves a Team Player, But Luke Cage Proves Going Solo Can Make You a Better Hero

Warning: Contains spoilers for Ultimates #9!

Luke Cage has officially debuted in Marvel’s current Ultimate Universe, with his all-new origin proving he doesn’t need a team to become a powerful hero on Earth-6160. While characters like Tony Stark’s Iron Lad, Captain America, Thor, She-Hulk, and others have assembled the Ultimates to battle the evil Reed Richards and his Maker’s Council, Luke forges his own path to save people in this alternate timeline.

Ultimates #9—written by Deniz Camp, with art by Chris Allen—sidesteps the usual team format of the series to provide an update on this universe’s version of Luke Cage. During his truly powerful new origin story, it’s revealed why he isn’t on the Ultimates roster, despite successfully gaining his rightful powers with Tony Stark’s help back in January 2024.

Tony welcomes him to the team, but Luke ultimately decides he can help more people by working alone, infiltrating the corrupt prison system to aid those unjustly imprisoned—just as he was for almost 20 years.

Luke Cage Rejects Tony Stark’s Team-Up Offer, But Becomes the Ultimate Revolutionary Hero of Earth-6160

Ultimates #9 - Written by Deniz Camp; Art by Chris Allen; Colors by Federico Blee; Lettering by VC’s Travis Lanham

Although he turns down Tony’s offer to join the Ultimates after gaining his unbreakable skin and super-strength, this universe’s new take on Power Man has already proven himself to be an incredible hero by doing good on his own terms. With the world dominated by villains, Cage was wrongfully imprisoned at Seagate Penitentiary from the age of 15, and he decides to use his new abilities to orchestrate prison breaks for those who have suffered the same injustice. Even without a superhero team, Luke unites and empowers dozens of wrongfully imprisoned people, including his destined friend, Danny Rand.

As part of Stark’s plan for the Ultimates 1.0, he granted multiple heroes their unique abilities with Stark Boxes. Luke Cage and Peter Parker were the two successes of this experiment, but only Cage’s heroic actions made him worthy of an official offer to join the team. Before Luke even gains his powers, it’s stated that he is thought to be unbreakable because of his resilience in the face of abuse from prison guards. His new superpowers only strengthen his ability to stand up for others, transforming him into a revolutionary who refuses to be beaten down any longer.

The Ultimate Universe’s Power-Man Is the Most Inspiring New Take on a Marvel Icon

By Rejecting the Ultimates Offer, Cage Brings “All Power to the People”

After breaking out of Seagate Penitentiary, where he had been unfairly held since he was a minor, Luke selflessly returns to the belly of the beast by getting locked up in Gordium Correctional Facility to save even more inmates from the diabolical for-profit prison. Adopting the real-life Black Panther Party’s protest slogan, “All Power to the People,” the Ultimate Power Man earns his superhero name by inspiring others to stand up against injustice. The Ultimates series offers the same inspiration, using real-world commentary to give new meaning to the Ultimate Universe’s strongest heroes.

Power Man is currently forging his own path, but there’s still hope that he’ll eventually return to the Ultimates and interact with more of Earth-6160’s heroes. For now, though, Luke has his hands full bringing power to prisoners whose rights have been stripped away by the sinister Midas Group, which runs the prison system. While the Ultimates battle supervillains to save the Ultimate Universe, this new version of Luke Cage is firmly established as a hero who fights for the people.

Ultimates #9 is available now from Marvel Comics.