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There are no good pigs. It doesn't matter the color of your skin or what god you worship. The only distinction that matters in here is the distinction between the pigs and the prisoners. The guards and the inmates. Us and them. The guards are our only enemy here. Our most immediate struggle is with them--and through them, the unjust system they uphold. We struggle for nothing more--and nothing less--than control over our own lives.

Appearing in 1st story

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Danny Rand (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Midas Group (First appearance)

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

  • Stark Box

Vehicles:


Synopsis for 1st story

In February 2005, at Seagate Penitentiary, 15-year-old Carl Lucas "Luke" Cage is left shocked to learn from a man representing him (who is not a lawyer) that he is being sentenced for one year to life. His representative tries to reassure him that he can get out soon within a year whereas he would have carried a mandatory five-year sentence. But Luke protests that he does not know what he is being convicted of, as he was sentenced at an "administrative trial" that even his representative does not know the details.

But one year later, Luke remains at Seagate and is constantly subjugated to physical abuse from the guards. During that time, Luke began working his body into shape by lifting weights. By 2010, Luke took an interest in reading anti-penal system literature. In 2014, the guards confronted Luke for forming his own prison gang. Luke tries to explain that it was a reading group, but the guards viciously club him as they accuse him for being a troublemaker and a dangerous element.

In January 2024, Luke is awakened from his sleep by the appearance of a Stark Box sent by Tony Stark from six months into the future. The Stark recording explains the life Luke was meant to have and is given the chance to free the world from the Maker's Council. Through Stark's ionic catalyst, Luke gains superhuman strength and unbreakable skin. With his new powers, Luke causes an uprising and leads the inmates to take over the prison. Several months later in June, Iron Lad visits Luke and offers to welcome him to the Ultimates. However, Luke declines to join the team but instead he can do much better at dismantling the Maker’s systems from within.

In February 2025, Luke has himself transferred to the Gordium Correctional Facility, a Midas Group Penitentiary specializing in the "for-profit-prison space." Luke and the other prisoners have their global citizenship officially revoked and they have no rights of any kind within the facility. They must obey the guards and follow the rules in order to stay out of trouble. Luke saves fellow inmate Danny Reid from being knifed from behind. Luke befriends Danny and invites him to his reading session, in which Luke expresses his criticisms of the penal system. Soon he convinces Danny and some of the inmates to plan a prison break.

The guards quickly learn of the planned prison break and they bring Luke and his cohort to be executed by firing squad. But the guards learned their unfortunate mistake as their bullets do not leave a scratch or mark on Luke. In turn Luke easily breaks his chains free and begins attacking the guards. It is then revealed that it is all part of Luke's real plan to stage another takeover, which he had already done in other prisons prior to entering Gordium.

As the riot in Gordium continues into its third day, Lejori privately talks to a comatose Tony Stark. She tells Tony to stay strong while recounting how her transformation into a She-Hulk was a very painful process that she was able to overcome due to a promise to protect her people. Now it is why she cannot allow Tony to die because he made a promise to her and her people so he can help them. After finishing her words, Lejori leaves Tony. Moments later Tony opens his eyes.

Nine months remaining...

Solicit Synopsis

LUKE CAGE AND THE ULTIMATE PRISON BREAK!

• Juan Frigeri joins Deniz Camp to bring us the history and the future of Luke Cage!

• Spider-Man isn’t the only success story of Ultimates 1.0…meet the man who has been quietly sabotaging the Maker’s Council from behind bars!

Trivia

  • Among the books Luke Cage is reading is Soledad Brother by George Jackson.

See Also

Links and References

References

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