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"Out of Hell -- A Hero!"

At Seagate Prison, Lucas is a prisoner who has been abused by those who warden over him. However, when he explains to prison physician Noah Burstein that while he wasn't the most law-abiding citizen, he was framed for cocaine possession by his friend Willis Stryker, who then moved in on their criminal racket, and his girl, which eventually led to Reva's death. Burstein offers Lucas an early chance at parole if he helps with a scientific experiment.

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However, when racist prison guard Billy Bob Rackham tampers with the machine, an unexpected effect: Lucas is granted enhanced strength and bulletproof skin. Once realizing this, Lucas uses his powers to escape Seagate, leaving the staff there to assume that he died trying to flee in the water.

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Lucas eventually finds his way to New York City, where he decides to put his powers to use, earning himself some income as a "Hero for Hire".

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Buying a costume and taking on the name Luke Cage, Lucas begins his career as "Hero for Hire."

Luke's activities make him popular among the people of Harlem, but also bring the attention of the local syndicate's leader: Diamondback, a costumed criminal with trick switchblades, who as it turns out, is Luke's old friend Stryker.

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June is bustin' out all over with a lot of POWER, Man!

Mayor Luke Cage works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxtnadWxvg

"Fifty years ago, Marvel debuted a character named Luke Cage. This particular character’s first appearance was in his own title. Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. In the Black comic book community, Luke Cage is either celebrated or honestly, misunderstood. Which is why the promotion of his 50th anniversary has been lackluster needless to say."
https://blackcomiclords.net/2022/06/12/luke-cage-50-years-in-the-making/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=luke-cage-50-years-in-the-making

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"Heroes and Villains"

At the Vault, the maximum security detention center for super-humans in Colarado, a SHIELD ship lands with a last minute prisoner drop-off. The Guardsmen are almost immediately disabled by an unseen assailant and the prisoner himself while the two SHIELD agents watch. The four then release many of the Vault's prisoners and escape in the SHIELD craft while a mysterious woman in white watches. The foursome report to their Master who orders them to wait for their next mission.

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In the New York headquarters of Oracle Incorporated, Danny Rand AKA Iron Fist, is training when he hears of the breakout at the Vault. Jim Hammond (the android who was the original Human Torch and is acting head of Oracle) consults with Danny; both agree, something has to be done about the lack of heroes in the world.

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In the American Southwest, the Hulk is leaping through the sky when he is knocked unconscious by the U-Foes: Vapor, Ironclad, Vector, and X-Ray who then attach a device to the Hulk's neck.

Iron Fist confronts his old friend, Luke Cage (once known as Power Man) and asks him to work together again, but Luke has no interest.

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At the United Nations in New York, several top scientists are taken hostage with the Hulk somehow involved and Danny goes to free the hostages. He is joined by the woman in white who reveals herself to be the White Tiger. They agree to work together and observe the U-Foes, with the Hulk downloading the knowledge of the scientists. Hercules smashes his way in and Fist and Tiger leap in to help him. While WT battles Vector, IF confronts the Hulk and removes the control disk from his neck. With the Hulk free, the four heroes defeat the U-Foes who then flee.

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Following the incident, it's revealed that the control/knowledge-transfer disks were a product of the Controller. While being interviewed, Iron Fist proclaims the creation of Heroes For Hire; a group which act as hired employees to those needing help for a nominal fee donated to one of Oracle's charitable causes. Heroes For Hire's first three members are Hercules, White Tiger and Iron Fist.

Sript by Roger Stern (plot) and John Ostrander (script), pencils by Pascual Ferry, inks by Jaime Mendoza