Fantastic Four had a great run during the mid-1970s, when Roy Thomas wrote the series and was joined by artists like Rich Buckler and George Perez. During one of these stories, the Thing lost his powers and reverted back to Ben Grimm. Who replaced him in the FF?
You got it baby: Luke Cage, PowerMan! Hired at a really good hourly rate by Reed Richards to fill out the team’s roster. You’d think Ben Grimm would have been happy about getting a break and being able to schwing with his girlfriend, Alicia Masters. Oh no!
Ben’s feeling left out and jealous when the FF goes off to fight the Wrecker. It’s kind of ironic, in this 1975 story, Luke Cage fights the Wrecker for the second time (the first was in Defenders #17-19 in 1974). In New Avengers #7-8 he helps defeat the Wrecker once again, but steals his Asgardian forged crowbar, which he uses to escape the Dark Avengers in New Avengers #49.
Luke Cage only stays with the FF for three issues. By issue 170, Cage is under the thrall of the Puppet Master and fighting Ben Grimm, who is inside a robot suit that resembles his former rocky self.
There’s gotta be great What If or Exiles material in here somewhere. What If Cage stayed with the FF and Reed Richards was killed and Cage married Sue Storm? What If Cage stole Alicia Masters from Ben Grimm? What If Cage Became the Herald of Galactus? Sweet Christmas, it’s time to get off this planet! Nuff said.
I just recently discovered your blog and as a 43 year old comic fan, it's a godsend. I still have a few of these comics. Now, as a 43 year old BLACK comic fan, I REALLY appreciate the Black History Month look at some of Marvels ethnic heroes. I had that Fantastic Four with the Fantasticar cover (I have quite a few of the Thomas/Buckler/Perez issues... but I have no idea where this particular issue went to). And I remember those Blank Panther comics. I had no idea Billy Graham was black, but I guess I should've sensed it.
Marvel has had some interesting black characters that I am proud to still see around and playing big parts. The Black Panther. Storm. The Falcon. Luke Cage. Photon. Blade. (maybe they should start a team; Dark Reign, indeed.) They all get respect, which has always been important to me. I see the Falcon in Captain America or The Panther in that great Avengers arc that Geoff Johns wrote awhile back (breaking the Red Skull's jaw, no less!) and I think "Good. There's little kids reading this, black, white or whatever and they see a person of color that's a respected team member or leader." That's a big deal. I think that with Barack Obama in office now and if things go well, you will see more Black characters in books. That would be kinda nice.
Anyway, thanks for the ongoing retrospective on black superheros and old Marvel in general. Believe me, I will be reading this blog WELL beyond this month. Take care.