Hero for Hire 1972 #1 - CGC 7.5 - $350.00
First Luke Cage.
While serving time for a crime for which he was framed, Lucas volunteers for a medical experiment in a bid to earn parole. The chemical bath treatment is sabotaged by his nemesis, a violent guard, and the result ends in giving Lucas steel hard skin. He escapes and is presumed dead because his shirt, riddled with bullet holes, is recovered. Lucas vows revenge on Stryker, his former friend, who framed him and also caused the death of Reva, his romantic interest.
On-sale date from Etcetera & The Comic Reader #82 February 1972.
- Out of Hell -- A Hero! - Roy Thomas and John Romita are credited with creative contributions on the splash page. Thomas came up with the name Cage and the title Hero for Hire. John Romita, with some ideas from Thomas and Stan Lee, designed the costume. Fred Snyder suggested that other hands were involved in the art, particularly John Romita. Nick Caputo agrees that Romita provided alterations on a few pages and redrew Stryker's face throughout. Stryker was also heavily redrawn by Romita on the last page which likely included the addition of a costume.
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