This issue is filled with references to the current day, (1974) Watergate, Archie Bunker.

After taking down the drug empire of Cottonmouth, Luke is feeling good and decides to visit with lady, Claire Temple. When he arrives at the clinic with flowers, Doc Burstein tells him that Claire is gone. Claire left Luke a “dear Luke” letter that says, “Don’t try to follow me.”

Angry from the letter, Luke is seething as he walks down the street. A large dog picks up the rage brewing in Power Man and returns it back. Luke easily disposes of the dog and walks into his apartment over the Gem Theatre. The Gem theatre is playing Shane and 3:10 to Yuma, two westerns from the 1950’s. A mysterious figure in a trench coat and hat goes into the movies.

Luke is in his apartment alone trying to figure out what he did to make Claire leave so abruptly when he hears a commotion at the Gem. He finds out that some guy with the same name, Power Man, is calling Luke out. So the two men fight it out for the right to be called the one and only Power Man. During the middle of the chaotic fight, Luke finds a small, scared girl in the back of the theatre. He tries to get her to safety but the other Power Man keeps going after him.

When Luke tries to appeal to his humanity, by saying, “ you could of killed this kid”. The other Power Man says that kid doesn’t matter. That was the wrong thing to say to Luke Cage. Luke grits his teeth, raises his fists and charges the front of the theatre. With an angry Luke Cage this battle is quickly over.

The ending lines by Luke Cage are hilarious. “You can call yourself invisible Girl..you can stick a flag in your navel and call yourself the spirit of '76…but if you ever call yourself Power Man again, I will tattoo that name on your rib cage!"

-Ron C.

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