September 28, Netflix released the most recent installment of the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe, Luke Cage. Acting as the fourth part of the Netflix series, Luke Cage follows the titular character, first introduced in Jessica Jones, as he struggles balancing his day-to-day life with his superpowers. While the “average guy dealing with supernatural abilities” has become an increasingly common trope, the writing in this show keeps the idea fresh and engaging for viewers. This is important, as the superhero genre has begun to dominate pop culture, and anything new is welcome.

Mike Colter portrays the main character in a way that shows the layers of depths of the main character. Not only does Luke Cage struggle with his bulletproof skin and superhuman strength, but he is also faced with living in a racially torn society with corrupt politicians and unjust prejudices. Marvel has had a long history of creating allegories about race issues, but this is the first time they have depicted real racism in a television show, and it is very effective.

The cinematography is worth mentioning as well. One of the most striking scenes in the series is when antagonist Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, portrayed by Mahershala Ali, beats another character. The entire time, he is standing in front of a poster of Biggie Smalls in such a way that the crown on the poster appears to be on Stokes’ head. A powerful piece of symbolism, but the angle of the shot was also well taken. Throughout the series, the lighting in each scene not only stands out against other television series, but plays an important symbolic role, and it was fairly appreciated.

Luke Cage may seem like it should only appeal to comic book fans, but it is much deeper than that. It deals with real world issues in a serious manner and manages to be relevant to what is happening in American society right now. There were times when it was easy to forget that it was a superhero show rather than a crime drama. While Luke Cage does tie a lot of elements from the MCU together, it also stands on its own as a strong series. It is certainly worth a watch.