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The series debuted as Hero for Hire #1, and became Power Man from #17 onwards. The cover logo included Luke Cage's name, so from #1–16 the cover logo read Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and from #17 onwards Luke Cage, Power Man. The series was initially written by Luke Cage's co-creator Archie Goodwin, pencilled by George Tuska, and inked by Billy Graham.
Power Man and Iron Fist
When Power Man's sales became unsustainable, Marvel added Iron Fist, another once popular superhero who could no longer support his own series, in order to save both characters from full cancellation.[1] Iron Fist joined the cast of Power Man in a three-part story arc in #48–50. The series title changed to Power Man and Iron Fist with #50, though the indicia did not reflect this change until #67.
Iron Fist writer Chris Claremont penned the initial stories pairing the characters, but was soon forced to turn the series over to Jo Duffy due to his unmanageable workload. Duffy's run was noted for its lighthearted, humorous, character-driven tone, and had relatively few fight scenes.[1] A young Kurt Busiek had his first regular assignment with the title, writing it from issue #90 to #100. He emulated the lighthearted humor of Duffy's run, not knowing that Duffy had been taken off Power Man and Iron Fist precisely because the editorial staff disapproved of her lighthearted tongue-in-cheek approach to the series.[1]
Goodwin then returned to the series, but had difficulty keeping up with the work, and his brief second run was littered with issues by fill-in writers, including two by Busiek.[1]Jim Owsley, another Marvel staffer, took over as regular writer. The series concluded with the death of Iron Fist in #125, a controversial story. Owsley later commented, "Fist’s death was senseless and shocking and completely unforeseen. It took the readers’ heads clean off. And, to this day, people are mad about it. Forgetting, it seems, that (a) you were supposed to be mad, that death is senseless and Fist’s death was supposed to be senseless, or that (b) this is a comic book."[1]
Power Man and Iron Fist revivals
Power Man and Iron Fist returned as a five-issue limited series in 2011, spinning-off from the "Shadowland" storyline, which introduced a new Power Man, Victor Alvarez.[2] It was written by one of the character's creators Fred Van Lente, with art by Wellinton Alves.[3][4][5] It returned again in 2016, with Luke Cage replacing Alvarez.
Creators
Writers
Chris Claremont - Power Man/Iron Fist #50-53 (April 1978 - October 1978), #76 (December 1981)
Ed Hannigan - Power Man/Iron Fist #53-55 (October 1978 - February 1979)
Mary Jo Duffy - Power Man/Iron Fist #56–75, 77–84 (April 1979 – November 1981, January 1982–August 1982)
Bob Layton - Power Man/Iron Fist #67 (February 1981)
Steven Grant - Power Man/Iron Fist #69, 91, 101 (May 1981, March 1983, January 1984)
Mike W. Barr - Power Man/Iron Fist #76 (December 1981)
Dennis O'Neil - Power Man/Iron Fist #85–89 (September 1982–January 1983)
Kurt Busiek - Power Man/Iron Fist #90, 92–100, 102, 105 (February 1983, April 1983–December 1983, May 1984)
Archie Goodwin - Power Man/Iron Fist #103–104, 108 (February 1984–April 1984, August 1984)
Alan Rowlands - Power Man/Iron Fist #106–107, 109 (June 1984–July 1984, September 1984)
Jim Owsley - Power Man/Iron Fist #108, 111–125 (August 1984, November 1984–September 1986)
Tony Isabella - Power Man/Iron Fist #110 (October 1984)
Artists
Kerry Gammill - Power Man #67-68, 70–72, 74–75, 77–79, 84 (February 1981–April 1981, June 1981–August 1981, October 1981–November 1981, January 1982–March 1982, August 1982)
