Luke Cage Villain Returns To The Marvel Universe

05/07/2017 12:49 pm EDT

A villain familiar to fans of Marvel's Luke Cage on Netflix just made his return to the Marvel Universe, and he knows how to make an entrance.

Diamondback, Luke Cage's former best friend who was played by Erik LaRay Harvey in the Netflix series, revealed himself as the primary villain of the upcoming Defenders comic book series in the backup story included in Marvel's Free Comic Book Day All New Guardians Of The Galaxy #1, which was given away at comic book stores as part of Saturday's annual Free Comic Book Day festivities.

In the story, which came from The Defenders creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez, Diamondback introduces himself as Mr. Sky and visits Jessica Jones' office as a potential client. He tells her about how Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist attacked an establishment called Club Ultimate on the eve of its grand opening because the heroes knew it would be a haven fro the criminal element.

He then reveals that he is the owner of Club Ultimate. The story then cuts to scenes of Luke Cage's Heroes for Hire office exploding, a car running into the Rand Corporation building, and Matt Murdock being invited into a car that is rigged to explode. Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil all survive the assaults, but Diamondback shoots Jessica Jones in the stomach before revealing who he truly is and leaving her to bleed out.

When we spoke to Bendis and Marquez last week, they warned that the Free Comic Book Day issue should not be missed. They also warned that the villain of The Defenders would be personally connected to the heroes, attack them where they live and would make a big splash in his introduction. With Diamondback, it seems like Bendis and Marquez came through on all of those promises.

As big as the return of Diamondback is, it isn't even the biggest shock to come out of Marvel's Free Comic Book Day books compared to who lifted Thor's hammer in the publisher's other title.

The story of Diamondback and the Defenders will continue in Defenders #1, on sale June 14, 2017.

Defenders #1
APR170978
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A/CA) David Marquez

Daredevil! Luke Cage! Jessica Jones! Iron Fist! Individually, these four heroes have been on the front lines of the battle to keep the streets of the city safe and secure! But now, with a deadly enemy from the dim past making a major move to unite the underworld, they will need to become more - they will need to become DEFENDERS! Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez unite to bring you the next great super-team, in the tradition of NEW AVENGERS!
Rated T+

In Shops: Jun 14, 2017
SRP: $4.99

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