Genndy Tartakovsky Brings His Cartoon Style To ‘Cage’ #1 [Preview]

It's been nine years since Marvel first announced that animator Genndy Tartakovsky would be writing and drawing a Luke Cage comic set in the 1970s. There was a promo image, and then it just never happened. But earlier this year the news broke that Tartakovsky, creator of Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Hotel Transylvania, is finally getting his shot at Cage, alongside the latter's Netflix series debut, and now we have a preview that proves it's actually real!

Cage is a four-issue miniseries written and drawn by Tartakovsky, with inks by Stephen DeStefano. The art is heavily stylized, and Tartakovsky's caricaturing of black men has raised concerns among readers. Charles Pulliam-Moore at Nerds of Color has called the art style "decidedly problematic."

Tartakovsky's Cage debuts the week after the Luke Cage Netflix series, which drops all of its episodes on September 30. Fans of the character looking for a different (though still heavily stylized) approach should check out the ongoing Power Man and Iron Fist series by David Walker and Sanford Greene.

Cage #1 goes on sale October 5, and features variant covers by Trevor Von Eeden, Joe Quesada, Marc D'Alfonso, and Damion Scott. Check out the preview below:

Here's the official word from Marvel:

The wait is finally over! Award-winning animator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Hotel Transylvania) charges headlong into Marvel NOW! to bring his long-awaited Luke Cage tale to life! Written by Tartakovsky with art by Tartakovsky & inker Stephen DeStefano, Marvel is pleased present a new look at the hard-hitting, action-packed CAGE! #1 – coming to comic shops and digital devices this October!

Welcome to the mean streets of New York City – shoes are big, bottoms are belled and crime is rampant! But in the heart of the city, the world’s hardest-working, smack-talking, chain-wearing, tiara-sporting super hero is hitting the streets hard and hitting the bad guys harder. This Hero for Hire is on the case, and his rates are reasonable! He’s Luke Cage, and he’ll save your ass. Dig it!

At long last, the eagerly anticipated series returns! Be there when CAGE! #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices on October 5^th!