Key Collector Comics
Shades
View Key Issues

Creation & Design

Shades was created during the early 1970s, a time when Marvel was expanding its universe to include more street-level heroes and villains. His design reflects the gritty urban environment of New York City.

Early Years

Initially introduced as a villain in the Luke Cage series, Shades quickly became a recurring character in various Marvel titles, often crossing paths with other heroes and anti-heroes.

Character Development

Over the years, Shades has evolved from a simple villain to a more complex character, often portrayed with a moral ambiguity that allows him to operate in the gray areas of heroism and villainy.

Cultural Reception

Shades has received a mixed reception, often praised for his depth and complexity, but criticized for being a stereotypical villain in some portrayals.

Character Details

Real Name:
Carlton Drake
First Appearance:
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
Aliases:
Shades, The Shade
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
The Crew, The Defenders
Abilities:
Expert marksman, Enhanced reflexes, Stealth
Equipment:
Energy-based weaponry, Body armor
Weight:
180lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
brown
Hair Color:
black

Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.

Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
Marvel ⋅ 1972
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Luke Cage, the first black superhero to headline a title in mainstream comics

Luke Cage became invincible to harm through a Super Soldier program called Project Power aka Weapon VI

1st appearance of Diamondback, Comanche and Shades

Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!

By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.

Adjust the "Variants" and/or "Non-Key Issues" search filters above for additional content:

  • Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
  • Non-Key Issues ([[totalNonKeys]])

At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!