James Lucas

"I was rockin' full congregations since before you were born, negro, on my name alone." "Wow. You are still the same egotistical bastard that you have always been." "Well, I'm not bulletproof, but it works for me."

- James Lucas and Luke Cage

Reverend James Lucas is a pastor from Savannah, Georgia, father of former Sheriff Carl Lucas and the illegitimate father of Willis Stryker.

Early Life
James Lucas was born in Savannah, Georgia, the son of who founded Mount Olivet Baptist Church in the city after World War II. Lucas became a pastor of the church.

Fling with Dana Stryker
"The great Reverend Lucas wasn't man enough to give his first son his last name. You see, I was still Willis Stryker. But his real son was Carl Lucas. But here's the crazy thing. Nobody said nothing. And Carl and I, we grew up best friends, but there was all this tension. You could just feel it like a draft coming in from under a door. I just wanted him to see me. I was a good boy. I did well in school. But he always loved Carl more."

- Diamondback James Lucas had an affair with Dana Stryker, his secretary. Yet, the affair became evident when a son, Willis Stryker, was born to both of their shock. However Lucas refused to leave his wife and therefore rejected Stryker, having his own son named Carl Lucas two years later. Lucas' mother was thought to be unable to have children, leading to young Carl being called "The Miracle Baby", something that enraged Willis as the truth about him also being the preacher's son was kept hidden from everybody, including Carl whom Willis became friends with.

Estrangement from his son
After Carl was send to Seagate Penitentiary, Lucas did not visit his son. Carl sent him 50 letters, but Lucas was so angry that he sent them back marked "return to sender."

Reunion
With the emergence of Luke Cage as Harlem's Hero, James Lucas moved to New York City in order to arrange a reunion with his son. He reached out to his son but was rebuffed. While in New York, he continued to preach the word of God. Finally, James met his son on the street and they talked. The reunion was not a pleasant one as Luke was angry at his father for ignoring him during his time in prison, for his mother's death, and not telling him about Willis Stryker.

Family

 * Father †
 * Etta Lucas † - Wife
 * Carl Lucas/Luke Cage - Son
 * Willis Stryker - Illegitimate Son

Allies

 * Dana Stryker † - Former Secretary and Lover
 * Claire Temple
 * Raymond "Piranha" Jones †
 * Misty Knight
 * Tilda Dillard

Enemies

 * Stylers
 * Bushmaster

Trivia

 * In the comics, James Lucas Sr. was a New York City Police Detective who lived in Harlem with his wife Esther and his sons Carl and James Lucas Jr.. After the imprisonment of his son Carl and the death of his wife, he legally changed his name to James Geary.