- "Zip. I want you and the fellas to hit the streets. Hit every business from 110 to 155th. If they got a dime, I want at least a nickel."
- ―Cottonmouth to Zip[src]
The Attack on Lenox Avenue Businesses was a plan concocted by Cottonmouth as payback for the Raid of the Crispus Attucks Complex, in order to both obtain cash back and to make Harlem citizens blame Luke Cage for it.
Background[]
- "You lost seven figures, seven times over. All of your cash profits from the corners, stash houses, drops. You still got stocks, the club profits, but..."
"But what?"
"The streets is talkin'. And that dude with the hoodie, if he's still out there..." - ―Darrell Mitchell and Cottonmouth[src]
Planning his move against the Stokes Crime Family, Luke Cage came to the conclusion that the best option would be to cause a serious damage to Cottonmouth's business. Spying on Mariah Dillard, Cage met with Chico Diaz and convince him to tell Cage everything he knew about Cottonmouth's operations, since Diaz was involved in the robbery of the Stokes family. Diaz informed Cage that Cottonmouth is using numerous stashes and safe houses all across Harlem to keep his money safe, with Crispus Attucks Complex being the most fortified and unpenetrable one out of them.
Luke Cage raids the Crispus Attucks Complex
Cage figured out that in case of the danger, Cottonmouth would have no choice but to move all of his finances to one secure location, which would make it an easy target for him. Cage raided multiple stash houses in Harlem, forcing Cottonmouth to relocate the money to the Crispus Attucks Complex, leaving a small army of his subordinates to protect the finances. However, Cage raided the complex, easily taking out all of the thugs guarding it and called the NYPD who seized all of Stokes' money, although Cage did take some of it to keep the Pop's Barber Shop afloat. Cottonmouth was furious that he lost so much money but Rafael Scarfe informed him that Cage was the one behind it, so Cottonmouth attempted to kill Cage, but he did not succeed.[4]
Attack[]
- "You hit the boulevard and squeeze 'em hard. And when they start crying, talking about, 'Why? Why?', you tell them to go talk to Luke Cage down at the barbershop. They're paying a Luke Cage stupidity tax."
- ―Cottonmouth[src]
According to Darrell Mitchell, the raid of the Crispus Attucks Complex costed Cottonmouth $7,000,000, in addition to the word spreading on the streets that the Stokes family is growing weaker. Cottonmouth could not stand still with such disrespect, so he ordered Zip and his gang to raid all the business up and down Lenox Avenue and bring him a cut of any profits they have made. Although Shades noticed that it would not be enough to cover the Crispus Attucks fiasco, Cottonmouth ordered his men to tell people that Luke Cage was the reason why the Stokes Crime Family is hitting Harlem, so the public would bring Cage down for him.
Zip and Sugar rob Aisha Axton
Carrying out Cottonmouth's orders, Zip and his gang attacked and robbed numerous people and businesses all across Lenox Avenue, telling everyone that if they want to know the reason behind that, they should ask Cage. During one of the attacks, Zip and Sugar broke into Aisha Axton's store, and since Axton had no money to pay out, Zip wrecked the store and took Eddie Axton's championship ring that she treasured. Axton begged Zip to stop, since the ring was extremely valuable to her, but Zip only told her that Cage is the sole reason why all of that was happening.[5]
Aftermath[]
Luke Cage confronts the Stokes Crime Family
- "What you got to do with all the shit happening up and down Lenox Avenue?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Zip snatched my daddy's championship ring and hit up twenty other spots all over uptown." - ―Aisha Axton and Luke Cage[src]
Aisha Axton, as well as numerous Harlem citizens, came to the Pop's Barber Shop to tell Luke Cage about the rampage of the Stokes Crime Family, and that he needs to do something about it. Bobby Fish noticed that Cottonmouth's plan was to tarnish Cage's name in the eyes of the public, so Cage went to confront the Stokes family. Cage took out numerous thugs, forcing them to give the stolen money back, however, the situation got complicated, when Axton shot Sugar in retaliation for what happened.
Luke Cage confronts Cottonmouth
Cage then headed to Harlem's Paradise where he confronted Cottonmouth himself, demanding him to leave Harlem alone. Cottonmouth ordered his men to attack Cage, but none of them could do any damage to him, which made Shades realize that Cage was actually Carl Lucas, who was supposed to be that. Cottonmouth warned Cage that him going against the Stokes family would only result in the war, but Cage stated that Cottonmouth cannot do anything to harm him, so he has no choice but to back off. Afterwards, Cage found Zip at the Saint Nick's Playground, taking the championship ring from him and returning it to Axton, before she carried out her plan to kill Cottonmouth on Pop's funeral.[5]