- "We were walking in Mount Morris Park. The shot came out of nowhere."
"Sniper. Medium range."
"I went with him in the ambulance, but then the shooter attacked. We barely got out." - ―Claire Temple and Luke Cage[src]
The Attack on Luke Cage were two consecutive attempts by Diamondback to assassinate Luke Cage.
Background[]
- "Diamondback didn't want you to do that. He's got plans for him."
- ―Shades to Cottonmouth[src]
Willis Stryker, is the half-brother of Luke Cage, then Carl Lucas. Stryker was born out of an affair between Dana Stryker and James Lucas. Ashamed, James wanted to keep Willis hidden. One night, Willis and Carl stole a corvette and getting arrested. James pushed for his son to be able to be sent to a marine corps academy, but didn't do the same for Willis, who went to juvenile detention. Willis then got attacked by an inmate and killed him in self-defense, which sent him to prison. He then grew to hate the Lucas family.[4]
Willis Stryker, now Diamondback, obtained access to Hammer Industries weapons. He made deals with the Stokes Crime Family to sell these weapons, making them both rich. he also sent Hernán Álvarez, known as Shades, to consult with Cornell Stokes, AKA Cottonmouth.[5] The weapons kept being raided by Luke Cage, who decided he had enough. However, Cage had no idea Stryker was behind it or that he was his half-brother.[6] Shades showed Cottonmouth a bullet that could penetrate Cage's unbreakable skin, but worried that Cottonmouth wasn't ready for it because of his mistakes with Cage's raiding. Stryker then took it upon himself to take care of it.[7]
Attack[]
- "You're not okay. The bullet penetrated through your skin. I didn't even think that could happen."
"That makes two of us." - ―Claire Temple and Luke Cage[src]
Claire Temple and Luke Cage were walking in the park talking about Cage's past. Diamondback set up a sniper a ways away and shot a Judas Bullet at Cage. The bullet easily penetrated his skin and he fell to the ground much to the shock of Temple.[7] Temple told Cage to breathe as he got carted off in an ambulance. Stryker saw the ambulance leave, reloaded his weapon, and trailed the ambulance. Cage writhed in pain in the ambulance and reminded Temple that he was not going to go to a hospital. Diamondback then shot at the ambulance causing it to tip over. Diamondback chanted an old phrase from their high school and called him "Carl". He then told him to keep running.[2]
Aftermath[]
- "And today's top news, the shootout that occurred in Harlem last night. After an ambulance was forced off the street, it appears a chase led to a women's clinic where gunfire was exchanged. The fight continued to this historic theatre where severe damage was wrought. Witnesses described two men at the center of this fight. Although police still have not detained any suspects, this man, Luke Cage, is wanted for questioning in connection with the recent murder of noted nightlife mogul Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes."
- ―Megan McLaren[src]
Claire Temple brought Luke Cage to a place to help him. While putting the scalpel in to get the bullet, she noticed that his soft tissue was also hard like his skin and it formed around the bullet. Cage tried to get the bullet, but the scalpel broke due to the skin. She also used an ultrasound to figure out that the bullet exploded in his skin. Misty Knight later arrived to arrest Cage for the murder of Cottonmouth. Diamondback found Cage and they engaged in a fight, until Diamondback kidnapped Knight and took her outside. He then put the gun to her head and hit her, knocking her out.[2]