Shades made his debut in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 in June 1972. He was co-created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist George Tuska. His introduction was part of the foundational story arc that established Luke Cage's character, history, and mission. Created during the height of the blaxploitation film genre's popularity, Shades and his partner Comanche were conceived as quintessential street-level hoodlums, providing a tangible link to the gritty, urban environment that defined the early Luke Cage comics. Their initial purpose was to serve as living reminders of Carl Lucas's past, representing the life he left behind after gaining his powers and becoming Luke Cage. For decades, Shades remained a relatively minor, recurring villain, almost always appearing alongside Comanche. It wasn't until the 2016 series Power Man and Iron Fist by writer David Walker that the character received significant development, most notably with the confirmation of a deep, romantic relationship with Comanche, adding layers of tragedy and complexity to their long-standing partnership. The character gained his highest level of mainstream recognition through his adaptation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he was portrayed by actor Theo Rossi in the Netflix series Luke Cage.
A fundamental aspect of understanding Shades is recognizing the significant divergence between his comic book origins and his expanded role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hernan Alvarez grew up in Harlem, where he fell into a life of crime at a young age. He became a prominent member of a street gang known as the Rivals, alongside his closest friend, comanche, and a young man named Carl Lucas. The Rivals were a formidable force in their neighborhood, clashing with other gangs, most notably the Diablos. The trio—Alvarez, Comanche, and Lucas—were inseparable, a tight-knit unit navigating the violent streets together. Their criminal careers eventually led to their arrest and incarceration at the notorious Seagate Prison. It was at Seagate that their paths diverged dramatically. Carl Lucas became a target of a sadistic guard, Albert “Billy Bob” Rackham, and volunteered for a dangerous experimental procedure that he hoped would grant him parole. The experiment was sabotaged by Rackham, but instead of killing Lucas, it granted him superhuman strength and diamond-hard skin. Lucas used his newfound powers to escape Seagate, swim to shore, and reinvent himself as the hero Luke Cage. Shades and Comanche, however, remained imprisoned. They endured the brutal prison environment, their bond deepening under the harsh conditions. They were eventually released and, embittered by their past, immediately returned to a life of crime. Seeking to equip themselves for the new world of super-powered individuals, they obtained specialized equipment from a criminal quartermaster. Shades acquired his signature weapon: a powerful visor capable of firing concussive optic blasts. With this new gear, Shades and Comanche became criminals-for-hire, often working for crime bosses like Ward Meachum and others who had a vendetta against the now-famous Luke Cage and his partner, iron_fist. Their careers were a long series of clashes with their former friend, always ending in their defeat and eventual re-imprisonment.
The MCU presents a far more detailed and nuanced origin for Hernan “Shades” Alvarez, as depicted in the Netflix series Luke Cage. While the core elements of his past—his membership in the Rivals gang with Carl Lucas and Comanche, and his time at Seagate—remain intact, his character is transformed from a simple thug into a calculating and influential figure in organized crime. At Seagate Prison, Shades and Comanche were not just inmates; they were part of the prison's internal power structure, often acting as enforcers for the corrupt guards, including Albert Rackham. It was here that Shades' manipulative and strategic nature truly blossomed. He witnessed firsthand the illegal fight club run by the guards and the abuse that led to Carl Lucas gaining his powers and escaping. Unlike the comics, where he becomes a direct antagonist to Cage immediately after, the MCU's Shades sees Cage's emergence as a complex variable in the criminal landscape. Upon his release from Seagate, Shades became a high-level operative for the arms dealer Willis Stryker, also known as Diamondback, who was also Luke Cage's half-brother. Acting as Stryker's envoy, Shades was sent to Harlem to manage the business relationship with crime boss Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes. From his very first appearance, Shades is portrayed as an observer—cool, calm, and perpetually hidden behind his dark sunglasses. He is an outsider assessing the weaknesses in Cottonmouth's operation. His true rise to power began after he subtly orchestrated events that led to Cottonmouth's downfall and death. Seeing an opportunity in the ensuing power vacuum, Shades allied himself with Cornell's cousin, Councilwoman mariah_dillard. He became her advisor, strategist, lover, and partner in crime, guiding her transformation from a corrupt politician into the ruthless queenpin of Harlem. His origin in the MCU is not one of a costumed villain, but of a political operator and kingmaker working from the shadows, whose intelligence and ruthlessness are his primary weapons.
The capabilities and characterization of Shades differ more profoundly between the comic and screen versions than almost any other street-level character.
> Comanche is the single most important relationship in Shades' life across both continuities. In the comics, they were an inseparable duo for decades, presented as the ultimate partners-in-crime. The 2016 retcon that established them as lovers retroactively reframed their entire history as a tragic love story between two men trapped in a violent life. Shades' loyalty to Comanche was absolute. In the MCU, their bond is equally deep, forged in the “foxhole” of Seagate Prison. However, their relationship becomes strained by Shades' loyalty to Mariah Dillard. Comanche's jealousy and distrust of Mariah ultimately forces Shades to make a choice, culminating in the tragic moment when Shades kills Comanche to protect Mariah, a decision that haunts him for the rest of the series.
> This relationship does not exist in the comics and is the central pillar of Shades' MCU storyline. Initially, he is her advisor, drawn to her intelligence and political acumen, believing she has the potential that her cousin Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes lacked. Their professional relationship evolves into a passionate romance and a formidable criminal partnership. Shades is the architect of her empire, the “man behind the throne” who handles the violence and strategy so she can maintain a veneer of legitimacy. However, their dynamic sours as Mariah becomes more monstrous, culminating in Shades realizing he has created a monster he can no longer control or love.
> The original and most persistent antagonist in Shades' life. In both versions, they share a past on the streets and in Seagate Prison. In the comics, the conflict is straightforward: Shades is a super-criminal, and Cage is the hero who stops him. Their shared history provides a personal edge to their battles, but it's largely a professional rivalry. In the MCU, the conflict is far more psychological. Shades doesn't necessarily hate Cage; he views him as a powerful, unpredictable obstacle to his business interests. He respects Cage's power but resents his moralizing, seeing him as a hypocrite. He orchestrates several plots against Cage, using his intelligence and resources like the Judas Bullet to challenge a physically superior foe.
> In the comics, Diamondback was another member of the Rivals gang and a key figure in framing Carl Lucas. Shades and Comanche would occasionally work for Stryker after he became the costumed villain Diamondback. In the MCU, their relationship is more defined. Shades works as Stryker's highly competent and trusted lieutenant at the beginning of Luke Cage Season 1. However, Shades' pragmatic nature clashes with Diamondback's unhinged and obsessive vendetta against Cage. Seeing that Stryker's instability is bad for business and a threat to his own survival, Shades ultimately abandons him during his final confrontation with Cage, aligning with the more promising Mariah Dillard.
In his debut storyline in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1-5, Shades and Comanche escape from Seagate Prison, furious that their old friend Carl Lucas has become a famous, super-powered hero. They are hired by a rival of Cage's and equipped with their signature gear. Their first confrontation with Luke Cage establishes the core dynamic of their relationship for decades to come: their street-level cunning and specialized weaponry against Cage's raw power. They manage to be a genuine nuisance for the hero but are ultimately outmatched and defeated, setting the stage for their long history as recurring antagonists.
This modern storyline by David Walker and Sanford Greene was a landmark for the character. Hired as part of a group of villains to take down Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Shades and Comanche find themselves in over their heads. The story's most pivotal moment comes when Comanche is critically injured. A distraught Shades, cradling his fallen partner, confesses his deep love for him, confirming their long-implied romantic relationship. This moment re-contextualized their entire publication history, transforming them from simple criminal partners into a tragic gay couple, and was widely praised for its nuanced and heartfelt portrayal.
Shades is a central figure throughout the first season. He begins as Diamondback's calm and observant emissary, assessing the weaknesses in Cottonmouth's organization. After facilitating Cottonmouth's death at the hands of Mariah, he pivots to become her advisor. He provides her with the strategy and muscle to consolidate power, clashing with Luke Cage and surviving the chaotic rampage of Diamondback. His key action is the final betrayal of his former boss, shooting a police officer to ensure Stryker would be captured, not killed, thereby clearing his own path to power alongside Mariah. The season charts his rise from subordinate to kingmaker.
Season 2 details the peak and subsequent collapse of Shades' power and his relationship with Mariah. As her partner, he helps her go “legitimate” while ruthlessly eliminating rivals, including the new threat, Bushmaster. The season's critical turning point is his murder of Comanche, who he correctly believed was an NYPD informant. This act breaks something inside him. He is then horrified as he watches Mariah orchestrate the massacre of a restaurant full of innocent people, realizing she has crossed a line he cannot. His love turns to disgust, and in a final act of conscience, he confesses everything to the police, providing the testimony that leads to Mariah's arrest. His arc concludes with him being arrested, having brought down the empire he helped build.