Luke Cage (Mike Colter)  Cage was blessed with unbreakable skin and super strength due to a prison experiment that went awry. As the show begins, he is hiding out in Harlem after the events of "Jessica Jones." He tries to keep a low profile, but cannot sit idly by as the community is torn apart by crime. See video: Netflix’s New ‘Luke Cage’ Trailer Shows Harlem’s Hero Running the Streets

Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes (Mahershala Ali) The show's main villain, Cornell (don't call him Cottonmouth) runs most of the rackets in Harlem out of his nightclub, Harlem's Paradise. But his operation starts to unravel when a gun deal goes south and Luke Cage starts to investigate him.

Det. Misty Knight (Simone Missick) Knight is a no-nonsense cop who grew up in the streets of Harlem. She starts investigating when reports of a man with super strength begin surfacing, putting her on a collision course with Cage. See video: ‘Luke Cage’ Star Mahershala Ali on Getting Beyond Black Superheroes – and Villains

Mariah "Black Mariah" Stokes (Alfre Woodard) Mariah is the cousin of Cornell and a city council member representing Harlem. She uses money that Cornell provides her to fund her various charitable initiatives throughout the community.

Pop (Frankie Faison)  Pop runs a Harlem barber shop where Cage works off the books. The two are close friends, with Pop encouraging Cage to use his abilities for good instead of hiding out. Also Read: ‘Luke Cage’ Star Mike Colter on Playing Black Superhero: ‘We Did Not Have an Agenda’

Shades Alvarez (Theo Rossi)  Shades is a "criminal consultant" in the employ of the mysterious arch-criminal Diamondback. He is sent to help Cottonmouth when his control over Harlem starts to wain.

Det. Rafael Scarfe (Frank Whaley)  Scarfe is a veteran cop with a strange sense of humor. He is Knight's longtime partner who schooled her in the ways of good detective work.

Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson)  Fans of the Marvel/Netflix universe will remember Temple as the nurse who assisted both Daredevil and Jessica Jones. She takes up the same role here, this time offering help and guidance to Cage.

Willis "Diamondback" Stryker (Erik LaRay Harvey)  Little has been revealed about Diamondback thus far, other than he is a highly-feared criminal who provides support to Cottonmouth when needed. In the comics, he is an old friend of Cage's who is a master of knives.