Domingo Colon is a major antagonist in Season 1 of the television series Luke Cage, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is the leader of a criminal organization operating in Spanish Harlem and works closely with other key figures of Harlem's criminal underworld, such as Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes and, to a lesser extent, Mariah Dillard.
Colon's activities are mainly focused on arms and drug trafficking. His path crosses with Luke Cage when the hero begins interfering with Cottonmouth's operations. Colon represents a more traditional model of organized crime, which is destabilized by the emergence of the superhero and the violent power grab led by Willis "Diamondback" Stryker. He eventually dies during a confrontation with Diamondback, becoming one of the victims of escalating violence in Harlem.
He was portrayed by Jacob Vargas.
Biography[]
Beginnings of Collaboration and Arms Dealing[]
Domingo Colon first appears as an established gang leader from Spanish Harlem, doing business with Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes. During a meeting at Harlem's Paradise club, in the presence of Mariah Dillard, he negotiates the purchase of a large shipment of high-tech weapons supplied to Stokes by a mysterious accomplice, who later turns out to be Willis "Diamondback" Stryker. Colon shows business acuity in this situation, asking detailed questions about the deal and the origin of the goods. During the conversation, he also mentions previous "donations" to Mariah, hinting at a corrupt arrangement to provide him with protection.
The deal that was supposed to cement his position and generate profit is violently disrupted. A group of young criminals - Shameek Smith, Wilfredo "Chico" Diaz, Jr. and Dante Chapman - ambush Stokes’s men during a pickup meant for Colon, making off with the money. This incident - combined with the death of Henry "Pop" Hunter and the beginning of Luke Cage’s campaign against Cottonmouth’s empire - throws the existing power structure into disarray and sparks growing tensions between Colon and Stokes.
Confrontation with Luke Cage[]
As Luke Cage steps up his crusade against Cottonmouth, he begins targeting Stokes’s assets and associates. One of them is Colon, whom Cage tracks down at his gym. Demanding the return of weapons tied to a botched deal - arms that indirectly led to the deaths of his friends - Cage confronts him head-on. At first, Colon tries to brush him off, but faced with Cage’s superhuman strength and very real threats (including being tossed into the Hudson river), he gives in and reveals the stash’s location.
In the Shadow of Diamondback[]
After the brutal murder of Cottonmouth by Mariah Dillard, she tries to stabilize the situation and potentially pull back from the criminal world. She reaches out to Colon, asking him to arrange a meeting with the most influential bosses in Harlem to discuss the future of Stokes’s operations. However, the meeting turns out to be a trap set by Diamondback, who arrives unexpectedly.
Diamondback carries out a massacre of the other bosses, accusing them of disloyalty and dealing with the competition. To everyone's surprise, he spares Colon, appointing him as his viceroy responsible for continuing the drug trade and informing the rest of the criminal world about the new order.
Rebellion and Death[]
Sparing Colon’s life proves to be a mistake for Diamondback. Colon’s men, seeing an opportunity to take control of the entire drug trade in Harlem after the elimination of the other bosses, pressure their leader to rise against Diamondback. Succumbing to the pressure and seeing it as his only chance to regain independence, Colon decides to launch an armed assault on Diamondback’s warehouse.
However, the attack ends in complete failure. Colon’s forces are decimated, and he himself is gravely wounded. In his final moments, Luke Cage arrives at the scene of the confrontation. As Colon is dying, he warns Cage about Diamondback’s power, saying, "Even you can’t stop him". Moments after his death, the warehouse explodes due to a bomb planted by Diamondback, with Luke Cage barely escaping with his life.
Personality[]
Domingo Colon is primarily characterized by pragmatism and caution in running his criminal operations. His approach is best illustrated by the saying that he celebrates only after a deal is complete, not at the beginning. He is an experienced player in Harlem’s underworld, the leader of his own organization, who prefers negotiations and business deals over open confrontation - unless he is forced into one.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Leadership (Gang Command): Colon has strong leadership abilities, effectively commanding his gang and maintaining control over his operations in Harlem’s criminal underworld.
- Business Acumen (Negotiations): He possesses a sharp business sense, excelling in negotiations and deal-making to further his interests and avoid unnecessary conflict.
- Firearm Proficiency: Colon is well-versed in the use of firearms.
- Intimidation: He has a knack for intimidation, using fear as a tool to maintain authority and control over those around him.
