Luke Cage had to come correct in 2018.

The previous title holder of the blackest thing Marvel had done when it premiered in 2016, “Luke Cage” streams its second season on Netflix on Friday, following the hype of the black cultural phenomenon that was “Black Panther.”

Once the world discovered Wakanda, the expectations for comic book-inspired black excellence were raised.

But Marvel’s bulletproof black man is up for the challenge. Season 2 of “Luke Cage” is spectacular, full of unforgettable performances, and has not one but two top-notch villains battling each other and Cage for the heart of Harlem. Season 2 starts slowly, but Netflix was wise to release all 13 episodes to the media, as the second half is where the magic happens.

You get the things you expect: hot hip-hop tracks over the action, musical performances at Harlem’s Paradise, swooning women continually asking Cage if he’d like to go out for “coffee.” But Season 2’s strength is its deep look into the tortured souls of every major player.

Mike Colter returns to the role of Luke Cage, ever the charismatic protagonist. He begins to embrace the hero-for-hire mentality of his comic book roots when he realizes invulnerability doesn’t shield him from financial restraints.

Misty Knight (Simone Missick) is looking more like her comic book self as well, equipped with a bionic arm (after losing her limb in “The Defenders”) and trying to figure out if she should fight crime on the right side of the law or embrace her newer super qualities outside of it.

Shades (Theo Rossi) is now a crime boss equal to Black Mariah (Alfre Woodard), and he has a surprising past he is forced to confront.

Season 2 newcomer Mustafa Shakir brings a little Erik Killmonger/angry son of the African diaspora style to his enjoyable role as Bushmaster, a Jamaican-raised man with special powers that allow him to stand toe to toe and go blow for blow with Luke Cage.

There’s also tons of Caribbean pride and reggae-fused flavor.

A heavyweight title match vibe takes over every time Luke Cage and Bushmaster go at it. And when Cage takes a punch (and plenty of kicks) from Bushmaster and is knocked to the ground, all of Harlem feels it.

Equally impressive as those super-powered bouts are moments when Cage tries to talk it out with Bushmaster, allowing Shakir to show he can mix charm with a dominating presence as much as Colter can.

Just as Shakir’s Bushmaster begins to find his bad guy groove, Woodward’s Black Mariah comes in and steals the show.

Never has a Marvel villain done so much without an Infinity Gauntlet.

Woodard’s transformation from reluctantly corrupt politician to queen of Harlem crime is Season 2’s outstanding breakaway performance.

In the war for Harlem, you won’t see the final shot coming. Luke Cage won’t see it coming either, forcing him to make decisions he didn’t think he’d ever ponder.