In less than a month , martial humanistic discipline superhero Danny Rand is heading to Netflix for his own TV show — and he ’s being heralded as “ the 4th Defender ” as much as he is by his literal Heron name , the immortal Iron Fist . He ’s had a long history in Marvel Comics , both on his own and as a partner in crime - fighting . So here ’s what you need to know about Iron Fist before his show premiere on March 17 .
He’s a Product of the ‘70s Martial Arts Movie Boom
By the mid-‘70s , the Wuxia way of warlike arts movie — movies that featured fantastical elements and military action base around play rather than unmediated hand - to - hand combat — was facing a backlash at the hands of a more grounded , realistic approach to warriorlike humanistic discipline . The kung fu moving-picture show was riding a sea of popularity once more as films like clenched fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon dazzled American interview , and Marvel itself was happy to ride that wafture to help make young comic record book torpedo . Two characters stood out the most from Marvel ’s efforts : Shang - Chi , who debuted in 1973 , and Iron Fist , who first appeared a year later in Marvel Premiere # 15 in a story from Roy Thomas and Gil Kane , inspired by a mix of Thomas ’ first experience watch over a kung fu film and elements from the ‘ 40s Bill Everett superhero comedian , Amazing - Man . Their story , “ Fury of Iron Fist ! ” , realize an adult Danny Rand reflect on how he first came to cultivate in K’un - Lun , a mystical urban center of fabled master of the martial arts and qi - channelling that only physically appear once every 10 years .
The son of millionaire Wendell Rand — who in reality grew up himself in K’un - Lun after being adopted by its rule , Tuan , and had himself rail there in an attempt to harness the magnate of the Iron Fist — Danny first add up across the city after present immense tragedy . In an attempt to repay to K’un Lun , Wendell tell on an expedition the urban center ’s presage location with his married woman , Word , and patronage better half Harold Meachum . After an stroke leave Wendell dangling from a cliff face , Meachum callously let his cooperator fall to his dying in an attempt to claim the entireness of their business together for himself , while Danny and his female parent Heather looked on in horror .
Shortly after , Danny ’s female parent sacrificed her life so the young child could take flight a face pack of wolf chasing the pair — pull up stakes the tike alone by the sentence K’un - Lun appeared , where Danny would go on to be trail , and perfect his desire for vengeance against Meachum under the guardianship of Lei Kung , the Thunderer . After telling his initial origins Thomas and Kane die off Danny Rand to other Godhead as the fibre surged in popularity , and after a 10 - issue stint in Marvel Premiere , Danny got his own self - title comic Holy Writ in 1975 from Chris Claremont and John Byrne .
The Ultimate Team-Up Hero
Just 15 exit after Claremont and Byrne ’s solo Iron Fist serial began , it was already facing cancellation . In an attempt to save the graphic symbol from disappearing altogether , a conclusion was made to geminate Danny up with another superhero that was menace with a interchangeable fortune : Power Man , better known these 24-hour interval as Luke Cage . Danny ’s introduction adventures with Luke begin in 1978 ’s Power Man # 48 , and by the end of their first team - up three issues later , the comic ’s name was formally changed to Power Man and Iron Fist . Danny and Luke ’s partnership as mercenary “ Heroes for Hire ” is oneof the most iconic in wonder account , and their series run until 1986 . It even ended with Danny give-up the ghost .
When he “ got better ” half a decade later in the pages of Namor the Sub - Mariner , it was revealed that the Iron Fist killed in Power Man and Iron Fist had just been a doppelganger , but Danny ’s status as an transient team - up cooperator lived on , following his appearances before his “ death ” in the ‘ 80s in celebrated squad - up books like Marvel Two - in - One or Marvel Team - Up . As well as his own solo miniseries from the ilk of James Felder and Robert Brown , and Dan Jurgens and Jackson Guice , throughout the ‘ 90s Danny flitted in between appearances in Heroes for Hire and crossover series like Iron Fist / Wolverine .
He’s Not the Only Iron Fist
Although it ’s never been explicitly laid out in a tilt , the magnate Danny exert as the Iron Fist is not one that is his alone — it ’s a power earn in K’un - Lun by defeating the mystic dragon Shou - Lao , whose heart ( separated from the Immortal creature ) grants immense power , as well as the deed of conveyance of Iron Fist to those who kill it in battle . Danny did so at the long time of 19 through a mixture of his decade of dedicated training under Lei Kung and some quick intellection : guess that Shou - Lao bring forth its magnate by directly drawing on his heart ’s push through a dragon - mold scrape on its dresser , Danny jump onto Shou - Lao , fundamentally bear - hugging the Draco to death and char its mark onto his own dresser .
The Immortal Iron Fist series refer in the beginning really turn over into the cyclic nature of the Iron Fist in K’un - Lun . It mentions several previous K’un - Lun native who held the title before Danny — and imply that , as Shou - Lao has reincarnated 66 time , that Danny himself is the 66th Iron Fist — and even directly introduced us to Danny ’s direct predecessor , Orson Randall , a much rougher , gun - toting incarnation of the Iron Fist thought long drained by the time Danny was train in K’un - Lun .
We ’ve even met possible future Iron Fists after Danny in the comics . Wah Sing - Rand , a lineal descendant of Danny and the Iron Fist of 3099 , makes a brief appearance in Immortal Iron Fist # 21 , andlast yr , Marvel began teasing an as - yet - officially - unheralded series from Kaare Andrews and Afu Chan call Iron Fists , graphics from which featured Danny crusade alongside a unseasoned girl who wields the same power Danny does .
So What Is an Iron Fist, Exactly?
After plunging his hands into the liquefied energy of Shou - Lao , what did the powers of the Iron Fist actually give Danny ? Well , aside from enhance his already rigorous martial arts training , the primary centering of Iron Fist ’s powers hem in the artistic production of chi use . Danny can channel his internal life-time force-out to give him heightened senses , legerity , military posture , and durability , and even use it to heal his own accidental injury or externally project it to heal someone else ( in some case , the external project can be used offensively , too ) . In extreme condition , Danny can even utilize his ch’i as a psychical power , rent him sense his surroundings or canasta with someone else ’s consciousness .
Mainly , though , it can also be used to punch people really hard . Danny remove the nickname “ The Living Weapon ” for a understanding : by channel all of his qi into a single , glow clenched fist , he can fork over pestilent blows of superhuman power and lustiness that can level almost anything in its way . The nature of the ability — the literal “ Iron Fist”—also think of using it live on without causing any trauma to himself , beyond exhaustion from over - wield his chi manipulation , although that ’s become less of a factor over the years . jolly much all you need to know is that when he want to , Danny can hit you very intemperately . But even when he ’s not using the Iron Fist , he can still rough you up passably bad thanks to his long time of intense training .
ComicsMarvelNetflix
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
