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With Netflix announcing that their next Marvel original series, Iron Fist, would be hitting the streaming service on March 17, 2017, we imagine many of you have one question: what the f*ck is an Iron Fist? It makes sense; while the character's been featured in numerous Marvel comics since the early 1970s, he's not as high profile as a Daredevil, Captain America, or Iron Man.
Similar to Luke Cage being birthed out of the blaxploitation era, Iron Fist was a response to the kung fu film craze. Although Danny Rand (a.k.a the Iron Fist) has always been a rich, white dude, Iron Fist should still touch on a number of the Asian aspects of the Iron Fist character. Iron Fist has also had a healthy comic book relationship with both Luke Cage and Misty Knight (both of which are characters introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe via Luke Cage), and his introduction to the street-level heroes in the MCU should be intriguing.
As per usual, you don't have to know the source material to follow with a Marvel show on Netflix, but a healthy understanding of where these characters come from and what makes them tick is always a blessing. We have some time before Iron Fist glows up our Netflix, so let's do a quick look at how this rich, white dude became a superhuman kung fu master.
He Lost His Parents When He Was a Child
Danny Rand's orphan story is super tragic. His parents, Wendell Rand and Heather Duncan, took a nine-year-old Daniel and Wendell's business partner Haroald Meachum on a trip to Tibet to search for K'un L'un, a mystical city that housed the power of the Iron Fist. During one trek, the Rand family (who were all tethered together) got into trouble when Daniel slipped on the path, sending himself and his parents dangling off the side of a mountain. Heather and Danny landed on a ledge, but Wendell fell further, asking Harold for help; Harold wanted control of their business, and made Wendell lose his grip, resulting in Wendell's death.
Harold offered his help to Heather and Danny, but Heather shunned Harold because he caused Wendell's death (duh). While fending for themselves, Heather and Danny were attacked by a pack of wolves. While a squad of archers tried to save them, Heather decided to let the wolves consume her instead of her son. The archers ended up taking young Danny in, and leading him on his path of mastering kung fu and gaining mystical powers.
Why this is important: One has to imagine that the Iron Fist we see will delve into his back story, which is tragic as hell. Those issues defintiely have to weigh on Danny's mind as he's trying to navigate life with these gifts that he wouldn't have if his parents didn't both die trying to save him.
He Knows Kung Fu
For ten years, Danny spent his time on K'un L'un becoming a kung fu master. He even used to build up the strength in his fists by thrusting them into buckets of sand, gravel, and rocks. At the age of 19, Danny leveled up enough to get the chance to battle a f*cking dragon by the name of Shou-Lao the Undying who is just chilling defending people from messing with its molten heart (which was ripped from its chest).
After the battle (which involves Danny burning a dragon tattoo into his chest after being thrown onto the scar of Shou-Lao), Danny is victorious, and after thrusting his fists into the molten heart, he emerges with the power of the Iron Fist, becoming the latest of a long-line of Iron Fists.
Why this is important: With the heavy emphasis on kung fu in his life, one should expect Iron Fist to be just as action-packed as Daredevil, but with the added enjoyment of some kind of mystical light added to his feet and hands?
The Iron Fist Gives Him Superhuman Strength
While Iron Fist is already a G based on his supreme kung fu abilities, that combined with the power of the Iron Fist make him a formidable threat. The key is that he's able to focus his chi (aka his natural energy) to help max out the skills he already has. Iron Fist has been known to focus that energy into his fists, giving it a "glow" that not only adds impact to said fist, but makes that fist impervious to pain or injury. He's even been known to heal others using this power.
Why this is important: While most of the Netflix Marvel series involve characters with powers they can't really turn off, this is the first time we're seeing one of these heroes who can seemingly go back and forth. He's not ALWAYS the Iron Fist, but when he turns that on, it's a problem. Also, it'll be interesting to see how Marvel translates that "glow" on screen.
He's Had a Romantic Relationship With Misty Knight
Throughout his history as a Marvel character, the Iron Fist has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Misty Knight, which gave us the first interracial kiss between superheroes back in 1977. Misty played directly into how Iron Fist and Power Man first met, but over the five decades since he's been a character, he and Misty have always been near each other. At one point, Misty's "Knightwing Restorations Ltd." agency would link up with the Heroes for Hire on their journeys.
Why this is important: While it's been confirmed that Misty won't be featured in Iron Fist, she will be appearing in The Defenders, so that's something to keep in mind as the MCU on Netflix continues to develop. Will Marvel eventually mirror their relationship in some way on-screen?
He's Rich
Although Danny Rand's father Wendell Rand was effectively killed by his business partner Harold Meachum (due to his love for Danny's mother Heather), Danny chose to not inflict the ultimate punishment on Meachum, who ended up losing his legs after being trapped in a heavy snow. After Harold's death, Danny and Harold's daughter Joy ended up heading the business, which is known as the Rand Corporation. The comics never got too in-depth on what actually goes down at Rand, but one has to imagine that whatever it does helps fund Danny's lifestyle, and affords him the time to be the Iron Fist.
Interestingly enough, the truck that blinded Matt Murdock in Daredevil said "RAND Oil and Chemicals."
Why this is important: Another constant in the Netflix arm of the MCU is how little money these heroes truly have. Sure, Murdock affords all of these Daredevil suit upgrades, but a constant problem has been how little money his legal practice brings in. Jessica Jones felt like she was living check-to-check, and while Luke didn't complain about funds, he had to jack funds from Cottonmouth just to keep Pop's barber shop up and running. Having a Batman-esque situation, where a masked vigilante has seemingly unlimited funds to keep his public profile up? That's new to these street level heroes, and could be the basis of how The Defenders operates.
Also, could the "RAND" Easter Egg from Daredevil play out in some kind of conflict down the line between Murdock and Danny Rand?
'Iron Fist' Is the Final Piece of 'The Defenders' Puzzle
Interestingly enough, Iron Fist has comic book history with everyone in the upcoming superhero team series The Defenders except for Jessica Jones (although Jeryn Hogarth, who worked as a lawyer for the Heroes for Hire, was turned into a woman and played by Carrie-Anne Moss in Jessica Jones). As of now, the only Defenders who have real history in Marvel's Cinematic Universe are Jessica and Luke, although all three have Rosario Dawson's character Claire Temple in common.
Why this is important: One has to imagine that Iron Fist could hold some teasers or Easter Eggs that could lead into what fans should expect from The Defenders. At the very least, we'll get a solid look at how Iron Fist fits into the Defenders dynamic, especially if he and Luke Cage have the Power Man and Iron Fist bromance moment many are waiting for.