On March 17, 2017, the new Marvel Netflix series Iron Fist -- the last part of the puzzle that eventually assembles into… no, the Defenders -- will debut. The Netflix shows have been following a similar pattern to that of their earliest MCU contemporaries: Introduce a number of strong solo heroes, then bring them together for a massive threat in a team adventure.

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The Basics

Iron Fist, AKA Danny Rand

Powers and Abilities

The Heroes for Hire

Origin and Background

Marvel Premiere #15 -- Iron Fist is born.

The Defenders and Beyond

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We’re all waiting to see how The Defenders plays out, but for now it’s time to meet the final member of the team to be introduced after Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), and Luke Cage (Mike Colter). Finn Jones -- known to Doctor Who fans as Jo Grant’s grandson from two episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures, and to Game of Thrones fans as Loras Tyrell -- will be playing Danny Rand, AKA Iron Fist, so let’s find out more about the comics version of the Man with the Glowing Hand!Iron Fist is your typical “white guy that learns martial arts and mystical skills, co-opting Asian cultural attributes along the way” premise that litters pop culture, specifically the type that originated during the boom in such characters in the 1970s. A warrior with a combination of physical, mental, and magical abilities, Iron Fist has had a checkered career; he’s fought solo and alongside Luke Cage, died, gotten better, posed as Daredevil, joined the New Avengers, and reunited with Cage. You can’t keep a good team down.There’s this dragon named Shou-Lao the Undying, see, and all you need to is put your fists inside a brazier that holds his burning hot heart and you can assume his power! Easy peasy. Danny did that very thing, and together with some seriously intense training in a wide variety of martial arts from around the world, he acquired the ability to focus his “chi” (let’s say “life force”) and amp up all of his natural human attributes to superhuman levels. When he concentrates that power in his hand, it glows and enables him to strike with extraordinary power; he must then wait for that power to recharge for as much as a day before attempting the “Iron Fist” again.Over the years, he’s also demonstrated that he can employ his chi for healing (himself or someone else) and even telepathy. His battle with Shou-Lao also gave him that distinctive dragon-shaped tattoo on his chest.As created by the powerhouse Marvel Comics writer and artist team of Roy Thomas and Gil Kane during a time when pop culture was inundated with characters inspired by Eastern mysticism and martial arts, Iron Fist debuted in Marvel Premiere #15 in May, 1974. He then went on to his own short-lived title before joining Luke Cage in his series, Power Man (before that Hero for Hire), which was retitled Power Man and Iron Fist.But who is this fella with the green tights and yellow mask? Why, the son of a successful New York businessman, of course! Danny Rand’s father Wendell was actually the first Iron Fist (this has a bit of a Phantom vibe), having discovered the mystical city of K’un-L’un in his younger days. Returning there with his wife Heather, son Danny, and partner Harold (keep an eye on that guy), Wendell is murdered by Harold (told you), Heather is murdered by wolves, and the now orphaned Danny is taken in by Lei Kung the Thunderer at K’un-L’un, where he trains to exact his revenge. Ten years later, Danny’s quest for vengeance doesn’t go quite as planned, but he does make some loyal friends and eventually finds himself in a long-term bromance with Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, otherwise known as Power Man.Danny Rand is a character that in the abstract has not aged well, one of many “magical white men” wielding the power of another culture/ethnicity and becoming a hero or even Messiah-like figure. Like Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, he’s also another rich guy donning a costume to fight evil from a place of privilege. But if handled well -- as we hope he is in the new Netflix series -- Danny could rise above the obvious issues and serve as a welcome member of the Defenders, the team that will include fellow Netflix stars Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones (and the Punisher too perhaps?).But where does Danny go from there? While DD has been the only one so far to get a second season of episodes, it seems very likely that all of the Defenders will enjoy that opportunity eventually. The big question is if any of them will turn up in Avengers: Infinity War… or indeed any Marvel feature film ever; the “it’s all connected” mantra tends most often to end at the movie theater doors. Then too there’s the possibility of teaming up Luke and Danny for a Netflix run of Heroes for Hire… when I mentioned that title, didn’t you just get giddy at the very thought of it? Sweet Christmas!What do you hope to see from Iron Fist on Netflix? Discuss in the comments! And for all your Marvel news and info, keep it locked to IGN.

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