‘Iron Fist’ Out On Netflix: Why Marvel Has Failed Its Lost Superhero

Welcome to the world of Iron Fist, the latest Netflix/Marvel collaboration that hopes to build off its popular previous superhero series and drop in the final piece of the puzzle in that will set up their “urban Avengers” all-star team-up The Defenders some time later this year.

Which is where that iron fist comes in handy-a glowing appendage that can burst through walls and fell an elevator full of assailants when Danny puts his mind to it. Davos just woke up one morning and Danny was gone.

First came Daredevil. Then Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage.

Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson): Anyone keeping up with the Marvel/Netflix series doesn’t need an introduction to this character, but new viewers might.

Duffy shows this throughout her run, which lasted from 1979-1982, in issues #56-84, by painting Danny as bemusedly clueless.

Colleen continues to weigh over the ramifications of participating in that illegal cage fight – especially after one of her students films the match and posts it online. “They are the ones that hold the men up in our show”. Barefoot, dirty, and scraggly, Danny fits in better with the homeless denizens of the park than he does in the upscale home and office building of his youth.

They didn’t share screen time, but Jones and Jessica Henwick (playing Colleen Wing) struck up a strong friendship when they starred in Game Of Thrones. This also means that it gives us very little reason to want to care for Danny’s circumstances. I think subconsciously that is what Danny really admires in Colleen, because he see a strength in her and a nurturing quality that can fulfill those needs. It just makes his choices seem unrealistic throughout, and that makes him a frustrating lead.

IGN said of the premise, “The plight of an heir reclaiming his fortune and empire may be high enough stakes in a soap or a stodgy British costume drama”, but it doesn’t fly in a superhero show.

The show grows only marginally more interesting as it progresses, including a sequence where Danny must engage in a sort-of duel where he’s asked to choose a weapon. But they haven’t. If anything, Iron Fist is a regression, not building off the mild promise of Luke Cage, instead slapping something together that’s as ill-considered-or maybe not considered at all-as we’ve yet seen from Netflix. Their catch-up session is soon interrupted by a group of men in suits at the door; they drag Joy out the door and wield hatchets when Danny follows. Iron fist has been labeled as a copy of a copy of a copy which is more or less true. Danny’s description of the place is cryptic – it’s a capital city of Heaven, he says, and it only appears on Earth once every 15 years. However, Jones was ultimately brought in for the part, leaving sects to accuse Iron Fist of using the “White Savior” trope. I’d let them defend me anytime, though more even than usual, the Netflix all-at-once/more-is-more binge model makes for a very long 13 hours (I was able to see about half in advance). The characters are popular in solo outings, but often are even more satisfying when they combine forces to fight super villains (and sometimes each other). “But right now it’s not and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved”.

Our first look at Danny Rand’s chest branded from battle with the Shou-Lao dragon.

We’ve reached out to Netflix and Twitch for comment.