“Iron Fist” refers to both a fictional superhero character in Marvel Comics and a term used in martial arts.
Marvel Comics Character:
Iron Fist, whose real name is Daniel Thomas “Danny” Rand, is a fictional character created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane. He first appeared in Marvel Premiere #15 in May 1974. Danny Rand is a billionaire Buddhist monk and martial artist proficient in kung-fu, with the ability to summon and focus his chi through the mystical power of the Iron Fist.
Netflix Television Series:
Based on the Marvel Comics character, Marvel’s Iron Fist is an American television series that premiered on Netflix in March 2017. The show is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and follows Danny Rand’s return to New York City after being presumed dead for years. He seeks to reclaim his family’s company and confronts the criminal underworld with his martial arts skills and the power of the Iron Fist.
Recent Developments:
As of March 2025, Marvel Studios is reportedly exploring the return of characters from the original Netflix series, including Iron Fist, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+. This development follows the successful integration of characters like Daredevil into recent Marvel projects.