The Iron Fist has burst free from K’un-Lun to invade our televisions through Marvel’s Netflix series. Danny Rand, our magic-enhanced protagonist, is akin to Tony Stark, a billionaire CEO who now seeks to put his resources to good use with the goal of bettering mankind. While Stark wields a technologically advanced super suit, Rand relies on the world of martial arts and mysticism in order to better New York City and fight the evil ninja organization, the Hand. While the Netflix series has received the greatest reviews, the series made sure to pack itself full of villains from the comics for Danny Rand’s debut. And yet, the differences between the television series and the comics are very clear, especially in cases like the “Bride of 9 Spiders.” In the comics, the Bride can literally control and transform into spiders, whereas in the series she’s a poison-wielding fighter with an affinity for their poisons (and decorating herself like Party City at Halloween).

So from the Meachum family to the Steel Serpent to the leaders of the Hand, Iron Fist has his hands full in his new series. Let’s dive in:

Harold Meachum

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Image via Netflix

Name: Harold Meachum

Actor: David Wenham

Creators: Roy Thomas and Gil Kane

Abilities: None (Comics), Immortality (TV)

Bio: In the Netflix series, Danny Rand’s parents were killed in an airplane accident facilitated by the Hand. In the comics however, Harold Meachum was the one directly responsible for their deaths, as the Rand family were something of adventurers, scaling up the side of a mountain. For whatever reason, the parents decided this was a good learning experience for their son to fight his way across mountainous terrain with them, and the quartet ventured onward and upward. Little did the Rands know that Meachum had fallen in love with Heather Rand. So after killing Danny’s father, Wendell, Harold attempted to woo Heather, but she promptly refused and attempted to escape with young Danny in tow. As is often the case with those who wander off on their own into mysterious mountain paths, Heather was eaten by wolves and Danny was found by warrior monks from the hidden city of K’un-Lun where he would be trained to be the Iron Fist.

While Meachum eventually returned to the land of the living, he was subsequently murdered by the “Ninja” after being given full control of the Rand Corporation. In the Netflix series, Harold Meachum lives a life of seclusion, attempting to run the company through his children, with seemingly no love held for Danny’s mother as he did in the comics. Meachum also has a relationship with the Hand, which was not the case in the comics, and attempts to keep his place of power through his children, Joy and Ward, who are currently in charge of Rand Corp.

The Steel Serpent

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Image via Netflix

Name: Davos

Actor: Sacha Dhawan

Creators: Chris Claremont and John Byrne

Abilities: Master of the martial arts, Serpent’s Sting, Can drain energy out of Iron Fist

Bio: Whereas Danny Rand was a visitor to K’un-Lun who trained his way into the mantle of Iron Fist, Davos was a native of the realm that thought himself predestined to become the protector of the hidden city. When faced with fighting the great dragon to gain the power of the Iron Fist, Davos lost and was humiliated. So when Danny was able to beat the dragon and become the Iron Fist, Davos’ jealousy spiraled out of control, seeing Rand as a threat and a roadblock to his greatness. The Steel Serpent followed Rand to New York City and managed to take Danny’s power for himself, becoming the Iron Fist himself for a time, until the power overwhelmed him. At one point, Davos even managed to overtake K’un-Lun to become its new ruler, but was foiled by Iron Fist by maintaining his power.

When Iron Fist became a focus again in Marvel’s modern days (from creators Matt Fraction and David Aja), they brought the Serpent with them to become the primary antagonist once again for Danny. Sporting a costume that was almost like a “bizarro” version of Rand’s, the Steel Serpent teamed up with the villainous organization Hydra in order to cause havoc and attempt to get revenge on the Iron Fist. In the Netflix series, Davos emerges as a true friend to Danny, getting his back and helping him with his fight against the Hand. Time will tell how close to the comics Davos will ultimately become (especially after that final conversation with Joy where he tells her Danny must be eliminated).

Madame Gao

iron-fist-madame-gao
Image via Netflix

Name: Unknown (Gao)

Actor: Wai Ching Ho

Creators: Steven Deknight

Abilities: Immortality, Super strength, Telekinesis, Can Speak Any Language

Bio: Madame Gao has, possibly, not appeared in the comics before her Netflix debut. I say possibly because it could be that she is actually a character that we’ve seen in the comics before. Rumors are swirling about her potentially being the Iron Fist comic villain the Crane Mother, but as of now, we only have her appearances in the Marvel TV universe to go on. Gao leads the Hand, the ninja organization that has meddled in the affairs of our Netflix heroes since day one. Much like Rosario Dawson’s character Claire, Gao has made appearances throughout most of the Netflix series, as something of a looming shadow of the ninja organization. The Hand’s ties in New York City included drug smuggling, influence on the Kingpin of Crime (Wilson Fisk), and an attempt at spreading their influence around the world.

Gao has her strongest ties to Iron Fist, as his background in mysticism comes into play with the organization that she runs. Although, she has also had encounters with Matt Murdock as he was patrolling the streets as Daredevil, and the Hand attempted to peddle drugs through the streets of New York. It was in her first fight with the blind attorney that her powers were put on display, knocking Murdock across the room despite seemingly being a frail senior citizen. Gao’s manipulations and her presence throughout the world of the MCU NYC is surely building up to something big for the Hand in Marvel’s upcoming team series, the Defenders.