Wondering where all the Marvel Universe references are hiding in the Iron Fist Netflix series?
We’ve got you covered.
This article contains nothing butIron Fistspoilers.
Well,the reviews might not exactly be the greatestfor MarvelsIron Fist, but your mileage may vary.
So heres how this works…
So something that I refer to vaguely in an early entry may pay off later on.
Im trying not to let people be spoiled when theyre just reading individual episode entries.
I promise were not getting into that slideshow nonsense here.
But his welcome is a far cry from what hed hoped.
Danny Rand/Iron Fist first appeared in 1974sMarvel Premiere#15 by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane.
Early Iron Fist comics were just part of the pop culture mood of the era.
But why split hairs, right?
Of course, Finn Jones is no Bruce Lee, but then again, who is?
Colleen runs the Chikara Dojo.
That last part is a coincidence, of course.
But if you like superhero-themed wrestling,you should check them out.
I dont think theres anything to worry about here in that regard.
I have to confess, they kinda blew it with this.
Stick with me, I promise it pays off!
Hopefully the show plays with that legacy element at some point.
But you already knew thisif you read myJessica JonesEaster Egg Guide, right?
Remember that Crane Mother talk from episode 2?
Well, heres Madame Gao in all her glory for the first time in a long time!
Now as for where this fits in with the comics… ), but so far the show hasnt utilized it particularly well.
The fight referee is officially listed in the credits as The Ringmaster!
As in Stan Lee and Jack Kirbys Circus of Crime Ringmaster.
Not exactly a major Marvel villain here, but this is a neat spin on him.
And its cool to see he has a little of the same flamboyant fashion sense.
That green and yellow motif on the bowl is a nod to Dannys comic book costume.
Only then will I feel like the merging of the Spider-Man/Marvel worlds are truly complete!
Why not introduce him here, right?
OK, fine, ignore me, Marvel.
You mostly know what youre doing.
I cant catch that full address.
Address is 570…570 what?
Does any of this matter?
Im just trying to be thorough.
Hit me up if you know!
Any significance to the Simon mentioned here?
And no, its probably not Simon Brew, our UK editor and founder ofDen of Geek.
Well, it might be.
Who knows, right?
Colleens extracurricular activities go viral, and Ward issues a stern warning.
This show has been pretty dry, but Dannys You see him too?
Thats not what fake news means?
Danny refers to the August Personage in Jade here.
Hes talking about Yu-Ti, the ruler of Kun-Lun.
Orrgo the Unconquerable is especially visible there.
The kinda 8 bit music was a nice touch here.
But I think having literal hatchet men might be a little on the nose, dont you?
Colleens cool white sweatsuit looks more than a little like her comic bookDaughters of the Dragonoutfit.
As a side note, Colleen on the foam roller after her fights is a great image.
Shou-Lao is basically the source of the Iron Fists powers.
Im drawing a blank on whether theres any significance to the Jennifer Manning name.
I dont think thats necessarily anything here, but you never know.
Iron Fist Episode 5: Under Leaf Pluck Lotus
An insidious new drug hits New York.
Danny recruits Colleen for the fight, and Claire discovers that credit cards can have many uses.
You might remember fromDaredevilSeason One that Madame Gao was pushing Steel Serpent branded heroin.
But thats not all.
Danny makes an offhanded reference to my friend Davos from back in Kun-Lun.
Hes also the son of Dannys teacher, Lei-Kung the Thunderer.
Instead, that power went to Danny, and, well…Davos didnt take it well.
I hope they find a more organic use for her as we go forward.
I think the skeevy ambulance chaser lawyer is named Melvin Ortiz.
Similarly, I dont see any connection for Radovan the Chemist or his daughter Sabina here.
Again, Ill update this if Im wrong.
Iron Fist Episode 6: Immortal Emerges From Cave
Danny receives an invitation like no other.
Colleen and Claire face a difficult choice.
A worried Joy confronts her brother.
I have to wonder, all those messages are being delivered on these little purple pillows.
Purple is the color most associated with Davos, the Steel Serpent.
Could this be a thing, or is it a coincidence?
Well, first of all, that song just kills.
Like Iron Fist, shes one of the immortal weapons of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven.
I really hope they play with this angle more as the show goes on.
And no, this final battlestillisnt with Steel Serpent.
I was dead wrong about him being Zhou Cheng.
Sorry I screwed that up the first time, folks.
Danny finally makes mention of Lei Kung the Thunderer, his kung fu master in Kun-Lun.
in this episode, a term she clearly picked up from hanging out with Luke Cage.
I dont have anything on Wayne Olson (Olsen?).
Iron Fist Episode 7: Felling Tree With Roots
Wards Loyalty is tested.
Danny discovers a rogue division, and the mysterious Bakuto visits Colleens dojo unannounced.
While there arent a ton of specific Marvel references in this episode, theres still some stuff worth discussing.
Unless, of course, he isnt actually dead.
Is it me or does Danny hesitate when asked whether he recognizes the Steel Serpent logo?
Im trying to figure out what the actual relationship between Iron Fist and the Hand is supposed to be.
But The Hand was kind of explicitly a ninja-themed/Japanese organization in the comics.
I suspect well have more on this in the next couple of episodes.
Its not exactly a tattoo, Danny tells Colleen.
Danny is far from the first, and he wont be the last, either.
Its interesting that Madame Gao only mentions Daredevil and Luke Cage.
Is that a reference to what a low profile Jessica Jones has kept so far?
Or is there something else were missing here?
Good to see Karen Page is still doing good work for theBulletin.
This will probably pay off inThe Punisher, too.
Harold we need to talk.
See also Joys Whos Frank Stein?
Joy makes a hasty decision, while Ward struggles to accept his sisters admiration.
The good news is those final two fights made up for some of it.
Thats clearly not why hes here this time.
Instead hes the Sworn Defender of The Hand.
I could have done without theA Christmas Storyending to their fight, too.
As a side note, you should totally check out Jackie Chans 1978Drunken Master.
Could Wards wholeMacbeththing with the blood hallucinations be any more on the nose?
Holy moley, this episode is all over the place.
Tom Pelphrey is doing a fine job with what he has been given here.
So Danny definitely recognizes the Steel Serpent symbol from Kun-Lun.
If we get one more clue, Ill reveal it.
Thats just the kind of skeevy PI job she would take to make rent.
Is anybody at all buying the Danny/Colleen chemistry?
It doesnt suck, okay?
That sounds like people complaining about critics giving this show bad reviews.
Iron Fist Episode 9: The Mistress of All Agonies
Madame Gao plays mind games.
Remember earlier when I was amused by the Frank N. Stein thing on Wards phone regarding Harold?
They…ummm…they sure went with a rather direct route for that joke, didnt they?
I no longer have any idea whats going on with Harold Meachum.
I believe that this episode finally gives us our first mention of Colleens grandfather, Kenji Ozawa.
In the comics, hes the one who trained her and gave her that sword, too.
Is it me, or was the music in this episode straight up quoting theStranger Thingstheme?
Well, the guy making those tinfoil throwing stars is…ummmm…well explain in the next episode.
You probably figured it out by now, though.
Meanwhile, Rands management gets another shakeup.
An episode where a bunch of stuff happens, and this starts to feel like a larger world.
Lets dig in, shall we?
First off, remember how I promised to explain Bakuto in a little more detail?
Its time…
Who is Bakuto?
So, Bakuto was created by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston, and Marco Checchetto in 2010sDaredevil#505.
It could be someone else, though, and thats fine.
If Colleen and Dannys romance is indeed doomed (and really, does anybody care if it is?
Its kinda low-key, but I really dug Dannys wall climb/fire escape stunt there.
Did Finn Jones do that himself?
That would be kinda cool.
Who is Davos?
And our mystery character is finally revealed as…Davos!
As Ive already kinda spoiled for you, Davos is the Steel Serpent.
Claire uses her improvisational skills, and Colleen gets conflicting information.
Danny yearns to be more than just a destroyer.
This is the full blown extradimensional mystical city of the comics.
This is also cool.
OK, Im giving you two real world/not Marvel fun facts for the price of one.
Fun fact: Joes is also the place Peter Parker is working at in the opening ofSpider-Man 2.
ANYWAY…
- The thing is, Joes is down in the West Village.
Claire lives all the way the hell up on 147th Street.
Not even Spidey could get that pizza all the way uptown in a reasonable period of time.
And no, I dont work for Joes and this isnt a paid endorsement.
But the cheap slices at that place legit kept me alive in college.
Anyway, maybe the show is referring to a fictional Joes.
Either way, I can forgive the shorthand to get a reference to my favorite pizza joint in here.
Damn it, now Im hungry.
Im not admitting anything.
And frankly, can you blame him?
Im not sure weve ever really seen a hero/villain relationship explored on screen like this before.
Was that Matt Murdocks shirt that Claire gave to Danny?
Iron Fist Episode 12: Bar the Big Boss
Ward received an offer with strings attached.
Davos advocates for an extreme solution, and a deadly duel gets personal.
Lets get to it… Later, he mentions that shed be amazed about what they can stitch back together.
Well, remember the state that Elektra was left in at the end ofDaredevilSeason 2?
It looks like they want Colleens life essence (or whatever) to feed zombie Elektra.
Although, why the split screen effect for only two shots?
If you substitute snow for pouring rain, Id feel a littleKill Billvibe there, perhaps.
Theres a callback to one of Bakutos very few comic book appearances in this, too.
I have to say, Davos continues to make sense.
It just didnt line up.
And in this case, I cant say I blame him.
Davos will be back, though.
You all spotted the Stan Lee poster in the alley, right?
Now that thats out of the way… Theres a little bit more comic book fealty here in its very end, too.
Claire refers to how every one of the Defenders that shes met so far is dark and haunted.
Its funny that of all of them, Danny is by far the least well-adjusted.
Hey, remember when we were told that Simone Missick would pop up as Misty Knight in this show?
I guess now Colleen and Danny have to hike their asses back to NYC in time forThe Defenders.
Hopefully Danny is a little more well-adjusted by then.
