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Marvel’s new Iron Fist series from writer Alyssa Wong and artist Michael YG debuts in February, featuring a new bearer of the mantle.
Danny Rand spent years mastering kung fu in the mystical city of K’un-Lun, completing his training when he fought the dragon Shou-Lao the Undying. He ripped out the dragon’s heart with his bare hands, becoming K’un-Lun’s champion, the Iron Fist. Now able to channel his chi to perform martial arts moves with superhuman strength, Danny used his powers to become a superhero.
However, he was not the first Iron Fist, nor is he the last. He recently gave up his powers in the miniseries Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon (by Lara Hama, David Wachter, Neeraj Menon and Travis Lanham). Now, Marvel has announced that there will be an all-new Iron Fist, but the company has kept the identity of the new bearer of the mantle under wraps.
For years, the title of Iron Fist was almost exclusively used by Danny Rand. It was eventually revealed that K’un-Lun had produced many previous Iron Fists before him, a tradition that stretched back as far as the Stone Age. As fans await the upcoming Iron Fist series by writer Alyssa Wong and artist Michael YG, it is worth pondering which existing characters could be the next bearer of the immortal fist.
Pei, the Protege of Iron Fist
Pei is a young girl who was raised on K’un-Lun and became Danny Rand’s protege in recent years. At the end of Heart of the Dragon, she was given the powers of the Iron Fist, as well as an egg containing a dragon who would replace Shou-Lao upon hatching. Because of her age she is something of a long shot, but she has also been training in kung fu her whole life, and would fit well into the role.
Admittedly, she does not look much like the new Iron Fist image pictured in promotional material, but given the many illusion spells, shapeshifting abilities, and other powers at work in comics, it is still possible that Pei could be the next Iron Fist.
Dog Brother #1, The Champion of Undercity
K’un-Lun is one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven, each of which has its own champion. Dog Brother #1 is the champion of another such city, called the Undercity, a place that gives shelter to those who have become lost or forsaken by the world.
While he is a relatively obscure character, Dog Brother #1 has appeared in a number of different Iron Fist comics since his debut, including the recent Heart of the Dragon series, where he worked alongside Danny Rand and other champions to save the world. He is skilled in chi manipulation and has been directly connected with the recent events that led to Danny relinquishing his power, so it is easy to see how he could Rand’s successor. That said, given his additional responsibilities to Undercity, this would likely force him to choose between his loyalties to his city and K’un-Lun.
The Avenger and MCU Star Shang-Chi
Having just starred in his very own movie, Shang-Chi’s popularity is at an all-time high right now. He is easily one of the most skilled martial artists in the Marvel Universe, as he has proven time and again. Even superpowered heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man consider him a peer whose skills they default to in close-quarters combat. He has also known Danny Rand for years.
Shang-Chi is not merely a kung fu master. He is the master of kung fu, perfectly balancing the physical, spiritual, and philosophical aspects of the discipline. It is difficult to imagine a better-suited candidate for wielding the power of the Iron Fist.
The New Superhero Sword Master
Lin Lei became the Sword Master after his father, who was an archaeologist, returned home from China’s Valley of the Tombs, bringing back an ancient magical sword. He is a natural fighter who quickly learned to wield the blade, carving a swathe through hordes of demons and even facing off against gods. He also received martial arts training from Shang-Chi.
Unlike the others on this list, Lin does not have quite the same level of training. But that is what makes the possibility of him becoming Iron Fist so interesting. Since he is a relatively new character and still has much to learn, he would struggle to adapt to the responsibilities, making him a more relatable everyday man. At the same time, there are advantages to him not having been steeped in a lifetime of martial arts training, as he brings a fresh perspective that others lack.
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