By Tony Guerrero on Mar 15, 2017 06:30 pm
Iron Fist is the latest Marvel character jumping from the comics to the screen. He first appeared in 1974's Marvel Premiere #15 and was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. Iron Fist has only appeared in the animated Ultimate Spider-Man series, in a slightly different incarnation. With a Netflix Originals show debuting on March 17, there are some wondering: Who the heck is Iron Fist? Don't worry. We've got you covered. You can check out a video version of his origin here. Let's begin by making it clear--he does not have an actual iron fist.
Danny Rand was first seen wearing a green outfit with a yellow mask and slippers. As he fought his way in a tournament, he recalled the events that happened 10 years ago. Danny went on an expedition with his parents and his dad's business partner, Harold Meachum. Danny's dad, Wendell, was searching for the city of K'un-Lun.
Crossing an ice bridge, Danny slipped and caused his mom to fall over the edge with him. They fell onto a snowbank below while his father still clung to the bridge.
Wendell asked Harold for help. Unfortunately, Harold stomped on Wendell's hand, causing him to fall to death. Harold wanted the company--along with Danny's mother-- for himself. It turned out Harold was secretly was in love with her. But Heather Rand preferred to die with Danny than live and share a world with Harold. Harold walked off leaving the two to fend for themselves.
They didn't have to worry about freezing to death because a pack of wolves soon came upon them. Running for their lives, they found an old bridge. Heather knew there was only one thing to do. She urged her son to run to the other side while she threw herself to the wolves. As Danny witnessed his mother's death just moments after his father's, he discovered he had reached K'un-Lun.
Wanting revenge, Danny accepted the offer by Yu-Ti to stay and train in the city. It was believed as he strengthened his body, his spirit would harden as well, diminishing the hatred inside.
His final test would be to face Shou-Lao the Undying, a dragon lord. Shou-Lao was a real dragon! As they fought, Danny threw himself towards the dragon's scar where his molten heart had been taken. Danny felt an intense heat, and by defeating Shou-Lao, he was allowed to approach the dragon's heart in a hidden chamber. (He also got a cool tattoo out of it). Danny then plunged his hands into the molten essence over and over until his hands began to shine.
Back in the present, winning the tournament gave Danny the opportunity to choose between eternal life and death. Rather than stay in the mystical city, he chose to leave since K'un-Lun existed in another dimension and the earthly realm was only accessible one day out of every ten years. As he left the city, he was shocked to learn that Wendell Rand was Yu-Ti's brother.
Arriving in New York City, Danny made his way to Meachum Industries. He was ready to face the man who killed his father a decade ago. He was shocked to discover that Meachum was in a wheelchair and was missing his legs. When he turned his back on Danny and his mother years ago, he got lost and passed out after days. He was rescued but woke up to discover his legs had to be amputated.
Meachum had been waiting for Danny to return and longed for death. Refusing to grant him his death wish, Meachum pulled a gun on Danny as he walked away. Suddenly a ninja came out of nowhere and killed Meachum himself.
Unfortunately for Danny, Meachum's daughter Joy came in just then and assumed Danny was the killer. Even though Joy was upset, she also seemed fairly calm about it, just vowing revenge instead of actually, you know, mourning her father's death.
How does the Netflix show compare to the comics? - Danny was in K'un-Lun for 15 years instead of 10. Maybe there was some sort of mystical time inflation.
- As the Iron Fist, he trained his whole life to fight the threat of The Hand. This is different from the comics but is a cool way to tie Danny into the Netflix Marvel Universe.
- Danny and his parents were in a plane crash instead of taking a stroll though the freezing cold mountains.
- Danny knew and grew up with Joy Meachum and her brother Ward. In the comic, Ward was Joy's uncle and Harold's brother.
- Danny eventually becomes best buds with Luke Cage in the comics. We'll have to wait and see when their paths cross.
- Finally, Iron Fist doesn't wear his snazzy costume and mask. Maybe it's because he has such cool hair--why would anyone want to cover that up?
If you want to read more about Iron Fist, pick up the Epic Collection: The Fury of Iron Fist. You'll want to read The Immortal Iron Fist trades as well. Iron Fist also has a new series by Ed Brisson and Mike Perkins hitting the shelves on March 22. The entire first season of Marvel's Iron Fist premieres on Netflix on March 17. You can check out 5 reasons you should watch Iron Fist here.
By Array on Mar 15, 2017 05:04 am
PAX East isn't just about playing the latest triple-A game--it's also an opportunity to check out lesser-known games. We got plenty of hands-on time with several indie games during PAX East and picked out our favorites, so whether you're looking for the next challenging roguelike or a crazy platformer, you're sure to find something you'll want to pick up. Don't miss the rest of our coverage from PAX East 2017, including a gallery of the best PAX East cosplay. For more on indie games, see our roundup of the best indies from GDC 2017.
Dead Cells
Roguelike games can be a blast, but dying and losing all that progress is a bummer. Dead Cells fixes this by mixing the difficulty and death of roguelikes with Metroidvania mechanics. If you die 10 stages in, you can still use certain gear to rush back to the spot where you met your demise. For the speedrunning crowd, teleporters and special doors that lock after a limited time offer even more shortcuts back to your corpse. If the name reminds you of the Souls franchise, you're not wrong: enemies drop "cells" which serve as a currency for purchasing items and buffing your equipment. This all adds up to a gameplay loop that should ease some of the difficulty you'd expect from a roguelike--but it's still awfully hard.
Eitr
Action-RPG Eitr looks grim as hell. Its combat is bloody, its enemies are terrifying, and its unique take on Norse mythology promises to deliver some deep, dark twists. Thankfully, based on our hands-on time, the game does equip you with just enough tools to beat back the darkness. Despite the retro aesthetic, Eitr's gameplay feels unmistakably modern, mixing basic slashing with more sophisticated ranged and special abilities, as well as traversal skills like dashes. This makes for encounters that are both challenging and nuanced. There's also a randomized loot drop system and a uniquely brutal progression system: you can choose between small yet permanent character upgrades or stronger perks that disappear forever upon your next death. And yes, you will die. Probably a lot. If you're a Dark Souls fan looking for something with a slightly different flavor, watch for Eitr to launch on PC and PS4 later this year.
Hand of Fate 2
Much like the original Hand of Fate, Hand of Fate 2 melds a card-based tabletop game with an action game. You'll spend time completing quests, making decisions (do I want to risk my well-being to rescue someone from a fire?), and essentially experiencing a sort of Dungeons & Dragons-style adventure through a tabletop card game format. When it comes time for combat, it isn't done through text or cards, but by transitioning into a third-person action game. Hands of Fate 2 developer Defiant Development has focused on improving combat. While still fairly simplistic, the Batman: Arkham-inspired action comes in short bursts and now features companions who help you to take on the gangs of enemies you'll face. On its own, the combat might not be enough to carry a game, but the interplay between Hand of Fate 2's two halves remains an intriguing concept. Toss in character customization to allow you more fully embody your character and a story that pits you against your protagonist from the first game, and Hand of Fate 2 looks to be taking the steps forward that fans have asked for. It's out later this year for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Hob
Hob--an exploration-driven third-person platformer from Torchlight creators Runic Games--contains no text or dialogue of any kind; instead, its mysterious, melancholic world tells the story. Massive metallic gears and imposing stone structures mingle with lush green fields to create a desolate yet oddly charming atmosphere, which is further enhanced by the gorgeous cel-shaded art style. Though your hooded character carries a key-like sword (and must occasionally battle bosses), most of the gameplay revolves around environmental puzzles and precision platforming: activating hidden switches, dragging platforms into position, leaping across a series of precarious ledges--all part and parcel for Hob. You can also uncover secret rooms and collectibles if you stray from the beaten path, and according to the developers, you will eventually learn the secret behind the game's seemingly abandoned world. Hob is due out later this year on PC and PS4.
Mr. Shifty
At a glance, Mr. Shifty resembles Hotline Miami. That's a fair comparison, since Shifty's goal is to wipe out enemies on each floor of a highrise as he makes his way to the top. They may fall with a few punches, but their shotguns, pistols, and mines are more than enough to take you down--and you can only take a single hit. Luckily, Mr. Shifty's skills match his name, and you can phase through walls and solid objects to make a quick escape. Fill up a combo meter using standard attacks or improvised weapons like two-by-fours and shattered vases, and you'll even get a moment of slow-mo to dodge that incoming bullet.
Perception
How do you spice up the "girl explores creepy house" subgenre of horror games? Simple: you take away one of her senses. Perception's heroine, Cassie, is blind, which means you must navigate the house via echolocation. Cassie can tap her cane periodically to "see" the room around her, and even tap into a "sixth sense" to ping her current objective. But the more noise you make, the more the ghosts in the house grow aware of your presence. They might not be visible to the naked eye, but those spirits can still kill you, so Cassie will have to hide under beds and behind large objects if they start chasing her down.
Pyre
Unlike Supergiant Games' previous projects Bastion and Transistor, Pyre is--for lack of a better term--a sports game. Though framed by an elaborate high-fantasy narrative, the bulk of Pyre's gameplay pits your trio of redemption-seeking exiles against other teams of three in an unusual cross between dodgeball and keep away. At the start of each "ritual" (read: match), an orb spawns in the middle of the playfield. Both teams must attempt to grab the orb and carry it to the opposing team's pyre. You can pass the orb among your teammates and even attempt to throw the orb onto the pyre from a distance, but if an opponent moves close enough to the character currently holding the orb, that character is briefly banished from the playfield and the orb is dropped. Each character possesses unique abilities like dashes and ranged attacks, and as you progress through the story, you'll encounter new characters you can potentially add to your trio. Pyre's approach is certainly unexpected, but it's head-to-head multiplayer could end up being pretty intense. We'll find out for sure later this year.
Refactor
Refactor isn't the only Metroidvania you'll read about on this list, but it is the only one inspired by Tetris. The abilities at your disposal take cues from tetromino shapes. The cube can slam onto switches and bust through walls, and your T-block form can swing around the stage with its grappling hook. Even the plot is Tetris-inspired: your block is trying to escape a factory where defective puzzle pieces are left to die. And in another twist, the layout of the world can completely change. At certain points, you get a chance to jack into the factory map and rearrange where rooms are positioned. If you need to reach an area directly above you, you can grab a vertical room and snap into place adjacent to you. Most Metroidvanias give you new tools as you progress, but not many let you reshape the entire world.
Sprint Vector
Running like Sonic the Hedgehog in virtual reality sounds like a recipe for motion sickness, but there's something enticing about Sprint Vector—and it's not just the leaderboards. The game is entirely played by pumping your arms. You can swing up and down to build speed, fling yourself up ledges to climb walls, and Superman pose to glide forward. Glowing lights make it clear what you can and can't interact with, so you it's easy to focus on the track ahead, and constant commentary from the fictional race announcers encourages you to find the fastest route past your opponent. VR provides an opportunity for some crazy rides, and Sprint Vector lets you control the whole ride yourself.
Sundered
Metroidvania-style games are easy to come by in the indie space, but the developers behind Sundered may have found a twist to the tried-and-true formula to grab your attention. The caverns you explore and enemies you encounter differ from playthrough to playthrough. Important rooms will remain the same, but the areas in between are procedurally generated and enemy placement is randomized. Even though you still unlock new powers and tools in the same order, the way you get to them could change. The game also features a gorgeous art-style and combat reminiscent of Super Smash Bros. and Guacamelee.
Super Rude Bear Resurrection
Super Rude Bear Resurrection is a challenging 2D platformer in the mold of Super Meat Boy, but with a unique twist: each of your deaths effectively makes the level easier to complete. This is primarily due to leaving behind a corpse. Your fallen predecessor can render a spike trap safe to step on, give you a boost when making a difficult jump, or block an arrow from being fired at you, among other things. Conceivably, the entire game can be beaten without the assistance provided by corpses, and narrowly making my way through sections without a death was exhilarating. But much of the fun to be had with Resurrection comes from seeing how stacking up corpses allows you to approach an area differently than you would on your first run through. Combined with interesting boss concepts and a killer soundtrack, this is absolutely one for platforming fans to look out for on PC, PS4, and Xbox One this spring.
By Mat Elfring on Mar 15, 2017 03:01 am
Marvel continues to expand upon its cinematic universe. Aside from movies, they'll be releasing plenty of new televisions series on Netflix, ABC, and more. We're taking a look at everything Marvel has in the works, and make sure to check out our list of upcoming X-Men cinematic universe movies and TV shows as well.
Iron Fist Television Show -- March 17, 2017
The first Marvel/Netflix series to drop in 2017 is Iron Fist. It's the story of a hero who is not only proficient in martial arts but also has superhuman abilities. Early reviews of the show haven't been very positive. Star of Iron Fist, Finn Jones, responded to critics stating the show was made for comic book fans. In addition, we got an early look at the show, and you can check out five reasons to watch the series here.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 -- May 5, 2017
The most anticipated Marvel film of 2017 is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The sequel follows the team from the original film, plus a few new additions, including Kurt Russell as Star-Lord's father. You can check out the latest trailer here.
Spider-Man: Homecoming -- July 7, 2017
The new Spider-Man film featuring everyone's favorite web-slinger will be the second time the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the first being Civil War. Sony and Marvel are working together, and from the looks of the trailer, Homecoming looks like it will be a lot of fun. Plus. Michael Keaton is playing the villain.
Inhumans Television Show -- September 26, 2017
ABC is bringing the Inhumans to its network late this fall. Originally, it was supposed to be a film for 2018, but Marvel changed things up. However, you can catch the first episode in theaters before it airs on ABC on September 26, allowing you to more fully appreciate that it was shot with IMAX cameras. The show started production at the beginning of March, and we've already learned Anson Mount will play Black Bolt and Serinda Swan will play Medusa.
Thor: Ragnarok -- November 3, 2017
The third Thor film is coming this fall. This one will involve Hulk in some really cool gladiator-inspired armor, as well as newcomer to the Marvel cinematic universe, Doctor Strange. A few images have been released, including the Entertainment Weekly cover featuring a short-haired Thor and a new image of Cate Blanchette as Hela.
Agents of SHIELD -- Questionable Renewal
We're in the middle of the March break for Season 4 of Agents of SHIELD, and it is not apparent--yet--that it will be renewed for Season 5. Currently, ABC has not revealed any information, and with the Inhumans coming to the network, the chances of the show getting cancelled may be higher.
Defenders -- Summer 2017
Coming this summer to Netflix is the miniseries that all of the Marvel/Netflix ventures have been building towards: The Defenders. The superhero team show features Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. There isn't a lot known about the show, aside from Sigourney Weaver playing the main villain.
Punisher Netflix Series -- 2017
Punisher was such a hit during Season 2 of Daredevil that he's getting his own series. Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Frank Castle, and while there is no release date set yet, production is underway, so it seems like Punisher may come to Netflix in late 2017.
Black Panther -- February 16, 2018
Originally slated to come out in November 2017, Black Panther was pushed back to February after Sony and Marvel started working together on Spider-Man. However, the movie looks stacked, with Ryan Coogler (Creed) signed on to direct. In addition, Angela Bassett will be playing the titular character's mother. Most recently, Marvel released the official synopsis for the film, which takes place in Black Panther's home country, Wakanda.
Avengers: Infinity War -- May 4, 2018
At one point, the next installment in the Avengers series was going to be a two-part film. As of late last year, Marvel announced that there will only be one film for Infinity War. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige revealed that the main character will be Thanos, who is played by Josh Brolin. Both Spider-Man and Doctor Strange will be a part of the movie, and most recently, we got a first look at Infinity War.
Ant-Man and the Wasp -- July 6, 2018
There isn't a lot known about the Ant-Man sequel slated for next year. In 2016, director Peyton Reed stated that Scott Lang will be a bigger fugitive in this newest adventure. The last time we saw Ant-Man was at the end of Captain America: Civil War, as a prisoner, with some of the other Avengers. We're guessing he finds a way to break out and is on the run for the entirety of the film.
Runaways Hulu Series -- 2018
Marvel announced that the Runaways series finally has a home on Hulu. In addition, the cast for the pilot episode was revealed. In the comics, the series follows a group of teenagers who are the children of super-villains. The kids come together to get away from their families. The release date hasn't been revealed yet, but we're thinking the pilot will debut in late 2017 or early 2018.
Daredevil Season 3 on Netflix -- 2018
Last year, it was revealed that the Netflix series Daredevil will get a third season. As of now, there is no other confirmed information. However, around San Diego Comic Con in July, there should be some news about the next season.
Luke Cage Season 2 on Netflix -- 2018
As with both Season 3 of Daredevil, Season 2 of Luke Cage was revealed at a comic convention, but there wasn't much more information about the series. More than likely, we'll see the return of Cage in 2018. More news about the show should be revealed at this year's San Diego Comic Con.
Cloak & Dagger Freeform Series -- 2018
Marvel is continues to expand its cinematic universe onto the small screen. It was revealed that Freeform, formerly ABC Family, is putting together a series based on the characters Cloak & Dagger. Because the network primarily gears its shows towards teenagers, you can expect Cloak & Dagger to have more of a young-adult feel. While there is not a release date set yet for the show, we will probably see it debut sometime in 2018.
Jessica Jones Season 2 on Netflix -- 2018
Much like Season 3 of Daredevil and Season 2 of Luke Cage, there has not been a lot of information about the newest season of Jessica Jones. Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg did talk a little bit about the season saying the titular character will be dealing with her trauma from the first season as Jones tries to move forward.
Captain Marvel -- March 8, 2019
Captain Marvel will make her first appearance in Avengers: Infinity War. While the movie is still two years away, Brie Larson was announced as the lead for the film. Originally, the film was slated to come out in 2018, but with Sony and Marvel working together, Captain Marvel was moved to early 2019.
Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 -- July 5, 2019
Spider-Man: Homecoming hasn't even come out, but Marvel has announced a sequel to the film for 2019. Star Tom Holland also revealed in an interview that they have the villain picked out for the film, but he didn't specify who.
Avengers 4 -- May 3, 2019
Originally, the fourth installment in the Avengers franchise was going to be Part 2 of Infinity War, but as it turns out, Infinity War will be a stand alone movie. As of now, there is no information about this movie, aside from its release date.
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