Spider-Man and Thor aren’t the only heroes representing Marvel in 2017, as Netflix is set to bring the crime-fighting prowess of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist to the small screen with “The Defenders” miniseries.
While the comic book version of the team originally consited of mystical and super-powered characters like Doctor Strange and the Hulk, the latest incarnation of the superhero crew is a bit more down to earth. Sure, the group still features a blind ninja and a bulletproof ex-con, but that’s a bit more believable than a wizard who can stop time or a giant green monster with an attitude problem.
In honor of the show dropping on Netflix this Friday, August 18, we decided to break down the background of each hero on the team to get you ready for “The Defenders.”
Daredevil
By day, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is a hard-working lawyer who helps out the citizens of Hell’s Kitchen. But by night, he transforms into the rooftop-jumping, butt-kicking vigilante known as Daredevil.
Despite being blinded in an accident as a kid, Murdock was able to hone the rest of his senses, as well as his fighting abilities, under the tutelage of Stick, a blind sensei and leader of the Chaste ninja clan. Daredevil’s mentor taught him all the skills he needed to take on the nefarious Hand organization, which is the evil running amok around New York City in Netflix’s interconnected Marvel shows.
After trying to squash the Hand’s plans during the first two seasons of “Daredevil,” the man without fear will need the help of some friends to stop whatever they’re up to in “The Defenders.”
Jessica Jones
The only thing Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) likes more than roughing up some bad guys is kicking back a bottle of whiskey.
The hard-drinking, foul-mouthed private investigator isn’t somebody you’d want to mess with, especially considering the fact that she has powers ranging from super strength to limited flying abilities. Like many superheroes, Jones also has a tragic backstory, having survived a car crash that killed her family, which eventually leads her down a path of guilt and self-doubt.
Due to her rough childhood and the trauma she experienced at the hands of her telepathic nemesis Kilgrave in season one of “Jessica Jones,” don’t expect the heroine to play nice with the rest of the Defenders crew. Although she briefly had a romantic tryst with Luke Cage (Mike Colter), that doesn’t mean she trusts him or the rest of the heroes who want to take out the Hand.
Luke Cage
The hero of Harlem is back in “The Defenders” and he’s ready for a fight.
During season one of “Luke Cage” we learned that the super strong, bulletproof protector gained his powers from a painful military experiment conducted in prison. Despite being a convict on the run, Cage couldn’t help but use his newfound abilities to protect his neighborhood from evildoers once he got out of jail.
After his solo show’s finale saw Cage get sent back to prison following his battle in the streets with the devilish Diamondback, the hero will once again be a free man when “The Defenders” rolls around. Hopefully his antics with Daredevil and the gang won’t lead to another orange jumpsuit.
Iron Fist
A bit like Batman sans the Batcave and utility belt, Danny Rand (Finn Jones) is a world-class martial artist who’s on the hunt for the Hand as the immortal Iron Fist.
As a child, Rand somehow survived a plane crash in the Himalayas that ended up killing his parents, the billionaire owners of Rand Enterprises. Lucikly, he was discovered by a group of mystic monks who taught him how to become a living weapon with a glowing fist.
Iron Fist’s job is to seek out and destroy the Hand, but he sort of messes all that up in season one of his solo series. The kung fu master will need a lot of help from the rest of the Defenders when they finally go head-to-head with the evil organization.
“The Defenders” debuts Aug. 18.
