7 Uncomfortable Superhero Origins That Sorely Need Updating

6. Iron Fist

When you think of movie actors who use martial arts, who springs to mind? Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, all of those guys, right? How about when you think of comic characters? Shang-Chi aside, it's pretty slim pickings for Asians in the Marvel U and you're left with the likes of Colleen Wing, White Tiger and Danny Rand, The Immortal Iron Fist. Rand's acquisition of the Iron Fist mantle goes a little something like this: his father, Wendell, discovered the mystical city of K'un L'un when he was a young man, and took Danny and his mother with him on an expedition back to the city so he could show them. Unfortunately both of his parents were killed en route and Danny remained in the city to study martial arts under the tutelage of Lei Kung. Danny quickly outshines the rest of the native students and attains the power of the Iron Fist by defeating the dragon Shou-Lao, shortly thereafter returning to New York City to fight crime and be a billionaire. It's not an uncool story, but it stinks of White Messiah Syndrome, with Rand being able to swiftly rise above the native inhabitants of K'un L'un in addition to possessing the wealth and privilege his colour and heritage have afforded him. Many people have questioned whether Marvel's Iron Fist Netflix series should star a white, blond-haired actor as Rand is represented in the comics or make their universe more diverse by changing Rand to an Asian-American character. The petition started by 18 Million Rising has had great support from fans all over.