The Defenders
The Modern Face of Superheroes?
by Phil Perich for the Capes and Lunatics Blog
This past Friday saw the premiere of the Defenders on Netflix. The Defenders features the team up of solo heroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist fresh from their own Netflix series. As entertaining and original as the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy movies are, I believe that all the Marvel Netflix series are the best examples of what the superhero genre is evolving into.
Daredevil
While Matt Murdock may be the only one of the group with a classic superhero costume and secret identity, he is maybe the most grounded one. With powers that are more sensory rather than physical like the other three, Matt may be the most relatable of this group of “human” characters. And for years in the comics, Matt’s identity as Daredevil was known to the whole world. Would the Netflix series ever go that route? Would they dare…
Jessica Jones
Unlike the classic damsel in distress or many scantily clad female super heroes, Jessica Jones is a strong female character originally created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos who has overcome great tragedies and hardships, most of the hands of Killgrave. With the exception of her super strength, Jessica could be almost any real world women who has lived through some dark times. Jessica is a prime example of the new breed of superhero, no costume, no burning desire to save the world, a tragic figure but still a hero at heart.
Luke Cage
Luke Cage is probably the other hero next to Matt Murdock that has the closest connection to the streets of Hell Kitchen that the Defenders protect. His humble beginnings as the son of a preacher help make Luke the best of the Defenders, although he seems to be the one who has the most difficulty believing in things outside what is known of the “normal” world, such as the mysteries surrounding the evil Hand organization and Iron Fist’s own K’un L’un. Im not sure why resurrection and mysticism are such hard concepts to grasp in a world that has Asgardian gods and Chitauri invasions.
Iron Fist
Danny Rand, while seemingly a normal human billionaire, has the most fantastical origin of the team. Surviving the plane crash that kills his parents, young Danny is taken in by the monks of the mystical city of K’un L’un. He earns the position and power of the Iron Fist after completing the trials, including battle with a dragon. With the ability to focus his chi to make his fist super strong and powerful, Danny has the flashiest power of the team, even though he doesn't wear the superhero outfit he wears in the comics.
The Defenders are here and they are the faces, the symbol of the modern superhero tale. But these stories can get tragicallydark also, as the upcoming Punisher series will show. What do YOU think of the Defenders and all the solo Marvel Netflix series? Let me know and you could hear your thoughts on the next Capes and Lunatics podcast!
nightwingpdp@gmail.com & capesandlunatics@gmail.com
@Nightwingpdp & @CapesLunatics on Twitter
You can hear me discussing all things TV, movie, comics, music, gaming and more every week with my friends on the Capes and Lunatics Podcast. You can find my podcast, blog and those of others at www.southgatemediagroup.com. You can also find all my creative endeavors at www.philperich.wordpress.com.