Marvel.com announced on Friday that there will be a new Iron Fist and it coincides with a brand new Iron Fist #1 slated for release on Feb. 16, 2022. No one but those behind Marvel knows the identity of the mysterious hero who appears to have claimed the power of the iron fist. 

I, and a number of folks from the Iron Fist community, expressed our disappointment the past two days that someone else will be taking on the mantle, though Danny Rand was “forced” to retire from being the champion of K’un-Lun in the much-maligned Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon (2021) series by Larry Hama and David Wachter. Though many of us are also open to giving the new guy a chance, Iron Fist fans can be convinced to support this series even more if the new guy will be revealed as Danny Rand’s own flesh and blood.

Writer Alyssa Wong, artist Michael YG, and colorist Jay David Ramos form the core of the creative team of the new series, and they have kept their mouths shut about the identity of the new Iron Fist.

“It’s an incredible honor to introduce a new Iron Fist to the Marvel Universe,” Wong said in the official announcement from Marvel. “I’m excited to delve into the comic’s rich mythos and build on it. What does it mean for someone to take up the mantle of the Iron Fist right now, today? As a newcomer, how does one interact with legacy, and how does one honor it while forging a new path?”

Could that legacy also mean being the son of an Iron Fist?

Who’s the mom?

Many have speculated that the new Iron Fist could be Sword Master, a character created by writer Shuizhu and artist Gunji. Interestingly, Gunji illustrated the first promo image that left Iron Fist fans at a loss for words when it had the caption, “Iron Fist No More,” which saw Danny Rand walking away from an alley with his Iron Fist costume in the dumpster. It’s an homage to Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1963) which had Peter Parker resigning from being the wall-crawler.

Marvel seems intent on listening to the narrative that the Iron Fist should be Asian because they can’t accept a white martial artist who is the champion of a mystical city in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. I’m Asian and I don’t need Danny or the current titleholder of Iron Fist to be Asian as well. Besides, 95 percent of the 67 Iron Fists are Asian, including Pei, who was being groomed to be the next wielder of the power of Shou-Lao prior to Heart of the Dragon.

Since Marvel has decided that Iron Fist has to be Asian, what better way to get fans of the character to get behind the new Living Weapon by making him Danny’s son. Though Danny and Misty Knight have been together for most of their time in the comics, they had parted ways years ago and they have both moved on to other relationships.

One love interest for Danny that previous writers have not yet explored, one that the Netflix series capitalized on, is Colleen Wing. The two have been the best of friends since Danny’s first return from K’un-Lun after becoming the Iron Fist. A backstory that tackles their hidden relationship would be a mystery that would intrigue the most hardcore fans.

I, for one, have been wanting a Danny and Colleen romance since the Search for Colleen Wing storyline that ran from Marvel Premiere (1974) #25 to Iron Fist (1975) #1-7. I always thought that they were going to be lovers after that arc and was surprised to see Danny and Misty’s relationship blossom instead.

On Earth-1610, the home of the former Ultimate Universe, Danny and Colleen are a couple and they have a child.

By making the new guy Danny and Colleen’s kid, he would fit the Asian/Asian American profile that the media have wanted Marvel to adhere to since the Netflix series was announced. It would also make Iron Fist fans happy to know that Danny’s son is taking on his mantle.

Who else could be this new Iron Fist’s mother?

If there was another Asian character who could be the mom of the new Iron Fist, it’s Jade the Firebird from The Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu (1974) #19-24. Though it’s unclear if she’s Asian, she could be retconned to be one. After she left Iron Fist and this world in a haste in issue #24, she has not been heard from since. What if their love bore fruit prior to her disappearance?

That would make their son quite powerful as his mom is the embodiment of all of humanity’s soul. If the boy turns out to be Danny and Jade’s son, he would need his father’s guidance in using that power and harnessing it to become a true warrior.

At the same time, their child could be retconned to be the Sword Master as well.

Of course, I’m leaning more towards Colleen as the mom, but as long as he’s Danny’s progenitor, I’m good with that. At least this is what I am hoping for.

We’ll find out soon enough if my hopes and wishes for the series come true when it’s released in a few months.