Danny Rand isn’t Iron Fist right now, but that won’t stop him from participating in the upcoming Luke Cage: Gang War miniseries. According to series writer Rodney Barnes in an interview with CBR, Danny will be among the street heroes who will help shape the future of this corner of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel’s Gang War event will see New York Mayor Luke Cage take matters into his own hands this November with a little help from his old friend. During the three-issue miniseries, the former Heroes for Hire duo will reunite and work together even though Cage will remain the main star of the series.

“I grew up with the two of them together, and I have this weird fixation with my childhood where anytime I get to go back and do something I grew up with, I get more excited than I probably should,” Barnes answered when asked what it’s like to write a series featuring the once-famous Power Man and Iron Fist tandem. “I’ve always said I have to increase my blood pressure medicine whenever I do that. It’s great writing them together.”

Mentioned in the Gang War solicitation released by Marvel, Danny could potentially show up in every issue that would excite his longtime fans. However, it looks like the former wielder of the iron fist has some issues that he has to figure out first.

“Danny isn’t Iron Fist at the moment,” Barnes explains. “He’s going through an adjustment phase like Luke is. He’s trying to figure out who he is and where he fits in the world of crime fighting.”

Without his powers since giving them up in 2021’s Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon miniseries, Danny has appeared briefly in other titles while sometimes showing off his kung-fu skills when necessary. And based on the interview with Barnes, it looks like he’ll mostly be by his best friend’s side during one of his most trying times as a government official.

“Their relationship remains, though,” Barnes said. “They’re still friends regardless of what they do or the title they serve, and they still have a moral compass. When they see things that are wrong in the world, they want to do something about them. That’s the idea of being a hero; you can’t sit on the sidelines. Again, I can’t say what they do, but there’s something that wants to be done.”

Pressed to clarify whether Danny will be a player in the series or not, Barnes didn’t hesitate to confirm Rand’s role.

“Yeah, he’s part of the supporting cast,” he declared.

He’s not Iron Fist at this time (the title and the power are still Lin Lie’s “at the moment”) so Danny Rand will rely more on his training in K’un-Lun to defend the powerless and the helpless. As a master of the martial arts, he’s certainly more than capable of being one of New York’s most lethal protectors.

Luke Cage: Gang War is written by Barnes with art by Ramon Bachs. The first issue will be out in stores on November 29.