Honor. Dedication. And above all, purity of heart. Raised in the otherworldly kingdom of K'un-Lun as an unparalleled martial artist, Earth-born Danny Rand mastered the ability to focus his spiritual energy into an impervious fist of iron. Now, as the costumed adventurer called Iron Fist, he fights with the fury of his ancestors and a hope for a better tomorrow!

Real name: Daniel Thomas Rand-Kai
Occupation: Adventurer, hero for hire
Group affiliation: Heroes for Hire Inc.
Base of operations: New York City
First appearance: Marvel Premiere #15 (1974)

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Blond

Powers: Iron Fist can summon his "chi" -- a natural, spiritual energy -- to elevate his martial-arts mastery to peak-human levels. He most often channels this force through his hand, temporarily rendering the chosen extremity impervious to pain and injury. Rand also can use this ability to cure illnesses and injuries in himself and others.

Weapons: None

History: Wendell Rand, eldest son of the ruler of the other-dimensional city called K'un-Lun, was driven from his home and family by his twisted brother, who intended to rule the kingdom in his stead. Wendell found refuge on Earth, where he embarked on a successful career as a businessman. He married a woman named Heather, and they had a son: Daniel. But Wendell wished to return to the world of his birth. With his family and business partner Harold Meachum, he searched the Tibetan mountains for the mystical doorway to K'un-Lun.

Meachum did not accompany his friend on the treacherous journey for altruistic reasons. Intending to assume control of their partnership, he caused Wendell to plunge to his death. Meachum fled, leaving mother and child to wander the icy mountains alone and unprotected. The elements were not their only enemy: When wolves attacked Heather and Daniel, she sacrificed her life to save him.

Only Daniel would live to complete the journey his family had undertaken. Discovered by inhabitants of K'un-Lun and brought to the city, he was recognized to be of royal blood. In K'un-Lun, Daniel trained rigorously in the martial arts. On his 19th birthday, he earned the opportunity to possess the power of the Iron Fist. By slaying the dragon Shou-Lao the Undying, then thrusting his arms into a mystical brazier, Daniel acquired the ability to recast his hand as a weapon unto like iron.

Iron Fist returned to America with a desire for revenge in his heart, but Meachum had become an invalid since causing the elder Rand's death. Daniel took pity on the poor wretch, setting aside his lust for vengeance. But moments later, a ninja assassinated Meachum. Blamed for the killing, Iron Fist exposed the true slayer and cleared his name. As Daniel Rand, he clamed his inheritance as a full partner in Rand-Meachum Inc., becoming a millionaire. In the guise of Iron Fist, he continued to target evildoers. Ultimately, he partnered with tough-as-nails brawler Luke Cage, alias Power Man, to form Heroes for Hire Inc., a clearinghouse for freelance superhuman operatives.

For years, Power Man and Iron Fist were in high demand as special bodyguards and private investigators. Following the seeming deaths of most of Earth's heroes at the hands of the sentient psionic menace known as Onslaught, the duo decided to expand the membership of Heroes for Hire. The agency merged with Oracle Inc. -- the corporation owned by Prince Namor, the Atlantean Sub-Mariner -- to protect the world from danger...for a price. The World War II-era Human Torch, Jim Hammond, lined up the jobs; Iron Fist acted as field commander. The team rarely collected its fee, however, and eventually disbanded when Namor saw fit to diffuse Oracle Inc.

Hoping to share the wisdom of his other-dimensional homeworld with humanity, Iron Fist initiated a summoning spell to call K'un-Lun to Earth. Tied to his heartbeat, the kingdom eventually would materialize -- merging with whatever city he occupied at the time. But Junzo Muto, teenage leader of the secret cult of martial artists called the Hand, forcibly seized the power of the Iron Fist prior to K'un-Lun's arrival. He then drew the hero to Japan so the kingdom would materialize in the midst of modern-day Tokyo. Aided by the feral X-Man known as Wolverine and a number of the planet's mightiest heroes, Iron Fist put down Junzo's plan and halted the amalgamation of the two cities. However, he was unable to reclaim the power of the Iron Fist.