SNEAK PEEK : Marvel Studios Developing "Iron Fist", "Ms. Marvel", "Black Panther", "The Runaways" and "Luke Cage"

Marvel Studios continue with their screenwriting program to develop various Marvel Comics' characters for live-action film including "Iron Fist", "Ms Marvel", "Black Panther", "The Runaways" and "Luke Cage".

'Iron Fist' aka 'Danny Rand', a practitioner of martial arts was created by writer Roy Thomas and illustrator Gil Kane, debuting in "Marvel Premiere" #15 (May 1974).

Co-creator Thomas said that the origins of Iron Fist owes much to writer/illustrator Bill Everett's 1940's comic book superhero, "Amazing-Man".

"I'd seen my first kung fu movie, even before a Bruce Lee one came out," said writer Thomas, "and it had a thing called the 'Ceremony of the Iron Fist' in it."

"I thought that was a good name, and we already had 'Master of Kung Fu' going, but I thought, 'Maybe a superhero called 'Iron Fist', even though we had 'Iron Man', would be a good idea'. Stan (Lee) liked the name, so I got hold of Gil and he brought in his 'Amazing Man' influences, and we designed the character together."

"...by plunging his fists into the molten heart of the dragon 'Shou-Lao the Undying', the dragon's superhuman energy was infused into 'Danny Rand', This along with training by 'Lei Kung the Thunderer' gave Danny the power of the 'Iron Fist', allowing him to summon and focus his chi (or natural energy), enhancing his natural abilities to extraordinary levels.

"The ultimate expression of this focus is the ability to concentrate his body's natural energies into his hand, manifesting as a supernatural glow around his clenched fist, making his fist 'like unto a thing of iron'. So concentrated, this 'iron fist' can smash into its target with superhuman hardness and impact, while his hand becomes impervious to pain and injury. However, the feat of summoning the power required leaves Rand physically and mentally drained, unable to repeat the act for a time.

"Other applications of the Iron Fist power include the ability to focus chi energy inward to heal oneself or outward to heal others of injury, as well as the ability to telepathically fuse his consciousness temporarily with another person and meld with that person's mind..."

Also created by Thomas and illustrator Gene Colan, the non-powered 'Carol Danvers' debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in "Marvel Super-Heroes" #13 (March 1968) and as 'Ms. Marvel', via a fusion of alien 'Kree' and human genes, in "Ms. Marvel" #1 (January 1977).

Carol has also been known as 'Binary' and 'Warbird' at various points in her history, and has featured in other Marvel-endorsed products including video games, animated television series and merchandise.

The 200th issue of the "Avengers' proved controversial when Carol was kidnapped by 'Marcus', the son of the villain 'Immortus' and abducted to an alternate dimension, where she was impregnated, then released to give birth to a child on Earth. After several more team and solo appearances, Carol rejoined the "Avengers" as 'Warbird', while battling alcoholism and struggling to come to terms with the loss of her cosmic powers and memories. She was soon suspended from active duty.

Carol then featured as 'Captain Marvel' in a 'false reality' created by mutant (and former Avenger) the 'Scarlet Witch', pandering to Carol's subconscious desire to be accepted.

The character also cut a deal with 'Tony Stark', now a director of 'S.H.I.E.L.D.', to lead a covert strike team called 'Operation: Lightning Storm', with its designated mission to eliminate 'supervillains' before they can become unstoppable global threats.

July 2012 Carol Danvers was promoted to the rank of 'Captain Marvel' in a new ongoing series from writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and illustrator Dexter Soy, reflecting on what the legend of Captain Marvel means to Danvers and what the rest of the 'Marvel Universe' thinks of her new role.

Writer Stan Lee, co-creator (with various illustrators) of numerous Marvel Comics characters, said that the superhero "Black Panther" was among his two top picks, most deserving of a live-action big screen treatment.

The "Black Panther" created by Lee and artist Jack Kirby, debuted in Marvel Comics' "Fantastic Four" #52 (July 1966), as the first black superhero in mainstream American comic books.

The "Marvel Knights Animation: Black Panther" DVD release, based on the variant Marvel Comics series by writer Reginald Hudlin and illustrator John Romita Jr., with a voice cast including Djimon Hounsou as 'Black Panther', Jill Scott as 'Storm', Kerry Washington as 'Princess Shuri', Alfre Woodard as 'Dondi Reese'/'Queen Mother' and Carl Lumbly as 'Uncle S'Yan' :

"...Deep in the heart of Africa lies 'Wakanda', an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior-kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself.

"The latest in this famed line is young 'King T'Challa', the great hero known worldwide as the 'Black Panther'. Now, outsiders once again threaten to invade and plunder Wakanda. Leading this brutal assault is 'Klaw', a deadly assassin with the blood of T'Challa's murdered father on his hands, who brings with him a strong army of super-powered mercenaries.

'Luke Cage', created by "Creepy" magazine writer/editor Archie Goodwin and illustrator John Romita, Sr. of "Spider-Man" fame, first appeared in Marvel Comics' "Luke Cage, Hero for Hire" #1 (June 1972) :

"...A man called 'Lucas' was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. In exchange for parole, Lucas clandestinely underwent an experimental procedure, originally intended to generate immunity to all illness; instead, it inadvertently granted him steel-hard skin and heavier, enhanced muscle.

"After escaping 'Seagate Prison', Lucas forged the identity of 'Luke Cage', becoming a 'hero for hire', super-enhanced private detective.

"Later he formed a business partnership with the martial arts hero known as 'Iron Fist' in the Marvel Comics' series "Power Man & Iron Fist" and had a baby with 'Jessica Jones'.."

"Iron Man 3" screenwriter Drew Pearce wrote a script adapting "The Runaways", the 2003 Marvel Comics teenage superhero team-up.

Marvel Comics' "The Runaways" was created by "Lost" writer Brian K. Vaughan and illustrator Adrian Alphona.

The story follows a group of five rebellious, LA teenagers who discover that their parents are actually part of a secret 'supervillain cabal' that controls the West.