Misty Knight

Misty Knight
Misty Knight, art by Khari Evans
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	(name revealed) Marvel Premiere #20 (January, 1975) (actual appearance) Marvel Premiere #21
Created by	Tony Isabella, Arvell Jones
In-story information
Alter ego	Mercedes[1] "Misty" Knight
Team affiliations	New York Police Department Nightwing Restorations Ltd Heroes for Hire Daughters of the Dragon
Partnerships	Iron Fist Colleen Wing
Notable aliases	Maya Corday, Control
Abilities	Superhuman strength and technopathy in right bionic arm, skilled martial artist

Misty Knight is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. She was first mentioned (by name) in Marvel Premiere #20 (January 1975) and appeared in the next issue. She normally appears with Colleen Wing.

Publication history

Misty Knight was first mentioned in Marvel Premiere #20 (January 1975) and was created by writer Tony Isabella with artist Arvell Jones. A later retcon in Marvel Team-Up (1st series) #64 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne would reveal she had previously appeared as an unnamed character in Marvel Team-Up (1st series) #1 (March 1972), written by Roy Thomas and penciled by Ross Andru. Notable comics in which Knight and Colleen Wing have starred include a storyline first printed in Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #32-33 (January — February 1977) and Bizarre Adventures #25 (March 1981) by writer Chris Claremont and penciller Marshall Rogers. The original depictions of Knight, a bionically enhanced black female detective with martial arts skills, were strongly influenced by the blaxploitation and Kung Fu crazes of the 1970s^{[citation needed]}.

She was a longtime supporting character in comic books such as X-Men and Power Man and Iron Fist; she also had a major role in the Deathlok story arc 'Souls of Cyber-Folk' that ran from issue 2-5 of the 1991 Deathlok series (Vol. 2). The character, alongside her partner Colleen Wing, starred in Daughters of the Dragon, a 2005 six issue limited series by writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and penciller Khari Evans.

Misty is one of the stars of the 2006 Heroes for Hire series as well as a supporting character in the ongoing series The Immortal Iron Fist.

In 2010, Misty appears in the crossover event Shadowland, and is the central character in the spin-off title Shadowland: Blood on the Street. She then goes on to star in the new version of Heroes for Hire.

Fictional character biography

Misty was seriously injured preventing a bomb attack back when she was a police officer with the NYPD. Her right arm was amputated and rather than take a desk job, she resigned from the police force. Tony Stark provided her a bionic arm which endowed her superhuman strength. Soon after that she met Spider-Man,^[2] and then Iron Fist.^[3] Misty roomed with X-Men member Jean Grey until Jean returned to her life as an X-Man.^[4][5]

Misty teamed with her friend Colleen Wing in fighting the criminal Emil Vachon in the Hong Kong area. She saved Colleen from an attempted rape.^[6] She then set up a private detective agency with Colleen entitled "Nightwing Restorations Ltd."

Soon after she first met Iron Fist, the two crime-fighters fell in love. Misty conducted undercover work against the crime lord John Bushmaster.^[7] She aided Iron Fist, Spider-Man, and Colleen Wing against Davos, the Steel Serpent.^[8] She then first met and fought Luke Cage, Power Man.^[9] Misty's "Knightwing Restorations Ltd" detective agency would go on to help Power Man and Iron Fist's Heroes for Hire agency on numerous cases. Misty aided Iron Fist and Power Man in rescuing captives of John Bushmaster, and procured a videotape clearing Cage of crimes.^[10] Misty was then captured and nearly killed by Nightshade.^[11] She then helped the X-Men, Colleen Wing, and Sunfire against Moses Magnum in Japan.^[12] She fought Sabretooth,^[13] and then fought Constrictor and Sabretooth together, and was rescued by El Aguila.^[14] She escaped captivity, and captured Ward Meachum.^[15] Colleen Wing later broke off her friendship with Misty due to Misty's relationship with Tyrone King.^[16] Misty rescued Iron Fist from drowning, reconciled with him, and ended her relationship with Tyrone King.^[17] Later, when Iron Fist broke up with her, Misty began a short romance with Power Man. This episode was a source of tension between Power Man and Iron Fist for a brief period.

Misty later learned of Iron Fist's apparent demise.^[18] Iron Fist was presumed dead for an extended period, until Misty saw the Super-Skrull impersonate Danny Rand on television.^[19] She confronted the Super-Skrull in his guise as Danny Rand.^[20] Misty assisted Namor the Sub-Mariner in finding and saving the hero. They went to the Savage Land, where they learned that the Super-Skrull had been posing as Iron Fist, and Misty aided Namor and Namorita against the Super-Skrull.^[21] She and Danny Rand were ultimately reunited and renewed their relationship.

Civil War/The Initiative

Misty Knight and Coleen Wing were contacted by Iron Man, Reed Richards, and Spider-man to reform Heroes for Hire in order to track down superhumans who refused to register. Initially hesitant, the pair eventually agree creating a team including Shang-Chi, Humbug, Orka, Black Cat, Paladin, and a new Tarantula.^[22] Misty has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who will be a part of the Avengers: The Initiative^[23][24]

After the Civil War between the superheroes ended, Iron Fist was shocked to find that Misty had sided with the Initiative as he had joined the New Avengers.^[25] Nevertheless, when the Steel Serpent and HYDRA plotted to kill Iron Fist and destroy the seven cities of heaven (the latter unbeknownst to Steel Serpent), Misty and Colleen rushed with Luke Cage to Danny's aid.^[26] Later, the three helped Danny stop a terrorist attack by HYDRA on the mystical city of K'un L'un where Danny told Misty, "I love you, Misty... but I make a lousy boyfriend."^[27] Though Danny said this, they continued a sexual relationship and finally committed to each other on his birthday, despite their disagreement over the Registration Act.^[28]

World War Hulk

Returning from a mission to capture Moon-Boy, Heroes for Hire arrive in New York to see that it has been taken over by the Hulk. After being captured by Warbound, Colleen Wing and Tarantula were offered to the Brood Queen by their possessed teammate Humbug.^[29] Misty makes a deal with Paladin to take Moon-Boy (whom Colleen had become attached to) in order to find both Colleen and Tarantula after their capture.^[30] When Misty and the other heroes come save them, Colleen is in traumatic shock from the torture she endured; she is further agitated when Moon-Boy is taken into custody by Paladin.^[31] Colleen, deeply upset by her friend's actions, leaves the group as a result.^[32] Heroes for Hire itself has disbanded permanently in the aftermath of this.^[32] Misty becomes depressed due to her actions that led to the breakup of the group. Iron Man later comes to her to enlist her aid in stopping Hulk's remaining robots; through this, she was able to move past her mistakes.^[33]

Pregnancy

Misty and Danny move in with each other in Harlem. Danny proposed to Misty and she accepts, after that she tells him that she is pregnant with his child.^[34] They have since found out that this was a false pregnancy, causing a strain on their relationship. They decide to move out of their apartment and live separately, but continue their relationship.^[35]

Shadowland

Following Daredevil's take over of Hell's Kitchen, Misty, Colleen Wing, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Shang-chi confront him in attempt to stop him without violence. After a commotion happens elsewhere in his castle, he attacks the group, believing they are responsible.^[36]

Misty teams up with Paladin, Silver Sable and the Shroud to discover who is framing the Hand for the murder of a number of New York's mobsters.^[37]

Heroes for Hire

Following the events of Shadowland, Misty revamps the Heroes for Hire concept by basing herself as 'control' and utilizing various street heroes based on their powers and abilities in exchange for money or information. At the end of the first issue, it is revealed that Misty is being manipulated by the Puppet Master.^[38] Misty is later freed from mind control with help from Iron Fist and Paladin. After being freed, Paladin approaches Misty to continue the operation Puppet Master set in place, but on her terms.^[39]

Powers and abilities

Misty Knight is highly skilled in martial arts and is a proficient hand-to-hand combatant, with police combat training. She also has near-perfect aim with firearms, and possesses superb detective skills. Her bionic arm is superhumanly strong, and she can punch a target with incredible force, or crush objects as tough as steel in her vise-like grip. However, since the rest of her body is not cybernetically enhanced, she cannot lift objects heavier than her back, shoulders, and legs can physically support. Her arm's advantages as a weapon are limited to kinetic crushing and impact forces.

Her original bionic right arm was constructed from steel, and designed by Stark International. Her new arm was built by Stark Industries and is an alloy of Antarctic vibranium and diamond; at close range it can liquefy all known metals including adamantium. It is also now able to generate a wide anti-gravity repulsor field similar to Iron Man's armor.^[40] It can also apparently release a concentrated beam of cryogenic energy, which can cover a target in a blanket of ice from a distance. This cold also seems to make the target much more fragile, allowing otherwise durable materials to be broken or rended when frozen.^[41] Iron Man also revealed the arm also displays technopathic capabilities, teaching Misty how to control a horde of robots.^[33] Following her "pregnancy", Danny Rand spent money on additional features to the arm, including magnetism and a concussive blast.^[42]

Other versions

Ultimate Misty Knight

The Ultimate Marvel Universe version of Misty Knight has appeared in the 2006 limited series Ultimate Extinction which was written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Brandon Peterson. She appears to have the same origin story as before, with an artificial arm created by Tony Stark. While investigating a "Paul Maitreya", a cult leader who resembles the Silver Surfer, she encounters a bald-headed woman who shoots Paul and his cult before escaping Misty. This woman appears to be one of an army of genetic clones of Heather Douglas a.k.a. Moondragon.

In Ultimate Mystery, Misty Knight appears as a member of Roxxon Brain Trust.^[43]

House Of M

She is part of Luke Cage's resistance, and is killed when a Sentinel attacks their base and Cloak fails to teleport her out. It was revealed within the past that Misty was originally placed in Luke Cage's Avengers as an NYPD spy operating under John Proudstar, but defected to the Avengers after refusing Proudstar's order to kill Cage.^[44] Misty eventually became Luke's lover, after some time has passed since the Taskmaster's murder of Tigra. It was Misty who realized that Luke's Avengers were inspiring non-mutants to fight for their rights as "Sapien" and tried to convince Cage to think beyond protecting Sapien Town.^[45]

MC2

In the alternate future of the MC2 universe, Misty eventually settled down and married Iron Fist. Unfortunately, at some point in the past, she died of cancer. Because of this Iron Fist gave up crime-fighting, and began to live as a simple martial arts trainer.

Age of Apocalypse

In the Age of Apocalypse, Misty was one of many 'flatscans'- non-mutants- forced underground by Apocalypse. When her friends were attacked by a Brood, that had come to Earth, Misty escaped with the aid of Scott and Alex Summers, only to subsequently die fighting the reanimated corpses of her former friends.

newuniversal

In newuniversal: Shockfront #1, Knight appears as a detective assigned to apprehend John Tensen. She is partnered with Jean DeWolff.

In other media

Television

• Misty Knight appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "A Brat Walks Among Us" voiced by Tamera Mowry.^[46] She is shown as a member of Heroes for Hire alongside Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

Video games

• Misty Knight appears in Iron Fist's ending for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as a member of his new Heroes for Hire.

References

1. ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Hardcover #6
2. ^ Marvel Team-Up #1
3. ^ Marvel Premiere #15
4. ^ X-Men Vol. 1 #102
5. ^ Years later, it was revealed that Misty's roommate was actually the Phoenix Force disguised as Jean. Avengers #263; Fantastic Four #286
6. ^ Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #32-33
7. ^ Iron Fist #15
8. ^ Marvel Team-Up #64
9. ^ Power Man #48
10. ^ Power Man #49
11. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #51-53
12. ^ Uncanny X-Men #118-119
13. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #66
14. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #78
15. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #99
16. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #117
17. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #122
18. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #125
19. ^ Namor the Sub-Mariner #8
20. ^ Namor the Sub-Mariner #10
21. ^ Namor the Sub-Mariner #16-18
22. ^ Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #1
23. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1.
24. ^ http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.947 Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
25. ^ Immortal Iron Fist^{[volume & issue needed]}
26. ^ Immortal Iron Fist #9
27. ^ Immortal Iron Fist # 11
28. ^ Immortal Iron Fist # 16-17
29. ^ Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #13
30. ^ Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #14
31. ^ Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #9
32. ^ ^{a b} Heroes for Hire vol. 2 #15
33. ^ ^{a b} World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1
34. ^ Immortal Iron Fist #27
35. ^ I am an Avenger #1
36. ^ Shadowland #2
37. ^ Shadowland: Blood on the Street #1
38. ^ Heroes for Hire #1 (2010)
39. ^ Heroes for Hire #5 (2010)
40. ^ Daughters of the Dragon #6
41. ^ Heroes for Hire #7 (2007)
42. ^ Shadowland: Blood on the Street #1-3
43. ^ Ultimate Mystery #3
44. ^ House of M: Avengers #2-#3
45. ^ House of M: Avengers #4 & #5
46. ^ Comics Continuum

External links

• Misty Knight at Marvel.com