| Misty Knight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Premiere #21 (March 1975) |
| Created by | Jenny Blake Isabella Arvell Jones |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Mercedes "Misty" Knight[1] |
| Species | Humancyborg |
| Team affiliations | New York City Police Department Knightwing Restorations Ltd Daughters of the Dragon Heroes for Hire Defenders Valkyrior |
| Partnerships | Colleen Wing Luke Cage Iron Fist |
| Notable aliases | Maya Corday Artemis-5 Control |
| Abilities |
|
Mercedes "Misty"Knight is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created byJenny Blake Isabella andArvell Jones, the character was first mentioned inMarvel Premiere #20 (January 1975) andfirst appeared inMarvel Premiere #21 (March 1975).[2][3] Knight is the first Black female superhero in a publication by Marvel Comics; DC introduced a character namedNubia a year earlier.
Misty Knight is a formerNYPD police officer whose arm was amputated following a bomb attack. After receiving a bionic prosthetic fromTony Stark, she started a private-investigation agency with a close friend,Colleen Wing.[4] The two later formed the crime-fighting duoDaughters of the Dragon. As private investigators, Misty Knight and Colleen Wing frequently worked with theHeroes for Hire duoLuke Cage andIron Fist. Misty Knight is often seen in a romantic relationship with the latter. They had the first interracial kiss between super heroes in mainstream comics in 1977. Misty Knight is also the co-leader of theValkyrior withValkyrie.
Simone Missick portrayed the character in theNetflixtelevision seriesLuke Cage (2016–2018),The Defenders (2017), and thesecond season ofIron Fist (2018), set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Misty Knight was first mentioned inMarvel Premiere #20 (January 1975). She debuted inMarvel Premiere #21 (March 1975), created by writerJenny Blake Isabella and artistArvell Jones.[5] A laterretcon inMarvel Team-Up #64 byChris Claremont andJohn Byrne revealed she had previously appeared as an unnamed character inMarvel Team-Up #1 (March 1972), written byRoy Thomas and penciled byRoss Andru. She appeared in the 1977Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu series and the 1981Bizarre Adventures series by writerChris Claremont and artistMarshall Rogers. She appeared in the 1991Deathlok series.
Misty Knight appeared in the 2005Daughters of the Dragon series by writerJustin Gray, writerJimmy Palmiotti, and artist Khari Evans.[6] She appeared in the 2006Heroes for Hire series. She appeared in the 2006Immortal Iron Fist series. She appeared in the 2010Shadowland series. She appeared in the 2013Fearless Defenders series, by writerCullen Bunn and artistWill Sliney. She appeared in the 2017Black Panther & The Crew series.[7][8]
Misty Knight was a rising star with theNYPD when she was seriously injured preventing a bomb attack that forced the amputation of her right arm. Rather than take a desk job, she resigned from the police force, though she remained good friends with her long-time partner on the forceRafael Scarfe.Tony Stark provided her a bionic arm that endowed her superhuman strength. Soon after that, she metSpider-Man[9] and thenIron Fist.[10] Misty roomed withX-Men memberMarvel Girl until Marvel Girl returned to her life as an X-Man.[11][a]
Misty teamed with her friendColleen Wing in fighting the criminal Emil Vachon in the Hong Kong area. She saved Colleen from an attempted beating.[12] She then set up a private detective agency with Colleen entitled: "Knightwing Restorations Ltd".
Soon after she first met Iron Fist, the two crimefighters fell in love. Misty conducted undercover work against the crime lordBushmaster.[13] She aided Iron Fist, Spider-Man, and Colleen Wing against Davos, theSteel Serpent.[14] She then first met and foughtLuke Cage.[15] Misty's "Knightwing Restorations Ltd" detective agency subsequently helped Power Man and Iron Fist'sHeroes for Hire agency on numerous cases. Misty aided Iron Fist and Power Man in rescuing captives of Bushmaster and procured a videotape clearing Cage of crimes.[16] Misty was then captured and nearly killed byNightshade.[17] She then helped the X-Men, Colleen, andSunfire againstMoses Magnum in Japan.[18] She foughtSabretooth,[19] and then foughtConstrictor and Sabretooth together, and was rescued byEl Aguila.[20] She escaped captivity and capturedWard Meachum.[21] Colleen later broke off her friendship with Misty due to Misty's relationship with Tyrone King.[22] Misty rescued Iron Fist from drowning, reconciled with him, and ended her relationship with Tyrone King.[23] 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.[24] Iron Fist was presumed dead for an extended period until Misty saw theSuper-Skrull impersonate Danny Rand (Iron Fist) on television.[25] She confronted the Super-Skrull in his guise as Danny Rand.[26] Misty assistedNamor in finding and saving the hero. They went to theSavage Land, where they learned that the Super-Skrull had been posing as Iron Fist, and Misty aided Namor andNamorita against the Super-Skrull.[27] She and Danny Rand were ultimately reunited and renewed their relationship.
During the 2006 "Civil War" storyline, Misty Knight and Colleen Wing were contacted by Iron Man, Reed Richards, and Spider-Man to re-form Heroes for Hire and track down superhumans who refused to register. Initially hesitant, the pair eventually agree creating a team includingShang-Chi,Humbug,Orka,Black Cat,Paladin, and a new Tarantula.[28] Misty was identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who was part of theInitiative.[29][30]
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.[31] Nevertheless, when theSteel Serpent andHydra 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.[32] Later, the three helped Danny stop a terrorist attack by Hydra on the mystical city ofK'un-L'un where Danny told Misty, "I love you, Misty... but I make a lousy boyfriend".[33] Though Danny said this, they continued a sexual relationship and finally committed to each other on his birthday, despite their disagreement over the Superhuman Registration Act.[34]
Returning from a mission to captureMoon-Boy during the "World War Hulk" storyline, Heroes for Hire arrive in New York to see that it has been taken over by the Hulk. After being captured by theWarbound, Colleen Wing andTarantula were offered to No-Name the Brood Queen by their possessed teammate Humbug.[35] Misty makes a deal with Paladin to takeMoon-Boy (whom Colleen had become attached to) to find both Colleen and Tarantula after their capture.[36] When Misty and the other heroes come to 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.[37] Colleen, deeply upset by her friend's actions, leaves the group as a result.[38] Heroes for Hire itself has disbanded permanently in the aftermath of this.[38] 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 the Hulk's remaining robots; through this, she was able to move past her mistakes.[39]
Misty and Danny move in with each other inHarlem. Danny proposes to Misty and she accepts, after that she tells him that she is pregnant with his child.[40] 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.[41]
During the 2010 "Shadowland" storyline, Misty, Colleen Wing, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Shang-Chi confront Daredevil in an attempt to stop him without violence. After a commotion happens elsewhere in his castle, he attacks the group, believing they are responsible.[42]
Misty teams up with Paladin,Silver Sable and theShroud to discover who is framing theHand for the murder of a number of New York's mobsters.[43]
Following the events of the "Shadowland" storyline, 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 thePuppet Master.[44] Misty is later freed from mind control with help from Iron Fist andPaladin. After being freed, Paladin approaches Misty to continue the operation Puppet Master set in place, but on her terms.[45]
As part of theMarvel NOW! initiative, Misty Knight showcases in the comic book alongsideValkyrie where she is one of the members of theFearless Defenders.[46]
Misty Knight appears during the 2015–17All-New, All-Different Marvel promotion as a supporting character toSam Wilson, the new Captain America, who is uneasy now that his friendSteve Rogers has regained his original moniker. Though the two men opt to share the name, many civilians in the Marvel Universe feel that Sam Wilson is undeserving of the title. Misty helps him deal with his doubts and is revealed to be in a sexual relationship with him as well.[47] She then helps clear the names of female heroes and villains, who fell victim to a scandal over embarrassing sex videos posted on the internet.[48]
During the "Hunt for Wolverine" storyline, Misty Knight has left the NYPD for an unknown reason. She is approached byDaredevil and Nur, who enlist her to help findWolverine after his body disappears from his grave. She takes them toCypher, who tells them about sightings of Wolverine in the past sixty days.[49] After investigating, the group learn that the supposed sightings of Wolverine have actually beenAlbert, an android modeled in Wolverine's likeness.[50]
During the "Blood Hunt" storyline, Misty Knight andLizard's Isotope Genome Accelerator duplicate enlisted Spider-Man in locating Colleen Wing andMorbius. They end up fighting different vampires and access a computer in a fake church established by theBeyond Corporation along the way as well as helping Father Matthias to defend his church from a vampire attack.[51]
Misty Knight is a highly skilled combatant who, in addition to her police-combat training, is proficient inmartial arts and possesses near-perfect aim with firearms. She is a superb detective, having graduated at the top of her class at the police academy and earned a degree in criminology from theJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice.[52] 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. 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 byStark Industries and is an alloy ofAntarctic vibranium anddiamond; at close range it can liquefy all known metals, includingadamantium. It is now able to generate a wide anti-gravity repulsor field similar toIron Man's armor.[53] It can apparently release a concentrated beam of cryogenic energy, which can cover a target in a blanket of ice from a distance. This cold seems to make the target much more fragile, allowing otherwise durable materials to be broken or rended when frozen.[54] Iron Man revealed the arm also displays technopathic capabilities, teaching Misty how to control a horde of robots.[39] Following her "pregnancy", Danny Rand spent money on additional features to the arm, including magnetism and a concussive blast.[55]
A couple of new upgrades given to her bionics were shown during her hunt across the world for the recently resurrected Wolverine. Showcasing an energy shield to ward off incoming assaults with, a force field which she can expand over a marginal radius to help protect multiple people if need be. It even has a deployed grapple line within the forearm for use as an extension to reach and grab objects a good distance away. Often useful for latching onto and swinging from place to place with or to escape deadly falls from great heights.[56]
Deirdre Kaye ofScary Mommy called Misty Knight a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[57] Rosie Knight ofNerdist included Misty Knight in their "8 Awesome Women Detectives in Comics" list.[58] John Wilson ofWhatCulture ranked Misty Knight 4th in their "10 Best Comic Book Detectives (That Aren't Batman)" list.[59] Angelo Delos Trinos ofComic Book Resources ranked Misty Knight 9th in their "10 Most Iconic Black Marvel Superheroes" list, writing, "Misty became a cult favorite among fans. Misty's rise to prominence continues to this day, and she has nowhere else to go but up."[60] Jason Serafino ofComplex ranked Misty Knight 14th in their "25 Most Memorable Black Comic Book Characters" list, saying, "Misty is a refreshing figure for all readers to look up to. She's never over sexualized, and never gimmicky. Sadly, that's rare in the superhero genre."[61]
First appearing in 1975, Misty Knight was one of the first Black comic book characters to play either a major or supporting role in the big two comic book houses,Marvel Comics andDC Comics.[62] She was the first Black female superhero for Marvel. DC had previously introducedNubia, a supporting character forWonder Woman, in 1973.[63] In Marvel Comics, preceding characters wereGabe Jones (debuted in 1963),Black Panther (1966),Bill Foster (1966),Spider-Man supporting charactersJoe Robertson (1967), his sonRandy Robertson (1968),Hobie Brown (the Prowler) andFalcon (both 1969),Luke Cage (1972),Blade (1973), andAbe Brown (1974). In DC Comics, she was preceded byTeen Titans memberMal Duncan who debuted in 1970,Green Lantern wielderJohn Stewart (1971), andMister Miracle protégéShilo Norman (1973).
Misty Knight andIron Fist had the first interracial kiss between super heroes in mainstream comics in 1977.[64]
A character known as Misty Knight appears inQuentin Tarantino's short filmMy Best Friend's Birthday and is named after the Marvel character.[65]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears in the "Age of Apocalypse" reality. She was one of many 'flatscans'- non-mutants- forced underground byApocalypse. When her friends were attacked by aBrood, that had come to Earth, Misty escaped with the aid ofScott Summers andAlex Summers, only to subsequently die fighting the reanimated corpses of her former friends.[volume & issue needed]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears in theMC2 universe. She eventually settled down and married Iron Fist. At some point in the past, she died of cancer, leading Iron Fist to retire from heroics and become a martial arts trainer.[66]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears in theUltimate Marvel Universe in the 2006 limited seriesUltimate Extinction. 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 theSilver 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.[volume & issue needed]
InUltimate Mystery, Misty Knight later became a scientist and appears as a member ofRoxxon's Brain Trust.[67]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears in the "House of M" storyline. She is part ofLuke Cage's resistance and is killed when aSentinel attacks their base andCloak 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 underThunderbird (John Proudstar), but defected to the Avengers after refusing Proudstar's order to kill Cage.[68] Misty eventually became Luke's lover, after some time has passed since theTaskmaster'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.[69]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears innewuniversal: Shockfront. She appears as a detective assigned to apprehendJohn Tensen. She is partnered withJean DeWolff.[volume & issue needed]
An alternate version of Misty Knight appears inA.I.M.'s pocket dimension of Earth-13584. She appears as a member ofSpider-Man's gang.[70]
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