#Alan Cavenaugh

[super-hero-confessions]

[bookoftheironfist]

Danny: “Those men-- Walker’s-- they seemed to know you...”

Alan: “Aye. They knew me. [...] They’re budding revolutionary terrorists. They want to be what I once was. Alan Cavenaugh. Provisional I.R.A. freedom fighter. Patriot. Terrorist. Bomber. Take yer pick-- I was the best. Dedicated. Loyal. Supremely careful. Until the day one of my bombs misfired. I killed twelve people that day-- women an’ children mostly. Innocents. I was arrested-- did time in Langkesh-- but the British could never prove anything, an’ they had to let me go. Leavin’ me with me memories. All those screams, all that pain. That’s when I realized that the people I was hurtin’ were the people I was fightin’ for. The innocent ones. That’s when I learned I’d had enough o’ killin’. [...] I loved my cause as much as any man, Daniel Rand... but... oh, I dunno... I guess some causes have too high a price.”

Iron Fist vol. 1 #5 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Phil Rache

    One of the most unusual members of the early Iron Fist supporting cast is former I.R.A. bomber Alan Cavenaugh, who Danny meets in London while searching for Colleen. Danny comes across Alan being beaten up in an alley and rescues him, and the two quickly become close friends. Danny actually stays with Alan in London for a month afterward, and Alan later travels to New York several times to visit him-- which results in (among other things) one of the most hilariously understated identity reveals ever:    

Alan: “Danny... he’s a friend of yours, too... ain’t he? Like... Iron Fist? I’ve always wondered... are the two of them really the same--?”

Luke: “Yeah. They are. If you’re a real friend of Danny’s, you won’t spread that ‘round. Man’s got a right to his privacy.”

Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 1 #60 by Mary Jo Duffy, Marie Severin, and Steve Leialoha, 

    Early Iron Fist comics were still reflecting and reexamining the themes of Danny’s origin story, and Alan’s introduction is no exception. His feelings on the destructive nature of killing, for both the victims and the killer, and his painful, life-changing realization that no justification is worth taking a life, mirrors Danny’s own experiences with bloodlust and vengeance. Alan’s presence also complicates Misty’s story, and prompts her journey toward recovering from the trauma of losing her arm in a bomb attack like those Alan used to engineer. He’s a relatively minor character, only appearing a few times, but I like him and wouldn’t mind if he were brought back.  

[resurrectionsadamwarlock]

Iron Fist (1975) #5- Page 13

“Iron Fist!  Hey!! Turn around!!!”

[johnbyrnedraws]

Iron Fist #13, page 31 by John Byrne & Dan Adkins & Marie Severin. 1977.

[the-city-at-nyctophilia]

(Photo: “People Dancing Inside Building” Mauricio Mascaro. Photo Source)

By: Jasmine Mrenica

Within my group’s project theme; performance, I decided to focus specifically on theatre. In this playlist I focused mostly on the musical theatre genre, which was born out of theatre. Included are songs from Broadway musicals, or movies that were adapted from those musicals. There are a few songs from Disney musicals, and two honorable mentions from Mitski, an artist who I feel captures the beauty within the loneliness people tend to feel at night perfectly. I tried to recreate the ‘ups and downs’ of a night out in the city. Beginning with a need for escape, we are then travelling out to the city and excitement builds. We are dazzled by all the beauty that the city at night has to offer. This beauty is created mostly by the performers, the entertainers, and those who work within the nighttime economy. During our night, we might get into trouble, we might find romance or we might romanticize, and finally towards the end of the night we return home. The duration of the playlist is one hour and thirteen minutes.

Below, are the songs that are included in the playlist. We begin with “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera, one of the most popular and longest running musicals in the history of Broadway. This song is entirely about discovering how splendid night can be. We can see this in many of the lyrics, for example, “Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation / Darkness wakes and stirs imagination / Silently, the senses abandon their defenses.” (Weber, 1987) , and it is a perfect opener for our playlist.

The next four songs give us the feeling of making the decision to venture out into the night. “Wig in a Box” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the story of a drag queen as they get into drag. One of the many performative subcultures that thrives in nighttime, before the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race propelled many drag queens to major celebrity status. “Out Tonight” from Rent tells of the danger and excitement, the transgressions one is more likely to commit once darkness falls; “I wanna commit a crime / Wanna be the cause of a fight / I wanna put on a tight skirt / and flirt with a stranger” (Larson, 1996).

Once we figuratively arrive in the city, we enjoy some songs highlighting the work of performers, labourers, and entertainers. Burlesque performers and sex workers from “Welcome to Burlesque” sung by Cher, to “Lady Marmalade” sung by Christina Aguilera. “Our Lady of the Underground” from Hadestown features the goddess Persephone as she deals illegal substances, like sunlight or rainfall, to members of the underworld. Dr. Facilier, played by Keith David, in “I Got Friends on the Other Side” plays a similar role. Both of which profit heavily on the nighttime economy where the trade of illegal substances or occult happenings are more popular.

From “Tonight” in the musical West Side Story to “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” in The Rocky Horror Picture Show we focus on songs that tell of a certain romance. These songs don’t necessarily feature performers and labourers of the nighttime economy, but fleeting romances may take place at night nonetheless, and I felt that songs that perform such a feeling were important to include. Socializing and attempting to find love is a large reason why people go out at night.

The remaining four songs in the playlist are slower. The energy winds down as the hours start to dwindle into the early morning. They are songs that reminisce and that try to capture a memory. Night is ephemeral, and once it is over we have our splendid memories to ruminate on until we have the chance to experience it again.

Songs on this Playlist

Castle on a Cloud by Isabelle Allen (Les Miserables)

The Music of the Night by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera)

Wig in a Box by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Road to Hell by Andre De Shields, Hadestown Original Broadway Company, Anais Mitchell (Hadestown)

Out Tonight by Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent)

Townie by Mitski (Bury Me at Makeout Creek)

Welcome to Burlesque by Cher (Burlesque)

Sweet Charity: Big Spender by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity)

Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera (Moulin Rouge)

Our Lady of the Underground by Amber Gray, Anais Mitchell, Hadestown Original Broadway Company (Hadestown)

Don’t Tell Mama by Natasha Richardson, Alan Cumming, Cabaret Ensemble (Cabaret)

Friends on the Other Side by Keith David (Princess and the Frog)

Time Warp by Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, Richard O’Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

We Built This City / We’re Not Gonna Take It by Russel Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Rock of Ages)

Tonight by Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione (West Side Story)

A Whole New World by Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed (Aladdin)

Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me by Susan Sarandon (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

Shadows of the Night / Harden my Heart by Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages)

Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright (Moulin Rouge)

Two Slow Dancers by Mitski (Be The Cowboy)

[daresplaining]

Iron Fist Countdown: 5 Days

Misty and Danny

    It’s happening! MCU Misty and Danny are finally going to interact in The Defenders  Luke Cage Season 2 *COUGH* Iron Fist Season 2! These two have been tied together since their inceptions; Misty debuted in the seventh issue of Danny’s introductory series, and soon after, they made history by becoming the first interracial couple in superhero comics. Here’s a quick look at their time together, and some thoughts on what form their relationship-- romantic or otherwise-- might take in the Netflix shows! 

    Misty and Danny first met in 1975, in Marvel Premiere #21. In this story Colleen Wing and her father have vanished, and Danny-- Colleen’s best friend and Lee Wing’s bodyguard at this point-- is trying to track them down. This leads him into a head-on collision with Colleen’s other best friend, and business partner at Nightwing Restorations, Misty Knight.   

Caption: “You assume the cat stance as your attacker hits the floor with the grace of a leopard. You are somewhat amazed to see that she is a woman. A beautiful woman, at that [...].”

Misty: “Okay, Zorro! What have you done with Colleen and her dad?”

Caption: “Her fiery disposition has, unbelievably enough, shaken you. You almost stammer out your reply.”

Marvel Premiere #21 by Tony Isabella, Arvell Jones, and Stan G.

    Danny is instantly smitten, but the moment is ruined by the fact that Misty thinks he’s a bad guy. They fight-- in time-honored superhero tradition--  and unable to convince her that they’re on the same side, Danny knocks Misty unconscious and continues the investigation alone. A few storylines later, Colleen gets kidnapped again (unfortunately, this happened a lot...) and they get a chance to try again. Misty approaches this team-up with a slightly better understanding of the situation and a snazzy monogrammed belt. 

Danny: “Misty Knight!”

Misty: “Right the first time, hero-- Glad to see you still remember me.”

Iron Fist vol. 1 #1 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Janice Cohen

    This team-up develops into a friendship, with hints of something more. Colleen is rescued, and Danny and Misty continue to spend time together, trying to sort out their feelings toward each other in between their various adventures. But it’s a bumpy road. They are both young and recovering from various traumas at this point, and Misty in particular is emotionally raw regarding anything related to her lost arm. They have several major disagreements, and when Danny tries to enlist Misty’s help to save his friend Alan Cavenaugh, a reformed terrorist/revolutionary (long story...), she can’t emotionally separate him from the bomber who took her arm, and the ensuing fight essentially ends their friendship.      

Danny: “What’s Alan ever done to you, to make you feel this way about him?”

Misty: “He’s done this! Maybe not him personally, but someone like him, clowns with bombs to whom the end justifies the means... and the bigger the body count, the bigger the headline! One of his kind cost me my right arm! Others cost people their lives-- and I’m damned if I’m going to lift a finger to save that scum’s life!”

Danny: “Alan’s not like that, Misty-- he’s a decent, tormented man, living in his own private hell! A man who’s my friend-- and if that isn’t good enough for you-- then maybe I’m not good enough, either!”

Misty: “That’s layin’ things on the line for sure, pal. But if that’s the way it’s got to be... then maybe you aren’t.”

Iron Fist vol. 1 #13 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Marie Severin

    But that’s far from the end of the story (you may have noticed how long this post is...). After the momentary anger fades, they both retain their feelings for each other. Misty is away on an undercover mission several months later when she learns that Danny is in mortal peril. She rushes to save him, and amid the desperation of this reunion and Danny’s near-death experience, they finally admit their feelings for each other.  

Misty: “Look at me, all torn up inside over a guy I thought I’d cut out of my life forever. Funny, I guess... considering the first time I saw you, Iron Fist, I tried to bust your head open. Then, I got to know you, an’ I found myself liking what I knew. [...] You forced me to choose between your ‘friendship’-- an’ us-- an’ my principles. It would have killed me to give in. But I almost did. Because... you asked me to. I hated you, then... but now...? When it’s too late...? I... can’t hate you, Danny. I love you.”

Danny: “Misty... I... know how you feel. Part of me’s always known... because it felt the same way. I guess the rest of me’s a klutz. I need you, Misty. I love you.”

Marvel Team-up #64 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Dave Hunt

    They have their first kiss later the same issue...

...and thus begins thirty years-worth (our time) of on-and-off dating. Since they were already close, have always had feelings for each other, and are part of a tightly-knit friend group anyway, this shift in their dynamic feels natural. And because they are both in the same line of work, with Heroes for Hire frequently teaming up with Nightwing Restorations, they are able to share every aspect of their lives-- thus avoiding the discord inherent in many superhero relationships. For a while what results is a close, casual dynamic that, in a genre known for soap opera-style shenanigans, is almost hilariously free of drama. 

Danny: “Did you and Colleen have a good day?”

Misty: “The usual. How about you and Cage?”

Danny: “It’s pretty frustrating. We’ve done so much legwork... found evidence of petty sabotage and odd goings on... but no motive, no rhyme or reason to it... Uh... Misty? [...] I don’t really want to talk about work right now.”

Misty: “Me neither.”

Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 1 #79 by Mary Jo Duffy, Kerry Gammill, and Christie Scheele

Misty: “He’s okay... but that’s only this time! He’ll be hurt again-- just like he has been before! He’ll be in and out of hospitals all his life! Hospitals... I’ve hated them since I woke up in one with only one arm! It took me so long to accept my bionic replacement-- my not being whole! Can I love a man who’ll constantly be reminding me that he-- or I-- could be hurt like that again? Yes.”

Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 1 #90 by Kurt Busiek, Denys Cowan, and George Roussos

    Maybe to balance out this excessive stability, their relationship is then torpedoed at the end of Power Man and Iron Fist volume 1. The two drift apart and start seeing other people. Misty dates a cop named Tyrone King (who turns out to be evil sorcerer Master Khan in disguise), and Danny (having been replaced by a sentient humanoid plant) starts dating his new boss, Maxine Walters. (And if that sentence doesn’t sum up romance in superhero comics, we don’t know what does. But wait-- there’s more!) Planny (Plant Danny) is then killed, and his appearance is mimicked by the Super Skrull. Misty is heartbroken all over again by this newest disturbing development, but her run-ins with Skranny (Skrull Danny) and his knowledge of intimate details of their time together convince her that her real boyfriend is still alive somewhere. She, Colleen, and Namor the Sub-Mariner track him down in K’un-Lun, where he has been lying in stasis, being slowly killed by the rest of the plant people, and they rescue him.   

Misty: “Can... can I see him?”

Stephen: “Yes. In fact, I believe that would be appropriate, since I sensed it was his undying love for you which served to bolster his spirit and keep him alive during his long captivity.”

Colleen: “Could you ever doubt it, Misty? You were the first woman Danny ever really loved. We should have seen the falling out you had as a sign that something was less than kosher. When someone like Danny falls in love... it's forever!”

Namor the Sub-Mariner #24 by John Byrne and Glynis Oliver

    Having survived all of this weirdness, the two of them get back together. 

Misty: “Hmmm. Danny, I just love your... exposed beams.”

Danny: “Some yuppies built this place as a Buddhist temple and then they lost all their fortunes investing in comic books.”

Heroes for Hire vol. 1 #8 by John Ostrander, Pascual Ferry, and Joe Rosas

    (Ha ha ha...)

Misty: “Come on, sugar.”

Danny: “He said he wanted my heart but I told ‘im you already had it hah hah owwww… Heart... get it... because we’re like dating again and stuff...”

Immortal Iron Fist #18 by Duane Swierczynski, Travel Foreman, and Matt Milla

    But the rhythm of their dynamic is noticeably altered. They date on-and-off for several years, still in love, but unable to find their footing or decide what they want out of the relationship. Danny needs stability, but Misty is hesitant to commit.  

Danny: “Look, this thing-- the Iron Fist-- it’s not a job, it’s not a hobby. It’s not fantasy baseball and it’s not a thing I do with my pals on weekends-- It’s as much who I am as being... being you is a part of you. It gets in the way. Of the human stuff. I know that, you know that. Okay. What I’m saying is-- if we know that, isn’t that as bad as it gets? Isn’t that as complicated? I’m tired of being with you between the moments of my life. So what are we, Misty? What are we doing? We’re either you and me, or-- or we’re not. You tell me.”

Misty: “Let me think about it.”

Immortal Iron Fist #16 by Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Matt Hollingsworth

    Finally, they decide once and for all to make things permanent. They move into a small apartment in Harlem together, and Danny proposes-- in typical dorky Danny fashion.   

Danny: “Huh... this isn’t what I ordered. [...] Look. I’ve been waiting to do this for a long, long...”

Misty: “Shhh. Don’t ruin the moment by saying something stupid.”

Immortal Iron Fist #27 by Duane Swierczynski, Travel Foreman, Javier Rodriguez, et al.

    Immediately afterward, Misty reveals that she is pregnant (in fact, she initially thinks Danny’s proposal is an attempt to be chivalrous, but he genuinely had no idea). The two are ecstatic-- everything is finally working out, and they look forward to settling down (as much as superheroes ever settle down, anyway) and starting a family. During this time, they were also co-running the Thunder Dojo-- a martial arts school/community support center for low-income kids, alongside their usual co-heroics. Luke, experienced father that he is by this point, gives Danny the requisite poopy diaper talk, and the couple start preparing for this new chapter in their lives.   

Misty: “What am I even doing? Rafe was right. I should be curled up on the couch with Danny, picking out strollers and cribs. Not wandering around a city full of ninja.”

Shadowland: Blood on the Streets #3 by Antony Johnston, Wellinton Alves, and Frank Martin      

    But of course, there’s rarely such thing as a happy ending in superhero romances, and it isn’t long before their relationship is torpedoed yet again, in yet another bizarre, heartbreaking fashion. 

Danny: “The ultrasound, as it turns out, saw nothing. Absolutely nothing growing inside my girlfriend’s belly. In the days that followed, I pored over the Book of the Iron Fist and realized this was not unprecedented. Sometimes an Immortal Weapon’s chi can give what modern medicine calls a false positive. A glimmer of lifeforce... not a new life.” 

I Am an Avenger #1, “The Books of the Iron Fist” by Duane Swierczynski, Jason Latour, and Rico Renzi

    This is arguably not how the chi of Shou-Lao works (Could it be classified as an extension of the “Lightning From God” technique? Do we actually want to examine this that closely? Nope...), and it’s definitely not how pregnancy tests work... and we’re very bitter about the whole thing... but what matters is that the baby is not real, and the emotional whiplash of this loss completely unravels their relationship. Misty ends up in the hospital, suffering from physical aftereffects of the false pregnancy and nightmares about her phantom child. Eventually, she and Danny decide they need some time apart. They call off their engagement, move out of their shared apartment, and have been separate ever since. 

Danny: “I never meant things to happen like this, Misty.”

Misty: “I know you’re out there, Danny, keeping an eye on me. That’s all I need.”

Heroes for Hire vol. 3 #5 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Robert Atkins, and Jay David Ramos

    At this point, we're morally obligated to direct our readers to the Secret Wars: Secret Love one-shot, which contains an alternate universe story about Misty, Danny, and their adorable daughter Lucy (named after Luke, of course). Go read that. We’ll wait...

    Since this break-up, they’ve kept in touch (it helps that they parted on good terms, and have the exact same friends), and have managed to bounce back reasonably well, experimenting with dating other people and trying to move on. Misty, resilient as she is, is doing fine, and recently started up a relationship with Sam Wilson (Falcon/Captain America). And Danny is.... well, he’s not great with change, so he’s coping as well as he can.     

Danny: “Look, I’m sorry you discovered a picture of my ex in my bedroom. It doesn’t mean I carry a torch for her, I swear. It just means I’m a slob.”

Joy: “You keep being so sweet, and I might just start believing you.”

Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 2 #3 by Fred Van Lente, Wellinton Alves, Bruno Hang, et al.

Danny: “Jen... I’m so... sorry? [...] It was unprofessional. And you’re a lawyer, so you could sue me for sexual harassment. And if Misty ever found out... I miss her so much.”

Jen: “First of all, I kissed you, so if anyone would be doing the suing, it would be you. And I won’t say anything to Misty. But if I can give you some advice, don’t live your life waiting for the day you two get back together. You’re a great guy... and you kiss almost as good as you fight. Maybe even a little better.”

Power Man and Iron Fist vol. 3 #6 by David F. Walker, Flaviano, and John Rauch

Danny: “Is this something we need to talk about? [...] Are you and Misty...?”

Luke: “Dude! Five seconds before that she smacked me on the head with a cell phone for getting my ass caught on video acting a fool in the first place.”

Danny: “So this is just--”

Luke: “Out of context. [...] Danny, I would never play you like that.”

Jessica Jones vol. 1 #6 by Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, and Matt Hollingsworth

    Misty and Danny are one of those couples that dated for so long, it seems as though the gravitational pull of all of their shared history should draw them back together eventually. But for now, all we can do is say they were great while they lasted, and only time will tell what the future holds for them.  

    As of right now, the future of Misty and Danny in the MCU is a giant question mark, given their minuscule interactions (read: off-screen interactions plus about 0.42 seconds of on-screen eye contact) in The Defenders and Luke Cage, and Danny’s current happy and stable romantic relationship with Colleen Wing. Given the longevity, iconic nature, and general awesomeness of Misty and Danny’s time together in the comics, we would be shocked if romance between them was not at least hinted in the MCU. But at the same time, it would need to be handled with finesse. Danny and Colleen’s romance has been built up quite nicely, and the absolute last thing we could ever possibly want would be a Colleen/Danny/Misty love triangle. We don’t think they’d do that, but the very idea gives us the heebie-jeebies. Everything we’ve heard suggests that Danny and Colleen will remain together in Iron Fist Season 2, and we trust that the showrunner-- who is a big fan of the comics-- knows what he’s doing, and that their relationship is integral to telling the best story possible this season.  

    But we also feel very strongly that romance isn’t everything. It doesn’t even really interest us. And at this point we’re just dying for Danny and Misty to interact. At all. In any capacity. As much as the absence of on-screen interactions hurt, we loved hearing about their off-screen communication in Luke Cage Season 2, and the fact that in this universe, it’s Rand Enterprises that gives Misty her new arm. They have built the basis for some kind of a relationship, and with the introductions having already been made, we’re excited to see that dynamic actually manifest on-screen. Simone Missick has said this about her relationship with Danny this season: 

“In Luke Cage Season 2, obviously Misty gets her arm from Danny, and so there is a level of friendship that’s intrinsic in just that. In Iron Fist Season 2, we get to watch that develop. I jokingly say that Misty is the third wheel at every one of Danny and Colleen’s date nights, like she’s always just showing up while they’re trying to drink tea. […] You get to watch how these two interact with each other as well, and it’s in a new and interesting way I think than what fans are even expecting.”

    We’re looking forward to seeing them as friends, teaming up, hanging out, hopefully being at least a little baffled by each other at first (Misty is going to have the best reactions to Danny’s K’un-Lun shenanigans...). And in the future, who knows? We’re just dying to finally, at long last, get any kind of relationship between these two in the MCU. T-MINUS FIVE MORE DAYS!  

[resurrectionsadamwarlock]

Iron Fist (1975) #5- Page 15

If someone asks if you’re a super-hero, you say YES!

[bookoftheironfist]

Alan: “I know a murderer when I see one-- and I swore never to abide killers. If he’d gotten away, he would have killed again... so I had to stop him. Why’d you get involved...? You some sort’a flippin’ super-hero?”

Danny: “No. I mean... I... I mean, he... that is, Scimitar, he... Wow. I never thought about it before. A super-hero... I guess I am.”

Iron Fist vol. 1 #5 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Phil Rache

    Danny gets flustered when he realizes he might be a superhero. At this point he’s still new to (or, at least, rusty on) many Earth things, and as what might be considered a “professional hero”, this had never occurred to him before. I love how obviously delighted he is by it.  

[johnbyrnedraws]

Iron Fist #13, page 31 by John Byrne & Dan Adkins. 1977.

[johnbyrnedraws]

Iron Fist #13, page 31 by John Byrne & Dan Adkins. 1977.

[johnbyrnedraws]

Iron Fist #5 cover re-imagining commission by John Byrne.