Marvel Television’s Most Underappreciated Element is Finally Getting Attention

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown in unique ways since the epic conclusion of The Infinity Saga. Phase 4 underwent major criticism for its execution of many ideas and the fact that many loose ends, from the mystery of the ten rings to the fate of Kang the Conqueror. However, Phase 5 has since shown some of these loose ends get tighter, and huge stories evolve in different facets of the universe. For example, with The Marvels, a new scope to the cosmic universe has been established while other worlds focus on the Multiverse, Mutants, and, of course, street-level issues.

Before The Multiverse Saga, street-level stories in the MCU were relegated to Spider-Man movies and, somewhat, the Marvel Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones. But as more elements of that time become canon, it’s still difficult to establish which shows, characters, and elements are official. However, with Hawkeye, it was clear that street-level Marvel was back, and with it, an underappreciated element that comes with the territory: martial arts. Now, thanks to Daredevil: Born Again and Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel heroes skilled in martial arts are making a comeback in a way that is deserving of exploration and also in need of a long-overdue welcome.

Martial Arts Was in the Background of the MCU

Captain America and Black Widow were the first examples of fighting skills in the MCU. Spider-Man, in the comics, was taught by Shang-Chi to use his spider-sense in combat with a style known as the Way of the Spider. Shang-Chi, in the MCU, perfectly blends the martial arts styles of his father and mother while utilizing the ten rings.

When the MCU first started, fighting styles weren’t a cornerstone of the superheroes showcased. Iron Man used his weapons and armor while Thor used his hammer and Captain America focused on military tactics and sheer strength above all else. However, one glimpse of the future came with Black Widow as she leaned heavily on assassination tactics but also relied on martial arts to hold her own among super-powered beings. Using everything from Judo to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she got the upper hand on everyone from Hawkeye to the Chitauri. But she only represented the start of what would become a staple of non-powered heroes in the MCU.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the first time in the franchise that audiences got to see intense and intricate choreography in the MCU, and it set a new standard for future movies and showed the fight between Captain America and the Winter Soldier on the highway was legendary for how it established Steve Rogers’ combat skills and how he balances it with his unnatural strength. From the uses of Judo and even knife combat, the stage was set to get even more intricate with the characters and Black Panther utilizing styles such as Dambe, Taekwondo, and Capoeira in Captain America: Civil War. Since then, fighting the MCU has played a major role in telling a visual story about its characters.

Following The Infinity Saga, movies like Black Widow maintained the covert martial arts theme but on a larger scale as it embraced a spy movie storyline to create a fun story. However, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings raised the bar to new heights as Jackie Chan’s own stunt team came to choreograph a visually impressive martial arts movie. With Shang-Chi, it was clear just how much fighting had evolved in the MCU, and it was also the first time that audiences were able to appreciate how distinct these characters were and how even though they all fought differently, it established everything in terms of who they are as people. For example, Captain America is straightforward and requires a style that reflects that while Shang-Chi is improvisational, hence why he took to his mother’s more Tai Chi-based style and adapted it into his use of the ten rings.

Marvel’s Netflix Shows Elevated Martial Arts in a Way That Has Yet to Be Beaten

Daredevil introduced the iconic one-take hallway fight scene. Each Marvel Netflix show highlighted how different each hero fought. Marvel Netflix shows also highlighted the skills of Colleen Wing and Elektra.

When Daredevil premiered on Netflix in 2015, a new standard was set in the MCU in terms of how combat played a role in the story. Not only was this the first true exploration of street-level heroes in the franchise, but it was also a declaration that while the characters lacked the recognition of Captain America or the adoration of Iron Man, they were just as, if not more, brutal. Daredevil started this as audiences were treated to a man wearing nothing but exercise gear, taking on gangs and ninjas in a bid to keep his city safe. As a result, knowing how to survive was more important than a hammer or suit of armor, and this lent itself to some amazing action sequences in dark hallways and alleys. As the seasons progressed and Daredevil got more confident, he eventually implemented new tools such as a durable suit and billy club that stepped up his game and made him a real threat in the criminal underworld. But even still, Daredevil only scratched the surface of what was possible with martial arts in the MCU.

It’s no secret how divisive Iron Fist was upon release, and even with a second season that was more positively received than the last, it’s hard not to mention the show’s shortcomings. Even still, it expanded martial arts in major ways, and now, rather than one character relying on boxing and karate to survive, there’s an entire society mastering kung fu to protect their home and the artifacts within. Through Danny Rand, fans saw how impactful Chinese fighting styles could be, and while the choreography wasn’t always at the standard viewers expected, it was still fun to see how certain styles interacted with one another in combat. But with time being the ultimate teacher, it’s clear that both Daredevil and Iron Fist were only precursors to a payoff only now being set up in the MCU.

Martial Arts is Here to Stay in the MCU

Shows like Echo have showcased the potential of street-level heroes in the MCU. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier show that gritty combat still exists in the franchise. Even Deadpool & Wolverine have shown the fun of fighting styles and how they can say so much about a character.

Though heroes skilled in martial arts were few and far between following The Infinity Saga, it was Marvel Television that brought them back to the forefront with none other than Daredevil in cameos in both She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo. However, with the confirmation of Daredevil: Born Again setting up a place for street-level heroes in the MCU and continuing the continuity of the Netflix shows, it also sets up that martial arts will finally get a spotlight. What makes this series different, though, is how it will bridge the gap in the franchise’s history by introducing characters like White Tiger, a vigilante notorious for using martial arts and a magical amulet, proving that even an everyday hero can have both skills and power. Yet it’s the mysticism of White Tiger that opens the door for the return of another hero, at least in some capacity.

Eyes of Wakanda is a new animated series set to explore the history of Wakanda and, as a result, will also introduce a version of the Iron Fist. Not only does this make the character canon in the MCU but it also shows how two skilled fighters may interact in a way never shown in the MCU. For now, it’s clear the pieces are in place to set up powerful heroes and fighters, and with Iron Fist melding magic with combat, it allows for Danny Rand to return to a world where Daredevil relies on his skill and White Tiger on his skill and magical abilities. In the end, the MCU has covered much ground and many concepts that serve to enhance the overall story. But it always lacked, in some capacity, a solid footing in the Martial Arts genre. Now, with shows like Eyes of Wakanda and Daredevil: Born Again, that can change for the better and once again change the MCU forever.