Iron Fist was one of the first Asian superheroes. The son of Wing, a lost citizen of K'un-Lun and Heather Rand, an American woman, Iron Fist was a controversial hero not only for his non-stereotypical Asianness but also for being mixed-race.
Despite this, he is an enduring and popular character in the world and Marvel mythos. Yet Stan Lee admitted Iron Fist was almost going to be a white man. By Lee's own admission, this would have changed his character and arc from an Asian man raised reconciling his life in the West with his heritage in the East to another "mighty whitey" character.
What impact on popular culture would this have had if Iron Fist had been white? I know my own father said that Iron Fist was a huge inspiration to him as a young Asian man.
Despite this, he is an enduring and popular character in the world and Marvel mythos. Yet Stan Lee admitted Iron Fist was almost going to be a white man. By Lee's own admission, this would have changed his character and arc from an Asian man raised reconciling his life in the West with his heritage in the East to another "mighty whitey" character.
What impact on popular culture would this have had if Iron Fist had been white? I know my own father said that Iron Fist was a huge inspiration to him as a young Asian man.