Leading the way in bringing television onto the web with high-speed and quality streaming video, Netflix hosted several live-action series behind the creative vision of Marvel Television in bringing some of its most iconic crime-fighting comic book heroes to life. The shows generated cult-like fandom all over the globe but was consequently cancelled in 2018 and 2019 due to Disney's intentions to create their own streaming service with the Marvel intellectual properties (comic book characters) that they now own. Below are the main characters that were featured in the Netflix + Marvel partnership while it lasted.
"How do you know the angel and the devil inside me aren't the same thing?"
Daredevil Netflix is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock aka Daredevil. Other iconic villains and characters such as Kingpin, Bullseye, Elektra, and Punisher appear on the show. Daredevil also crosses over into the Defenders series featuring Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. It aired for 3 seasons for a total of 39 episodes and is one of the shows that springboarded Netflix television series into a global phenomenon.
"I wish I had a Mother of the Year award so I could bludgeon you with it."
The Netflix series Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, a former superhero who opens her own detective agency. Jessica Jones filmed in New York City in areas that still look like the old Hell's Kitchen. In the show, she intermingles with other fellow New York superhero Luke Cage (her eventual husband in the comics) and other notorious villains such as Killgrave (Purple Man in the comics). The show will run for 3 seasons for a total 39 episodes and is one of the original shows that sprung Netflix into worldwide prominence.
"You're absolutely right. I'm not gonna touch him. Not the way I should. Since I can't touch the king, I'm gonna take his queen, his knights... his rooks... I'm knocking all his pieces off the board."
Mike Colter stars as Luke Cage, a former convict with superhuman strength and unbreakable skin who now fights crime and corruption in New York City, Harlem. He crosses over into Jessica Jones and also the Defenders series. He's a cult icon representing the unique culture and atmosphere of Harlem. The show ran for 2 seasons for a total of 26 episodes on Netflix.
"If you’re gonna look at yourself, really look in the mirror, you gotta admit who you are. But not just to yourself, you gotta admit it to everybody else."
The series stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle aka The Punisher. The Punisher is a vigilante who uses lethal methods to fight crime. He appears in season 2 of the Netflix Daredevil series and acts as an anti-hero that feuds with Daredevil's definition of justice against his own but turns out to be on the same side eventually. The show ran for 2 seasons with 26 episodes in total.
"I have a vision of total victory and nothing else. It’s the reason I’ve gotten this far. Defeat has no place in my mind."
Finn Jones stars as Danny Rand aka Iron Fist, a martial arts expert with the ability to call upon a mystical power known as the "Iron Fist". Iron Fist crosses over into other Netlfix series The Defenders and Luke Cage Season 2 as he fights crime in New York City against the Hand and other foes stemming from the mystical K'un-Lun.
"I tried being a one-man army, and it failed. But this... This feels like something else is at work here. The four of us show up to fight a criminal organization at the same moment? How obvious does it have to be? This... This cannot be an accident."
Marvel's The Defenders is miniseries that combined all of the Netflix solo series characters, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, into one epic New York City superhero mash. The villain is once again The Hand at a higher scale and Elektra is their trump card. Matt Murdock is torn between defeating the love of his life and saving her from the path of no return. It's a brief but exciting dream scenario to see our favorite Netflix superheroes together in one setting.