IRON FIST
Real Name: Bei Bang-Wen
Identity/Class: Human, mystically empowered (19th
century) (K'un-Lun)
Occupation: Adventurer, rebel leader
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Lei Kung the Thunderer, Vivatma Visvajit
Enemies: British Empire, Shou-Lao the Undying, Tiger Jani
Known Relatives: Unidentified wife, thirteen unidentified sons
Aliases: "The Perfect Strategy Mind"
Base of Operations: K'un-Lun;
formerly China
First Appearance: Immortal Iron Fist I#3 (March, 2007)
Powers/Abilities: Bei Bang-Wen possessed the Iron Fist, the mystical energy originated from the dragon Shou-Lao the Undying. He had the brand of the dragon's heart pressed upon the side of his head. Through meditation he could focus his chi into his fists, making them like unto things of iron. He could also use his chi to heal injuries in his own body or the injuries of others by meditating over them. He also had a keen mind for strategy and considered himself an excellent military strategist.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Immortal Iron Fist I#15) - Bei Bang-Wen was a man from K'un-Lun born
in 1827, who gained the power of the Iron Fist from besting the dragon
Shou-Lao. He was a particularly cerebral Iron Fist with a keen mind for
strategy. In 1860, as the British Empire went to war with China during
the Second Opium War, Bei Bang-Wen fought on the side of China and
attempted to use his strategic mind to plan an attack.
(Immortal Iron Fist I#3 (fb)) - On August 21, 1860, Bei Bang-Wen guided the Chinese in building the Taku Forts at the Hai River. When the British came to invade the forts, Bei Bang-Wen directed the Chinese to fire their rifles at the soldiers then he unleashed the power of the Iron Fist against them, killing many British soldiers.
(Immortal Iron Fist I#15) - Much to his surprise, Bei Bang-Wen not only failed to defeat the British but he survived the fight. With his confidence shaken, Bei Bang-Wen lost the ability to harness the Iron Fist. The British took him as a prisoner, transferring him to Chapra Jail in Bihar, India. In his time at Chapra, Bei Bang-Wen was frequently beaten by his jailers but he was so despondent at his failure that he felt he deserved worse than what was inflicted upon him. He was put to work as a laborer and befriended by Vivatma Visvajit, who was likewise a mystical champion that had once been called the Brahman but could no longer access his power. Seeing they had much in common, the two men plotted a jailbreak and escaped Chapra, intending to liberate Vivatma's emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II from exile in Burma.
Leaving Chapra aboard a fishing boat, the two men realized at sea they had no food. Bei Bang-Wen couldn't swim but Vivatma used their sextant as a cutting tool and swam below, killing fish and thus feeding them during their voyage. Arriving in Burma, they went to the palace, where they thought Bahadur Shah Zafar II was imprisoned, only to find the emperor had died long ago. The mystical being Tiger Jani waited for them in the palace, having let people think the emperor was still alive in the hope heroes would come to rescue him and she could then kill the heroes. Tiger Jani unleashed her power against Bei Bang-Wen and sliced open his stomach. While Bei Bang-Wen lay dying, Vivatma regained his own lost powers and defeated Tiger Jani then healed Bei Bang-Wen's injuries. Bei Bang-Wen decided to return to K'un-Lun, where he relinquished his powers as the Iron Fist.
(Immortal Iron Fist Annual I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Bei Bang-Wen contributed to the Book of the Iron Fist, writing about how to repair one's injuries by focusing their purest chi inward on the inner wheels of healing.
(Immortal Iron Fist I#15) - In writing of his own adventures in the Book of the Iron Fist, Bei Bang-Wen claimed he'd died at the Taku Forts in 1860. However, he went on to live many years in K'un-Lun, marrying a woman and fathering thirteen sons.
Comments: Created by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Travel Foreman and Derek Fridolfs.
This profile was completed on
11/13/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the
Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Bei Bang-Wen, the Iron Fist, should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Immortal Iron Fist I#15, cover (main)
Immortal Iron Fist I#15, page 9, panel 6 (face)
Appearances:
Immortal
Iron Fist I#3 (March, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Matt Fraction
(writer), Travel Foreman (penciler), Derek Fridolfs (inker), Warren
Simons (editor)
Immortal Iron Fist Annual I#1 (November, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer),
Matt Fraction (writer), Howard Chaykin (artist), Dan Brereton (artist),
Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic (artist), Warren Simons (editor)
Immortal Iron Fist I#15 (July, 2008) - Matt Fraction (writer), Khari
Evans (penciler), Victor Olazaba (inker), Warren Simons (editor)
First posted: 09/06/2026
Last updated: 11/13/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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should check out the real thing!
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