In just a few short weeks, fans of the Netflix exclusive Marvel’s Daredevil series will get what they’ve been anticipating for a year now: a second season. Daredevil season 1 exceeded expectations for many fans and season 2 is looking to be equally (if not more) entertaining and action-packed.
Daredevil season 2’s inclusion of fan favorite characters like Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Elektra Natchos (Elodie Yung) have been dominating the headlines over the past months, but fans of the Daredevil comic book lore will also be familiar with a very different, yet powerful and worth adversary that’s confirmed to appear in season 2: The Hand!
If you’re a good-hearted vigilante trying to keep your neighborhood safe, there’s nothing like an evil group of mystical ninjas to just ruin your day. This new photo, posted to the official Daredevil Twitter account, shows Daredevil knee-deep in Ninjas. We got the first look at the hand in the Elektra-focused trailer for Daredevil season 2, but this picture really gives a good look at the desperate tone and sheer numbers that the inevitable battle will bring.
The Hand has been a bur in the side of The Man Without Fear ever since Frank Miller introduced them into the comics back in 1981 in the pages of Daredevil #174. The Hand has been a powerful group living in the shadows for hundreds of years. They are so powerful, in fact, that (in the world of Marvel comics) after World War II members of The Hand broke off to form the original version of a little group you may have heard of: HYDRA.
The inclusion of Stick (Scott Glenn) in Daredevil season 1 opened the door for an appearance by the evil ninja clan. The one group that can give The Hand a run for its money in the comic books is The Chaste, a group of elite martial artists that exists with the sole purpose of battling the evil Hand. The Chaste is led by none other than Stick. Miller also created The Chaste, which debuted in Daredevil #187, in 1982. It is unknown if The Chaste will appear in Daredevil season 2, but considering how true the show has aimed to be to its source material thus far, it seems rather likely, especially with the appearance of the character Stone last season and Stick returning in season 2.
The Hand have seen appearances in animated series like Fox’s 1994 Iron Man series and in feature films like Elektra, but Daredevil season 2 will mark the first live action television appearance they have made.
A fun bit of trivia for those that may not follow the history of comic books: have you ever noticed that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creators Eastman and Laird parodied a few characters from Daredevil lore? The master that took in the turtles and taught them ninjitsu was Splinter, a reference to Stick. Likewise, The Foot Clan is a parody of The Hand. Ironic that the public has been far more familiar with The Foot Clan parody until this point. Hopefully, the appearance of The Hand will be lasting and impactful enough to bring even more attention to Daredevil season 2.
Daredevil season 1 and Jessica Jones season 1 are now available on Netflix. Daredevil season 2 will debut on Netflix on March 18th, 2016, followed by Luke Cage season 1 later in 2016. Release dates for Jessica Jones season 2, Iron Fist, and The Defenders on Netflix have not yet been announced.
Source: Marvel/Netflix
