The Steel Serpent first appeared as a shadowy figure in Iron Fist #1 (November 1975), a landmark issue that introduced the world to Danny Rand. His full identity as Davos was revealed later in the series. He was co-created by the legendary comic book duo of writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, who were at the helm of Marvel's most iconic titles during the Bronze Age of Comics. Davos's creation was a product of the “Kung Fu Kraze” that swept through American pop culture in the 1970s, heavily influenced by the international success of Bruce Lee. Marvel Comics capitalized on this trend by creating martial arts-themed heroes like Shang-Chi and Iron Fist. To give these heroes compelling antagonists, creators needed villains who could match them not just in physical prowess but in ideological opposition. Davos was conceived as the perfect foil for Danny Rand—an insider from the mystical city of K'un-Lun who felt he was more deserving of the Iron Fist title than the “outsider” Danny. This created a deeply personal and enduring rivalry that has been a cornerstone of Iron Fist's mythology for decades.
The origin of Davos is a tragic tale of ambition, jealousy, and failure. While the core elements remain similar across continuities, the specifics of his journey and motivations differ significantly between the comics and the live-action adaptation.
In the prime Marvel continuity, Davos's story is intrinsically linked to the legacy and hierarchy of K'un-Lun. He is the son of Lei Kung the Thunderer, the stern and revered martial arts master who trains every potential Iron Fist. From birth, Davos was groomed for greatness, displaying immense talent and a fierce dedication that surpassed nearly all his peers. He believed, with an unshakeable sense of entitlement, that he was destined to be the next Iron Fist. His ambition, however, was tainted by a venomous pride and a palpable jealousy towards his father's other prize student, Wendell Rand, Danny's father. When the time came for his generation to challenge the immortal dragon Shou-Lao the Undying to earn the power of the Iron Fist, Davos's hubris was his undoing. Overconfident and arrogant, he demanded the right to face the dragon first. Lei Kung, sensing his son's impure intentions, forbade him. In an act of defiance, Davos challenged Shou-Lao anyway. The dragon, unimpressed by his skill which lacked a pure heart, easily defeated him, searing a serpent-like scar onto his chest as a permanent mark of his failure and shame. Disgraced and exiled from K'un-Lun by his own father and the city's ruler, Yu-Ti, Davos wandered the mortal world for years, his heart hardening with bitterness. His hatred focused on the Rand family, especially after learning that the “outsider” Danny Rand had succeeded where he had failed. He became the Steel Serpent, a name derived from his scar, and dedicated his life to a single purpose: to steal the Iron Fist power from Danny Rand and prove his own superiority. Over the years, he made numerous attempts, often by siphoning Danny's chi through cunning and mystical means. His obsession eventually led him into the service of darker powers, most notably the Crane Mother of K'un-Zi, who granted him enhanced abilities to serve as her champion against K'un-Lun.
The MCU's version of Davos, portrayed by Sacha Dhawan in the Netflix series Iron Fist, receives a more sympathetic and grounded backstory. In this continuity, Davos was not just a rival to Danny Rand (Finn Jones) but his closest friend and training partner in K'un-Lun. They were like brothers, pushing each other to excel in their grueling training. The schism between them began when Danny was chosen to face Shou-Lao. Davos, a native of K'un-Lun who had dedicated his entire existence to its traditions and defense, felt a profound sense of betrayal that an outsider was given this sacred honor. His resentment was compounded when Danny, after becoming the Iron Fist, abandoned his post at the gates of K'un-Lun to return to New York. From Davos's perspective, this was an unforgivable dereliction of duty, a spit in the face of everything he held sacred. He followed Danny to New York, initially attempting to persuade him to return to his duties. When persuasion failed, their ideological differences erupted into violent conflict. Davos saw Danny's integration with the modern world as a corruption of the Iron Fist's purpose. He allied himself with factions of The Hand and later with Joy Meachum to achieve his goals. His primary motivation was not simple envy, but a fanatical belief that he was the only one who truly understood the responsibility of the Iron Fist. This culminated in him orchestrating an ancient ritual to forcibly transfer the power of the Iron Fist from Danny's body to his own, finally claiming the “glowing fist” he long believed should have been his. His fist, however, glowed red, symbolizing his corrupted intentions and violent methods.
While both versions of Davos are master martial artists, their specific power sets and personalities reflect the differing tones of their respective universes—one steeped in high-fantasy mysticism, the other in grounded, character-driven drama.
Davos is one of the most formidable martial artists on Earth-616, a legitimate threat even to super-powered individuals.
The comic book Davos is defined by his arrogance, entitlement, and blinding envy. He is utterly convinced of his own superiority and sees Danny Rand not just as a rival, but as a thief who stole his destiny. He is single-minded in his pursuit of the Iron Fist, willing to ally with anyone—from Hydra to mystical demons—to achieve his goal. While capable of strategic thinking, his actions are almost always driven by his deep-seated inferiority complex and rage. There are rare moments of honor, but they are inevitably consumed by his obsession.
The MCU's Davos is a more psychologically complex character, with his abilities reflecting a more “street-level” approach.
The MCU's Davos begins as a zealous traditionalist. He is disciplined, loyal, and deeply devoted to K'un-Lun. His defining characteristic is his sense of betrayal and abandonment. He genuinely loved Danny as a brother, which makes Danny's “betrayal” of their home all the more painful. This pain festers into a cold, righteous fury. He is not motivated by a simple desire for power, but by a twisted sense of justice. He believes he is cleansing New York's criminal element and upholding the honor of the Iron Fist in a way Danny failed to. He is a tragic figure: a man whose devotion and love for his home curdled into violent extremism.
Davos's life is a web of broken friendships, strategic alliances, and one all-consuming rivalry.
Davos's character has been most deeply explored in a handful of key storylines that have become essential reading (or viewing) for understanding him.
This seminal run by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja redefined Iron Fist's mythology and, by extension, that of Davos. Here, Davos is elevated from a simple rival to a major player on a cosmic scale. He is reintroduced as the champion of the Crane Mother, leading an army of Hydra agents in a technologically-backed assault on K'un-Lun. The storyline reveals the existence of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven and the Tournament where their Immortal Weapons compete. Davos's participation in this tournament, his complex motivations, and his climactic battles with Danny Rand and his predecessor, Orson Randall, are central to the plot. It's in this series that Davos is forced into a reluctant truce with the other Weapons, and it concludes with him gaining a measure of understanding, though not true redemption.
For the mainstream audience, this is the definitive portrayal of Davos. His arc spans two seasons. In Season 1, he appears as a supporting character, a ghost from Danny's past who arrives to criticize his choices and attempt to drag him back to K'un-Lun. He is presented as a stern, duty-bound warrior. Season 2 sees him become the primary antagonist. Consumed by his belief that Danny has failed the Iron Fist legacy, he partners with Joy Meachum to systematically dismantle Danny's life before enacting the ritual to steal the power. As the new “Steel Serpent” Iron Fist, he wages a brutal war on the Triads of New York, believing he is purifying the city. His arc explores themes of zealotry and how good intentions can be twisted into villainy, ending with his defeat and capture by Colleen Wing, who herself takes on the Iron Fist power.
This miniseries highlights Davos's twisted obsession with legacy. Believing the world needs a more ruthless Iron Fist, Davos travels to the lost island of Liu-Shi and attempts to train a young boy named Choshin to become his own successor. He subjects the boy to a brutal and unforgiving regimen, a dark parody of his own training under Lei Kung. The story provides a deep look into Davos's psyche, showing that his desire is not just to possess the power, but to see his own bitter ideology perpetuated. It's a dark and personal tale that reinforces his role as Danny's ideological opposite.
While the Earth-616 and MCU versions are the most prominent, several other iterations of Davos exist across the Marvel multiverse.