I will be using generic description to determine whether the Netflix original shows Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist create a sub-genre of Misfit Superheroes. Generic description is used when multiple artifacts appear to respond to a similar situation and share come rhetorical similarities. To give you a background on each of these shows, here is a short description for each one:

Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones is a Marvel character with her own show on Netflix. She is a mid-twenties detective with super strength and the ability to avoid mind control. The first season follows Jessica along as she attempts, and ultimately does, defeat her arch nemesis.

Luke Cage

Luke Cage is another Marvel character with his own Netflix show. Cage is an ex-con with super strength and bullet proof skin. Cage has a soft spot for his neighborhood and when a gang member threatens to control the youth, Cage stands up to defeat them.

Iron Fist

Like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, Iron Fist (aka Danny Rand) is another Marvel character with a Netflix show. Danny has the power of a super-strength fist brought on by chi and must use it to defeat The Hand, a super villain organization of ninjas.

Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist share the following characteristics that make them Misfits:

• Few friends
• Quiet
• Jobs that keep them to themselves
• Alcoholics
• Disliked

Here are the qualities that make them Superheroes:

• Inhuman physical traits
• Ability to defeat villains when no one else can – last resort
• Brave
• Sense of responsibility
• Save those in danger

Although the Superhero genre is nothing new, most heroes are romanticized as having a:

• high moral code
• fighting spirit
• charismatic personality
• costume

Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist do not have these characteristic, yet they are still superheroes because they have inhuman physical traits and save the lives of others. Therefore, it is necessary they have their own sub-genre as Misfit Superheroes.

The organizing principles for this analysis will be:

• Unpopular
• Inhuman physical traits
• Responsibility for others