A rising star who suffered a serious injury and was gifted a bionic arm that endowed the wearer with superhuman strength. Sound familiar? No, we aren’t talking about the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes but rather a female powerhouse who made her comics debut 45 years ago. Do you know who this is?

Created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Arvell Jones, Misty Knight was first mentioned in Marvel Premiere #20 in 1975 before making her official appearance in the following issue. Before she became a super-powered hero, Misty was an everyday hero working with the NYPD. After a bomb attack left her severely injured, Misty was forced to amputate her right arm. Unhappy with the idea of accepting a desk job, Misty resigned from the police force. However, Tony Stark later provided her with a bionic arm that allowed her to punch a target with incredible force and crush objects as tough as steel in her vise-like grip. 

Shortly after receiving the upgraded arm, Misty teamed with her friend Colleen Wing to form the private detective agency, Nightwing Restorations Ltd. Together they would deal with cases nobody else was willing, or able, to resolve. During this time, Misty conducted undercover work against the crime lord John Bushmaster and aided Iron Fist and Spider-Man against the Steel Serpent. Around the time Misty first met Iron Fist, the two crimefighters fell in love and enjoyed a professional and romantic relationship. Through her detective agency, Misty aided Power Man and Iron Fist’s Heroes for Hire on numerous cases. She also helped the X-Men and Sunfire against Moses Magnum, fought Sabertooth and Constrictor and reformed the Heroes for Hire during the Civil War event. 

Following the Marvel NOW! relaunch, Misty and Valkyrie teamed to form the female superhero group, the Fearless Defenders. This roster has included Annabelle Riggs, Danielle “Dani” Moonstar, Warrior Woman, Clea, Elsa Bloodstone, Ren Kimura, and Nova. More recently, Misty appeared in the All-New, All-Different Marvel promotion as a supporting character to Sam Wilson as he assumes the new moniker of Captain America. Throughout this title, Misty helps Wilson overcome his uneasiness at Steve Rogers return, aids female heroes and villains rocked by scandal, and eventually enters into a romantic relationship with him. 

Over the years, Misty has also made appearances in the Hunt for Wolverine, Age of Apocalypse, Ultimate Extinction, Ultimate Mystery, and House of M storylines. Aside from comics, Misty is also an unlockable playable character in numerous video games. Within the television series based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Simone Missick (Ray Donovan) portrayed the intense detective in Luke Cage, The Defenders, and Iron Fist. 

Given the continued popularity of this formidable female heroine and the growing trend for standalone series on Disney+, Misty Knight and her bionic arm could be punching back onto the small screen someday soon.