Stick has to be one of the most mysterious people in the MCU to date since he’s human and yet so little is known about him that even his students and friends, if he can be said to have those, are almost like strangers. Yet everyone trusts the blind teacher since he’s that powerful and he’s that true to his word most of the time. In the Defenders on Netflix however Stick was in a bad way after a while, having to chop off one of his hands to escape and then meeting his end at the hands of Elektra no less. Up until his death, which in the MCU is obviously never confirmed until the studio says so, he was one of the toughest and most skilled fighters around considering that he could take out Daredevil and several others without much effort. His manner was a bit surly but at the same time he could back up his attitude.
Here’s a few things you might not have known about Stick.
10. He was the inspiration behind Master Splinter from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Since he predates the Turtles, Stick was used as an example for what Master Splinter would one day become. The biggest difference, besides Splinter being a rat, is that Splinter is actually kind where Stick has for the most part been kind of moody for much of his run.
9. He wasn’t an original part of Daredevil’s origin.
In the beginning Daredevil had more of a boxing, acrobatic style that made him into more of a dynamic and sometimes very upbeat person. But when it was established that Stick had taught him how to fight his character changed quite a bit and became far more brooding and taciturn than he’d originally been.
8. He’s been resurrected a few of times.
The first time he was reincarnated as a baby and had to be helped along in order to survive once the Hand realized he’d returned. The other two times he was resurrected as a full-grown adult by the Collector to fight for him in the Contest of Champions. In the MCU death is like the flu sometimes, you get over it eventually.
7. He’s cured Wolverine of his feral rage before.
A lot of people would be able to claim that his ability to ‘cure’ Logan of his bestial nature in this instance was more like abusing the man out of ‘tough love’, but his methods did work and he did manage to bring Logan back into a rational state of mind.
6. He’s been portrayed by Terrence Stamp.
The same guy that played General Zod many years earlier decided to take a chance and play a blind man that had trained superheroes and done battle with some of the best. Thankfully Terrence Stamp was more than up to the challenge.
5. His powers didn’t come by accident.
It’s apparent that Stick was born blind, so his accomplishments and the training he’s undergone are something of a superhuman feat to be honest. Being able to best someone like Daredevil and in some cases Elektra is no small thing. But Stick didn’t have any outside help, he trained himself to be that awesome.
4. Sonny Chiba almost took the role.
This was kind of a ‘maybe’ that turned into a ‘never gonna happen’ since Sonny Chiba, who is just incredibly awesome without any need for argument, was the ideal candidate for some, but Scott Glenn was the guy that got the role since he adhered to the look of the teacher.
3. He knows how to evade Daredevil’s senses.
It’s hard to explain really since Daredevil is supposed to be able to detect a heartbeat within twenty feet of him, but Stick has still managed to sneak up on his former student all the same. In some ways his stealth is almost supernatural.
2. In the MCU he’s 90 years old.
Obviously he’s taken care of himself and his skills are part of how he’s able to maintain his health and the level of activity that he performs in the MCU. He’s just as fit as anyone decades younger than him and can hang with the younger crowd for quite a while.
1. No one knows his real name.
It’s hard to believe after all those he’s trained and all those that have operated at his behest that no one has ever come across his name or what his origin story really is. But Stick is as mysterious as they come since his past is never really up for discussion and he stays firmly in the moment when he speaks to those around him.
As martial artists go in the MCU Stick probably isn’t the toughest or the most skilled but he’s right up there since he can take on a slew of enemies without breaking a sweat.
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