The ultimate character guide to the Netflix-Marvel universe

Do you know your Jessicas from your Jeris?

No matter how much we love Robert Downey Jr's quippy one-liners and Joss Whedon's sarcasm soaked Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, there's something addictive about Netflix's gritty, grimy and deadly take on the Marvel Universe.

From Jessica Jones fighting her demons, to Kingpin de-stressing with a head and a car door (it still gives us nightmares), Netflix has managed to take some of Marvel's less... dare we say it... Hollywood heroes and give them the platform they deserve. The only problem is, there's a lot of names and faces to keep track of and they don't make it easy with the secret identities and the popping in and out of each other shows. Rather than run the risk of mixing up your superheroes (and sidekicks) check out our ultimate character guide to all the main players in the... Metflix? Narvel? (don't judge us) universe. Also... spoilers!

Images: Netflix

Matt Murdock/Daredevil

Need to know: A quiet, chivalrous and generally all-round nice guy with a crime-fighter dark side. He was blinded as a child by a freak accident, but uses his incredible senses to become a gritty defender of the innocent (especially in alley ways and long corridors). Hes also the founder of Nelson and Murdock law firm with his best friend Foggy Nelson and has helped to expose Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, and send him to prison.

Jessica Jones/Jewel

Need to know: Shes a determined, kick-ass private investigator with super strength and the ability to fly also known as jumping with a carefully planned landing. She tried the superhero game as Jewel, but returned to Hells Kitchen after being used and abused by The Purple Man, aka Kilgrave.

Luke Cage

Need to know: Walking muscle Luke Cage meets Jessica Jones during the course of one of her investigations. He runs a bar in Hells Kitchen which is swiftly burned to the ground during a particularly disastrous run-in with Kilgrave. He has super-strength and impenetrable skin making him impervious to most weapons.

Claire Temple

Need to know: Hells Kitchen resident and night shift nurse Claire Temple is constantly patching up individuals whove been beaten or saved by the masked vigilante, aka Daredevil. When she finds him almost beaten to death in a dumpster outside her house she tends to his wounds, keeps him safe and becomes his de facto nurse whenever things get ugly. Theres also a romantic connection between the two.

Elektra

Need to know: Elektra Natchios is described as a mysterious woman from Matt Murdocks past whos arriving to give Daredevil season two a blast of fresh air. She studied at Columbia University where she took Spanish classes something which is referenced by Foggy in season one implying her and Matt were a little more than friends. In the comics, Elektra is seen as a violent mercenary and assassin whos often jumping the fence between good and evil.

Karen Page

Need to know: Karen Page is the secretary for Nelson and Murdock law firm, working alongside Foggy and Matt to solve crimes and help the needy in Hells Kitchen. She was emailed a file containing damning information about her previous employer, only to find herself framed for the murder of her colleague. She later called upon the support of newspaper journalist Ben Urich, who was also dead by the end of the season, but she was instrumental in bringing Wilson Fisk to justice so we can forgive her.

Foggy Nelson

Need to know: Franklin Foggy Nelson is Matt Murdocks best friend and law partner. Foggy has to quickly adapt when he discovers Matt is actually Daredevil, but much of this tension is compounded by the fact that Foggy loves Karen, who in turn admires Matt. The character offers a splash of light relief in-line with the original comic book set-up, which also painted Foggy as kind-hearted, optimistic and generally the polar opposite of Matt Murdock.

Kilgrave/Purple Man

Need to know: Kevin Thompson, also referred to as Kilgrave, is the villain of the first season of Jessica Jones. After being experimented on as a child, Kilgrave developed mind-control powers allowing him to make anyone do or say whatever he chooses. His control over Jessica Jones is so absolute that she kills Luke Cages wife the shock of which breaks her compulsion and kick starts the Jessica Jones Netflix series.

Patricia 'Trish' Walker

Need to know: Having grown up as a super successful child star with a string of toys, books and TV shows to her name, Patricia Trish Walker is pegged as a type-A control freak with serious security issues. Although excelling in hand-to-hand combat, her childhood friend and surrogate sister Jessica Jones helped to bring Trish from under the thumb of her mother. She also encourages Jessica to use her powers to help people as Jewel.

The Punisher/Frank Castle

Need to know: Army vet and badass marine Frank Castle experiences the worst possible trauma when his family is killed, forcing him to take some good old fashioned vigilante justice. Expect a kind of powerful single-mindedness and rage thats at odds with Matt Murdocks save the world approach.

Kingpin/Wilson Fisk

Need to know: A gangster with a soft side, Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin is completely unpredictable, ruthless and prone to violent outbursts that make you want to vomit. Come on, you all saw the head in the car door scene, right? His presence caused series problems for Daredevil in season one.

Jeri Hogarth

Need to know: Jeri is a hard line, no-nonsense lawyer who provides Jessica with a steady stream of people to follow and lines to cross. In her personal life, Jeri is going through a particularly nasty divorce something which Kilgrave uses to his twisted advantage as the series progresses.