Danny Rand comes across a new holder of his former mantle with “Iron Fist” #1!
Written by Alyssa WongCover by Jim Cheung and Jay David Ramos
Illustrated by Michael Yg
Colored by Jay David Ramos
Lettered by Travis LanhamWHO IS THE NEW IRON FIST?!
After giving up his power to save the world, DANNY RAND believes he’s seen the last of the IRON FIST…
…But when DEMONS begin to attack cities around the world, a MYSTERIOUS NEWCOMER in a FAMILIAR MASK appears, hands blazing with the CHI OF SHOU-LAO THE UNDYING!
Who is this NEW IRON FIST? And does his power really come from the DRAGON OF K’UN-LUN… Or from something far more sinister?
When there turned out to be a new, emergent Iron Fist replacing Danny Rand, it felt a bit too convenient. There had just been a film about Chinese Shang-Chi, after all, and it seemed to be a way to transfer the power to someone of that descent or even he himself, to capitalize on the opportunity afforded by at the time recent events. In light of that preconception, who is this newest wielder of the chi of Shou-Lou the Undying? Does he measure up to the high expectations set by his predecessor and the illustrious line of the “Immortal” legacy?
Under the pen of Alyssa Wong, the answers to both of these questions are pleasantly surprising. Even if readers already were aware of the identity of this new Iron Fist, he brings quite a lot to the table, both as a newcomer and as someone with baggage of his own.
Wong is adept at handling a variety of Asia-based characters, especially the relative new arrivals such as Aero, White Fox, and Wave (among others). Her ability to merge comedy with drama, to bring pathos and stakes in a new way, helps a great deal with making “Iron Fist” #1 at once an introductory recap for people new to either the latest Iron Fist or the concept of the character as well as a path forward for those already aware of what is going on. The use of humor to add a little bit of extra to certain events, such as fake martial arts move names based around New York, still keeps the tone relatively light as well.
At the same time, Wong does not discredit Danny Rand, as he still remains a formidable force even without powers. Despite the focus on Asian culture, Wong does not try to bury the potential of previous iterations of the character’s initial roots. Similarly, despite the fact that Wong has written several comics about Shang-Chi, this debut does not rely upon him either, showing an ability to branch out from established Marvel characters to instead bring something new to the introductions of the past few years instead.
Michael Yg is a new arrival to Marvel Comics, without any other work for them listed under his name. That said, Yg is absolutely the right choice for one of Wong’s stories, and his artwork meshes perfectly with her writing and the story’s colors. Taking cues from both coexisting stories at Marvel and general feelings of motion and animation, Yg draws upon his own storage of internal potential not unlike that of the Iron Fist to deliver highly mobile illustrations, be they in action scenes or even just sitting at a table. The combat is well handled, with each panel looking rather quick, but not too exaggerated, as well as not focusing too much on impacts, but rather on the movements themselves.
However, it is in non-combat situations that Yg truly shines. Monsters feel all the more terrifying by their sheer detail and hunched posture, especially in contrast against the proud self-assurance put forward by the heroes of the mythical city of K’un-Lun, past and present both. The injuries of the new Iron Fist are detailed and raw, and every time he moves them, readers can easily commiserate with the agony he must be feeling.
The positioning of characters in individual panels does a lot to set the tone, and Yg is more than capable of demonstrating that kind of visual storytelling that enhances the words in a unique way. A view from the perspective of someone looking up while lying on the floor of a building shows the new Iron Fist in the impression of a hero there to save lives, while one from above looking down on a fight feels more impersonal, as if not having a real stake in who wins or loses a classic hero-versus-hero conflict. Meanwhile, an initial look at a character from a silhouette while someone is having trouble with monsters seems sinister, a truck of perception before they save the day. There are other manipulations of perception and emotion through the angles and focus, including disorientation and more, but to list them all would be useless without the context.
Jay David Ramos is the most prolific of this team of writer, illustrator, and colorist for “Iron Fist” #1, and his experience definitely shows. Rather than take the spotlight, Ramos uses color to emphasize and shift reader mood and attention, while leaving the majority of the focus on the artwork and the script. His dark hues enable more serious action to run its course, while the bright light of chi or other magical powers give hope in the darkness. The natural light of the sun plays well across characters’ faces, giving more than just magic or terror can toward making this world of bright colors and flashy action feel very much lived in, rather than just an assortment of lifeless figures that happen to be posed well.
Final Verdict: 7.5– A nice recap blends into an emergent story as newcomers and fans alike of the new Iron Fist can come together for this debut!
