Iron Fist: Where Do I Start?

For being a genre about people fighting, superhero comics  have a distinct lack of martial arts. Sure, Captain America and Batman might know some jiujitsu, but I’m talking some real in-depth fighting styles. The heir apparent to that kung fu fightin’ throne is Marvel’s Iron Fist. Inspired by a scene from a 70s kung fu movie, Roy Thomas and Gil Kane created Iron Fist as a knife-edged strike into Marvel’s superheroic world beginning with his appearance in the 1970s anthology book Marvel Premiere. Danny Rand went to star in his own series for over two dozen issues before striking gold in a team-up with the blaxsploitation hero Luke Cage, aka Power Man. The two  have become  most identifiable for their team up, and have fought everyone up and down the Marvel villain hierarchy. In the mid-00s, Marvel brought back Iron Fist’s solo series for a celebrated, albeit short-lived, run by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and David Aja, but since then he’s become a key part of the Avengers franchise.

Although he might be best known as a supporting character, Iron Fist has a a great history in comic and Marvel’s done a surprisingly great job of collecting them in easy-to-find books. So jot these down, seek them out, and someday you might become Iron Fist!

Essential Iron Fist, Volume 1: This low-priced collection brings together Iron Fist’s first stories all in one place. From his humble origins to his rise to greatness as the warror of K’un-Lun, this book collects his first appearances in Marvel premiere as well as the first fifteen issues of the first Iron Fist series, including a great run by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. The book wraps it all up by showing Iron Fist’s first meeting with Luke Cage, building up to their epic tag team. A great collection, with great art from the likes of Gil Kane, John Byrne and even future G.I. Joe scribe Larry Hama.

The Immortal Iron Fist Omnibus, Vol. 1: Collecting the first year’s worth of stories in the mid-00 series by Brubaker, Fraction, Aja and others, this is the definitive modern-day interpretation of Danny Rand, Iron Fist and its legacy. Between Brubaker’s penchant for pulp action, Fraction’s ear for dialogue and phrasing and Aja’s expressive artwork, this is a real tour de force. In this, Iron Fist is called back to K’un-Lun for a tournament straight out of a 70s kung fu movie.

Iron Fist / Wolverine: The Return Of K’un Lun: This great little miniseries from 2000 pairs Rand with Wolverine as they go after a young upstart who stole Iron Fist’s powers and is teaming with the ninja sect the Hand to bring back K’un Lun and subvert it to their will. Jay Faerber and Jamal Igle did a fun little story here, reminiscent of the grindhouse movies Iron Fist was originally inspired by. Sadly it’s uncollected, but is an easy find in any decent-sized back issue bin.

The Immortal Iron Fist, Vol. 5: This is a continuation of the mid-00s series started in the above Iron Fist Omnibus, where Duane Swierczynski and Travel Foreman take over the book. I skipped their first collection of stories (Vol. 4 for those looking) because it took awhile for them to get their footing, but here in the fifth and final volume they sum up the series by delving into the legacy of the Iron Fist and others who have carried the mantle (both in the past and future). After this Foreman would go on to be a break-out star in DC’s Animal Man, but here he’s in a rough patch and is assisted by multiple fill-in artists that make the book as a whole a little less than what it could be.

Essential Power Man & Iron Fist, Vol. 1: These so-called ‘Heroes For Hire’ really messed as a team in the 70s, and this collection covers the high points of their time together. Fighting everyone from the mafia to Spanish super-villains and more, this one really shows Luke and Danny touring the world. Of particular interest in this is the great two-part story-arc from Power Man & Iron Fist #74-75 by Jo Duffy and Kerry Gammill showing Iron Fist’s return like a prodigal son to K’un-Lun the first time.