Let’s be honest Duane Swierczynski’s run on Iron Fist is probably never
going to be as incredible as that of Fraction and Brubaker. However,
that doesn’t mean the book isn’t worth reading. Swierczynski hits the
ground running with this issue and it was a lot of fun. He had a good
handle on all of the characters, and stayed true to the status quo
established by the previous creative team. We even get a look at
another previous Iron Fist who will hopefully continue to show up in
this arc and others. The story being set up for Danny Rand has my
interest after this first issue, and I hope a lot of the people who
decided to drop this title change their mind. Although if art is of
primary importance to them maybe they shouldn’t change their mind after
all. The flashback scenes of the previous Iron Fist are done well, but
the same can’t be said for the rest of the story. At times it wasn’t so
bad like in the scenes from Danny’s birthday party, but in others
particularly the fight scenes it just doesn’t do it for me at all. One
panel in particular makes Danny look like he is about 100 feet tall.
Overall the dark and gritty style just doesn’t fit with the book. Yes
to some extent Iron Fist is a street level super hero book, but it is
also a fun, mystical, kung fu epic. Regardless unless art is of the
utmost importance pick this up.