by Jake Weatherill from Lewisham Branch
So I have covered a lot of books recently, and maybe given my other love Graphic Novels a bit of the cold shoulder in the process. Unintentional I assure you. While I was tidying my room (not really been much else to do during lockdown) one weekend I found a collection of Graphic Novels I had forgotten about under my bed. If I am honest there were some I completely forgot I had bought. Naturally I spent the rest of the weekend re-reading these. The last volume I read was The Immortal Iron Fist.
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| Iron Fist Statue from Jake's Collection |
Up until the release of his Netflix series by Marvel you would be forgiven for not knowing much about him.
I had first come across him in a Spider-Man story called Maximum Carnage.
I must have been about 13, and as much as I would love to play the hipster and say I bought it because Iron Fist was in it that would be a lie. I purely bought it due to the fact it featured my favourite Spidey villains.
I thought Iron Fist seemed cool, but I didn't know much about him.
I had first come across him in a Spider-Man story called Maximum Carnage.
I must have been about 13, and as much as I would love to play the hipster and say I bought it because Iron Fist was in it that would be a lie. I purely bought it due to the fact it featured my favourite Spidey villains.
I thought Iron Fist seemed cool, but I didn't know much about him.
Now let's skip forward a decade or so. I had firmly become an avid Graphic Novel reader, having learnt more about certain characters, but also understanding the works of different writers, and styles used by different artists.
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| Poster from Jake's Collection |
Coincidentally, in my opinion, the 21st century has been the pinnacle of comic book artwork.
Anyway I digress, I had received a tax rebate, and rather than spending it on a holiday or video games I instead decided to go and splurge it on Graphic Novels.
I got quite a bit, including a work by one of my favourite writers Ed Brubaker.
Brubaker had had critically acclaimed runs as writer on Daredevil, as well as Captain America. Brubaker's work on Captain America massively redefined a character that had been seen by many as a jingoistic symbol into what would essentially be the template for Chris Evans on screen portrayal of the character.
I got quite a bit, including a work by one of my favourite writers Ed Brubaker.
Brubaker had had critically acclaimed runs as writer on Daredevil, as well as Captain America. Brubaker's work on Captain America massively redefined a character that had been seen by many as a jingoistic symbol into what would essentially be the template for Chris Evans on screen portrayal of the character.
I also picked up some work from another favourite writer of mine Matt Fraction.
I first came across him when reading Invincible Iron Man, which is one of my favourite runs of a writer on Iron Man, and so I picked up his volumes of Hawkeye.
I noticed a collection of Iron Fist stories and picked it up for closer inspection. I read the blurb and flipped it over to look at the front cover again.
I noticed two names at the bottom. Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction. Guess what got added to the basket?
The first thing that truly struck me about Iron Fist wasn't even the writing, or the story, it was the artwork.
For the most part this is done by David Aja. It's truly beautiful.
I first came across him when reading Invincible Iron Man, which is one of my favourite runs of a writer on Iron Man, and so I picked up his volumes of Hawkeye.
I noticed a collection of Iron Fist stories and picked it up for closer inspection. I read the blurb and flipped it over to look at the front cover again.
I noticed two names at the bottom. Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction. Guess what got added to the basket?
The first thing that truly struck me about Iron Fist wasn't even the writing, or the story, it was the artwork.
For the most part this is done by David Aja. It's truly beautiful.
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| From Jake's Collection |
Every panel has been lovingly rendered. Fight scenes are maybe the most impressive part of his work. From the darkest of scenes to the brightest of moments, it fits in perfectly with the story. Yet as we jump between settings (more on that later) we're treated to a host of contrasting styles by a carefully selected cast of artists. Each gives their own unique feel to the part of the story they draw, bringing it to life in their own exquisite way
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| Films from IndieFlix https://watch.indieflix.com/cult-1 |
Now the story, well that's where things get interesting.
Our protagonist is Daniel Rand, the eponymous Immortal Iron Fist, Mystic Warrior of K'un Lun, one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven.
Successful businessman by day, Chi enhanced martial artist by night. The Mark of Shou-Lao the Undying, the dragon one must defeat to gain the powers of the Iron Fist, burned upon his chest. Imagine Tony Stark meets Bruce Lee by way of Doctor Strange.
A man torn between two dramatically different worlds. Latest part of a legacy he knows little about, and a destiny he seemingly is unable to escape. Danny is basically our eyes and ears.
Both the centre of events and the outside observer.
Successful businessman by day, Chi enhanced martial artist by night. The Mark of Shou-Lao the Undying, the dragon one must defeat to gain the powers of the Iron Fist, burned upon his chest. Imagine Tony Stark meets Bruce Lee by way of Doctor Strange.
A man torn between two dramatically different worlds. Latest part of a legacy he knows little about, and a destiny he seemingly is unable to escape. Danny is basically our eyes and ears.
Both the centre of events and the outside observer.
There's clearly a heavy influence of kung-fu movies here, and not just Enter the Dragon. Modern works from the likes of Hero and House of Flying Daggers where the story is as much the focus as the spectacle of combat. The last two movies have comparatively intelligently weaved narratives compared to the 70's and 80's classics, and as the story unfolds the parallels are clear.
When we start the story Danny is doing what Danny does, playing the superhero, fighting the bad guys of New York.
It's not going particularly well, and as Danny falls to the overwhelming odds we cut to Thailand. An old man walks out of an Opium den, tailed by people with a clear interest in him. The man is attacked at his hotel and defends himself, forcing his attackers to flee having achieved nothing more than cutting open his shirt. In the last panel we see this man's chest.
The Mark of Shou-Lao revealed. Allow me to introduce you to Orson Randall, the previous Iron Fist. Off the grid since 1933.
It's not going particularly well, and as Danny falls to the overwhelming odds we cut to Thailand. An old man walks out of an Opium den, tailed by people with a clear interest in him. The man is attacked at his hotel and defends himself, forcing his attackers to flee having achieved nothing more than cutting open his shirt. In the last panel we see this man's chest.
The Mark of Shou-Lao revealed. Allow me to introduce you to Orson Randall, the previous Iron Fist. Off the grid since 1933.
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| From http://www.oxfordreference.com |
From here the narrative ultimately takes three different routes that dance around each other in a carefully choreographed ballet. The first prong deals with the legacy of the Iron Fist. Danny is merely the latest in a long line of Iron Fists, and coming across his predecessor enlightens him to this.
The revelation of the history of the mantle he bears has a profound impact on Danny, causing him to delve deeper into its legacy, to understand not only what it means to be the Iron Fist, but the price that must be paid to wield such power.
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| From http://www.oxfordreference.com |
The second deals with a different legacy, that of Danny's father and his relationship with Orson.
We see that decisions and actions from the past resonate still in the future.
The ramifications of which are not fully appreciated at the time play out over decades.
The link between the Rand family and K'un Lun run deeper than Danny even realises.
From his company to the mantle he carries, Danny's very existence is still at the mercy of events he had no part in.
We see that decisions and actions from the past resonate still in the future.
The ramifications of which are not fully appreciated at the time play out over decades.
The link between the Rand family and K'un Lun run deeper than Danny even realises.
From his company to the mantle he carries, Danny's very existence is still at the mercy of events he had no part in.
The third deals with the underlying tensions between the seven cities. This runs much deeper than tournaments. Deeper than friendly rivalry. There is something sinister within The Heart of Heaven.
Something rotten that threatens them all, yet the tensions are more than just inter-city rivalry.
In K'un Lun itself there are tensions running much deeper than anyone realises. It's a hotbed of dissent and resentment. It's a tinderbox waiting for the spark. And the flame is drawing ever closer.
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| Comic From Jake's Collection |
I personally rank The Immortal Iron Fist as one of the comic book masterpieces of the 21st century.
Again much like Extremis (check out my blog on that if you haven't) it provides an ideal jumping on point for new fans, while still telling the Kung-Fu story with a twist that draws the old fans back.
It's a mixture of captivating artwork and truly brilliant writing.
Again much like Extremis (check out my blog on that if you haven't) it provides an ideal jumping on point for new fans, while still telling the Kung-Fu story with a twist that draws the old fans back.
It's a mixture of captivating artwork and truly brilliant writing.
The best thing? We have the entire collection on our E-Library if you want to check it out!
Reading Order:
Vol. 1 Part 1
Vol. 2 Part 2
Vol. 3 Part3
Vol. 4 Part 4
Vol. 5 Part 5
Vol. 1 Part 1
Vol. 2 Part 2
Vol. 3 Part3
Vol. 4 Part 4
Vol. 5 Part 5
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