By Rebecca Gault — From the get-go, Alyssa Wong’s new Iron Fist #1 moves this character - and the legacy of his mantle - into a place that a lot of people may find far more palatable. In recent years, Iron Fist has come under scrutiny for the white-savior tropes it seems to exhibit and for almost always having a predominantly white creative team. Now, with an Asian-American writer and artist at the helm, and with a new Asian lead stepping into the role of the Iron Fist, the book sets out to course-correct some of these wider problematic issues (Wong discussed the decision to introduce an Asian Iron Fist for the first time in 50 years with IGN).

It’s a strong start for this run, too. Wong’s writing is crisp in such a way that has her dialogue jumps from the page. It’s evident that she’s a talented writer from the get-go and also well-versed in this lore. From the start, we see a thoughtful consideration of what K’un-Lun would look like without Iron Fist and the concern that ripples outwards.

For anyone who cared for Danny Rand as a character, they’ll be glad to see him still in the pages here. Wong shows no interest in rewriting the history of Iron Fist, despite all the potentially thorny moments that come along with it, and it certainly would make it a lot easier to read if you were a previous fan of the character. Danny shows interest in our new Iron Fist and seeks to help him, even if he has very little interest in accepting such help.

Lin Lie is sketched out in broad but distinctive strokes here, with enough familiar archetypes to make his character easy to grasp while Wong’s writing lifts him off the page in a way that makes him tangible to a reader. The hook of his backstory and how he came to wield the power of Shou-Lou’s chi is a strong concept to hinge this five-issue run on and offers personal stakes in a story that can so often feel unmoored and liable to spin out into tropes of the mythic.

All of this is heightened by Michael Yg’s art, which serves as an excellent blending of the fantastic and the familiar. The roots of this issue’s aesthetics feel real and solid while also bringing a sharply honed sense of fun to every panel. In particular, the illustrations of K’un-Lun do incredible work at making this place feel real and tangible.

The final scene especially stands out here. The strong focus on Lin Lie’s potential family and the personal stakes that he stands to defend with this newfound power is warming, something that makes the final cliffhanger of the issue all the more horrifying. Something is searching for Lin Lie, something is yearning to make its move and the audience must simply wait for the next issue in order to see just what will come of the horror laid out here.

Overall: Iron Fist #1 is a strong opening issue that creates a version of the character that may read as more palatable to many readers, complete with stunning art and a strong authorial voice. 8.5/10

REVIEW: Iron Fist #1

Iron Fist #1
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Artist: Michael Yg
Colorist: Jay David Ramos
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
WHO 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?
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Iron Fist #1

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Rebecca is a literature student by day, a freelance writer by night, and a comics fan always. She is a big fan of everything superheroic and horrific. Right now, she can be found on Twitter at @phoenixfcrce.