It's been almost 50 years since Danny Rand made his debut as the Immortal Iron Fist, and the franchise is about to receive its biggest shake-up ever. As Marvel recently announced, the Iron Fist mantle is passing to a brand new hero in 2022.
Just who is the new Iron Fist, and why has the time come for Danny to give up his costumed identity? To learn more, IGN spoke with writer Alyssa Wong. First, check out the slideshow gallery below to see exclusive new artwork and character designs, and then read on to learn why the time has come for a new defender of K'un-Lun.
Reinventing Iron Fist
Iron Fist has been around since 1974's Marvel Premiere #15, and it's almost always been Danny Rand wielding the power of the dragon Shou-Lao and defending the mystical city of K'un-Lun. But while Danny certainly has a sizable fanbase, the character has also come under increasing scrutiny in recent years.
Many have pointed out that Danny's story feeds into certain white savior tropes so common to superhero comics and pulp fiction. The decision to cast English actor Finn Jones in the lead role of Netflix's Iron Fist series drew more attention to this controversy, with some fans arguing the series should have re-imagined Danny as an Asian or Asian American character.
"It’s impossible to be unaware of the controversy around Iron Fist," Wong told IGN. "There’s a lot of very fair critique, and it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot as I work on this new story. What does it mean to deal with a complicated legacy as you try to move forward? How do you draw on the elements that speak to you while acknowledging a complex and necessarily imperfect past?"
Marvel is still keeping a tight lid on the new series, so Wong wasn't able to reveal much about the new Iron Fist's background or motivations. Even the character's real name is a mystery for now. However, she did emphasize that the new series is meant to build on the franchise's 50 year history and lore, not erase what's come before.
"I am so excited to be writing an Asian Iron Fist!" Wong said. "That’s something that a lot of people have wanted to see for a long time, myself included, and it feels special to be entrusted with that opportunity. We have seen Iron Fists of Asian descent before, like Wu Ao-Shi and Pei, but as supporting characters in Danny Rand’s story (and in the case of past Immortal Iron Fists, all long dead). Having a new Iron Fist take the lead represents a new chapter for the Iron Fist legacy–not erasing decades of comics history, but building on it."
Wong continued, "Danny Rand as Iron Fist first appeared in 1974, inspired by kung-fu films. What does it look like to become an Iron Fist in 2021, almost fifty years later (in real time, not comics time)? It has to be different. Every Iron Fist’s journey is different, because they’re different people born in different eras. It’s definitely something I’m exploring in this run."
Interestingly, Wong echoed comments recently made by Superman: Son of Kal-El writer Tom Taylor regarding Jon Kent coming out as bisexual. Wong feels this new Iron Fist is an important step forward for the franchise and the ongoing push for diversity in superhero comics.
"I also know there are many people for whom Iron Fist is incredibly important," Wong said. "I never want to discount that. I hope that this story will speak to those who have loved Danny for years, as well as folks who have never read an Iron Fist comic but are aching to see a character they can relate to. Everyone deserves the chance to see themselves in the comics they love."
Wong was able to provide some hints about what separates the new Iron Fist from his predecessors in terms of his powers and origin story. She teased a more "athletic" approach to this Iron Fist's martial abilities, bringing to mind Batman's transformation from a muscular bruiser to a lithe gymnast in the '70s.
"What I can say is that he’s taken a slightly unorthodox path to becoming an Iron Fist (which not everyone in K’un-Lun is pleased about). He’s also been trained by several different people, including some familiar faces. His fighting style is influenced by them. Something we don’t always see in male super heroes is emphasis on agility over sheer power, so I wanted to give him a more acrobatic style, the kind you might associate with a cat burglar. As for his powers… they’re strange. They’re tied into his origin story, with an intense Iron Fist twist. You’ll have to read it to find out more!"
The Legacy of Iron Fist
While Wong couldn't reveal much about this new hero, she did make it clear Danny Rand still has an important part to play in the series, despite the fact that he no longer has his powers.
"Danny might not have the power of the Iron Fist any more, but he’s still a master martial artist who’s saved the world several times. Can you ever really return to normal civilian life? Especially when your city’s constantly under (often supernatural) attack?" Wong says. "That being said, Danny is about as chill as anyone could be under those circumstances. He’s getting lunch with Luke Cage and Pei, working on himself, and occasionally fighting off a demonic threat on the way to the supermarket. He’s honestly having a great time. I hope he’s getting to relax a little bit! Somehow, I doubt the peace will last…"
Danny will be as perplexed as anyone by the emergence of the new Iron Fist, sparking a mystery that will slowly unfold over the course of the five-issue series.
"When the story kicks off, Danny believes the Chi of Shou-Lao the Undying is chilling peacefully in K’un-Lun where he left it. So when he discovers that this apparently is not the case, he’s determined to find answers," Wong teases. "Saying anything more would be a spoiler, but I do think Danny is in a unique position to mentor the new Iron Fist… if he can catch him first!"
Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker and David Aja are widely credited for reinvigorating the Iron Fist franchise thanks to their 2006 series The Immortal Iron Fist. Among other things, that series was notable for establishing that Danny was the latest in a long line of Iron Fists dating back centuries. Wong revealed that not only is that series a major source of inspiration, but fans might see some of those historical Iron Fists appear over the course of this book.
"Legacy is a big theme in this story, and that means looking at past Iron Fists," Wong said. "Wu Ao-Shi is one of my favorite Iron Fist characters. She’s intense, powerful, and has a great sense of humor. As the first woman to become an Iron Fist, I think she’d also have been an inspiration to the women of K’un-Lun. Wu Ao-Shi and her legacy are definitely going to come up!"
Redesigning an Iconic Superhero Costume
Danny Rand has had a few Iron Fist costumes over the years, but they've all tended to follow the same basic motif. Not so with the new Iron Fist. Just as he did for Shang-Chi, artist Jim Cheung has redesigned Iron Fist's costume from the ground up. Wong revealed Cheung came on board as she was writing the script for issue #1, crafting a new look with input from various creators involved with the series.
"From the very start, we knew we wanted to give this character an updated Iron Fist costume. Something that felt unique to him," Wong said. "The team discussed it a lot, and when I wrote the first script, I included a description of what I had in mind, which was basically a list of suggestions and a general vibe. Every script is a discussion and invitation, and I’m always so thrilled to see what each member of the team comes up with. Jim Cheung’s design knocked it out of the park. It’s so beautiful that I had to lie down when I saw it. "
While Cheung designed the new Iron Fist costume and drew the cover for Iron Fist #1, the interior art is being handled by artist Michael YG, a newcomer at Marvel. Wong told IGN YG's skill with conveying movement and action is exactly what made him such a natural fit for the series.
"Michael YG’s art is stunning! He draws beautiful environments; there’s a certain shot of K’un-Lun in issue one that has burned its way into my brain forever. For the first time, for me, K’un-Lun felt like a real place. He strikes that balance of fantastical and familiar, which I think is really hard to do well. Michael also brings a sense of fun and playfulness to the characters that I feel is key to this story. He’s also designed some new characters who I’m very excited to introduce to you!"
Wong continued, "The key to depicting a superhuman martial artist is always focusing on who they are as a person. It informs how they fight, how they approach situations, what methods they’re willing to consider, and how they view other people in a situation. How do their emotions drive them in each moment? What are they willing to risk or give up? Every good super hero story is, at its core, a character story. And that’s something Michael is great at."
What's Next for the New Iron Fist?
Marvel solicited the new Iron Fist as a five-issue limited series, which raises the question of when and where this new hero will appear next. For that matter, will the new Iron Fist branch out into other media? Will he replace Danny Rand as the MCU's designated Iron Fist? It's too early to say, though Wong is certainly hopeful the character has a bright future ahead of him.
"I have a lot of feelings about this Iron Fist, and he’s so much fun to write. I hope that comes across on the page and that people grow to love the character the way I did. I’d definitely love to write more of him after this series, and it would be awesome to see his story continue, both in comics and other media."
That said, there are already some early signs this new hero is striking a chord with readers.
"The wildest thing, though? People have already started creating fanart of the new Iron Fist. I think the first piece was finished within hours of his announcement. It’s such an honor to make something that inspires other people. And I think this response shows how much this means."
Wong continued, "I hope that this Iron Fist story will hit home with new and old fans–people finding their way into Iron Fist for the first time, and people who have loved it for years. The team behind this is incredible, and the passion from the fans is deeply moving. I’m so excited to share this story with you."
Iron Fist #1 will release on February 16, 2022.
For more on Marvel's big 2022 plans, find out which Loki character is making the jump from Disney+ to comics.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
