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.

Yellowjackets premieres on Showtime Nov. 14, 2021, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

It’s often been the default in survivalist storytelling to show men as the ones who devolve to their basest natures first as the women remain the measured purveyors of decency. Yellowjackets blasts that trope into oblivion by fully embracing that when pressed into dire circumstances, women behave very badly as well.

The Showtime original series is showrun by Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, and Jonathan Lisco, with Lyle and Nickerson writing the pilot directed by horror veteran Karyn Kusama (The Invitation). Together they put the ingredients of a coming-of-age drama, a psychological thriller, and a brutally grisly “last girl” horror movie into a story blender, and then remand all those pulpy ingredients into the hands of their fabulously cast ensemble of younger and older actresses who share playing the characters in 1996 or 2021.

The Yellowjackets of the title refers to the name of the New Jersey high school girl’s soccer team imminently heading to the 1996 nationals. Led by popular team captain Jackie (Ella Purnell), the players are a disparate collection of competitive personalities plagued by all of the age-appropriate Achilles’ heels you might expect, from petty jealousy to Machiavellian backstabbing and plain old boy trouble. The 1996 flashbacks are interwoven into the story in the now, so we get to see the early dynamics of the team for context. There are plenty of hotheads like Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and punk outcast Natalie (Sophie Thatcher), along with the secret keepers like Shauna (Sophie Nelisse) and perky Misty (Sammi Hanratty). Each have complicated lives to navigate in their social pecking order, and moral compasses that will inform their actions in the wake of a terrible shared plane crash.

As they fly in a parent-provided private jet to their game, the plane has a catastrophic failure that will kill their pilots, leaving the team and their coaches in the middle of a remote forest. The crash outcome is in another set of flashbacks told in non-linear fashion that allows the girls and their adult chaperons to be tested with life-and-death choices. Those decisions will shake them all to their core, and challenge our suppositions of how we think they’ll act based on what we saw of their average suburban lives.

These two timeframes are then expertly stitched together with the present, where we are introduced to just some of the high school girls now grown up. It’s 25 years past that life-changing experience in the woods, but all of the survivors are still emotionally stuck in that moment in time. Melanie Lynskey is adult Shauna, a suburban wife and mother who regularly defers to the needs of her family with a barely repressed seething rage. Juliette Lewis is the former punk Natalie, with a blackly comedic sensibility honed in rehab. And Tawny Cypress’ Taissa is the successful wife and mother running for Senate trying to keep her “perfect” façade in place.

Figuring out who else is alive and kicking from that crash is a big part of the fun in trying to deconstruct the show’s complex but well-structured narratives for clues. Despite bouncing between storylines a lot in the introductory hour, it’s not confusing because the actresses all have unifying physical traits. More importantly, each pass their emotional batons seamlessly across the timeline with astonishing consistency. It’s like every actress is channeling their counterpart, which is just as spooky as the crazy things going on the longer the girls are stuck in those woods.

Speaking of which, the show embraces the visceral from the very start, so beware if your threshold for watching graphic, implied cannibalism or the outcome of nasty injuries is low. Yellowjackets will test your thresholds, which is keeping with what the narrative does to each of the characters. But the overall mystery is worth some eye aversion. Reveals come when you least expect them in the past and the present, along with new questions to ponder. Every character interaction has purpose, with each in revealing new puzzle pieces that make it impossible not to lean into the unsettling scenarios with abandon.

Allison Cimino of RockLove Jewelry didn’t intend to become a jewelry designer – let alone one who collaborates with some of the most popular franchises in entertainment and games like Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and The Elder Scrolls. However, it became a natural fit after she studied abroad in an apprenticeship in Florence, Italy.

“Licensing was not even a glimmer of an idea,” Cimino said. “I thought that boutique jewelry was kind of the way to go and what everybody was doing.”

After working with artists and authors, it was a collaboration Cimino did with Clive Barker, the creator of Hellraiser, that gained the attention of Star Trek. CBS then inquired if RockLove wanted to make a Star Trek collection in 2014, which came with other properties that Cimino was able to create collections for as well.

“That was why I ended up in this niche of historical jewelry with things like Vikings on History channel, Penny Dreadful, and Twin Peaks. It was very much anything that was in history, fantasy, or sci-fi. Then also, the collaborations with the video games, which again was all these awesome relics that could be articulated,” Cimino said.

Cimino uses age-old techniques that involve a very labor-intensive, yet high-quality process for every RockLove Jewelry piece, and is known for the intricate, articulated details she includes on her designs.

Historical Jewelry Methods for Modern Times

“With old-world jewelry techniques, much of jewelry is handcrafted in the first place – I specifically employ the lost wax casting method, which means you perfect this original, and then you use a mold and casting process to make the multiples, and everything is done by hand from, injecting wax to pouring metal, to polish, and finishing it,” Cimino explained.

“And then the nerdy factor that I like to do that many people don't necessarily recognize, but it's just a personal jeweler calling card, is this level of articulation. In Edwardian and Victorian jewelry, there was a lot of what is known as mechanical jewelry. So there were lockets and things that would open or flip, and spin.”

Cimino explained this historical technique diminished once the world began to mass-produce jewelry, so she loves bringing it back in today’s world. “It's more like engineering rather than designing. In a fast-fashion demographic where you could just throw resin shellac paint on it and call it a day, I want premium hard enamel where you're seeing glossy transparency beneath, and it's part of the story."

From tiny, articulated legs that dangle on Star Wars droids, to Doctor Strange and Frozen rings that spin, to a Coco guitar locket where music notes pour out of the necklace for Mama Coco’s favorite song, Cimino finds ways to incorporate articulation whenever she can. “Those little touches tell the story, but are also a nod to hundreds of years of jewelry craftsmanship,” Cimino said.

Gotta Catch 'em All

To celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, RockLove has revealed their latest collection is a new Pokémon collaboration. RockLove’s current Pokémon collections are primarily made up of three-dimensional, fan-favorite characters, and the new line is meant to complement what fans might already have in their collection. The new pieces are focused less on characters and more on custom crystals, with the iconic Poké Ball as a minimalist focal point.

The new Pokémon collection includes: Crystal Poke Ball Dangle Earrings ($115 USD), Crystal Poke Ball Necklace ($99 USD), Crystal Poke Ball Ring ($99 USD), and Crystal Poke Ball Stud Earrings ($85 USD).

“It's even kind of telling a reinterpreted story,” Cimino said. “Maybe this is the poké ball catching that character. Maybe this is the poké ball the character normally lives in. It's open to interpretation, but it's not just the iconography – it's the way that the poké ball and the Pokemon interact and it gets clear in that storytelling.”

Working With Marvel and Disney

After years of showing the high-quality, authentic designs Cimino can create, RockLove is now able to work with basically any franchise they’re interested in – but it doesn’t happen overnight and generally takes at least a year from start to finish.

When working with studios, including Disney Animation, Pixar, or Marvel, Cimino is often the only person on the team who the studios will share access to props ahead of the release, and she then creates a piece out of a small glimpse into the show or movie – such as with WandaVision – which is why RockLove collections are expanded upon later as more episodes or films premiere.

“That's always very limited because they don't want to spoil the magic. And even the people that are working on the magic, only see a small section of the big picture,” Cimino said.

“Something awesome in a Loki episode will inspire me and I did not know about it before,” Cimino explained. “So now, I’m sketching my proposal and we’re starting the sculpting and the whole process. But, I'm inspired the same moment everybody else is inspired, watching the episode as it drops on Disney Plus. So in those instances, that's why there will be a release of something, maybe six months later, because I got really excited about something new.”

One of the continually expanded upon collections is RockLove’s Star Wars lines, which has a mix of favorite characters and props from the original trilogy, the sequel trilogy, a special Ahsoka Tano collection, a more recent Kyber Crystal collection featuring characters’ lightsabers (with more releasing in 2022), and The Mandalorian.

Cimino created The Meditating Child Necklace after watching The Mandalorian episode along with everyone else when it was released on Disney+. “That's exactly where I watched the episode where he's meditating on the rock and I was just, internally squee-ing that I needed to make it as a piece of jewelry or my life could not go on. And so, six months later, The Meditating Child comes out and it just completes my creative life cycle,” Cimino said.

RockLove on Inclusivity in the Industry

“The term 'RockLove' comes from the music and kind of the circus industry, in which two people, two artists that respect and are inspired by each other, create new art together,” Cimino explained. “So maybe you're a dancer and a musician or an artist that's painting and another kind of figural performer or storyteller. And you are, your Rock Loves, you unite and inspire to create something even better together, with your artistic prowess. So that was RockLove.”

RockLove’s outlook is that jewelry is for all different body types without constraints on specific bodies or genders. “It's just about what's your style,” Cimino said. It doesn't matter what your body size is or your, or your gender identity, because if you feel like you can rock it, we just wanna make sure that we're making sizes that can fit as many people as possible.”

In terms of working as a woman in the industry, Cimino said she’s proud of how involved women are in the licensing industry. “One of the things that I'm really excited and proud of is that the licensing industry is very female involved. Now that doesn't necessarily mean they are the CEOs, owners, and presidents, but the management right up to VP level people in the consumer products industry – the majority of them that I work with are women.”

“Even the video game consumer products side, which is a doubled-down male-dominated industry. There are some really creative, amazing, organized, capable women in this category of business. I definitely want to continue to be a part of that and mentor other women in this industry so that licensing can stand above as a safe space for creative capable women in business,” Cimino said.

RockLove has been collaborating with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast for the Magic: The Gathering X RockLove line, which Cimino confirms will have new pieces added to the collection in the new year. Additionally, she revealed to IGN that the Dungeons & Dragons license has been added and the team has been creating a significant quantity of Dungeons & Dragons X RockLove designs that will debut in 2022.

For more on past RockLove collections, check out our interview with Cimino for the Star Wars at SDCC collaboration, RockLove's Doctor Strange Collection, and the recent Ahsoka Tano Star Wars line. If you're excited for more Pokémon, check out everything we know about the upcoming Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl game.

Jessie Wade is Homepage Manager at IGN and adores Star Wars, Marvel, and Pokemon. You can chat with her on Twitter @jessieannwade.

As Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy launches, Rockstar has confirmed that it has removed some cheats from the game due to technical reasons, although it's not yet clear which ones.

During the lead-up to the launch of GTA: The Trilogy, social media has been abuzz with fans discussing and sharing their favourite cheat codes from across the original games. However, for its remasters, Rockstar told USA Today that some of those cheats haven't been brought over to the latest release due to technical reasons.

“We actually had to remove a couple for technical reasons, certain things that didn’t play well in the Unreal base,” producer Rich Rosado explained. “But that’s actually where I’ll leave it. There’s some fun with discovery. I’m not saying plus or minus, but I’d rather not just go right on the nose before the release of the game and go straight to the end credits.”

Despite confirming that some of the game's cheats had been removed between iterations, Rosaldo alludes to the possibility that the game may include a number of new cheats for players to discover. While cheats certainly add a new layer of chaos and fun to the mix across the GTA series, it should be noted that (according to GameRant) using them may lock players out of a number of trophies and achievements.

In other related news, Rockstar recently released its full song list for the collection of remasters. Across the three games, the publisher has confirmed that each of the original 29 radio stations as seen in the original versions will be returning. While a number of tracks such as Michael Jackson's Billie Jean won't be coming back due to expired licensing deals, fans will be able to enjoy a range of nostalgic hits through high-quality audio (16bit 44hrz) and in 5.1 Surround Sound.

For more on Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, make sure to check out this article showing how the game looks when running on Nintendo Switch.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Amazon's Black Friday deals are (and have been) live, much earlier than usual, but then again these are strange times. The Instant Pot is always a huge deal on Black Friday, and Amazon has it, and a bunch more kitchen stuff, on sale right now. These are awesome deals on awesome kitchen appliances. Can't recommend the Instant Pot enough. It's like magic.

Black Friday Instant Pot Deals at Amazon

It's more than JUST the Instant Pot, as you can see. The brand makes a whole slew of useful kitchen appliances like blenders and convection ovens.

Of the current crop of kitchen deals, I'd say the Instant Pot Blender is probably the best. For $39.99 you get a sweet blender with a glass pitcher that also heats your drinks/soups/whatever. It makes my current blender look worthless. I am slightly ashamed of it.

Amazon, and everyone else, has started the Black Friday shopping season early. The global supply chain is still out of sorts and shipping delays are very real. To combat the Black Friday bottleneck, we're seeing sale prices on all sorts of items long before the actual November 26 Black Friday start date.

If you're looking for the best 4K TV deal for Black Friday, I recommend checking out the LG C1 promotion happening at Amazon right now. You get one of the best OLED TVs around for a discount and it includes 6 months of HBO Max for free.

Seth Macy is Executive Editor, IGN Commerce, and just wants to be your friend. You can find him hosting the Nintendo Voice Chat podcast.