It’s summer time and we all know what that means. No, not rerun season. It’s that time of year when families pack up their stuff for the inevitable family vacation. In the case of the Rand family nothing seems like more summer fun then packing up to trek through the snow covered mountains of China, in search of the mystical city of K’un L’un. Fans of “Iron Fist” are, of course, well versed in the trip that took young Danny Rand out of the city streets of America, and into the mountains, where he would train to become one of the Immortal Weapons. It is through the words of Duane Swierczynski and the art of Travel Foreman and David Lapham that the story of Rand’s transformation from trust fund child into hero really gets the punch it so deserves.
I have always loved martial arts stories ever since I was a little kid. I remember begging my parents to take me to any movie that had martial arts in it. I must have seen “Three Ninjas” about ten times the year that it came out. It always saddened me a bit that “Iron Fist” was somewhat disappointing. Every time that a new “Iron Fist” series came out I would buy the first issue or two and find it just unacceptable, that is until 2007 when Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction took over the writing duties on the character. Finally someone got it, martial arts is about two things, finding internal piece and when the situation calls for it, kicking an inordinate amount of ass (Disclaimer: Only when words fail). With the book handed off to Swierczynski, anything could have happened but he has managed to tap into the same style that brought this comic out of the camp gutter that it had floundered in for so long.
In the newest issue, Danny Rand is in the process of trying to get his life back in order after previously being in a hell dimension for months in the previous arc. Rand comes home to find his business failed, his office full of Hydra members and his girlfriend Misty pregnant (don’t worry the baby is Danny’s).
Danny’s fight for his life against the ever multiplying numbers of Hydra is juxtaposed with the skill full retelling of the events that led to Wendell Rand taking his young son to China. The poor decision making that eventually led to Wendell’s death is used to highlight Danny’s concern over what type of father he will be to his unborn child. It is in the quite moments when this book really shines in particular in this issue, it is the moments between Danny and his best friend and fellow superhero Luke Cage that stand out. Luke puts everything into perspective for our hero by informing him that they are in the most dangerous business in the world, “Changing diapers at 3 A.M.”
The art complements the story incredibly well. Each of the characters is designed to look like something out of old kung fu and exploitation movies. Misty could be Foxy Brown’s daughter. My only real complaint about this book is that sometimes the art can be a bit inconsistent; nine out of ten panels gorgeously rendered and one that looks like it may have been drawn late at night, under the influence of several cups of coffee and a deadline that just can’t be ignored.
For those looking for an escape during those long drives in the family van I fully recommend taking a copy of Iron Fist 27 along for the ride. Just don’t read it while driving.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
