Review: Iron Fist #79

Mitch Nissen Mitch Nissen
Contributor
April 11th, 2018

Grew up reading comic books in the 90's. Marvel fan at heart. Hulk, the Midnight Sons, and Marvel's cosmic universe are my favorites.

Review: Iron Fist #79
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Review of: Iron Fist #79
Price:
Comic Book Writing At Its Finest

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On April 11, 2018
Last modified:April 11, 2018

Summary:

Danny Rand is in Hell. And there are many old friends waiting to see him. Intense action, gripping suspense, and steeped in Iron Fist lore. Ed Brisson, Damian Couceiro, and Andy Troy deliver the second to last issue of this current volume, which so happens to be one of the most satisfying issues in the run. This is hands down the best Iron Fist book in ten years.

Review of: Iron Fist #79
Price:
Comic Book Writing At Its Finest

Reviewed by:
Rating:

4
On April 11, 2018
Last modified:April 11, 2018

Summary:

Danny Rand is in Hell. And there are many old friends waiting to see him. Intense action, gripping suspense, and steeped in Iron Fist lore. Ed Brisson, Damian Couceiro, and Andy Troy deliver the second to last issue of this current volume, which so happens to be one of the most satisfying issues in the run. This is hands down the best Iron Fist book in ten years.

Iron Fist faces his demons… literally in Iron Fist #79 from Marvel Comics. Ed Brisson takes full advantage of the Doctor Strange: Damnation tie-in delivering one of the best Iron Fist issues yet. ComiConverse contributor Mitch Nissen takes a look.

Review: Iron Fist #79

Marvel Comics’ latest volume of Iron Fist just celebrated its one year anniversary last month. Writer Ed Brisson has penned every issue of this book thus far, teamed with artist Mike Perkins for twelve issues, and artist Damian Couceiro for the following three issues. What these men have created is one of the most enjoyable books of the last year.

The final story arc of Iron Fist stems from the Doctor Strange: Damnation event currently in full swing. Ed Brisson takes Danny Rand to Hell and resurrects several familiar faces from Danny’s past.

What could’ve been an annoying detour from the main story, like so many event tie-in books, has quickly become one of the most exciting and satisfying Iron Fist stories in years.

Synopsis (SPOILERS)

Hell has risen in the middle of Las Vegas. Danny Rand and fellow Immortal Weapon, Fat Cobra, find themselves in Hell’s event arena watching a long dead friend fighting for his soul. Former Iron Fist Orson Randall has made a deal with the Devil. If Orson can win two dozen fights in as many hours he'll regain his soul. Danny is prepared to do anything to help Orson win. Then Orson’s next opponent enters the ring: Miranda Rand – Danny’s sister!

Credit: Marvel Comics

The Breakdown

Suffer the Tie-In’s.

Intrusive and disruptive, tie-ins to event books can grind a monthly series to a halt, detouring the story for months. Connectivity between titles is wonderful, but forcing a book into an unnecessary direction can be frustrating for readers. That being said…

Iron Fist’s Damnation tie-in issues are a wonderful example of tie-in stories done right.

The events of Damnation are merely a catalyst for an otherwise independent story. Writer Ed Brisson has tailored these tie-in issues specifically to Iron Fist, weaving in characters from Danny Rand’s past, and revisiting plot threads from previous Iron Fist runs. Brisson seizes the opportunity to showcase deceased characters, the last time Danny having seen them being at the moment of their deaths.

Danny confronts literal and figurative demons from his past.

Orson Randall is given a chance at salvation and resurrection. If Orson can defeat 24 opponents in 24 hours he’ll be freed from Hell and live again. Brisson steadily ratchets up the tension as Orson’s opponents become stronger and stronger. The drama skyrockets when Danny’s long dead sister enters the fray as Orson’s twelfth opponent.

Brisson manipulates the tension expertly leaving Danny with an impossible choice.

While these issues do relatively little to contribute to the event they’re supposed to be tying into, they do service the ongoing title as well as years of Iron Fist history. If you’re a longtime follower of Iron Fist, these issues reward you for your past investments. This entire series has been a demonstration what a writer can do when fully immersed in the world they're writing. It's rare to find this high level of quality in comic books these days.

And if you want to dig a little deeper into these past stories, all have been collected in trades and are currently in print. Check out Iron Fist: The Book of Changes for Danny's previous demonic encounters.

Credit: Marvel Comics

The Art

Damian Couceiro has taken over art duties on these final three issues of Iron Fist. His work is quite the contrast from the art of Mike Perkins, but it is no less spectacular. The action maintains the same gritty hard-hitting power. Couceiro’s imagination is on full display in the brief glimpse of Hell, his demons feeling a bit anime inspired in design.

If Hell is a place the perpetually wears one down, it is shown in Couceiro’s art too. One of the many strengths of the art is the emotion conveyed, both in the characters expressions and postures. Then there’s the joy in the demons eyes clearly coming through. D’Kay appears as happy as can be, grinning devilishly from ear to ear. The artist has even retained much of D’Kay’s design from his Marvel Comics Presents appearances.

In summary, Damian Couceiro is killing it.

Credit: Marvel Comics

On a personal note, I started reading this volume of Iron Fist because I am a fan of the character going back to his appearance in John Byrne’s Namor: The Sub-Mariner. What Ed Brisson has done with the Iron Fist, and the knowledge of the character the writer has demonstrated, has renewed my love for the character.

I would read Ed Brisson’s Iron Fist forever.

More’s the pity that Brisson’s tenure on Iron Fist may end after one more issue. Would’ve been great to have seen the Bride of Nine Spiders return or a story arc centered on the H’ylthri.

The writer knows his Iron Fist lore. He has built upon the work of those who came before him, honored the history, and pushed the character forward in organic ways.

Ed Brisson, Mike Perkins, Andy Troy, and Damian Couceiro have contributed one of the best chapters in Iron Fist’s saga.

What did you think?

Drop us a comment below

Mitch Nissen is a Contributor to ComiConverse. Follow him on Twitter: @NinjaMitche

Iron Fist #79

  • 4

Comic Book Writing At Its Finest

Danny Rand is in Hell. And there are many old friends waiting to see him. Intense action, gripping suspense, and steeped in Iron Fist lore. Ed Brisson, Damian Couceiro, and Andy Troy deliver the second to last issue of this current volume, which so happens to be one of the most satisfying issues in the run. This is hands down the best Iron Fist book in ten years.

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