Power Man and Iron Fist, Vol. 1: The Boys are Back in Town

Power Man and Iron Fist (2016)

by David F. Walker, Sanford Greene (Illustrations), Flaviano (Illustrations)

The best buddy team in comics, reunited at last! Luke Cage and Danny Rand, the Heroes for Hire turned Avengers, are going back to street-level basics -- and there's a mystery to solve that will draw in crime lords, hired goons and old friends! But which of the three pose the most trouble? The Big Apple may end up poisoned by magic unless Luke and Danny can put a stop to whoever is wielding the mystical Supersoul Stone! Business starts to boom, with a flurry of big-hitting, kung-fu-fighting action. But when a second Civil War splits the Marvel Universe down the middle, will Power Man and Iron Fist be on the same side, or will a fine bromance end? Luke brings the power, Danny brings the fists -- you bring the snacks!

Collecting POWER MAN AND IRON FIST (2016) #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2016

About the author

David F. Walker is a writer, filmmaker, and award-winning journalist. He teaches Writing For Comics at Portland State University.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son told me this was awesome, but occasionally he doesn't have the best judgment.
Because teenage boys are teenage boys.



Still. He's been into Iron Fist every since Finn Jones (who I freely admit seems to be hated by the majority) debuted as the character on Netflix.
Why, you ask?
Well, the Iron Fist (like my kid) has curly hair. Name another male superhero who is represented on screen with curly hair.
Go ahead. I'll wait...



I know, I know...that's maybe a silly reason. But it was enough to get him interested, and the next thing I know, he's read just about everything Marvel Unlimited has to offer featuring Iron Fist. And since he's also a HUGE fan of Luke Cage (who admittedly doesn't have curly hair, but somehow manages to be a badass anyway), it didn't surprise me that he went after their buddy comics next.

Naturally, after listening to him man-squeal...er, rave about how much fun this particular title was to read, I wanted to read it, too.
So.
I wrestled my tablet out of his sweaty, unwashed hands and dug in.



Ok. My kid was right.
THIS WAS FUN!
The art was cute (or cool...if you prefer) and the chemistry between these characters was just written to perfection. Luke and Danny are so freakin' adorable (or kickass...if you prefer)! I loved the relationship between these two. Luke is the calm, sensible friend who's trying to be a responsible family man - and stay out of trouble with Jessica! While Danny is the human version of an excited squirrel who believes in unicorns and the power of friendship.



And while the action-y part of the plot centers around street level villains with a dash of black magic (cue cameo from Doctor Strange!), but the main story centers around Danny trying to convince Luke to get back in the Heroes for Hire game with him.
These guys...



Honestly, I have no complaints. The dialogue is great, the look of the comic is cool, and even the villains are fun. I think this is a fantastic start to (what I hope is) a new and long running title.



Recommended for anyone looking for a fun jumping off point for these guys.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I initially didn't like that this is a straight-up comedy book... but it grew on me and by the end of volume one I was laughing along like a loon. Maybe it's because I'm SO FLARKIN' OVERJOYED to have my boys Danny and Luke back together in their own book after so many years!

While I've adjusted to the storytelling tone, I'm still not really digging the art. Maybe that'll grow on me eventually too...

Unrelated P.S. It would appear this is the 400th book I've read in 2016! Not bad, considering I initially set myself a target of 300... I guess there's an upside to being off sick from work for months after all. >rolls eyes<

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN!

Sometimes you just want a little fun time right? This is that fun time I love having in comics. Next to Superman Rebirth volume 1 this is my favorite new comic of the year (Daytripper is my only other 5 star. Please go read that)

So Luke is helping Iron-fist out. Iron Fist all like "Bro, we gotta be a team again! Iron Fist and Power Man!" and Luke it like "Nah man that ain't me" but of course once they begin getting mixed up with a magical jewel that turns people into demons shit gets hairy and Power Man and Iron Fist are coming to the rescue!

Listen, we can sit back and pick details on what didn't work. But honestly I loved it from start to end. The artwork is perfect for this series. The dialog is perfection, I mean I laughed a bunch of times when Luke and Danny go back and forth (and Black Mariah made me LOL a few times as well) And the plot was interesting enough to keep going. Issue 5 sold me even more when a mistake fight happens and we have tons of different ways on "how it happened" and it made me laugh so much, just too funny.

So yes. Is Power Man and Iron Fist worth reading? Right the fuck now!? YES! So get off ya ass, hit that Marvel Unlimited App (or buy it on Amazon, I know I will) and check it out. Power Man and Iron Fist are back yo!

[Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally read Nov 16, 2016
Reread March 23rd, 2017
Reread March 27th, 2022 - always a pleasure! No notes! This continues to be one of my all time favorite Marvel books and my all time favorite comic book friendship! Sweet Christmas!

I LOVED this! Luke and Danny are back and better than ever!

This was awesome! It was funny, adorable at times and I was actually invested in a plot line involving magic. As Tony Stark would say, "I hate magic" and usually it ruins stories I've read but it really worked here. Probably because of the 70's blaxploitation aspects to it. That theme is prevalent in a lot of Luke, Jennie and Black Mariah's dialogue and it really works, surprisingly.

I love Luke and Danny's relationship and this was a great representation of it. Luke acts like he doesn't want to get the band back together but he comes along for everything. Danny is Luke's cheerleader and he wants them to get back together more than anything. You really get a feel for who they are as a family because we get Danny spending time with Dani. Whenever things get too dangerous, Danny's never more concerned with anything other than
Luke's safety and that was adorable to see.

One complaint: through out 99% of this, Jess is the nagging wife stereotype and of all female characters, that is definitely not Jessica Jones. I didn't like that.

The last story is awesome and I totally recommend this book to everyone!

Re-read became I was so bummed out by the Iron Fist Netflix series.

This was even more fun the second time around! I love Walker's portrayal of Danny and Luke's relationship. I want a Blxploitation/70's Kung Fu style Power Man and Iron Fist Netflix series now more than ever! I know I'll never get it and I'm not a fan of Danny's casting but just imagine this as a series with a better actor for Danny? Imagine Lewis Tan or Osric Chau as Danny and Mike Colter as Luke? This would be fantastic!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just OK. Luke and Danny help out an old friend which comes back to bite them in the ass. Feels like we've traveled back in time to Power Man and Iron Fist's heyday back in the 70's. The book definitely has a blaxploitation vibe. Iron Fist is characterized like he's a big dummy not the head of a multinational corporation. He feels more like Hawkeye. Sanford Greene's art is terrible and the coloring is SO drab.

[Tom Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to think of a Marvel hero whose characterisation has pinballed around over the last decade more than Danny Rand, AKA Iron Fist. From the committed legacy hero of Matt Fraction and David Aja's run, through Brian Bendis' affable buddy to Luke Cage to Kaare Andrews' brooding playboy, Iron Fist has had a prominent but turbulent few years. Luke Cage, on the other hand, has had a decade firmly in the spotlight, with all his writers sticking to Bendis' reinvention of him as a straight-talking family man who's made peace with a boisterous past. For several years Cage was the heart of the Marvel Universe, so returning him to his street-level roots could feel like a demotion: for Iron Fist, it's a way of grounding the character again.

These metafictional concerns are played out on the page of David F Walker and Sanford Greene's very entertaining series. Walker picks up on a hinted strand of characterisation from Bendis and Al Ewing's Cage stories - Iron Fist as a likeable but feckless pal. Walker dials up the comedy - and the fecklessness - as Fist tries to get the team back together, something he is far keener on than Luke is. As the series title suggests, this time he's successful, despite plenty of despairing eyerolls from his partner.

This tension isn't really enough to drive a story - in fact it would get annoying quickly if it wasn't for Walker and Greene's tremendously enjoyable portrayal of Luke Cage as the hero and straight man of, essentially, a Marvel U sitcom. This is street level in the same way Nick Spencer's Superior Foes Of Spider-Man was, a largely benign world where incompetence, not malice, is the driving force. Cage is the only sensible man (well, mostly sensible) in a world of fools - which is a little unfair on Iron Fist, but when the results are this entertaining I'm not going to quibble. Sanford Greene's vivacious art - all scribbly lines, distorted bodies, cartoon faces, and constant motion - is a perfect fit. The main plot takes a while to flower, but the back half of the storyline is a consistent joy, with some good jokes and worldbuilding. A funny done-in-one in issue #5 rounds off the book - if you're reading this in singles, that's an excellent one to try for a flavour of the comic.

With a grim'n'gritty TV series imminent, and a Civil War II crossover also pending, Power Man and Iron Fist may lose some of its warmth. For now, this is one of the better comics Marvel have put out this year.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is kind of meh, but this book isn't about plot. It's about the Luke and Danny, and the scenes where they're just talking are gold.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun but sort of lightweight (certainly more style than substance), it had a nice throwback vibe and I would check out the next edition. Luke and Danny are back! You've been warned . . .

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke Cage and Danny Rand reunite for a pretty damn amusing superhero sitcom. I'm really grooving on the writing and the art.

Oh, wait, does that mean Marvel has already canceled this series like The Unstoppable Wasp, Vol. 1: Unstoppable! and Hawkeye: Kate Bishop, Vol. 2: Masks?

Better check.

OMG!!! IT IS!!!

Wait, at least it was replaced by Luke Cage, Vol. 1: Sins of the Father.

But wait, they wouldn't...

OMMFG!!!!!

Luke Cage is canceled too!?!?!?!

Why does Marvel hate me?

AAAAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

(Okay, I must admit I'm probably part of the problem as I only read library copies instead of buying and supporting these titles. But still, no one with money is buying these books? So, so sad.)

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Drew these days is a complete hoot:



And the running gag about how no one can understand Tombstone when he whispers:



And Danny as an overconfident idiot? Priceless:


[Anne, my use of the term “idiot” is a tribute to you.]

But best is how David Walker shoehorns in Luke swearing off cursing:



Fun way of making this team-up work again, and seeing them just taking on everyday C-listers, not making themselves out to be world-conquering assholes.

[Peter Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! Funny, some punching, and a few different storytelling styles. It's not a life-changing book (yet), but

A) I'd venture the guess that life-changing isn't the book's goal and

B) Oftentimes, books that are designed to be life-changing are not, and when they don't succeed in that way, they're kinda sucky otherwise.

Which isn't to say it's without substance. It's got a nice, cheeky sort of way of talking about race and perceptions of culture that rings true but isn't banging you over the head with the idea. No spoilees, so I'll leave it there. But trust me, you'll like it.

Also, I was hovering over the 1-star rating of this book because I was like, "When the sweet Christmas is Luke Cage gonna say Sweet Christmas!?"

And then he did. And the best part is, it's written in such a way that you're like, "Oh, THAT'S why he'd say something like Sweet Christmas instead of a legitimate swear." It adds an entire, extra, funny element to the book. Really cool. It's like fan service that'll make fans happy, but will also be funny and enjoyable for someone who knows nothing about Luke Cage.

Also, the relationship between Cage and Jessica Jones is pretty cool. It feels very real, and Jessica Jones gives him shit, but she's not like Adrian from the Rocky movies where it's like she's trying to stop Luke Cage from superheroing all the time. She's like, "You know you want to team up with Danny, so why don't you just team up with Danny already? Get over yourself." She's declared as "the boss" in the household, but she's not bossy, and Luke Cage isn't resentful about it. It's the way their house runs, and it seems to work for them. It's cool.

And maybe that's the thing with this book. It does a lot of stuff right, but it does a lot of stuff right in an understated way. It doesn't set up these examples of good people and then slap you across the face with the lessons. It's not about monologue-ing. It sets up these good characters, puts them out there for you to adopt or not, has a comic book punching and kicking story, and then you leave feeling like you had a good time and saw some interesting character stuff going on too. Maybe this book deserves a little more credit than I gave it initially. Almost certainly. It's not like any of that happens by accident.

Pick it up and see for yourself. I won't guarantee that you'll take a life lesson out of it, but I will guarantee a good time. And hey, you might just pick up a life lesson too.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Power Man & Iron Fist are back together, drawn into a gang war as one of their old friends tricks them into acquiring a magical artifact.

I had a blast while I was reading this, but it was only after I'd finished that I realised that maybe it wasn't quite as good as I thought. The dialogue is fairly snappy most of the time, and the POV gang member characters have some zingers, but the main characters don't seem to get the same care. It feels almost like David F. Walker wanted to write a Power Man series, but had to bring Iron Fist along for the ride, because Danny has two jokes (Jessica hates me! We're a team again, right?) that he says on repeat, and it makes him look kind of dumb. Jessica Jones appears mostly to nag Luke, which doesn't sit right with me either, and the less said about every other word out of Black Mariah's mouth being 'boo-boo' the better, I think. And naming the MacGuffin the Supersoul Stone just...feels weird.

I will say that the page featuring Jessica Drew and Spider-Gwen thirsting over Danny and Luke did go a long way towards rectifying my problems, because same, girls.

Also, the artwork's kinda odd. Sanford Greene draws the first four issues pretty ably, but there are more than a few faces that just look painful. Tombstone looks like a fish that's been trodden on; I know he's meant to be a little on the ugly side, but c'mon, man. It's not often I really notice stuff like this, but it really took me out of the story.

The final issue was an improvement on all fronts, a simple battle between Luke, Danny, and Manslaughter Marsdale told from different perspectives with some much better artwork from Flaviano (although now Iron Fist has some odd facial hair). Hopefully this is more indicative of what to expect going forward.

[Trike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first four chapters/issues are intended as lightweight action stories with an over-arching plot about Luke and Danny’s former office manager Jennie being released from prison. There are twists and double-crosses, but the heart of the story is how Jennie was weak and powerless and was a victim — first of her abusive, third-rate superhero husband, then being possessed, then going to prison. That darkness kind of dampens the fun a bit. It’s still solid, though.

The fifth chapter, though, is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a Rashomon-like story about Luke and Danny fighting a thug named Manslaughter Marsdale. (Last seen in Amazing Spider-Man back in the 1980s.) Everyone has a different take, but they’re all funny. When Danny and Luke get to bickering like an old married couple on the radio about how there aren’t any seatbelts in Danny’s knock-off of the Fantasticar, it really gets demented. Cut to an aghast Jessica Jones, Luke’s wife, saying to herself, “Do they not know this is airing live?”

It’s a hoot, is what it is.

Fantasticar: https://images.app.goo.gl/WqhxD9kzKqZ...
Power-Fist Mobile: https://images.app.goo.gl/jPP3CMGLNRm...

Parts 1-4: 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Part 5: 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

I'm not easily entertained when it comes down to comedy and you'd need to tickle me very hard to make me laugh. Well, I didn't laugh reading this book but at least I smiled, no small feat in my book. I actually expected something funnier, with a wacky 70's vibe the art seemed to promise but I can't blame the authors for my own misinterpretation.

Clearly this series is going to be character driven and not plot oriented.
Luke Cage, Mr. Family Man, strong silent type who likes discretion and Power Fist, extrovert, craving for publicity, kinda goofy. I'm not sure this is very coherent with the latest interpretations of Danny Rand but I frankly don't care. This version is likable enough.

So Danny tries to convince Luke to form a team again while dealing with their former secretary now possessed by a magic amulet. There's also Tombstone, a larger-than-life character called Black Mariah and 2 stooges dressed à la dia-de-los-muertos. See what I said above? Not much plot oriented. But the characters are cool, the dialogues are fun enough, the art is zany, cartoony and distorded with nice flashy colors and to be honest it's a relaxing break.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Power Man and Iron Fist are together yet again, but this time they're...funny? This series is played a little too much for laughs for me. Deadpool and Spiderman have usually had comedic overtones, but Power Man and Iron Fist not so much. The art is very stylistic as well, and while it's not bad it's also not really the type of art I favor. The storyline features Tombstone as well as Black Mariah and Heroes for Hire's old secretarcy, Jennie. The story is much more "Luke Cage" than "Iron Fist", which is fine but the constant joking just didn't seem to fit.

[Adam M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hardest part about reading this was the feeling that it was trying so hard to be a "street" book. Street level heroes have street fights with street lingo coming from everyone. I don't know... parts of this just felt really ham-fisted. I may be being too critical of a book that I'm sure was trying to appeal to a large audience, bring in new readers and still set a tone for the people and the place it was happening. Parts of it felt performative and I find myself asking what came first: David F. Walker writing predominantly black characters or editors asking David F. Walker to write predominantly black characters. This book would be inappropriate for a younger YA audience, which again opens up the readership, but I had a hard time with some of the dialogue making me cringe.
The art spanned just fine, fun and stylized, but it really did bounce around a lot.

[Torren Mullens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

This is a more comedy focused book than previous Heroes for Hire entries (at least the ones I've read) but it mostly works.

A fun story that sees our dynamic duo reunite and reform to tackle a friend turned foe, the art here is immaculate. I love how highly stylized and at times cartoonish the characters look, Luke is massive and Danny is often quite lean in keeping with their powersets.

Not every joke lands (the recurring gag of Luke trying not to swear as much so he says nonsense got old quick) but overall it's a fun and fast paced take on the Heroes for Hire.

[Alasondro Alegré · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

- ...and we'd meet up with Misty and Colleen. Man, I miss Misty.
- You ever hear of a thing called a phone? That's the cure for missing people, not starting a super hero team.

[Lissibith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I said in another review that I like David Walker's take on Luke Cage, even though his humor doesn't always land for me. That opinion carries over to The Boys Are Back in Town, which sees Luke Cage and Danny Rand teaming back up again (kind of) when their old office manager gets out of prison after having killed her abusive husband some time ago.

She asks one favor of the two super heroes, who are there when she's released -- get a necklace back from Tombstone. She says it is an heirloom, and she just wants it back.

But, I mean ... it's super hero comics. Nothing is that easy.

I still really like Walker's take on Luke. He's leaning even more into the dad stuff here, looking for nonviolent solutions when possible and just wanted to get stuff done so he can get home. He's a lot more thoughtful about whatever they face than Danny is.

Ah ... about Danny...

It seems like Danny has the same problem that one of my other favorite blond super heroes does -- Booster Gold. That is, people have wildly different interpretations of his character and personality. The issue seems to be that over time, different writers focus on different aspects of the character a little more strongly. And then other readers' introduction to the character becomes that one, and they push that aspect even harder when they become writers. Then readers read THAT as an intro, and once they become writers ... well. It's a whole thing. It's why you can sometimes get a Booster Gold who IS a complete money-grubbing idiot.

Or in this case, an iron Fist whose naivety borders on the idiotic.

If you accept that that's who this Danny is, then the writing is fine. And I get why they'd go that direction for a comedy book. I just don't particularly care for it.

Anyway, the story itself is a lot of fun once you accept that this is a comedy book. The banter between Luke and Danny is a lot of fun, the familial connection between Luke and Jessica is great, and the running commentary on half of what goes on from Grim and Reaper was a particular highlight for me. Black Maria gets involved and in a way I wouldn't have expected going in. Art from Sanford Greene really matched the tone in the first four issues, while Flaviano's work on the fifth was super dynamic. And I loved how the letterer, Clayton Cowles, handled Tombstone's dialogue.

Overall, this was not a particularly weighty book, but it was fun. And that's mostly what I want out of a super hero comic. :)

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy fights and all that fiddle-faddle! Power Man and Iron Fist is a mixed bag but has a bit to offer comic readers looking for a superhero book that is a different from the traditional fare. Honestly the artwork is not my cup of tea but does work with the humor of the story. I have read David Walker's run with Cyborg for DC Comics and I thought it was pretty good. Now for those people familiar with this superhero duo may find this outing a bit too comical compare to the gritty street feel of the previous Heroes for Hire books. But thanks to some witty dialogue the book still gives off a urban vibe. David Walker has elected for the first issues of this series to tell a rather simple story. Basically Luke Cage aka Power Man & Iron fist are duped by a close friend to get back an important family item from longtime Marvel Comics crime lord, Tombstone. Luke Cage is of course reluctant to team up with his former partner crime fighter but soon events begin to spiral out of control and word soon spreads around the city that Power Man & Iron Fist are back to bust up crime. The book is filled with some humorous moments. I really enjoyed the fun and the dialogue between Iron Fist and Cage. The scenes with Jessica Jones were hilarious as well. I am hoping that the next issues will give us more of a Heroes for Hire story and that the tone of the book becomes more serious. I still think overall the story was worth a read.

[Alex Sarll]

A lovely superhero buddy comedy, in which artist and writer are in perfect harmony when capturing the yappy energy of Danny Rand and the resigned, too-old-for-this-shit shrugs of Luke Cage. Except that this delightful chemistry keeps on getting interrupted by the plot, a rather darker and grittier tale of betrayal, murder and occult powers with which it doesn't sit terribly well. Plus, some of the jokes (especially the pseudo-swears with which Luke now comes out, as parents of newly verbal infants often will) do rather get hammered into the ground. Still, I know the series does go on to better find its balance, because I read the Christmas special and that was utterly lovely.

[Chris Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun! I haven't read any of the classic Power Man and Iron Fist comics, but I really enjoyed David Walker's take on the duo. The stories are light, fast-paced, and funny. Sanford Greene's art (and to a slightly lesser extent, Flaviano's in issue 5) is vibrant, and he does a great job of conveying frenzied action scenes that are still easy to follow. Definitely a book that I will continue to follow.

[Kaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a real retro vibe and a lot of jokes about these two characters. It was a fun read but could have had more substance.

[Julio Bonilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like the comedy-version of “Lethal Weapon 2!”

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meine Meinung: Die New Yorker Helden sind durch die zahlreichen neuen Netflix-Serien aktuell sehr hoch im Kurs. Ganz neu dabei ist Iron Fist, was seit März läuft. Power Man und Iron Fist: Vier Fäuste für Manhattan ist der Auftakt der neuen Serie um das Duo. Die Ex-Sekretärin von Danny Rand und Luke Cage kommt endlich aus dem Gefängnis und die beiden Ex-Partner wollen sie eigentlich nur abholen. Dabei erfahren sie jedoch, dass ein Erbstück von Jennie Royce, eine Kette ihrer Oma, geklaut wurde und sie bittet die beiden, sie für sie zurückzuholen, was ihnen ordentlich Ärger mit Tombstone einfährt.
Das alles geschieht mit einer Menge Humor, der charakteristisch für die beiden ist und mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Somit wird der Comic nicht nur mystisch und spannend sondern auch unheimlich lustig. Auch der Zeichenstil gefiel mir, denn er war weder einfach und dazu sehr retro gehalten, was die Atmosphäre des Buches sehr schön unterstützt hat. Die Geschichte an sich ist anch dem ersten Band erst einmal abgeschlossen und somit eignet sich der Comic sehr gut, um bei den New Yorker Helden reinzuschnuppern, ohne direkt Angst haben zu müssen, dass man die ganze Reihe lesen muss, weil ein Cliff Hanger den anderen ablöst. Mir hat der Comic allerdings sehr gut gefallen, denn die Geschichte ist spannend, undurchschaubar und enthält viele Plot Twists und altbekannte Charaktere.
Ich finde der Comic eignet sich sehr gut für den Einstieg in das Genre. Falls ihr also noch keine Comics oder noch keine Marvel Comics lest und euch die Geschichte der beiden interessiert, seid ihr hier definitiv nicht falsch. Man braucht wenig Vorkenntnisse, denn alles, was man wissen muss wird in Rückblicken oder durch die Dialoge erklärt und man bekommt außerdem noch en Who is Who durch kleine Kästchen mit Name und Beschreibung beim ersten Auftritt des Charakters. Neben Luke Cage und Danny Rand sind weitere Helden des Marvel Universe nicht wichtig oder nicht mal benannt. Es wird lediglich gesagt, dass Luke Cage eine Zeit lang bei den Avengers aktiv war und neben einem kleinen Gastauftritt von Dr. Strange, den viele aus dem 2016 erschienen Film kennen sollten, hat nur noch Jessica Jones einen tragenden Auftritt. Allerdings nicht als Heldin, sondern als Lukes bessere Hälfte. Somit ist Power Man und Iron Fist ein wirklich gelungener Comic für den Einstieg.
Fazit: Ich bin mir sicher, sowohl alte Marvel Fans als auch Neueinsteiger kann dieser Comic begeistern. Mit einem tollen Zeichenstil im Retro-Look, sympathischen Charakteren und viel Humor und Action konnte mich der Auftakt der neuen Serie zum Traumduo Powerman und Iron Fist komplett überzeugen.
Vielen lieben Dank an den Panini Verlag für die Bereitstellung des *Rezensionsexemplars.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars on this one for me.

After a many year hiatus, Power Man and Iron Fist are together again much to Iron Fist's delight. This volume is more of a Luke Cage comic than an Iron Fist one, but that doesn't at all detract from the joy of the duo being together again. Even if Jessica isn't exactly happy about the arrangement.

Jennie is out of prison, but there's something wrong. She's teamed up with her new best friend, Black Mariah, to get revenge on the people who slighted her. Criminal, civilian, and super alike her street magic is wrecking them all and getting her and Black Mariah the money they need to enjoy themselves. When Jennie becomes more fixated on revenge than enjoying the spoils of their exploits things start to go sideways. It's up to Power Man and Iron Fist to set things to right, and perhaps realize they weren't the best to Jennie in the first place. Even though Danny does consider her family.

The comic is lighter in tone than might expect, at least as far as dialogue is concerned. It's outright funny now and then, but sometimes the humor is a bit sour considering the plot. The art style is refreshing, the color palette great... and, well. It's Luke Cage and Danny Rand on the streets and hanging out again. What a joy to see them back, so much of one everyone (but Jessica) is feeling it.

Who can resist the best duo being together once more?

[OMNIBUS GOD · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FIDDLE-FADDLE -POWER MAN AND IRON FIST ARE BACK TOGETHER! This book was down right fun and hilarious through every page. This was my first time reading about the duo and I'm really glad I started with this run. David Walker makes this read so fun and entertaining, its a nice break from some of the more serious stories in comics. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm game for some complex story lines with deeper meaning, but this was a nice change of pace. Just straight up entertainment. Walker writes amazing chemistry with Luke and Danny making their dialogue flow so perfect, which in turn makes the story a real page turner. Like I also mentioned this story was laugh out loud funny. (Did I really say that?) It was for sure some of the funniest stuff I've read. The artwork by Sanford Greene is a superb fit with the vibe and feel for the story. I just loved it! Even the colors from Lee Loughridge made it an all around perfect package. I'd love to see this as a show. But not like a Disney+ live action MCU kinda thing, but an animated Adult Swim kinda property. With the same kinda comedy and all around fun. I only hope the next 3 volumes keep the same uniformity of the first one, as it does appear they are event tie-ins. I'm sure with David F. Walker, he can think of a way to keep it awesome.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Power Man and Iron Fist are back, and this time they're in a buddy-comedy reminiscent of Quantum + Woody, which is ironic as Q+W was created by the last writer for the original Power Man and Iron Fist series.

Anyway, this is OK.

The comedy is sorta funny but gets quickly stale because it centers on four jokes or so (we're not together, I'm not Power Man, Jess doesn't like me, Danny is a dick). The characters are also heavily caricatured, both in how they act and in the ugly, ugly art. And the plot? Meh. It drags, particularly in the longer arc.

I did like the interesting ways that Walker played with storytelling, both in the backstory of the first arc's villain and in the fun radio call-in show that ends the volume. So, I have some hope for the future, but not a lot of incentive to pick up another volume.