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Iron Fist (2022) #1-5
Iron Fist: The Shattered Sword
Danny Rand no longer wields his legendary power. He’s just a guy who knows a lot of kung fu. So who will take Danny’s place…as the Iron Fist?! A new heroic legacy begins now, as a young warrior in great pain turns to the martial arts masters of K’un-Lun for aid — and gets far more than he bargained for! Can this lost soul balance his chi, win the favor of Shou-Lao the Undying and join a long line of champions? The world had better hope so, because a dark god is rising — and all hope of stopping him lies with the newest Iron Fist!
COLLECTING: Iron Fist (2022) 1-5
COLLECTING: Iron Fist (2022) 1-5
120 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2022
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Wong
424 books411 followersAlyssa Wong studies fiction in Raleigh, NC, and really, really likes crows. She was a finalist for the 2016 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and her story, “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers,” won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the 2016 World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize, the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Award, and the Shirley Jackson Award. Her work has been published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, and Tor.com, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 6, 2025
I'm not sure about this book. I liked parts of it, but it has a lot of threads that do not get tied together. Characters are introduced, or something is said, but it is not built on or dealt with.
I like the bits of Kung Fu in this book, but there is not enough of it. It introduces the new Iron Fist, but I don't think enough of his story is told. Danny is reduced to comic relief in this book.
This is more of a side companion to a bigger storyline than its own story. There are also a couple of fights in this book for no apparent reason as well. The book finishes in a cliffhanger ending, setting up the next story. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.
I like the bits of Kung Fu in this book, but there is not enough of it. It introduces the new Iron Fist, but I don't think enough of his story is told. Danny is reduced to comic relief in this book.
This is more of a side companion to a bigger storyline than its own story. There are also a couple of fights in this book for no apparent reason as well. The book finishes in a cliffhanger ending, setting up the next story. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.
March 2, 2023
When I put this book on hold, I remember thinking "Ooh Danny has a new look! I wonder if they are trying to reinvigorate this title. Maybe he'll show his face in an upcoming MCU show." Never did I suspect that there is a new Iron Fist, and it is Lin Lie, last seen as Sword Master with his sword broken. I actually really enjoyed that comic and was sad to see the character go after working so hard to become a better hero and martial artist. Glad I was wrong.
Highlights:
- Lin has some of the shards of the Sword of Fu Xi embedded in his arm. Shortly after the sword's explosion, Lin was sinking under water and Shou-Lao, the Undying, recently reborn from his egg, chose to rescue him and make him the next Immortal Iron Fist.
- A fair amount of the Volume involves Lin fighting and proving to others (or usually lack of proving) that he deserves to be Iron Fist. He is still unable to master Shao-Lao's chi, so he sometimes is unable to use his abilites.
- Lin Feng, Lin Lie's brother, has taken a turn for the worst since losing the right to the sword to Lin Lie. He has teamed up with Chiyou, a dark entity and his trying to free him from imprisonment.
- Their confrontation not only has Lin Lie embedding the rest of the shards of the sword into his arms, but allows him to come into balance, being both Sword Master and Iron Fist at the same time. The point is mute though, as Lin Feng is able to get through a portal to Kun Lun, taking over it and shutting the heroes out.
Really excited to see where this goes next (though it claims to be part of the A.X.E. storyline) and how a new Iron Fist will track in the MU.
If you haven't read this comic before, now is a great time to start or return to it.
Strong recommend.
Highlights:
- Lin has some of the shards of the Sword of Fu Xi embedded in his arm. Shortly after the sword's explosion, Lin was sinking under water and Shou-Lao, the Undying, recently reborn from his egg, chose to rescue him and make him the next Immortal Iron Fist.
- A fair amount of the Volume involves Lin fighting and proving to others (or usually lack of proving) that he deserves to be Iron Fist. He is still unable to master Shao-Lao's chi, so he sometimes is unable to use his abilites.
- Lin Feng, Lin Lie's brother, has taken a turn for the worst since losing the right to the sword to Lin Lie. He has teamed up with Chiyou, a dark entity and his trying to free him from imprisonment.
- Their confrontation not only has Lin Lie embedding the rest of the shards of the sword into his arms, but allows him to come into balance, being both Sword Master and Iron Fist at the same time. The point is mute though, as Lin Feng is able to get through a portal to Kun Lun, taking over it and shutting the heroes out.
Really excited to see where this goes next (though it claims to be part of the A.X.E. storyline) and how a new Iron Fist will track in the MU.
If you haven't read this comic before, now is a great time to start or return to it.
Strong recommend.
Read
April 16, 2024Wasn’t for me.
September 19, 2022
Look I think I get the whole whole cultural appropriation issue. But, really did the company have to completely gut a new character (Sword Master) to create a new Iron Fist and then dump what appears to be the actual conclusion into the currently ongoing A.X.E. crossover?
My biggest question is since Danny Rand has lost the Iron Fist why not make this a true legacy character (see Black Panther or the Black Knight) and give the readers and fan base a new character?
My biggest question is since Danny Rand has lost the Iron Fist why not make this a true legacy character (see Black Panther or the Black Knight) and give the readers and fan base a new character?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2024
I'm still salty at Danny Rand so flippantly giving up his powers in Heart of the Dragon, so bear with me. I *promise* this review won't use the "W" word. (I'm passionate about these Marvel heroes, but not *totally* pathetic.)
I like Lin Lie and what he brings to the Iron Fist corner of Marvel, but the details of the plot have already blinked out of my mind-- something about a demon-possessed brother? He's got a cool outfit... I like the idea of a guy with both Iron Fist skills and magic sword fragments embedded in his fists... and it's *long overdue* that an Asian character occupied the role in the comics. Plus, it's not like Marvel heroes don't trade their mantles around like hot potatoes all the time. Yet I can't help but point out that Lin Lie already had his own thing that made him interesting-- being a hero who suffered from chronic pain-- and making him Iron Fist doesn't really build on (or conflict with) that in a compelling way, at least in these first few issues. And instead of having him gain the Chi power through undergoing the Trial of Shou-Lao (or by an alternative route that was equally character-driven and memorable), the Chi just... finds him and flows into his body? Okay. (You would think a new Iron Fist has to defeat the old one in battle or something. A dramatic and important rite befitting the huge burden the title carries.)
So while I have no respect for those who complain about diversity in media (see: "W" word), and will defend this character/author on principle alone, I am still a reader with opinions and I do wish this change-up was handled differently. Or that this new guy taking on the title didn't mean Danny falling by the wayside. (Somehow, Spider-Man can have a whole universe of doppelgangers, but there can't be two Iron Fists at the same time? Never mind that the Netflix series ended with Danny and Colleen Wing wielding the Chi powers simultaneously.) You can almost smell the editorial mandate to bench Danny until the whole lingering "White savior" conversation spawned by the Netflix show finally blows over. It seems the powers that be have no interest in wading into that conversation, or offering any defense of a character who, rather than a symbol of White privilege, could just as easily become Marvel's quintessential White ally superhero-- too bad, since Marvel has had no problem tackling other prickly topics.
Anyway, I'm off to go play as Lin Lie in Marvel Rivals.
(Because Danny's not in it.)
I like Lin Lie and what he brings to the Iron Fist corner of Marvel, but the details of the plot have already blinked out of my mind-- something about a demon-possessed brother? He's got a cool outfit... I like the idea of a guy with both Iron Fist skills and magic sword fragments embedded in his fists... and it's *long overdue* that an Asian character occupied the role in the comics. Plus, it's not like Marvel heroes don't trade their mantles around like hot potatoes all the time. Yet I can't help but point out that Lin Lie already had his own thing that made him interesting-- being a hero who suffered from chronic pain-- and making him Iron Fist doesn't really build on (or conflict with) that in a compelling way, at least in these first few issues. And instead of having him gain the Chi power through undergoing the Trial of Shou-Lao (or by an alternative route that was equally character-driven and memorable), the Chi just... finds him and flows into his body? Okay. (You would think a new Iron Fist has to defeat the old one in battle or something. A dramatic and important rite befitting the huge burden the title carries.)
So while I have no respect for those who complain about diversity in media (see: "W" word), and will defend this character/author on principle alone, I am still a reader with opinions and I do wish this change-up was handled differently. Or that this new guy taking on the title didn't mean Danny falling by the wayside. (Somehow, Spider-Man can have a whole universe of doppelgangers, but there can't be two Iron Fists at the same time? Never mind that the Netflix series ended with Danny and Colleen Wing wielding the Chi powers simultaneously.) You can almost smell the editorial mandate to bench Danny until the whole lingering "White savior" conversation spawned by the Netflix show finally blows over. It seems the powers that be have no interest in wading into that conversation, or offering any defense of a character who, rather than a symbol of White privilege, could just as easily become Marvel's quintessential White ally superhero-- too bad, since Marvel has had no problem tackling other prickly topics.
Anyway, I'm off to go play as Lin Lie in Marvel Rivals.
(Because Danny's not in it.)
May 26, 2024
I’ll freely admit that I have a soft spot for Marvel’s mystical side, and Iron Fist chief among them. It was particularly exciting to see Marvel retire Danny Rand, a problematic character, and give the power of Iron Fist to an Asian character, written and drawn by Asian/Asian-American creative team.
There was a lot going for this book, and it was, for the most part, exactly what I was looking for. Lin Lie is a compelling character, and his drive to reconcile his destiny with a new set of expected, but equally thrilling, responsibilities holds a lot of metaphorical potential. For example, Lin Lie’s struggle to live up to his family’s expectations and responsibilities as the Sword Wielder and the adopted responsibilities of Kun Lun, where he was chosen to be Iron Fist, will feel quite familiar for most immigrant families in America.
It was an ambitious opening story, and what was here was quite enjoyable. But the project felt rushed. There was a lot of world building to do in establishing Lin Lie and Lin Fang, the nature of his combined powers, and the threat of Chiyou, to say nothing of weaving in Danny Rand and the cast of characters related to the long running Iron-Fist mythos. Five issues was not enough, and I wish the first arc would have taken a smaller, tighter focus to better establish the character. I often felt like I was reading each third issue, missing a lot of crucial background and context to help flesh out the world. This might be my fault, since I don’t often read Marvel comics in monthly installments, opting instead for the collected TPBs. It could be that I missed some earlier arc that explained a bunch. Or maybe there is some other comic that fills in some of the blanks.
The book ended on a cliff-hanger, so I can only hope that the creative team gets the space they need to more fully realize the story they are trying to tell.
There was a lot going for this book, and it was, for the most part, exactly what I was looking for. Lin Lie is a compelling character, and his drive to reconcile his destiny with a new set of expected, but equally thrilling, responsibilities holds a lot of metaphorical potential. For example, Lin Lie’s struggle to live up to his family’s expectations and responsibilities as the Sword Wielder and the adopted responsibilities of Kun Lun, where he was chosen to be Iron Fist, will feel quite familiar for most immigrant families in America.
It was an ambitious opening story, and what was here was quite enjoyable. But the project felt rushed. There was a lot of world building to do in establishing Lin Lie and Lin Fang, the nature of his combined powers, and the threat of Chiyou, to say nothing of weaving in Danny Rand and the cast of characters related to the long running Iron-Fist mythos. Five issues was not enough, and I wish the first arc would have taken a smaller, tighter focus to better establish the character. I often felt like I was reading each third issue, missing a lot of crucial background and context to help flesh out the world. This might be my fault, since I don’t often read Marvel comics in monthly installments, opting instead for the collected TPBs. It could be that I missed some earlier arc that explained a bunch. Or maybe there is some other comic that fills in some of the blanks.
The book ended on a cliff-hanger, so I can only hope that the creative team gets the space they need to more fully realize the story they are trying to tell.
September 6, 2022
Ready to be confused? Me either. It's a bit of the old mixed with a bunch of the REALLY new. Alyssa Wong does a great job of blending both characters history into something fresh and creative.
(here's your Iron Fist chronology(?) update)
Iron Fist used to be Danny Rand - (white guy; rich like Tony Stark; knows LOTS of martial arts; Iron Fist for SO long; sacrificed the Iron Fist power to save the world...again)
Lin Lie used to be named Sword Master - (Shanghai raised; recent Marvel creation; archaeologist family; entrusted with super god-level sword keeping a demon captive; his magic sword breaks; keeping the "sword" safe, the shards are embedded in Lin Lie's hands and forearms. OUCH!)
...shake the Marvel universe up for about 1 year or 2.
Now Danny is still trying to hold his own, but he lacks the special abilities granted by the 'Iron Fist'. He crosses paths with someone wearing something similar to Iron Fist gear. Danny isn't in the loop any longer. After the shattering of his sword, Lin Lie thought he was at death's door. He was saved....for a purpose. His sword, though in pieces, is his responsibility.
Bonus: Not bad for a Chinese comic creation with a new (and growing) list of compatriots
Bonus Bonus: Immortal Weapons cameo!
(here's your Iron Fist chronology(?) update)
Iron Fist used to be Danny Rand - (white guy; rich like Tony Stark; knows LOTS of martial arts; Iron Fist for SO long; sacrificed the Iron Fist power to save the world...again)
Lin Lie used to be named Sword Master - (Shanghai raised; recent Marvel creation; archaeologist family; entrusted with super god-level sword keeping a demon captive; his magic sword breaks; keeping the "sword" safe, the shards are embedded in Lin Lie's hands and forearms. OUCH!)
...shake the Marvel universe up for about 1 year or 2.
Now Danny is still trying to hold his own, but he lacks the special abilities granted by the 'Iron Fist'. He crosses paths with someone wearing something similar to Iron Fist gear. Danny isn't in the loop any longer. After the shattering of his sword, Lin Lie thought he was at death's door. He was saved....for a purpose. His sword, though in pieces, is his responsibility.
Bonus: Not bad for a Chinese comic creation with a new (and growing) list of compatriots
Bonus Bonus: Immortal Weapons cameo!
September 11, 2024
Talk about a juggling act. Alyssa Wong takes the storyline from the 12 issue Sword Master story and actually builds on it, roping in Danny Rand and friends while pushing Lin Lie even more into the Marvel Universe as a whole.
There's a lot to like here. Lie's attempts at coming to grips with his legacy are noble, and I liked the ultimate conclusion to how he dealt with the whole 'Sword Master & Iron Fist' thing, even if it did make me scream at one point, because ouch. We get to see his brother Lin Feng again, so that's another plot point that's tied up from his solo series, as well as a brief visit from Ji Shuangshuang.
But, just like the Sword Master series, there's no resolution. There's an end to this conflict, and then an even bigger one gets unveiled in the last few pages that doesn't get resolved elsewhere either (there's an AXE one-shot that's mentioned, but I read that after I finished this and it doesn't move this plot along either).
I'm not expecting Marvel to finish all their plots - that's not how comics work, of course. But when you've got something so huge left hanging, it does make it hard to appreciate how we got to that point, knowing that there's no ending.
There's a lot to like here. Lie's attempts at coming to grips with his legacy are noble, and I liked the ultimate conclusion to how he dealt with the whole 'Sword Master & Iron Fist' thing, even if it did make me scream at one point, because ouch. We get to see his brother Lin Feng again, so that's another plot point that's tied up from his solo series, as well as a brief visit from Ji Shuangshuang.
But, just like the Sword Master series, there's no resolution. There's an end to this conflict, and then an even bigger one gets unveiled in the last few pages that doesn't get resolved elsewhere either (there's an AXE one-shot that's mentioned, but I read that after I finished this and it doesn't move this plot along either).
I'm not expecting Marvel to finish all their plots - that's not how comics work, of course. But when you've got something so huge left hanging, it does make it hard to appreciate how we got to that point, knowing that there's no ending.
January 15, 2025
Love that we’re finally getting a Chinese Iron Fist, who studied under Shang-Chi, nonetheless. This new Iron Fiat is Lin Lie, a Shanghainese outsider to K’un L’un who is reborn as the Iron Fist by the dragon Cha Lou itself. Due to the fight with the evil deity directly preceding his revival, Lie’s arms are embedded with shards of his legendary sword said to defeat the evil deity, giving him chronic pain that falters his connection with the heart of the dragon. As he tries to reconcile with his imposter syndrome and survivor’s guilt, he embraces the help of his mentor figures and found family in K’un L’un to rise above the challenges. This was a great story to read so far, which feels like an allegory for the dual identity of being Chinese-American (hopefully that doesn’t seem like a stretch).
October 25, 2025
I don't know how the hell the editors at Marvel thought they'd get away with this, but at this rate they're lucky Rumiko Takahashi doesn't sue cause this arc is literally a copy/paste of the classic 1990s/2000s anime InuYasha. Admittedly, Lin Lie has more in common with Miroku than InuYasha himself but magic portals to another realm with SACRED SWORD SHARDS instead of SACRED JEWEL SHARDS and Lin's sidekick is even dressed an outfit similar to Kikyo's red-and-white Shinto priestess garb? Maybe they thought InuYasha wasn't popular enough anymore for people to notice, but you'd have to be blind not to see it if you're an anime fan.
Very disappointed that Marvel let this fly under their radar and make it to print. It's an insult to their fans and to anime fans both.
Very disappointed that Marvel let this fly under their radar and make it to print. It's an insult to their fans and to anime fans both.
January 4, 2023
A new Iron Fist has arisen...
Should you follow his adventures...Maybe.
I was aware of a character by the name of SwordMaster, but knew little of him. I knew he carried a sword with some generational vow to use it to protect the world from some great evil locked away.
That general understanding is all you really need to know about our new Iron Fist and if you need more a couple minutes on the internet should suffice to catch you up.
This is a much more untested Iron fist and its demographic is younger. I recommend it, and it does feature Danny Rand, but he is very much the Obi-Wan character to Lie's Luke.
Should you follow his adventures...Maybe.
I was aware of a character by the name of SwordMaster, but knew little of him. I knew he carried a sword with some generational vow to use it to protect the world from some great evil locked away.
That general understanding is all you really need to know about our new Iron Fist and if you need more a couple minutes on the internet should suffice to catch you up.
This is a much more untested Iron fist and its demographic is younger. I recommend it, and it does feature Danny Rand, but he is very much the Obi-Wan character to Lie's Luke.
January 6, 2023
I can buy into the notion that Iron Fist needed a reboot because as much as I like Danny Rand, he is undeniably a product of a time when creators didn’t give it a second thought that a white Kung Fu master surrounded by broadly Asian iconography might be a bad look.
That said, Sword Master was kind of a generic character when he was introduced a few years ago, and his debut Iron Fist story doesn’t do much to distinguish him from other C-listers. The plotting, dialogue, and art are all very mediocre.
That said, Sword Master was kind of a generic character when he was introduced a few years ago, and his debut Iron Fist story doesn’t do much to distinguish him from other C-listers. The plotting, dialogue, and art are all very mediocre.
April 9, 2023
I really liked this story, and the new Iron Fist Lin Lie fka Sword Master. But what brought me down was when i finished the last page and found that the story isn't over, yet the series is. There was an additional one shot that also tied into last year's big Marvel event A.X.E. that continues the story but even that ends without resolution.
I do not like this new Marvel method of putting out miniseries that should be ongoing series . You don't not finish a story and then end your book, that's lazy writing and even lazier publishing.
I do not like this new Marvel method of putting out miniseries that should be ongoing series . You don't not finish a story and then end your book, that's lazy writing and even lazier publishing.
February 25, 2023
The creation of a legacy character can be messy. But I think there is a lot of good story here. It ties in the Asian heroes that Marvel has been building but gives me an in ti connect with them for the first time. We also get an Iron Fist from Asia while still maintaining the outsider model that Danny provided. And it respects the history of Danny Rand.
My biggest issue is the Fist and Shang Chi never talked about Danny?
My biggest issue is the Fist and Shang Chi never talked about Danny?
July 29, 2023
Didn't care for the cliffhanger ending. Thought I was getting a full arc here.
A new Iron Fist with a non-traditional background. He has a history of martial arts training but didn't train a lifetime in kun lun to fight the dragon and was saved by him instead. Not totally sure. The backstory was a but vague.
Lots of great cameos. Danny Rand, Fat Cobra, Luke Cage. A fun story and interesting iteration of the Iron Fist but not enough of it. Should've been more of the story.
A new Iron Fist with a non-traditional background. He has a history of martial arts training but didn't train a lifetime in kun lun to fight the dragon and was saved by him instead. Not totally sure. The backstory was a but vague.
Lots of great cameos. Danny Rand, Fat Cobra, Luke Cage. A fun story and interesting iteration of the Iron Fist but not enough of it. Should've been more of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
A truly fantastic debut for the new Iron Fist! His story and drive is fascinating with plenty of world built up around him to continue him!
Fans of the older Iron Fist will have a feast of continued continuity that keeps popping up and showing it will stay honored while going too!
The biggest downside to this book is its continued in 3 more issues that aren't collected anywhere. Huge bummer that should be rectified.
Fans of the older Iron Fist will have a feast of continued continuity that keeps popping up and showing it will stay honored while going too!
The biggest downside to this book is its continued in 3 more issues that aren't collected anywhere. Huge bummer that should be rectified.
February 2, 2023
The biggest issue with Iron Fist is that he's inherently problematic - the MCU had the chance to not have the white guy appropriating Asian culture back in 2017, but they decided to just keep the character as is. I appreciate that Wong has created an Asian hero for the title - I wish this was ongoing instead of a limited series, but it's a step in the right direction.
March 23, 2023
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I feel like I pay pretty close attention to all things Iron Fist and like the new direction as well as harkening back to some of those Brubaker Iron Fist stories. My problem was there is just way too much story, and particularly backstory, for five issues and I had a hard time keeping everything straight.
May 8, 2023
I think intended for younger readers, a solid introduction to this new Iron Fist. I like his story and the demons / magic / destiny of it all, and the supporting cast is great, and these first five issues set Lie Lin up in the Marvel 616. I'm looking forward to see this new Iron Fist be supported by the street level friends of Danny Rand, and the Immortal Weapons of the Eternal Cities.
October 1, 2025
Está bien y me gusta mucho la idea del nuevo Iron Fist. Pero siento que me falta mucho contexto. Tendré que hacer lectura previa de Lin Lie, que pena, como si no me gustara leer cosas de artes marciales y magia ambientadas en la cultura china.
October 19, 2022
wanted more 💔
March 4, 2023
A great collection quest. Some good uses for the pieces of the sword. A hero having to relearn his skills.
April 18, 2024
3.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews