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Marvel Masterworks: Iron Fist
Marvel Masterworks: Iron Fist, Vol. 1
As a child, Daniel Rand embarked on a trek with his father and mother through the Himalayan Mountains to find the lost city of K'un-Lun, but their journey ended tragically with the death of Rand's parents! Now, ten years later, Daniel returns as the Iron Fist, determined to avenge their demise! Witness Iron Fist's first meeting with Misty Knight!
244 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
12 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,517 books273 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 26, 2018
Superhero comics in the 1970s were dominated by 2 hero themes Horror/supernatural stories, think Ghost Rider, Hellstrom, Man-Thing and Satana, and the rise of the martial arts character. One of the best of the martial artist to appear was the Iron Fist. An excellent blend of superhero, martial arts and mysticism from the East. Fantastic art by industry greats like Gil Kane, John Byrne and Pat Broderick made the visual fight scenes a wonder to look at. Very recommended
October 1, 2017
This collection could also be called Everybody Wants To Kill Iron Fist.
From the moment he leavesShangri La K'un Lun and returns to New York City, Iron Fist/Danny Rand is having to fight for his life. The poor guy can't even play a friendly game of softball without the bodies piling up. Perhaps if he would stop wearing that attention-grabbing costume on the subways he would become a harder target to spot.
I noticed something interesting with this collection. The covers of the comics would often feature a woman in some peril as Iron Fist fought to protect her. Yet inside the actual story the women were all pretty much kick ass. Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, those death cult hussies - they were all doing a good job of taking care of themselves.
From the moment he leaves
I noticed something interesting with this collection. The covers of the comics would often feature a woman in some peril as Iron Fist fought to protect her. Yet inside the actual story the women were all pretty much kick ass. Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, those death cult hussies - they were all doing a good job of taking care of themselves.
June 21, 2018
As a kid, I dreamed of reading all of these issues in a row. As an adult, I'm glad that I can put these to bed. Fascinating to see this historical offspring of the mainstream appropriation of what Bruce Lee introduced to popular American culture. Interesting to see the breakdown of the fight scenes into discrete units that highlight a specific stylistic attack or block. For those keeping track, the last two issues in this volume are the first Claremont/Byrne takes on the character.
February 20, 2017
Nostalgic for Kung Fu? The 70s? Marvel? Yes this is for you.
It also features legends, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Iron Fist origin, Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, and even a thrown down with Shellhead himself, Tony Stark!
Closer to 3 stars but the colours and style remind me of what I read when I was young.
It also features legends, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Iron Fist origin, Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, and even a thrown down with Shellhead himself, Tony Stark!
Closer to 3 stars but the colours and style remind me of what I read when I was young.
September 26, 2020
Although there's not a perfectly clean break between series, Masterworks vol 1 mostly follows IF's first adventures in Marvel Premiere, while vol 2 covers the stories in his following solo title. Each series is also (basically) its own storyline -- vol 1 follows IF as he returns to NYC after ten years of Mystical Kung Fu Training to avenge his family, while vol 2 mainly sees him set off on a global chase to rescue fellow warrior/damsel in distress Colleen Wing.
Although neither book/series/storyline is exactly groundbreaking, I'd ultimately say that this first volume is a little stronger. At times it's kind of hokey and plodding (there's one issue that takes place entirely in one boobytrapped hallway), but there's also some charmingly bizarre setpieces (an Eastern death cult that sets up shop in an abandoned subway station as a primary example).
I had trouble really understanding what the creators were going for until I went back a little further and read some Shang-Chi, who's a bit more of a traditional warrior monk (philosophical, noble) with a heavy lean on action sequences that feel martial-arts focused. Iron Fist is a little more angry and tortured, even to the point of being alienating. He's not exactly an anti-hero, but seeing him as an 'alternative' kung fu protagonist (at a time when Marvel titles were boiling over with martial arts characters) is key to finding the vibe of the book.
By the same token, the martial arts aspects of this comic are treated a little more like sorcery than as a way to shape the aesthetic of the combat sequences -- there are a lot of fights throughout (like, a lot a lot), but there's not much that makes them distinct from any other superhero comic. He's a dude whose superpowers are that he's got fun names for all his punches, and that he's got a magic fist.
Ultimately I still think IF is an interesting character, but even these early stories make it clear how difficult he is to get right.
Although neither book/series/storyline is exactly groundbreaking, I'd ultimately say that this first volume is a little stronger. At times it's kind of hokey and plodding (there's one issue that takes place entirely in one boobytrapped hallway), but there's also some charmingly bizarre setpieces (an Eastern death cult that sets up shop in an abandoned subway station as a primary example).
I had trouble really understanding what the creators were going for until I went back a little further and read some Shang-Chi, who's a bit more of a traditional warrior monk (philosophical, noble) with a heavy lean on action sequences that feel martial-arts focused. Iron Fist is a little more angry and tortured, even to the point of being alienating. He's not exactly an anti-hero, but seeing him as an 'alternative' kung fu protagonist (at a time when Marvel titles were boiling over with martial arts characters) is key to finding the vibe of the book.
By the same token, the martial arts aspects of this comic are treated a little more like sorcery than as a way to shape the aesthetic of the combat sequences -- there are a lot of fights throughout (like, a lot a lot), but there's not much that makes them distinct from any other superhero comic. He's a dude whose superpowers are that he's got fun names for all his punches, and that he's got a magic fist.
Ultimately I still think IF is an interesting character, but even these early stories make it clear how difficult he is to get right.
September 6, 2023
Kung-Fu meets "Lost Horizon" when orphaned Danny Rand is trained by a lost civilization to become the mighty warrior Iron Fist. He then heads to New York in order to take revenge on the man who killed his parents. A lot of running around then ensues.
It's a fairly decent story with fairly decent artwork. It's not hard to see why this title didn't last long, though if the publisher had taken a little more effort on the run it might have lasted longer. It's simply just average in a large field where so much is better.
It's a fairly decent story with fairly decent artwork. It's not hard to see why this title didn't last long, though if the publisher had taken a little more effort on the run it might have lasted longer. It's simply just average in a large field where so much is better.
November 6, 2023
I had no knowledge of, or interest in, Iron Fist growing up. None. I bought the old Marvel Visionaries: Gil Kane trade paperback, and it reprinted Marvel Premiere #15, Iron Fist's first appearance. I was so blown away by the quality of that story that I hunted down Essential Iron Fist Vol. 1 and was even more blown away. So much so that I was primed and ready for a full color collection. Years later, this book was released. Even more years later, I rotated this through my backlog and read it. I think that it takes mystical K'Un-Lun less time to appear again than it did for all of this to occur.
Marvel Premiere was one of Marvel's “tryout” books. Lots of new 1970s concepts were tried out in these rather than being launched with an endless stream of new #1s and cancelled and relaunched titles. Iron Fist enjoyed a long run in Marvel Premiere, lasting eleven issues before being spun off in his own magazine. The launch of his solo series came smack dab in the middle of an ongoing storyline. In this book it reads just fine. I can see where folks who bought it off of the spinner racks would be confused, though. Wait, isn't this the first issue?
Like many Bronze Age titles, this series was handed off like a baton to a number of comic book journeymen. To the writers' credit, things never became disjointed and continuity was maintained throughout. No egotistical crybabies trying to undo what another writer had just done, trying to put their “stamp” on it, just moving the story forward from one issue to the next. If one didn't read the credits, one wouldn't notice a huge difference in the writing until Chris Claremont came aboard. His distinct voice was already fully formed, even in his salad days. Thomas, Claremont, Isabella, Moench...these guys were all students of the artform, growing up with it and have a genuine love for it.
The artwork is a mixed bag. Gil Kane starts things off strong. Kane is a master, one of the best artists of his day. The only reason that modern fans are unaware of him is that he jumped around too much and didn't have a defining “run” on any title. Larry Hama did a few issues after Kane's one and only issue. Yes, that would be the same Larry Hama who helped Hasbro co-create the G.I. Joe characters of the '80s and wrote all but 6 of the 155 issues of the original title. He started out as an artist but made his mark as a writer. Arvell Jones and Pat Broderick are those artists who did solid work but whom nobody calls a favorite. If you flip through your collection of '70s and '80s comics you likely own many issues that they drew.
I enjoyed seeing Iron Fist fight Batroc the Leaper. I am always a sucker for the shared universe aspect, where one hero's villains wind up in another one's title and they fight. Most of the better villains and battles occur in the next volume in this series. There is tons of high octane, bone crushing martial arts action here, though. Iron Fist is very much a product of it's time but holds up extremely well some 40 years later.
Chris Claremont takes the reins with Marvel Premiere #23, where he introduces a villain named Warhawk. Warhawk was some kind of shell-shocked Viet Nam veteran who saw the world as a war that was still continuing, much like the Punisher. While the Punisher was more of a zeitgeist antihero, Warhawk was a villain plain and simple, shooting at civilians and whatnot.
John Byrne comes aboard with issue 25. This marks the dawn of the collaboration between Claremont and Byrne which would be continued in Marvel Team-Up and reach artistic heights in Uncanny X-Men just two years later. This is like John Lennon meeting Paul McCartney, and the two began writing songs together. This is also when the series kicks into high gear. Claremont and Byrne never met a subplot they didn't like, and they would throw interludes in while putting seemingly endless new developments into motion. Things always got tidied up. It was a blast reading this stuff for the first time, and was equally thrilling on the re-read. While this book is great, the issues collected in volume 2 are even better.
Marvel Masterworks are my poison of choice. While the line has certainly had some missteps and mistakes over the years, it has been pretty much perfect since 2007-2008. When it comes to earlier printings I would advise folks to avoid them for the most part and buy the softcovers. They often boast superior restoration to the existing hardcovers and use the same upgrades found in the Omnibus hardcovers. For Masterworks of this book's vintage, rest assured that this is the definitive Blu-Ray edition of your favorites.
Marvel Premiere was one of Marvel's “tryout” books. Lots of new 1970s concepts were tried out in these rather than being launched with an endless stream of new #1s and cancelled and relaunched titles. Iron Fist enjoyed a long run in Marvel Premiere, lasting eleven issues before being spun off in his own magazine. The launch of his solo series came smack dab in the middle of an ongoing storyline. In this book it reads just fine. I can see where folks who bought it off of the spinner racks would be confused, though. Wait, isn't this the first issue?
Like many Bronze Age titles, this series was handed off like a baton to a number of comic book journeymen. To the writers' credit, things never became disjointed and continuity was maintained throughout. No egotistical crybabies trying to undo what another writer had just done, trying to put their “stamp” on it, just moving the story forward from one issue to the next. If one didn't read the credits, one wouldn't notice a huge difference in the writing until Chris Claremont came aboard. His distinct voice was already fully formed, even in his salad days. Thomas, Claremont, Isabella, Moench...these guys were all students of the artform, growing up with it and have a genuine love for it.
The artwork is a mixed bag. Gil Kane starts things off strong. Kane is a master, one of the best artists of his day. The only reason that modern fans are unaware of him is that he jumped around too much and didn't have a defining “run” on any title. Larry Hama did a few issues after Kane's one and only issue. Yes, that would be the same Larry Hama who helped Hasbro co-create the G.I. Joe characters of the '80s and wrote all but 6 of the 155 issues of the original title. He started out as an artist but made his mark as a writer. Arvell Jones and Pat Broderick are those artists who did solid work but whom nobody calls a favorite. If you flip through your collection of '70s and '80s comics you likely own many issues that they drew.
I enjoyed seeing Iron Fist fight Batroc the Leaper. I am always a sucker for the shared universe aspect, where one hero's villains wind up in another one's title and they fight. Most of the better villains and battles occur in the next volume in this series. There is tons of high octane, bone crushing martial arts action here, though. Iron Fist is very much a product of it's time but holds up extremely well some 40 years later.
Chris Claremont takes the reins with Marvel Premiere #23, where he introduces a villain named Warhawk. Warhawk was some kind of shell-shocked Viet Nam veteran who saw the world as a war that was still continuing, much like the Punisher. While the Punisher was more of a zeitgeist antihero, Warhawk was a villain plain and simple, shooting at civilians and whatnot.
John Byrne comes aboard with issue 25. This marks the dawn of the collaboration between Claremont and Byrne which would be continued in Marvel Team-Up and reach artistic heights in Uncanny X-Men just two years later. This is like John Lennon meeting Paul McCartney, and the two began writing songs together. This is also when the series kicks into high gear. Claremont and Byrne never met a subplot they didn't like, and they would throw interludes in while putting seemingly endless new developments into motion. Things always got tidied up. It was a blast reading this stuff for the first time, and was equally thrilling on the re-read. While this book is great, the issues collected in volume 2 are even better.
Marvel Masterworks are my poison of choice. While the line has certainly had some missteps and mistakes over the years, it has been pretty much perfect since 2007-2008. When it comes to earlier printings I would advise folks to avoid them for the most part and buy the softcovers. They often boast superior restoration to the existing hardcovers and use the same upgrades found in the Omnibus hardcovers. For Masterworks of this book's vintage, rest assured that this is the definitive Blu-Ray edition of your favorites.
September 24, 2017
Lots of fun
Ah, few things compare with a big heaping slice of 70's four color cheese. If you were disappointed with the Netflix show, read this and let your soul be healed.
Ah, few things compare with a big heaping slice of 70's four color cheese. If you were disappointed with the Netflix show, read this and let your soul be healed.
November 27, 2020
An enjoyable read and a good character.
This volume basically just gets the ball rolling but leaves me curious about what comes next.
This volume basically just gets the ball rolling but leaves me curious about what comes next.
April 7, 2022
Classic Iron Fist, really took off for me with Chris Claremont writing, the way he builds up the Chi in Daniel's body eventually leading to his fist, the Iron Fist.
March 26, 2023
Starts off strong. Has some solid parts in the middle but starts to fizzle towards the end. I do like Iron Fist origin story, it works well as well as his initial quest for revenge
December 15, 2024
Iron Fist suuuuuucks
December 15, 2014
To be fair, this first collection of Iron Fist is probably closer to a three star book, but the last two issues--written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Byrne--bring it up a little. It's been a long time since I've read the original IF stories, and I had forgotten that the narrative conceit is entirely in the second person, which is distracting and ultimately weakens the storytelling. The Gil Kane covers are still a treat, and the over-the-top names for strikes and blows in K'un-Lun are clearly based in the American Kempo Karate system that was getting a lot of media play in the mid-70s, a fact that makes for some nostalgic fun. The issues illustrated by Arvell Jones and Pat Broderick are workmanlike at best, but the team of Larry Hama and Dick Giordano was a good one. All in all, the collection is a mixed bag, but IF found his footing in later issues of his solo title and when teamed with Power Man.
December 22, 2013
This was another semi-accidental purchase on eBay, but I'm glad I got it. Iron Fist was my first real exposure to kung fu as a genre, though I missed getting a mess of the issues in this collection just because newsstand distribution in a small town stinks.
Great artwork by Gil Kane, Pat Broderick and Larry Hama, and the first collaboration by Chris Claremont and John Byrne - the probable reason why this was reprinted - makes it worth the price (at least an eBay price; I wouldn't pay fill price for ANY of the Masterworks or Archives hardcovers today).
Great artwork by Gil Kane, Pat Broderick and Larry Hama, and the first collaboration by Chris Claremont and John Byrne - the probable reason why this was reprinted - makes it worth the price (at least an eBay price; I wouldn't pay fill price for ANY of the Masterworks or Archives hardcovers today).
April 25, 2013
The character of Iron Fist was still developing in this edition, but with both Clarmont and Byrne both taking on the project in their first run at their own title, great things were in stall.
During this period I really enjoyed the Marvel comics martial arts titles, Shang-chi was a marvellous title and were a lot more adult in flavour than the more established super-hero titles.
During this period I really enjoyed the Marvel comics martial arts titles, Shang-chi was a marvellous title and were a lot more adult in flavour than the more established super-hero titles.
January 28, 2012
Never was an Iron Fist fan, and I can see why. It's pretty weak until Clairmont and Byrne take over at the end of the collection and then it's awesome.
February 14, 2015
Doesn't pick up steam until Clairemont and Byrne take over, but when it does it becomes early genius for the pairing who would go on to perfect it with Uncanny X-Men.
March 31, 2017
This first collection wobbles all over the place before Chris Claremont (and then John Byrne) jump on and give it some direction and some character. The first two issues by Roy Thomas are deeply cliched but still very fun and Gil Kane's art on the first issue is very stylish. Larry Hama jumps on with the second issue and his art is also strong. When Doug Moench jumps on with the third issue, he takes the origin story in some interesting but kinda dumb ways. First, he does a video game-esque where Iron Fist fights his way through a building. Then the origin wraps up in a mostly sensible way except there's a terrible (and very confusing) villain named Triple Iron and a ninja shows up out of nowhere at the end. Moench does one last issue (the fifth, Marvel Premiere 19) and it's a snooze but introduces some characters that Claremont will have fun with later.
Marvel Premiere 20 sees Tony Isabella take over writing and Arvell Jones take over art. It's not exactly good, but at least some of it is so bonkers that it's fun. Issue 22 in particular sees Iron Fist battling the ninja (named Ninja apparently) in a cosmic dimension. That's pretty fun, but it also has a bunch of boring ass backstory that retcons certain aspects of Iron Fist's origin.
Issue 23 is where Claremont takes over. He introduces a villain named War Hawk who is a Vietnam vet and is a surprisingly well rounded character. Pat Broderick, who does this issue and the next one, does a great job on art, too. Issue 24 has a great splash page and some fun battling with a robot. It's goofy, but it also pushes the characters stories along after a long period of stagnation.
Issue 25 is where John Byrne jumps on art. Sadly, it's a total dog of a story that wastes the Mind Storm opportunities of Anger the Screamer. From here we jump to Iron Fist's solo series. Claremont has some really great pulpy dialogue in the first issue and Byrne does some great art. The second issue is pretty much all backstory but manages to be fun anyway.
Marvel Premiere 20 sees Tony Isabella take over writing and Arvell Jones take over art. It's not exactly good, but at least some of it is so bonkers that it's fun. Issue 22 in particular sees Iron Fist battling the ninja (named Ninja apparently) in a cosmic dimension. That's pretty fun, but it also has a bunch of boring ass backstory that retcons certain aspects of Iron Fist's origin.
Issue 23 is where Claremont takes over. He introduces a villain named War Hawk who is a Vietnam vet and is a surprisingly well rounded character. Pat Broderick, who does this issue and the next one, does a great job on art, too. Issue 24 has a great splash page and some fun battling with a robot. It's goofy, but it also pushes the characters stories along after a long period of stagnation.
Issue 25 is where John Byrne jumps on art. Sadly, it's a total dog of a story that wastes the Mind Storm opportunities of Anger the Screamer. From here we jump to Iron Fist's solo series. Claremont has some really great pulpy dialogue in the first issue and Byrne does some great art. The second issue is pretty much all backstory but manages to be fun anyway.
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