Jan-Ken-Pon – The Immortal Iron Fist #26 review

    
This issue concludes the story of the Immortal Weapons – champions of their own capitol cities in heaven – including Iron Fist enter the eighth (essentially hell) to free what were innocents behind a gate that only they (the Weapons) together could open. Captured by the denizens, ruled by none other than the very first Iron Fist, they were imprisoned, tortured and made to fight for entertainment and torment, only to be allowed to escape. It should be noted that in very apt fashion, the answer in how to deal with the situation came to Rand as he meditated while an army approached to storm the gate he was attempting to open. In representing, in being the protector of a city, you have to belief in it, or risk losing belief in yourself. While some may find Swierczynski’s conclusion too pat, it’s actually the tough decision – the one that bets on us. Foreman was at first unnerving to me, and sporadic was a word I wanted to attach to him, but as the series progressed he truly put his visual stamp on the title. He didn’t change, and I don’t think he had to. Now, in some way I feel like we just had to catch up to him.

This issue finishes an arc, a chapter of which – issue #23 – I have previously reviewed, that simply became one of the best Iron Fist stories I’ve ever seen put to paper. I have all of these joints, including the Deadly Hand of Kung-Fu magazines, and though at the time I thought I grasped why I was digging the book, it wasn’t until this issue that it became clear to me in terms of direct examples. This may sound odd to non-comic fans, or those just to young or old, but Kevin Smith – yes that one – served a rather pivotal role in kick-starting the comic book medium again. Smith’s outside appeal and foundational (not to the character – that’s Miller – but to what Marvel would become) Daredevil work would be followed by runs by Bendis and Brubaker, that perhaps still too quietly gives that character an as amazing a modern pedigree as any character can claim. I bring up Daredevil because two runs on that character came to mind for me when I consider Swierczynski on Immortal Iron Fist – neither are the obvious choices. It would be entirely sensible to think that Swierczynski – a gifted crime novelist – would share some similarities with Brubaker (who launched this Iron Fist title), Bendis and Miller, all writers who essentially are crime fiction enthusiasts who have/had been given the keys to one of the two stables of the non-Disney Americana icons. It is not, however, that trio that I am reminded of. While I have little doubt that Smith was writing with Miller on his mind, it is not his returning Marvel to solid- street level – ground that was his true accomplishment. It is that he did so without hiding from the fantastic or spiritual elements. In this way, the work reminded me of Ann Nocenti’s run (one that I think is criminally underrated to this day) that also took the character into the realm of speculative fiction. Street yes. But those streets can lead to dilemma both mundane and fantastic. This is what Swierczynski has done with Danny Rand, allowing a character that we’ve seen fight his way in, through, and out of hell, and yet still allow us to identify the man wondering about what the people in the office are going to think about his beard. Both come off as actions of the same man, the latter not a self-mocking punch-line in light of the chimerical occurrences of the former or a passing afterthought.

Our insertion back into the real world is only two pages long but it hits as hard as any blown thrown in any demon-filled mystical city. It speaks to a connection and relationship with character as it felt like we shared a trial with Rand and the creators. Duane Swierczynski took over Iron Fist from a celebrated creative team. He has taken that character to hell and back, and in return he offers us Danny Rand.

The Immortal Iron Fist isn’t just a cool book anymore. It’s not just a trendy book to say that you follow on the internet, nor just a fun experiment with a character from the supernatural Marvel 70’s.

Danny Rand matters now.

    
- Jay Tomio

_{Jan-ken-pon is the time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column of Jay Tomio, owner of 1/3 of everything you see currently on screen, and the editor of Heliotrope. Some call him the Bodhisattva.}

About Jay Tomio

...Jay Tomio is the co-owner of BSCreview and BSCkids--check out Jan-ken-pon, his time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column. More fun awaits at the Vogue Immunity