Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #01
Writer/Artist: Kaare Andrews
Publisher: Marvel
This Danny is different, flat out, and I don’t know how to view it: he’s numbed and fairly jaded to life, making use of medication and women to go about his days, and just going through the motions day in day out. I don’t know if this was Andrews’s attempt to add grit to the character, but it was a severe disjoint to the character that I know and love. Even when faced with opposition later in the issue, his approach to battle is vastly different as he engages his opponents in an almost “Wolverine-esque” berserker fashion, seemingly lusting for the thrill/excitement of battle. This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, just that the stark contrast was immediately noticeable to those who’ve read the Fraction run.
Moving on, I always have the highest respect for artist/writers (“double threats”), and believe it adds a little more personal inflection to the work as whole in terms of characterizing it. This much is apparent, as I feel Andrew’s art and writing perfectly complement one another in terms of introducing us to a darker storyline as well as handling the subtle/casual moments of Danny’s life, in addition to the brutal/kinetic portions of his duties as Iron Fist. I can’t say I’m personally too pleased with the persona shift facing Danny Rand, but perhaps in issues to come I will understand the character better and maybe even find the Danny I’m used to.
Publisher: Marvel
My first formal exposure to the character that is "Iron Fist" was through Matt Fraction's superb (and quintessential) run during the "Marvel Civil War" era (c. 2006). So pardon my preconceived notion of Danny Rand being a very collected, confident, and powerful martial artist/philanthropist who just so happens to lead a dual life as Iron Fist. That pretense shattered immediately within the first several pages, as we are instantly introduced to a sort of “Nega-Fist,” who is very much polarized to the former version in many ways.
This Danny is different, flat out, and I don’t know how to view it: he’s numbed and fairly jaded to life, making use of medication and women to go about his days, and just going through the motions day in day out. I don’t know if this was Andrews’s attempt to add grit to the character, but it was a severe disjoint to the character that I know and love. Even when faced with opposition later in the issue, his approach to battle is vastly different as he engages his opponents in an almost “Wolverine-esque” berserker fashion, seemingly lusting for the thrill/excitement of battle. This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, just that the stark contrast was immediately noticeable to those who’ve read the Fraction run.
Moving on, I always have the highest respect for artist/writers (“double threats”), and believe it adds a little more personal inflection to the work as whole in terms of characterizing it. This much is apparent, as I feel Andrew’s art and writing perfectly complement one another in terms of introducing us to a darker storyline as well as handling the subtle/casual moments of Danny’s life, in addition to the brutal/kinetic portions of his duties as Iron Fist. I can’t say I’m personally too pleased with the persona shift facing Danny Rand, but perhaps in issues to come I will understand the character better and maybe even find the Danny I’m used to.
A Look Inside
