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Iron Fist
Celebrating 50 years of Iron Fist, Marvel is proud to present the early adventures of martial arts legend Danny Rand! This collection not only includes his complete color comic series, but also Iron Fist's exploits in the black-and-white magazine DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU! After an expedition to find K'un-Lun left Rand's parents dead, he found the path to the mystical city and spent a decade there training. Gaining the shattering power of the Iron Fist, Danny set out into the Western world to avenge his parents' deaths! He is joined by detectives Misty Knight and Colleen Wing, who also star in their own three-part solo exploit by Chris Claremont and Marshall Rogers! Collecting MARVEL PREMIERE #15-25, IRON FIST (1975) #1-15 and MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #63-64 - plus material from DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU (1974) #10, #18-24, #29 and #31-33; DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU SPECIAL #1; and BIZARRE ADVENTURES #25.
952 pages, Hardcover
Published January 30, 2024
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,287 books899 followersChris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 31, 2025
(Zero spoiler review)
The dictionary definition of a mixed bag. Containing an assortment of stories from the early years of the character (as the title clearly suggests), this series both suffers and is strengthened by the litany of creators that all get their turn with Danny Rand. The earliest incarnation with Roy Thomas seemed promising, leaning heavily into the mysticism of eastern philosophy and street level action. Yet the further the stories departed from this into more typical super hero exploits, the weaker it got. Claremont and Byrne having the longest run with the character do the bulk of the world building and lore with Iron Fist, introducing a small gallery of side characters and turning out some solid stories. Yet herein lies some of its weaker aspects as well, leaning too far into said superhero histrionics and too far from the more down to earth 'kung fu' nature of the character. Iron Fist fighting giant robots. Nah, that'll be a pass.
The black and White Deadly Hands stories produce some outstanding results, and not just with the art of Rudy Nebres. But this should have been where the character was at its best, replicating the fantastic Shang Chi-esque stories from his own run, but it fails to ever reach those heights.
There's enough good material here to warrant a purchase/read, although unless you are invested in the character or this era of comics, then the misses will outweigh the hits, making this one a relatively safe skip. I however, fall somewhere in the middle. 3/5
OmniBen.
The dictionary definition of a mixed bag. Containing an assortment of stories from the early years of the character (as the title clearly suggests), this series both suffers and is strengthened by the litany of creators that all get their turn with Danny Rand. The earliest incarnation with Roy Thomas seemed promising, leaning heavily into the mysticism of eastern philosophy and street level action. Yet the further the stories departed from this into more typical super hero exploits, the weaker it got. Claremont and Byrne having the longest run with the character do the bulk of the world building and lore with Iron Fist, introducing a small gallery of side characters and turning out some solid stories. Yet herein lies some of its weaker aspects as well, leaning too far into said superhero histrionics and too far from the more down to earth 'kung fu' nature of the character. Iron Fist fighting giant robots. Nah, that'll be a pass.
The black and White Deadly Hands stories produce some outstanding results, and not just with the art of Rudy Nebres. But this should have been where the character was at its best, replicating the fantastic Shang Chi-esque stories from his own run, but it fails to ever reach those heights.
There's enough good material here to warrant a purchase/read, although unless you are invested in the character or this era of comics, then the misses will outweigh the hits, making this one a relatively safe skip. I however, fall somewhere in the middle. 3/5
OmniBen.
April 24, 2025
I picked up Iron Fist: Danny Rand -- The Early Years Omnibus because I’ve been enjoying my Shang-Chi collection and remembered flipping through issues of Power Man and Iron Fist as a kid. This felt like great way to entertain my kung-fu kick.
The omnibus collects Marvel Premiere #15-25, Iron Fist #1-15, Marvel Team-Up #63-64, plus a stack of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu stories and extras. It covers Danny’s full origin -- K’un-Lun training, return to New York, and early battles with everyone from Sabretooth to the Scythe to the Wrecking Crew.
Writers like Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, and Chris Claremont drive the action. Claremont and Byrne, in particular, give the solo series weight and rhythm, building up Misty Knight and Colleen Wing along the way. The writing moves fast -- revenge, street fights, and mystical throwdowns all mixed together.
Art-wise, Gil Kane sets the tone early. John Byrne gives it polish after. The Deadly Hands material, with artists like Rudy Nebres and Larry Hama, strips things down to bold, gritty layouts.
All together, it’s a full arc of early Iron Fist -- raw at first, but sharpening as it goes. If you're a sucker for kung-fu and street-level grit, this one hits.
The omnibus collects Marvel Premiere #15-25, Iron Fist #1-15, Marvel Team-Up #63-64, plus a stack of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu stories and extras. It covers Danny’s full origin -- K’un-Lun training, return to New York, and early battles with everyone from Sabretooth to the Scythe to the Wrecking Crew.
Writers like Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, and Chris Claremont drive the action. Claremont and Byrne, in particular, give the solo series weight and rhythm, building up Misty Knight and Colleen Wing along the way. The writing moves fast -- revenge, street fights, and mystical throwdowns all mixed together.
Art-wise, Gil Kane sets the tone early. John Byrne gives it polish after. The Deadly Hands material, with artists like Rudy Nebres and Larry Hama, strips things down to bold, gritty layouts.
All together, it’s a full arc of early Iron Fist -- raw at first, but sharpening as it goes. If you're a sucker for kung-fu and street-level grit, this one hits.
November 8, 2025
Interesting stories and even better artwork especially in the black and white Deadly Hands of Kung Fu which will delight fans of Marvel's Bronze and early Copper Age. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews