The Immortal Iron Fist Thread - Part 1

[Sebastos]

Always loved this cover:

 

[Dread]

Yeah but I mean, what im trying to understand is, if you have a winning formula for a character then why wouldnt you follow it? Captain America for example. No one bought Cap's book until Brubaker and Epting came along and tried a different approach with the character, they made the book more of a dark espionage book rather than a superhero one and that formula worked and continues to work for Cap and now he's a big player in the MU again.

Now by all means, even when Brubaker, Fraction and Aja were on the book, Ironfist wasnt exactly selling gangbusters but it was garnering critical acclaim and selling steadily and gaining a fanbase. As soon as those guys left, the book sank like the titantic because the creative team that made them good was no longer there. Now of course, you cant FORCE Brubaker or Aja to work on the book forever i guess but look at what happened with Daredevil. Bendis and Maleev worked magic on the character and found a winning formula. So when it was time for them to leave, Marvel put a creative team on the book that was damn near identical to Bendis and Maleev's style because that was what made Daredevil work.

I guess what im saying is... BRING AJA BACK DAMMIT! Or if you cant, find an artist or a writer that could evoke that same atmosphere that made the book work with that creative team. Again, i fully acknowledge that maybe its not nearly as easy as it sounds but i dont think people want to read about Danny running around with this young kid with funny looking glasses. Give us the semi-noir, mystical kung fu laden stories that brought Ironfist back from obscurity. I know im not being totally fair to Van Lente, but when i read that preview it just made me miss Brubaker and Aja.

This is weird. Overall I am inclined to agree. On the other hand, I do like Fred Van Lente's work. He has never produced a comic yet that I thought was below average or even average (aside for one or two issues of IRON MAN LEGACY). I like his new Victor Alvarez character and how he has ties to both Cage and Iron Fist, so he fits into their world. As for the bits about taking on those sorts of bizarre street villains, I don't mind that much, either. I mean, Iron Fist is still the type to handle common street punks than a lot of other heroes; that was the gist of the back up strip for IMMORTAL WEAPONS.

What makes a book sell is a balance between how "important" the franchise is to the company, as well as the talent being involved being high enough profile AND talent that the audience seems to want on the book. The poorest selling runs of FANTASTIC FOUR in recent years were those of Dwayne McDuffie and Jonathan Hickman, at least in comparison to Mark Waid, J. Michael Straczynski, and Mark Millar (to which a comic fan may go, "D'uh"). Now, McDuffie had a boost at the start from THE INITIATIVE banner and by mixing up the team roster (replacing Reed & Sue with Black Panther and Storm for about a year). And Hickman has gotten a boost from "THREE". But by and large, the bigger name writers tended to do better. Yet, the end of the Mark Millar run saw greatly diminished sales - the audience didn't prefer him on FF as it had on, say, THE ULTIMATES, WOLVERINE, or KICK-ASS. Same as Brubaker may be capable of making CAPTAIN AMERICA a Top 30 book, but he couldn't get THE MARVELS PROJECT to sell that well for long.

David Aja may be limited with being able to do monthly work on a timely schedule. During his run, other artists would often come in for flash back sequences that were in nearly every issue and designed specifically to give Aja a break on some pages; drawing maybe 17-20 pages instead of 22. And this was fine and clever until the end of the Brubaker/Fraction run when Aja was being backed up by nearly a half dozen other artists. In many ways, it is more of a writer's medium than an artist's these days, in that a hot writer tends to move more books than a hot artist. It wasn't that way in the 90's but it is now. I am sure Grant Morrison on a Batman comic would sell even if the artist was terrible or an unknown figure picked at random from Deviant Art. There are very few artists whose name-power alone will elevate a writer with a slim rep these days, and those artists who can are usually former 90's superstars, like whenever Jim Lee draws something.

I think there is a way to balance mystical kung fu with street villain bashing. After all, the start of the IMMORTAL IRON FIST run had Rand fighting HYDRA agents as well as a giant robot on rooftops. I like Victor but hopefully he won't totally hog the book. I also would be stunned if within 5 issues, Luke Cage didn't show up once. He was around for half of SHADOWLAND: POWER MAN.

 

[JewishHobbit]

That always has been one of my favorite covers. In fact, when I was putting my Immortal Iron Fist binds together I was looking for a cover to splice into the opening page and it was between that one and the one with all the Immortal Weapons on it. I went with the other one because that's what I called the volume but that one was real close to being selected.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Is it alright if I state how much I love the Luke Cage/Danny Rand Team-Ups?
Especially that Thunderbolts issue before Parker's run

 

[Sebastos]

That always has been one of my favorite covers. In fact, when I was putting my Immortal Iron Fist binds together I was looking for a cover to splice into the opening page and it was between that one and the one with all the Immortal Weapons on it. I went with the other one because that's what I called the volume but that one was real close to being selected.

For sure this has to be my favorite of them all:

It'd be cool if one of the Iron Fist movie posters was based on that cover.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I'd be all for it

And I'll just say that despite how underwhelming Secret Avengers has been I've been LOVING Prince of Orphans in it!

 

[TheDarkKnight08]

Did anyone yet pick up the Iron Fist/ Power Man book that came out this week?

 

[bored]

Have we seen the other Immortal Weapons (Aman aside) recently?

 

[Sebastos]

Thanks too taozen over at the CBR forums:

Originally Posted by taozen
Matt Fraction had a "Fireside Chat" on the Wordballoon podcast and stated that he sent an Iron Fist proposal to marvel. If they like it he thought he may be able to do it after the Power Man/Iron Fist series. He stated if it is accepted he would have it would most likely be a side story of the upcoming "Fear Itself" event. Let's hope marvel likes his proposal.

This is great news, maybe an Iron Fist mini?

 

[Scarecrow_King]

wait...when/why did Danny start wearing white?

 

[JewishHobbit]

Have we seen the other Immortal Weapons (Aman aside) recently?

I don't think so.

wait...when/why did Danny start wearing white?

New Avengers's first arc... issue 4 or so. His costume was white after returning from some magical realm and he's kept it.

 

[Scarecrow_King]

I don't think I like it. too much brightness. the white and the yellow need something dark to break them up. I loved the forest green with yellow.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I read somewhere that it isn' here to stay, just visiting. I'm hoping that's right. I like the costume but it'll get old quick.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Green looks way better. I am not a fan of his whiteness. [/not racist]

 

[Sebastos]

I read somewhere that it isn' here to stay, just visiting. I'm hoping that's right. I like the costume but it'll get old quick.

That's good to hear. I mean I like it too, but I want Danny to switch back to the green and yellow.

Anyone read Heroes for Hire #3? Iron Fist goodness.

 

[Dread]

It did. It was bad-ass.

Not for nothing, but Iron Fist ended up bad ass at the end of SHADOWLAND #5 as well. I can't think of too many other events where he pretty much got in the deciding blow on the big bad - especially a story in which Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Punisher, and Spider-Man were all present.

 

[Sebastos]

^^ Agreed.

Iron Fist in May Solicitations:

Iron Fist in May Solicitations:

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #5 (of 5)
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES
Cover by MIKE PERKINS
WHO KILLED CRIME-BUSTER? Power Man and Iron Fist, our non-profit private eyes have figured it out, but they have to fight their through every homicidal maniac in SEAGATE PRISON to prove it! Plus: Noir's true identity! The fate of Vic Alvarez's girlfriend! The Divine Right! Commedia Dell'Morte! Dogs and cats living together! Van Lente and Alves bring you the senses shattering conclusion!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

IRON MAN 2.0 #5
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by ARIEL OLIVETTI
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
One of the major villains of FEAR ITSELF shows up to claim his power and wreak havoc right in the pages of 2.0. Rhodey must join forces with Danny Rand, the Immortal Iron Fist, and the Immortal Weapons if he hopes to win the day!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

I'm really pleased to see that Danny and the Immortal Weapons are going to team up with Rhodey.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I'm just happy to see the Immortal Weapons back. Prince of Orphans has been cool over in this arc of Secret Avengers but I miss Fat Cobra and the rest.

 

[Dread]

I love how Sal Larroca hasn't gotten the memo that Rand is in his Phoenix colors now.

I don't read IRON MAN 2.0, but I am tempted to grab this crossover issue. After all, Iron Fist got me to read a random issue of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP. But then again, so did Gorilla-Man. And Hercules.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Wouldn't that be the colorist's memo? Or does he do coloring too?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm guessing "fgd" did the coloring, whoever that is. I think Larroca does ink his own work...

 

[Sebastos]

I'm hoping it's a sign Danny switches back to the green and yellow.

 

[Dread]

Wouldn't that be the colorist's memo? Or does he do coloring too?

Fair point. Colorist errors are as old as time. Some characters have had their eyes, hair, even SKIN TONES change because of it.

I'm hoping it's a sign Danny switches back the green and yellow.

Maybe he rotates depending on the day. "Today is a green day, tomorrow is a white day, and Thursday is the collar & slippers day."

 

[NDX]

Not enough heroes have choices. Variety should be a must when defending the public.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Maybe he rotates depending on the day. "Today is a green day, tomorrow is a white day, and Thursday is the collar & slippers day."

Every day should be a collar and slippers day.