By Marc Strom
Every week we'll pick a handful of awesome comics from the thousands available through Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. From creator spotlights to editor's picks and more, this'll be your spot to find something new and cool.
The new IMMORTAL IRON FIST creative team of writer Duane Swierczynski and artist Travel Foreman wrap up their first story arc, "The Mortal Iron Fist," this week with issue #20, and to celebrate we're taking you on a guided tour of Danny Rand's storied history!
From Hero for Hire to Weapon of K'un-Lun, Iron Fist has seen it all and handed out his fair share of kung-fu butt whippings over the years. Now kick back and enjoy some martial arts mastery in each of these five digital gems, all available right now on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
MARVEL PREMIERE #15
Iron Fist makes his debut in this story delving into the character's origins. Take a journey to K'un-Lun for the very first time and learn what tragedy befell a young Danny Rand as his father set out to find the mystical city, while in the present he proves his right to bare the name "Iron Fist!" Roy Thomas and Gil Kane bring you all-out kung-fu action in the Mighty Marvel Manner, setting the stage for all of Iron Fist's future adventures in this harrowing origin story!
DAREDEVIL (1963) #178
When Foggy Nelson hires Iron Fist and fellow Hero for Hire
Luke Cage to bodyguard Matt Murdock, little do the duo know that they will be guarding none other than
Daredevil himself! Of course, since they're not hip to Matt's double life, they also don't realize that DD isn't much of a threat to their client…and therein lays the misunderstanding which leads to a good ol' fashioned super hero brawl! And in keeping with the holiday spirit, this issue even features Iron Fist and Hornhead going at it in the middle of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, all drawn by the deft hand of classic Daredevil artist Frank Miller!
BLACK PANTHER (1998) #39
Remember "'Nuff Said," the line-wide Marvel event back in December 2001 where all of Marvel's comics went silent for an issue? One of the best stories to come out of that month was this issue of BLACK PANTHER, featuring the King of Wakanda going toe-to-toe with Iron Fist in an epic kung-fu battle for the record books choreographed by writer Christopher Priest and artist Sal Velluto! What has brought these two heroes to blows? And what does all this have to do with the Panther's U.S. liaison, Everett K. Ross, transforming into a giant dragon?
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #7
Kung fu pirates. Seriously, do you need to know anything more than that to crack this issue open? Wu Ao-Shi, the Pirate Queen of Pinghai Bai, also happens to go by another name: Iron Fist! But this ain't your average jaunt through the history books, True Believer, as Wu undergoes an intense training regimen at the hands of Lei Kung the Thunderer! And when she falls in love with a local fisherman, she learns of the price that must come with receiving the power of the Iron Fist. More importantly, however, this issue features more high seas kung-fu battles than any other Marvel comic before, and for that reason alone you dare not miss it!
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #9
"The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven" kicks into high gear as Iron Fist enters the tournament to determine which city will have the right to materialize in our world once every decade. Danny's first opponent: the vicious
Fat Cobra! As the two do battle across an ever shifting plane of reality, jumping in and out of our own world and K'un-Lun, Iron Fist must choose whether or not to throw the fight. Why would he risk bringing shame to his own Capital City? Might have something to do with the fact that Danny has a few questions about his predecessor, Orson Randall, and the leaders of K'un-Lun seem to be less than forthcoming with the answers…
Check out the official Marvel Shop for your favorite Marvel Heroes!
