Iron Fist #2 Review - Marvel Monday

Trial of the Seven Masters

Written by: Ed Brisson
Art by: Mike Perkins, Andy Troy and Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 5, 2017
Review by: Aaron Anderson

When last we saw our directionless defender of the destroyed K'un-Lun, Danny Rand. The Iron Fist power had left him. His searches for a Chi power up has brought him on board a ship headed to a mysterious island named Lui-Shi to compete in....MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!...Fight! Test your might!


We are thrown right into the first of seven master battles opening page with a punch. The Art like I had hoped is bright, colorful, and well defined. It still retains the grittiness from the last issues but these are more refined fighters. It is a really nice progression from last issue. Mike Perkins and Andy Troy work well together. Unfortunately they are only allowed to portray Danny dodging or blocking one time a comic apparently. The Eel of Blessed Waters, Iron Fists opponent, treats the track suit wearing Fist to a fist of his own and drowns him while we are treated to a flashback.

We arrive to the island and get to witness the idiotic lapse in judgment Danny has that led to said beating.

Choshin brought Danny to the island Liu-Shi where he introduces The Fister to Patience. She is one of the Masters of Liu-Shi. Patience says Hi trust me you want to fight in our competition. Fist Master Flash says you had me at Kung Fu tournament. Being able to soul suck the Chi out of the person I beat is just icing on my bran muffin.

Back to Iron Fist's first fight. He takes a beating but keeps on ticking till he remembers he can block, dodge, punch, and kick also. Not so amazingly beating house Eel, the block with my face Fist, soaks up Eel of blessed waters Chi and is off to House Rat for round two.

Meanwhile, we are filled into the EVIL Villains' nefarious plans of gaining legitimacy through finishing the Fist in battle and taking the Chi of Shou-Lao The Undying for themselves. So they, Liu-Shi, can replace K'un-Lun as the seventh heavenly city. I guess they don't know K'un-Lun is destroyed? If that isn't heavy handed enough we get the guide giving the whole childhood story of our next big baddy in line to fight The Rat of 12 Plagues. Who reminds me of Vermin from Amazing Spider-man back in the day. Even the creepy story from the guide isn't enough warning for Danny to have his head on a swivel for he is left beaten and poisoned by the end.

The writing on this book is troubling. There is no world building or character building or hero building. Our hero is a loser who comes off more as a street thug with a low I.Q., then a Billionaire Kung Fu Master. The art totally carried this issue. This comic already feels like it's going to end after one trades worth of issues are printed.

Bits and Pieces:

There is nothing here really to sink your teeth into to bring you coming back for more. I am slightly interested in the Mortal Kombat Kung Fu matches. If they were a little less one sided. Iron Fist should have some defense he shouldn't have to rely on a miracle finish at the last second. This still has potential.

7/10