Review - The Immortal Iron Fist #24

This is an older review I wrote April 3rd, 2009.

Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Pencils: Kano
Inks: Kano
Color: Jose Angel Cano Lopez
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Cover: Patrick Zircher

Danny Rand, the current Immortal Iron Fist, is being held prisoner in the 8th Capital City of Heaven, forced to do battle along with the other Immortal Weapons. But if you're not up with what Fat Cobra, Bride of Nine Spiders or guys are up to, you don't have to worry about it for this issue.

This issue is a stand alone story of an Iron Fist from the past. Young disciple Park Li isn't up for all the excessive training, sparring and workouts that is required. Instead he would rather spend his day imagining. A pacifist, Li never really understood why he had to fight. But as the story continues, we find out that he is training with his brother following their fathers wishes. But a plague hits the city and while everyone is sick, the 10 year cycle for the selection of a new Iron Fist is about to start with Li being the only person healthy enough to try.

As I mentioned, this is an interlude to an ongoing story arc, that looks into the past of the Iron Fist stories and I found it to be a wonderful read. The art work by Kano is bold with strong lines. There is an energy in the figures that can be felt by the reader. Also, the fantasies by the character Li are well done. By showing a clear change in style from the "real" world Li lives in.

And the story by Swierczynski is a tightly self-contained tale. With Li using his gifts of imagination and is conviction towards pacifism to save both a viliage on Earth and his home, the mystical city of K'un-Lun.