Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: andy troy, avengers, Damian Couceiro, Damnation, Danny Rand, defenders, doctor strange: damnation, Ed Brisson, fat cobra, heroes for hire, iron fist, magic, martial arts, Marvel Comics, mephisto, miranda rand, occult, Orson Randall, superheroes
Iron Fist #80 Review: Punching Demons from Here to Eternity
Iron Fist and Fat Cobra interrupt the fight between Orson Randall and Miranda Rand. Danny and Cobra have a new agreement with D'Kay. Orson, Miranda, and Fat Cobra's mother can be free from Hell if the five can defeat the remaining 12 demons at D'Kay's disposal at once. Let the final round of the tournament begin.
You know how, in a story with deal-making demons and devils, that there is always a last unseen twist or clause to trip up the hero? Yeah, don't expect that to happen here. This comic is just a straight-up cage match between five martial artists and a dozen demons.
Oddly enough, that may be to the book's benefit. This gets to be plain ass-kicking cage match with demons. It's fun, and there are plenty of awesome action panels on display.
Not everyone makes it out alive, and the one who falls does so out of the blue. The ending comes off like a very slap-dash and rushed conclusion that hopes it can extract some meaning with the conclusion of this series.
There's also a running joke with Fat Cobra's mom abusing him that just feels cruel.
Damian Couceiro and Andy Troy are the MVPs of this issue, as they make the fight scenes worth observing. The blows are impactful and often quite creative. The motion is displayed with finesse and kinetic energy. There are plenty of good shots of the Iron Fist himself throughout the book. Troy's aren't the most eye-grabbing in this issue, as they are once more quite pale and cold when this comic could have done with a more vibrant palette.
Iron Fist #80 isn't exactly the finale that this series deserved considering what it was at its peak. Damnation dragged the final few issues into an underwhelming arc that stretches for meaning and relevance to Danny Rand. That said, this final issue was certainly fun regardless, and Ed Brisson, Damian Couceiro, and Andy Troy do a good job of making this an issue worth reading. Check it out.