After more than 50 years, Marvel is reinventing the iconic kung-fu heroIron Fist, changing Danny Rand’s logo as the hero undergoes a historic transformation. In 2024,Marvel killed off Danny Rand, slain by the demonic Ch’i-Lin (who had possessed his old enemy Razorfist.) Now, Danny is rising from the dead, but he’ll still pay a cost for this second chance.
In a preview ofThe Undead Iron Fist #1shared by Marvel, Luke Cage goes to visit his friend’s grave, only to find it empty. The zombie Danny Rand lurches away, confronting a group of demons disguised as a family. The preview reveals that Danny’s chest brand has changed, becoming a bird-like shape with an eye in the center.
When Danny Rand defeated the dragon Shou-Lao the Undying, the beast’s chi entered his body, leaving a dragon-shaped brand on his chest. This is a brand all other Iron Fists possess, although sometimes on other parts of their body, and acts as the hero’s logo in Marvel Comics. Transformed by death, Danny Rand now sports the symbol of another mystical patron.See below for a better look at the Undead Iron Fist’s new character design.
Iron Fist Is Back With New Powers
Danny Rand Is a Kung-Fu Ghost Rider
Over the last few years, Danny Rand wasreplaced as Earth-616’s Iron Fist by Lin Lie, the former Sword Master, quickly meeting his demise after surrendering the title. Now, Marvel is reinventing him as some kind of cross between Ghost Rider and the Iron Fist, imbuing him with spiritual energy, including a fiery skull for a head.
Danny is also sporting a golden arm with a hawk-like design on the shoulder, suggesting that a new mythological beast has raised him from the grave. It’s possible that the white dragon from the preview is lending Danny its power, but its identity is still a mystery, givenIron Fistlore is packed with mythological beasts, let alone the wider Marvel Universe.
Marvel’s summaries for the new series tease that"Danny’s time is running out fast",suggesting that his reanimation is a temporary state and that he’ll soon be returned to the grave unless he can accomplish a specific task. This quest willbring the Undead Iron Fist into conflictwith Daredevil and Luke Cage, as they fight to find out the truth of what has happened to their friend.
Whatever comes next, it’s clear this will be a seismic change forIron Fist, with his new logo establishing that Danny Rand is serving a new master as he rises from the grave.
The Undead Iron Fist #1is coming September 10 from Marvel Comics.
