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A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1
- Writer:
- Alyssa Wong
- Artist:
- Michael Yg, Marika Cresta
- Letterer:
- VC's Travis Lanham
- Cover Artist:
- Philip Tan, Antonio Fabela
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-10-12
- Colorist:
- Chris Sotomayor
To stop the Eternals' war with the X-Men, the Eternal priests Ajak and Makkari, along with the mutant Mr. Sinister and Avenger Iron Man, resurrected their Celestial god. But as Progenitor awakened, a wave of panic swept over the planet as every individual must be judged before humanity hears the collective verdict. Lin Lie, Marvel's latest Iron Fist, has to choose between friendship and duty as part of Progenitor's test. A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1, written by Alyssa Wong with artwork from Michael Yg and Marika Cresta, colors by Chris Sotomayor, and letters from VC's Travis Lanham, is a pivotal pit stop on the Iron Fist's journey.
A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1 opens with an ominous scene of the future, with Lin Lie and Loki finding themselves embroiled in fire and smoke as they stand before Shou-Lao the Undying. Earlier, Loki met Lin Feng to congratulate him on his conquest of K'un-Lun, while making underhanded comments about his true intentions. In the now, Loki teleports inside an airplane to taunt Lin about his brother taking control over the sacred city when he, as its sworn protector, is nowhere near the place. Just then, the Celestial God calls them both to face judgment. Loki relives a painful memory, and the Iron Fist faces the inevitable.
Alyssa Wong uses K'un-Lun's symbol of power as the appropriate narrative hook for A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1. In just two splash pages, Wong summarizes the Iron Fist lore so far and gets fans excited for a swashbuckling team-up. From there, the story follows a linear layout, jumping from one narrative to another. Loki is just an instrument, a storytelling device connecting two scenarios of brotherly love in a bid to create a contrasting reflection. Because, despite the high-voltage escapades, it is still a story about two brothers and their familial dynamics that place them on opposite corners of the ring. The unlikely duo's chemistry strengthens the story, bringing out the strengths of both characters.
Like the dual protagonists leading the show, Michael YG and Marika Cresta create spread after spread of sprawling pages. Loki looks as charming and dapper as ever in their signature attire that never seems to go out of style, while Lin Lie changes between his civilian and superhero costumes in a flash. Chris Sotomayor's colors help push the stupendous charm of the fiery visuals to great heights, often carrying the action-adventure torch more than the script in certain scenes. There are some awe-inspiring splash pages throughout the book that more than make up for the occasional imperfection.
A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1 is a fun issue that finally brings closure to Lin Lie's journey as the Iron Fist. The issue provides equal attention to both its protagonists, weighing their hearts to give readers a sense of their past struggles, which have shaped their strong personalities. Progenitor takes them back to the moment that has or will change everything in their lives, and this struggle gives the book a unique perspective. A.X.E.: Iron Fist #1 can be enjoyed by casual readers without having to scour through a multitude of other stories, which makes it a breath of fresh air and a great place for new fans to start.