Iron Fist is a fascinating Marvel Comics character, born during the height of 70’s Kung Fu obsession, smoothly transitioning into the best partnership in Marvel with Luke Cage, and punching his way back into relevance with a delightfully supernatural reinvention of Kung Fu for the 2000’s.
Due to his “fringe” status, and later creation (compared to the major Marvel heroes of the 1960’s) reading through Iron Fist appearances is reasonably palatable endeavor. Most fans today will point you straight to Immortal Iron Fist
Iron Fist Reading Order
Index:
II) Power Man & Iron Fist: Heroes for Hire
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IV) The Immortal Iron Fist (2000’s)
V) Iron Fist: Heroic Age to Marvel NOW! (2010 to 2013)
VI) Marvel NOW! Iron Fist (2013 to Present)
I) Iron Fist Origins and Early Days
Iron Fist Epic Collection: The Fury of Iron Fist
I’ll admit one of the major surprises for me reading every year of Marvel Comics in order (as part of My Marvelous Year!) was finding Chris Claremont and John Byrne Iron Fist stories!
While I’m well-versed in the duo’s X-Men output (some of the best Marvel Comics of all time!), I had no idea the duo was crafting Danny Rand as early as 1975. Credit where it’s due of course to creators Roy Thomas and Gil Kane for launching Iron Fist in the pages of Marvel Premiere.
The Claremont and Byrne era extends for issues #1 through #15 of Iron Fist, and shockingly includes the very first appearance of Wolverine villain Sabretooth!
Collects: Marvel Premiere #15 to #25, Iron Fist #1 to #15, Marvel Team-Up #63 to #64
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Omnibus Vol. 1
If you’re a true Iron Fist completist, you’ll also want to include Iron Fist’s appearances in The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, all of which can be read prior to Iron Fist #1.
Issues: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Special Edition #1, Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #10, Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #18 to #24
II) Power Man & Iron Fist: Heroes for Hire
Power Man & Iron Fist Epic Collection: Heroes for Hire
Luke Cage and Iron Fist team-up for the first time, naturally in the hands of creators Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Collects: Power Man #48 to #49, Power Man & Iron Fist #50 to #70
Power Man & Iron Fist Epic Collection: Revenge!
Collects: Power Man & Iron Fist #71 to #72, Daredevil #178, Power Man & Iron Fist #74 to #89
Power Man & Iron Fist (Marvel Essentials, Vol. 2)
For a good long while, the middle stretch of the Power Man and Iron Fist run was only collected in black and white essential editions. This is beginning to change as Luke Cage and Iron Fist make their way to Netflix, as evidenced above.
Collects: Daredevil #178, Power Man and Iron Fist #76 to #100
Power Man & Iron Fist #101 to #125
These issues (uncollected at present) will take you from 1984 to 1986.
III) Iron Fist in the 90’s
Namor Visionaries by John Byrne – Volume 2
A minor stretch, but John Byrne’s early 90’s Namor includes a good deal of Iron Fist for those looking to continue the conclusion of Power Man & Iron Fist #125.
Issues: Namor the Sub-Mariner #10 to #18 (series continues to issue #34 with Iron Fist relevance).
Luke Cage: Second Chances Vol. 1
As you’d expect, this is a more closely connected part of the Luke Cage reading order, but beginning with issue #9 of Cage, Iron Fist makes a slight return.
Is Maximum Carnage an Iron Fist story? Nope, certainly not. Nonetheless, Danny Rand makes several regular appearances in the back half of the most 90’s Spidey event comic.
Collects: Maximum Carnage reading order
Iron Fist: The Book of Changes
Sometimes Marvel Comics Presents “Iron Fist and Ghost Rider!” and sometimes that’s enough.
Collects: Marvel Comics Presents #111, #113 to #118, #125 to #137, #140 to #141
Luke Cage, Iron Fist, & The Heroes For Hire Vol. 1
In 1997, Marvel got Suicide Squad co-creator John Ostrander to write another concept-oriented team, the Heroes for Hire.
While Ostrander’s Suicide Squad is far superior, the late 90’s Heroes for Hire represents some of the most Iron Fist focused comics of the decade.
Collects: Marvel Fanfare #6, Heroes for Hire #1 to #9
Luke Cage, Iron Fist & The Heroes For Hire Vol. 2
Note the 5 part tie-in crossover with Quicksilver, and yes, note that Quicksilver indeed had his own series in the late 90’s.
Collects: Heroes for Hire #10 to #15, Quicksilver #11, Heroes for Hire #16, Quicksilver #12, Heroes for Hire/Quicksilver Annual ’98 #1, Heroes for Hire #17 to #19
Iron Fist: The Return of K’un Lun
Marvel testing the waters with a whole bunch of Iron Fist minis.
Collects: Iron Fist (1996) #1 to #2, Iron Fist (1998) #1 to #3, Iron Fist/Wolverine #1 to #4, Iron Fist (2004) #1 to #6
IV) The Immortal Iron Fist (2000’s)
Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev’s Daredevil
Another highly recommended read that works best (as you’d expect) in the Daredevil reading order.
Nonetheless, there are a handful of cool “Luke tells Daredevil what’s up” scenes, such as in Daredevil #38 (the start of the “Trial of the Century” story arc). It’s a strong series overall, but this issue helps put Luke, Danny and Matt’s interactions into context.
Issues: Daredevil #38 to #40, #59 to #60
Guest starring Iron Fist!
Issues: Daughters of the Dragon #1 to #6
Daredevil: The Devil, Inside and Out, Vol. 1
Again, this will all add up a lot more clearly as part of the full Daredevil reading order, but the first arc from Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark on Daredevil is important to Iron Fist, and explains his involvement (as Dannydevil) in Civil War.
Issues: Daredevil #82 to #87
Iron Fist is not a major player in Civil War, but it’s worth noting the event occurs here, and sets the stage for much of Danny’s involvement with the New Avengers to come.
Following Civil War, Danny joins the New Avengers.
Issues: New Avengers #27 to #37
Many comic book readers will tell you that if you read one Iron Fist story, it should be Immortal Iron Fist, and they’d be right. This is easily the best starting place for new readers, with a knockout creative team of Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Matt Hollingsworth.
Immortal Iron Fist is one of my 100 favorite Marvel Comics from 1998 to 2015, and frankly it’s towards the top of the list.
Issues: Immortal Iron Fist #1 to #16, Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1, Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death #1, Immortal Iron Fist: The Origin of Danny Rand
Immortal Iron Fist by Brubaker, Fraction, and Aja Reading Order:
Immortal Iron Fist #1 to #9
Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1
Immortal Iron Fist #10 to #12
Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death #1
Immortal Iron Fist #13 to #16
Immortal Iron Fist: The Origin of Danny Rand
Immortal Iron Fist: The Complete Collection Volume 2
The follow-up to the Brubaker, Fraction and Aja years is significantly underrated, and maintains a very consistent level of quality to the preceding books.
Issues: Immortal Iron Fist #16 to #20, Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Death Queen of California, Immortal Iron Fist #21 to #27, Immortal Weapons #1 to #5
Danny Rand’s in and out of the New Avengers tie-ins during Secret Invasion (full reading order linked above).
Issues: Daredevil #111 to #115
V) Iron Fist: Heroic Age to Marvel NOW! (2010 to 2013)
Iron Fist is a full-fledged New Avengers during Marvel’s Heroic Age. The below issues #14 to #16 will take you through the Fear Itself event.
Issues: New Avengers #1 to #16
Another Daredevil event with a healthy dose of Iron Fist mixed in. Focus on the “Power Man” tie-ins in the reading order linked above.
Issues: Heroes for Hire #1 to #5
As mentioned during New Avengers, you can find the full Fear Itself reading order here.
Issues: #6 to #12
Power Man and Iron Fist: The Comedy of Death
Danny trains a new Power Man, from writer Fred Van Lente.
Issues: Power Man & Iron Fist #1 to #5 (2011)
Defenders by Matt Fraction – Volume 1
Defenders by Matt Fraction – Volume 2
Iron Fist joins the Defenders for Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson’s 12 issue run on an all-new Defenders lineup.
Issues: Defenders #1 to #12 (2011)
Danny and K’un Lun play a reasonably significant role in A v X – Danny Rand is most prominent in the New Avengers and Avengers tie-ins referenced in the Avengers vs X-Men reading order linked above.
VI) Marvel NOW! Iron Fist (2013 to Present)
Iron Fist: The Living Weapon Volume 1: Rage
Issues: Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #1 to #6
Iron Fist: The Living Weapon Volume 2: Redemption
Issues: Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #7 to #12
Kaare Andrews wrote and drew this 12 issue run on Iron Fist as part of All-New Marvel Now!
Power Man and Iron Fist Vol. 1: The Boys are Back in Town
Issues: Power Man and Iron Fist #1 to #5
Power Man and Iron Fist Vol. 2: Civil War II
As you’d expect, this takes place during the Civil War 2 reading order.
Issues: Power Man and Iron Fist #6 to #9
Latest Additions:
Power Man & Iron Fist Vol. 3: Street Magic
Issues: Power Man & Iron Fist (2016) #10 to #15
Iron Fist by Brisson and Perkins Vol. 1: The Trial of the Seven Masters
Issues: Iron Fist (2017) #1 to #5
Iron Fist by Brisson and Perkins Vol. 2: Sabretooth — Round Two
Issues: Iron Fist (2017) #6 to #7, #73 to #77
Check out CBH’s full Secret Empire Reading Order!
The Defenders by Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever
Issues: Defenders (2017) #1 to #5, material from FCBD 2017 (Guardians of the Galaxy) #1
Defenders by Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 2: Kingpins of New York
Issues: Defenders (2017) #6 to #10
Immortal Iron Fists by Andrews & Chan
Issues: Immortal Iron Fists #1 to #6
Issues: Doctor Strange: Damnation #1 to #4, Damnation: Johnny Blaze — Ghost Rider #1, Doctor Strange (2015) #386 to #389, Iron Fist (2017) #78 to #80, and Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #15 to #17
Issues: Typhoid Fever: Spider-Man, Typhoid Fever: X-Men, Typhoid Fever: Iron Fist
Issues: Iron Fist: Marvel Digital Original #1 to #3
War of the Realms: Strikeforce
Issues: War of the Realms Strike Force: The Land of the Giants, The Dark Elf Realms, and The War Avengers
Check out CBH’s full War of the Realms Reading Order!
Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors
Issues: Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors (2019) #1 to #3, Absolute Carnage: Avengers (2019) #1
Issues: Contagion (2019) #1 to #5
Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon
Issues: Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon (2021) #1 to #6
Iron Fist by Wong and Yg: The Shattered Sword
Issues: Iron Fist (2022) #1 to #5
Check out CBH’s full Judgement Day Reading Order!
Perfect guide, sir!
I’ve just been reading through Claremont’s X-Men and I’ve just reached #110 where Wolvie references Claremont’s Iron Fist. So I was wondering if his 1975 run of the character is a good start. Do I have to read the 10 Marvel Premiere issues first?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed! Yeah, I’m actually jumping back to the Claremont/Byrne run on Iron Fist as part of our My Marvelous Year reading club right now. It’s well worth it, and a good start for IF and the supporting cast. I’d argue you can jump in with Iron Fist #1.