The Iron Fist: The Early Years Omnibus comprises the origins and initial adventures of the mystical kung-fu fighter and the first extended run by John Byrne and Chris Claremont before picking up the Uncanny X-Men.
The Omnibus includes Danny Rand’s introduction to Marvel fans in 1974’s Marvel Premiere #15 and continues with issues #16-25 before launching into his first solo series in Iron Fist #1-15. The Omnibus also includes a two-part Spider-Man assisted fight against the Silver Serpent in Marvel Team-Up #63-64, and the Iron Fist stories from the non-comics code sanctioned black and white magazines The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #10, 18-24, 29 and 31-33, The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Special Album Edition, and Bizarre Adventures #25.
Byrne and Claremont comprise the team responsible for Fist’s solo series and his Marvel Team-Up appearance, and the Omnibus also contains writing by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Doug Moench, and Tony Isabella, and art by Gil Kane, Larry Hama, Arvell Jones, Pat Broderick, Marie Severin, Don Perlin, Rudy Nebres, John Buscema, Marshall Rogers, Dick Giordano, Klaus Janson, Dan Green, Vince Colletta, Aubrey Bradford, Bob McLeod, Al McWilliams, Frank Chiarmonte, Dan Adkins, and Dave Hunt.
After Rand’s return from the mystical city of K’un-Lun and a new flaming fist ability, Rand tackles a wide variety of martial arts foes and C-list Marvel villains such as the robotic Shu-Hu, the Scythe, Triple-Iron, the Death Cult of Kara-Kai, Battroc, Warhawk, Monstroid, Angar the Screamer, Radion the Atomic Man, the Scimitar, Master Khan, Chaka, the Crimelord of New York (and his Tiger-Goons), Boomerang, Bushmaster, and the Wrecking Crew.
The Iron Fist Omnibus also includes the first appearance of Sabretooth, “disagreements” with future Avengers teammates Iron Man and Captain America, an Uncanny X-Men team-up, and continued help from Misty Knight and Colleen Wing.
The last issue of Iron Fist’s solo series leads directly into the Powerman and Iron Fist #48, establishing the life-long partnership and friendship between the strong man and the martial artist.
If you aren’t interested in the black-and-white adventures of Iron Fist, Marvel published a new edition of the Iron Fist: Fury of Iron Fist Epic Collection in 2022 that contains all of the color comics in Marvel Premiere, Iron Fist, and Marvel Team-Up (and at a much lower price point).
The Iron Fist: The Early Years Omnibus consists of 952 pages for a suggested retail price of $125.00.
The Early Years (in stores on January 31) also comes with two covers to choose from by Kane or Dave Cockrum (comic shop variant).
Check out both kung-fu covers below and stay tuned to Conskipper for all of your vintage comic news.
