The martial arts corner of the Marvel Universe has been set ablaze with the release of Deadly Hands of K’un-Lun #1 (2026). This issue marks a seismic shift in the Iron Fist mythos, blending familial betrayal, ancient mythological gods, and a desperate struggle for a legacy that feels heavier than ever.
A Legacy Fractured: The Lin Brothers
The story begins with a dive into the past of the Lin brothers. We learn that Lin Lie (the current Iron Fist) grew up in the shadow of his brilliant older brother, Lin Feng. While Lie was content fixing broken artifacts—which he called his “puzzles”—Feng was a charismatic leader who craved attention and excellence.
Their lives changed forever when their archaeologist father discovered that Chiyou, the ancient God of War, was real. The Lin family was tasked with being Chiyou’s Tomb Keepers, a duty tied to the Sword of Fu Xi. However, Feng eventually sided with Chiyou to end this centuries-long burden. In the ensuing chaos, the Sword of Fu Xi was shattered, and its shards became embedded in Lin Lie’s hands, granting him power but causing immense, constant pain.
The Conqueror in K’un-Lun
In the present, Lin Feng has seized control of K’un-Lun. Alongside the Steel Serpent (Davos) and the Bride of Nine Spiders, Feng is systematically dismantling the Seven Heavenly Cities.
The stakes are raised when Loki, the God of Stories, makes an appearance. Feng is hunting for the Soul Orbs of Chiyou to resurrect the war god fully. While Feng has secured some orbs, Loki warns him that the final orb is in K’un-Lun and that Chiyou’s whispers are dangerous. Feng, unfazed, sets his sights on expansion, even questioning Loki about the whereabouts of Thor.
Life in New York: The Burden of the Fist
Back on Earth, Lin Lie is struggling to adjust to his role as the Iron Fist. He resides in a New York underground lab with Uncle Fooh, an exiled inventor, and Pei, a former Iron Fist and current high schooler. The dynamic is tense; Pei is frustrated that the “Junior” (Lie) took her title, while Lie suffers from “imposter syndrome,” feeling he can never live up to the legacy of the original Iron Fist, Danny Rand.
A lighthearted attempt at a date with White Fox (Ami Han) at a California aquarium goes sideways when a monster attack causes significant damage. After being scolded by Fooh for using “finicky technology” for personal trips, Lie is sent to Hell’s Kitchen to investigate a dark anomaly.
The Shadow of the War God
In Hell’s Kitchen, Lie teams up with Daredevil (Elektra Natchios) and White Tiger (Ava Ayala) to face a shadowy, speed-based threat. The antagonist, a “shadow” cast by Lin Feng, reveals a horrifying truth: Feng’s forces have been slaughtering the Immortal Weapons of the other Heavenly Cities. The villain taunts Lie, claiming they ripped Fat Cobra to pieces and drowned the Prince of Orphans.
As Lie reels from this news, the scene shifts back to K’un-Lun. Feng has gathered his army, including Davos and Neon Dragon, preparing for a full-scale teleportation to Earth.
The Coming Storm
The issue concludes with a haunting transition. As Pei looks at a diorama of K’un-Lun, she realizes “something horrible is coming”. Lin Feng and his army arrive in New York, accompanied by a traditional war song of K’un-Lun—a song usually sung for the Iron Fist, but now repurposed for a path of no return.
TO BE CONTINUED…
