Immortal Iron Fist #14
Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
By: Paul Brian McCoy
Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker
Tonci Zonjic, Clay Mann, Kano, et al.
Marvel Comics
"The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven: Conclusion"
The "Seven Capital Cities of Heaven" story comes to a close in an extra long finale, and there's just too much going on to make for a smooth read. The first few pages, in particular, seem to involve a lot of standing around and staring at each other. Then there's a bit of action, but everyone else is still standing around staring at each other. Then there's another bit of actiony explodo before the characters threaten each other again.
Part of this may be a problem with the art. The bulk of the art is penciled by Tonci Zonjic, with Kano doing the flashbacks to Wendell Rand's confrontation with Orson Randall (which kind of peters out with more of a whimper than a bang). These pages are good, but not great. Their simplified style is a bit of a disappointment and I find myself really missing David Aja's art, which, while also simplified, utilized light and shadow effectively to really lend weight and drama to every panel. You just don't get that with Zonjic.
Most of the rest of the issue is devoted to kung fu fighting, and everybody is doing it. But again, there is a lack of tension and excitement that I think can be laid entirely on Zonjic's shoulders.
Until, for some reason, four pages near the end are penciled by Clay Mann (Heroes for Hire). And they are very nice. There's a little more attention given to expressions and the action seems to flow more gracefully. Mann pencils a two-page battle spread that is beautiful, and he also gets to return to the Heroes for Hire for a couple of pages. These four pages are the best in the book.
The conclusion ties up everything pretty much like you expected it would, although there are a few plot points that should make for very interesting reading in the months to come. Granted, "Brubaction" will be gone, but it would be hard to mess this title up with the groundwork that is established at the end of this issue. I really like where all of the characters end up, I just wish it had moved a little more smoothly this issue.
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