Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1!I really hate to say this, but Marvel’s new trend of online bonus pages really undercutIron Fist’srecent death. Recent months have seen the publisher adding QR codes to its books to give fans an additional page to various stories. But this trend has severely hurt the latest shocking development for Iron Fist.
InIron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1’sstory “Happy Birthday, Danny” by Jason Loo and Whilce Portacio, Danny is celebrating his 34th birthday. It’s an especially happy day since Danny is the first Iron Fist to survive the Ch’i-Lin and actually make it past 33. Unfortunately, the Ch’i-Lin is back and itmanages to kill Iron Fistin his own home.
However, a QR code included with the physical release links to an additional page set weeks later at Danny’s grave site. A lone candle on the tombstone blows outjust as Iron Fist’s glowing hand pops out from the ground.
I’m not the biggest X-Men fan around, but even I heard about the commotion that came from Marvel Comics' recent decision to add QR codes to its relaunch of the X-titles. In case you missed it,X-Men #1featured a QR code that, when scanned, revealed a ‘bonus page’that teased future events or villains.Phoenix #1andNYX #1also came with QR codes to tease these stories’ futures. Reception to the trend has been ambivalent at best, with many critiquing the publisher for leaving vital information out of a story readers have already paid full price for.
I had no problem with the gimmick since it seemed mostly containedto X-Men-related books. But when I read an advanced copy ofIron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1, I had no clue that there evenwasa QR code included in the book until after it already hit stands. And I most certainly did not expect the bonus scene to be of Danny Rand seemingly coming back from the dead immediately after the Ch’i-Lin killed him.I barely even had enough time to feel the weight of Iron Fist’s deathbefore this bonus scene completely undid it.
Marvel Needs to Slow Down with the QR Code Scenes
I’ve read enough comics to know that death in comics is, for lack of a better word, meaningless. But at least when I read Ch’i-Lin killing Danny, I thought there would be some exploration of how this murder affected his friends and family. Instead, barely a day goes by and this additional page makes the death scene not even matter. I’m sure whatever’s going on with Danny will be explored soon enough, I just wish Marvel had allowedIron Fist’sdeath to at least attempt to leave an impact and not mislead readers with its additional scene.
Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1is available now from DC Comics.
