• Story: Robert Kirkman
• Art: Chris Samnee

This should not work for really obvious reasons. Anyone who grew up with Kung Fu or knows anything about Iron Fist knows how severe a retread this story is – there’s literally not an original aspect to it. Owen might as well be Danny Rand, the Fire Power is so closely aligned to the Iron Fist it’s shocking; there’s even a dragon, at least Master Wei Lun insists there is. The thing is though it’s fun – really fun, the tone is beautifully light and Chris Samnee’s art is like a dream. There’s no mood he can’t convey, no tone he can’t access for just as long as needed – comics used to be this fun all the time once and it’s incredibly creditable to both him and Kirkman that they’ve brought this to a crowded marketplace.

I can’t believe either how gorgeously Matt Wilson’s colours blend with Samnee’s line work – the muted tones in many ways are what’s most responsible for lifting this from ‘seen it all before’ territory. The final conflict with Chen Zul was always going to happen and none of it was surprising (other than the lack of key characters dying), but I’ve never seen pinks, oranges and purples like Wilson bathes some scenes with Ling Zan in – just amazing. Whoever picks this up for the inevitable TV treatment won’t be able to make it look this good.

I’m not expecting daring from the ongoing book but I am expecting consequences to Owen’s life from this story, especially with the gap in the timeline. Reinserting him into normal life won’t be the same as Danny Rand returning to New York and becoming a superhero, there’s scope for some deliciously light fun. And if this is an artistic statement of intent by Samnee I can only imagine how gorgeous the monthly book will look.