Marvel artist Von Randal sat down to talk about his bold new design for the upcoming Undead Iron Fist #1, one of the most visually striking reinventions of Danny Rand in years. Known for illustrating Lin Lie and Pei in the Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special, Von is once again shaping Iron Fist lore, this time with a look that blends martial arts tradition, supernatural elements, and his Filipino cultural influences.

In this exclusive interview, Von shares how he got the opportunity to design the Undead Iron Fist for Marvel, the creative process behind the costume, and how he brought a new weapon and signature move to the character. Plus, he opens up about what it means to see fans connect with the design, and where he hopes his Iron Fist journey goes next.

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I AM IRON FIST: Fans are really intrigued by your name, especially since “Randal” reminds them of Orson Randall, one of the most popular Iron Fists. I know that’s actually your second name in real life, not your last name, so I’ve had to explain that a few times. Still, fans love the coincidence. It’s like you were meant to draw Iron Fist.

How did you get the chance to design the Undead Iron Fist? Did Marvel reach out to you directly, or did you go through a process to get the gig?

VON RANDAL: They (Marvel) reached out to me. It was editor Danny Khazem who asked me if I had time for a project, and if I remembered that Danny Rand was killed in last year’s Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1. He then said to me that I should make a design for him as the Undead Iron Fist.

I was ecstatic that I was given the opportunity, so I said “yes” immediately. I even said, “This is my chance to design an Iron Fist costume.”

I actually remembered our interview from last year about an Iron Fist who wields an arnis (kali or escrima), a weapon that has its roots in our Filipino culture. So when I got the opportunity to add it into his costume design, I did and hoped the editors would approve it. Fortunately, they did, and so we will now see Danny as the first Iron Fist to use arnis sticks as his primary weapons, other than his fists, of course.

IAIF: What were you told when you started working on the design? Did Marvel give you a story outline or some ideas to follow?

RANDAL: They said they were very open to a design for Danny as the Undead Iron Fist. Though I didn’t have much to work with other than the fact that Danny was just coming back from the dead, I knew he was a martial artist. That much I was sure of.

IAIF: Did they say if he should look like a zombie Iron Fist or something like that?

RANDAL: No, they didn’t mention anything about Danny Rand becoming a zombie. I think Danny (Khazem) just wanted me to design the costume based on what I thought he would look like after coming back from the dead.

IAIF: I get the sense Marvel really trusted your vision for the Undead Iron Fist design and wanted to give you the creative space to explore what that could look like. At least that’s how I look at it.

I think that’s a testament to both you as an artist and to Marvel for giving its creators the liberty to come up with fresh ideas for their projects.

RANDAL: I spent about half a day just researching and studying what Iron Fist should look like. I just kept thinking to myself, “This is such an incredible opportunity.”

I remembered the style of DC artist Nikola Čizmešija. I love his art. When I saw that he illustrated an Iron Fist with a redesigned costume, it really caught my attention and inspired me.

IAIF: Nikola is very active on X (formerly Twitter), and I’ll make sure to post about this part of the interview so he can read it. He engages his fans, too, and I’ve been a fan of his work even before he worked for DC.

He wants to do an Iron Fist series as well, making fan art designs not just for Iron Fist but for the Immortal Weapons also.

RANDAL: If you look at the first design, it had a lot of pouches, and his shoulder armor had a dragon on it. They said they loved it and it looked great, but they wanted me to remove the pouches and cover his face completely with the mask.

For the second draft, I updated the mask to fully cover his face, giving him a more dragon-like appearance. I was also asked to include a symbol inside the dragon brand, but I can’t share what it is just yet, as it would spoil some key story elements.

So with each new draft, I was given more notes and direction. I adjusted the mask, moved the armor to the other side (because that was the arm that was cut off in the 50th Anniversary issue), and kept refining it. One request was to make the mask look more like Grifter from WildC.A.T.s.

Just like the first two drafts, they said the design looked good. But this time, they asked me to replace the dragon on the armor with something more in line with the story they were telling.

For the fourth draft, I can’t share that version publicly because it would reveal too much and spoil key parts of the story. As instructed, I replaced the dragon with an image that I felt better represented the story’s themes.

One thing I really appreciated about Marvel was how encouraging they were with each revision. Still, I think that particular image gave away too much, so I had to go back and explore other ideas.

That’s when I thought, “What if I used an eagle instead?” I didn’t send it to them right away—I did a quick sketch, touched it up a bit, and here’s how it looked:

Eventually, I reached this version that had an eagle instead of a dragon on the armor, which they loved and approved. This became the final version.

For the armored arm design, aside from the eagle, you might notice it resembles muscle structures. I based that on a 3D model I have at home. It gave the arm an organic, powerful feel. I then added a few subtle details to enhance the texture and overall look.

IAIF: What were some design elements you really wanted to keep?

RANDAL: I wanted to keep Iron Fist’s signature collar—a simpler version—his sash, some Chinese elements, and made the clothes look worn and rugged.

IAIF: And the arnis?

RANDAL: Yes, that was something I really pushed for. I was just hoping and praying they wouldn’t ask me to remove it. I think this is the first time we’ll see Danny using arnis in the comics.

IAIF: That makes it such a meaningful addition. I believe you’re right. I have no recollection of Danny, or any Iron Fist, for that matter, using arnis as his weapon. This is the first time we’ll all see it in a comic book.

RANDAL: The one I remember him using before was a three-section staff and maybe nunchucks.

IAIF: How many weeks did it take from start to finish before you got to the final design?

RANDAL: It felt like it took a while, at least for me, but the whole process from first draft to final design was around two weeks. Every time Marvel gave feedback, I’d jump on the revisions right away and send them back for review. That’s something I’ve done even when I was just starting out. I never liked making clients wait.

I’ve kept that same pace now as a professional.

As for the final version, once I submitted the draft with the eagle on the armored arm, Marvel approved it. I didn’t know right away because it took a bit of time before they got back to me. So most of the final design came from my own research and ideas, with Marvel guiding me along the way.

IAIF: Going back to the armored arm, did you remember that Danny’s arm was cut off by the Ch’i-Lin-possessed Razor Fist? Is that why you added it?

RANDAL: I actually didn’t remember that! (laughs) What inspired me was the fan art by Nikola that showed a glowing Iron Fist arm. I thought it looked so cool, so I decided to give Danny an armored arm to amplify the glow, on top of the usual Iron Fist effect.

When I design, I like to put all my creative ideas out there. If something needs to be removed or adjusted, that’s fine by me. I know it’s still my design at the core. They’re just helping me make it better.

That was also the case with the mask. I had a specific look in mind, but Marvel had a different direction for it, so I adjusted it based on their notes.

IAIF: Honestly, he kind of looks like Yu-Ti, the August Personage in Jade. Some of us are starting to think Danny might end up becoming K’un-Lun’s ruler. Who knows? Maybe Jason’s story is heading in that direction.

The circles at the ends of the sash really stand out. Are they just for style, or do they have a specific meaning or function?

RANDAL: They’re mostly a stylistic element, like ornamental accents that help enhance the overall look of the costume. I thought they added a nice visual touch.

I remember seeing similar circular ornaments in Chinese movies I used to watch with my mom when I was a kid. They always looked so cool to me, and that imagery stuck. It definitely influenced how I approached the design and helped give it more visual impact.

IAIF: Did you also come up with a special function or power for the arnis?

RANDAL: If I ever get the chance to explain it or draw it in the story, the arnis sticks actually have an extra feature—they can extend. Right now, they look quite short, but they’re designed to expand when needed.

On top of that, Iron Fist can also combine the two sticks into a staff if he wants to.

I didn’t bring that up to Marvel at the time, since I didn’t want to overwhelm them with too many costume and weapon details. But maybe someday I’ll get the opportunity to show how it works in action.

I made sure to give the interior and cover artists everything they needed: clear views of the costume, how the powers work, and how the weapons function, so they wouldn’t have to guess how it all comes together from different angles.

IAIF: Jason Loo, the writer of Undead Iron Fist, mentioned that he initially tried redesigning the costume before you came on board. Did any of his early ideas make it into your final design?

RANDAL: I didn’t get a chance to talk to Jason about the design directly. All of my discussions about the Undead Iron Fist look were with editor Danny Khazem.

IAIF: That makes sense. Jason’s an artist too, so he may have started a basic concept but got too busy or wasn’t satisfied with it. I’m guessing that’s when Danny brought you in.

Let’s talk about powers. You gave Danny a new ability—the Twin Dragon Fang. What inspired that?

RANDAL: If you look closely, I created a new Iron Fist power for Danny called the Twin Dragon Fang. It was partly inspired by the Twin Lion Fist used by Hinata Hyuga in Naruto. When Hinata activates that move, blue lion-shaped energy forms around her hands. I took that concept and gave it a twist, so instead of lions, Danny now channels twin dragons made of energy.

As a Naruto fan, I was thrilled that Marvel decided to keep my suggestion to include the Twin Dragon Fang in Danny’s arsenal. It meant a lot to see that idea become part of the character.

IAIF: I’ve seen Danny’s powers take the form of a dragon before, but it was never a signature move. With the Twin Dragon Fang, it finally stands out as a core part of his fighting style. I think it’s a great addition.

RANDAL: As an artist, I wanted to see how far I could push things creatively, so I pitched all my ideas to Marvel to see what they’d approve. But more than anything, I’m proud that Danny now uses arnis as his main weapon.

I even told Marvel that if they ever needed an interior artist for Undead Iron Fist, even just for one issue, I hoped they’d consider me. I was willing to take on anything, even just an eight-pager, just for the chance to draw the Iron Fist costume I created.

Their response was simply to wait and see in case something came up. Marvel, and Danny in particular, have been very considerate, and that’s something I truly appreciate about working with them.

IAIF: By the way, I mentioned this to you before in a chat. It looked like Whilce Portacio [series cover artist]took a few creative liberties with the design of Undead Iron Fist’s armored hand. Your version had two circles on the back of the hand, while Whilce drew an oval shape instead.

RANDAL: In comics, when artists work on characters with established designs, we don’t always stick to every single detail. As long as the character still looks, feels, and moves the same way, small changes are totally fine.

You see that all the time with someone like Iron Man. There are so many different versions of his armor because artists put their own spin on it.

I do the same. And when my design gets approved, that gives me the freedom to experiment a bit. For example, when I worked on Gwen Stacy, I gave her longer hair than usual. Her hair is normally short, but I wanted to try something different.

That’s how I approach every title I work on. I always aim to add something fresh, something I’ve picked up along the way as an artist.

IAIF: I really like that you’re able to bring your own interpretation while still honoring the core look of the character. Any fun trivia from behind the scenes?

RANDAL: After I submitted the final draft, I didn’t hear back from Marvel for a few weeks. I told them to give me a heads-up once it was greenlit, even though I was already planning to start on it. I was really anxious because I had no idea how they felt about it. Eventually, I reached out to Danny.

That’s when I learned they loved it so much that they went ahead with it right away. Things were already moving behind the scenes. I just didn’t know it yet.

IAIF: I really hope Marvel turns that final design into a variant cover. It absolutely deserves the spotlight. I’ve seen a lot of variant covers, and this one would be perfect.

With Whilce doing the regular covers and Philip Tan on variant cover duty for issue #1, that’s an all-Filipino, all-star lineup. Honestly, you guys should be doing a signing event here in Manila. What’s a bit frustrating, though, is that SuperManila Comic Con is happening on September 6 and 7, but Undead Iron Fist #1 doesn’t release until the 10th. If Whilce and Philip end up as guests at the convention, along with [Marvel Editor-in-Chief] C.B. Cebulski, who may be coming back, I won’t be able to get my copies signed in time!

Let’s hope Comic Odyssey’s Sandy Sansolis (the comic shop owner) can pull off a signing event sometime this year with all of you together.

IAIF: By the way, what about the boots? They look familiar, but they’re not exactly something we’ve seen before on Iron Fist, I think.

RANDAL: They’re actually based on traditional ninja costume designs, if you’re familiar with those.

IAIF: Oh, that makes sense!

At this point, Von showed me the fully rendered character design artwork on an 11” x 7” art board.

IAIF: Wow, that looks amazing, Von! It already looked great when Next Comic Art posted it on Instagram, but seeing it up close like this, it hits differently. The detail really pops.

RANDAL: This was actually my first time designing a character for Marvel, so I wanted to do the final piece traditionally, drawn and inked on paper.

IAIF: And you didn’t just tweak an existing costume. This is a full redesign that reflects where Danny Rand is now in his journey as Iron Fist.

RANDAL: It really was a joy to work on. Designing a costume for any Marvel character is a huge honor, but to do it for a major hero like Iron Fist? That’s something special. I’ve loved martial arts since I was a kid, so working on this design brought back memories of watching Chinese martial arts movies and shows with my mom. It feels like things have come full circle.

IAIF: Oh, I also noticed that in the drafts, the dragon brand’s head was turned the wrong way, but you were able to correct it in this pen-and-ink version.

RANDAL: Yes, good thing I picked up on it eventually! I was doing the drafts so quickly that I missed that important detail in the beginning. I’m glad I was able to make the correction in this final artwork. It would have been a disaster if I hadn’t fixed it!

IAIF: What’s one part of the design you’re most proud of or excited for fans to notice?

RANDAL: The armored arm. Since Iron Fist’s power is channeled through his fists, I’d love the chance to show how I’d illustrate that on a comic book page. I’m really proud I got to design something so cool.

This whole experience is such a huge privilege for me. I’m just a guy from Olongapo City, here in the Philippines, and opportunities like this don’t come often. Getting the chance to design and draw a character like Iron Fist for Marvel is not something I take lightly. He’s not just any character—he’s a major, well-established superhero.

And honestly, he’s not difficult to draw. I’d love the opportunity to illustrate an Iron Fist issue or two. For the Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special, I studied real martial arts movements for Lin Lie. I didn’t make anything up. I did proper research. And I’d do the same again if I get the chance.

Interestingly, when I looked into who the best martial artist in Marvel was, Shang-Chi usually came out on top, with Danny right behind him. But in my opinion, those two should be tied for number one.

IAIF: If Marvel releases a blank cover for Undead Iron Fist #1, I’m definitely commissioning you to draw this design for me.

Have you read any fan reactions to your design? What’s it been like seeing how people are responding to it online?

RANDAL: I’m very happy that many of the fans are happy with my design. But it’s especially gratifying to see Nikola liking my work and reposting it, too. I was so inspired by his work, and I’m glad I was able to make it my own.

IAIF: You drew Lin Lie and Pei in the Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special last year, and now you’ve designed Danny Rand’s new look. That’s two big contributions to Iron Fist lore early in your Marvel career. What would you love to do next?

RANDAL: I’d love the chance to actually draw a full Iron Fist issue. That would be a dream.

IAIF: You’re also drawing Ultimates #15, which takes place in the Ultimate Universe and might include Shang-Chi and Iron Fist, two of Marvel’s top martial artists. What was it like working on those characters in a different universe?

RANDAL: It’s challenging because I have to keep their identities distinct. They’re both martial artists, but they each have their own look and feel.

IAIF: Any other projects you’re working on?

RANDAL: Aside from Ultimates, I have another Marvel project I can’t reveal yet. I’m also working on Sam and Twitch interiors and several Spawn covers for Image.

IAIF: That’s amazing! What a great year for you. Von, thank you so much for sharing your process and insight with me and the fans. It’s always awesome to see your work, and as an Iron Fist fan, this design really feels special.

We’re looking forward to seeing more of the Undead Iron Fist in action. Until then, keep creating, and thanks again for being here!

Watch out for THE UNDEAD IRON FIST #1 in comic shops on Sept. 10, 2025. It’s written by Jason Loo with art by Fran Galan and colors by Jim Campbell. Issue #1 will have a cover art by Whilce Portacio and a variant cover by Philip Tan. Make sure to reserve your copies soon!