Mike Perkins Draws Iron Fist And Sabretooth Together For Marvel Legacy

09/08/2017 05:59 pm EDT

Iron Fist is about to make a new friend - or maybe "frenemy" - for Marvel Legacy.

The team of writer Ed Brisson and artist Mike Perkins will kick off a new storyline for Marvel Legacy in Iron Fist #73. The new story sees Danny Rand teaming up with reformed (more or less) villain Sabretooth. Though Sabretooth is mostly known these days for his long rivalry with Wolverine, he battled the Iron Fist in his very first appearance, making this a reunion years in the making.

ComicBook.com caught up with Perkins to talk about what brings these two unlikely allies together. Plus, check out a preview for Iron Fist #73 in the attached gallery.

What brings Iron Fist together with Sabretooth? We know that Danny needs help getting back to K'un Lun, by why Sabretooth and not Luke Cage or one of the other Defenders? Or even Old Man Logan if tracking skills are required?

Mike Perkins: Iron Fist has The Book of Iron Fists stolen from him by a villain known to Sabertooth. He tracks Creed down at a bar to help him identify and track down the villain and so retain this valuable possession which could possibly get him back to K'un Lun.

How would you describe Iron Fist and Sabretooth's views of each other? Are they still holding grudges from way back when?

MP: They are definitely holding grudges and both of them have long memories and many scars to show for their shared history. Since they first met Sabertooth is now considered a hero which comes into play in the story when they go to another bar to track down the villain who stole the book or at least get some hints as to who really stole the book because it seems that the villain they're after appears to be already dead.

Iron Fist is often referred to as a living weapon, and Sabretooth sometimes thinks of himself the same way. Do they have more in common than maybe either would like to admit or do the finer points of their violence keep them apart?

MP: I think Iron Fist is much more refined as a weapon than the brutal ferocity inherent in Sabertooth and I think that's always been shown right from the very outset when they first met.

While always ferocious, different artists have put decidedly different spins on Sabretooth's look and physique. How do you think of him, visually?

MP: Sabretooth is so much fun to draw. There's so much texture ingrained in his being, really. During this series of Iron Fist I've really been playing around with textures and shadow and Sabertooth really lends himself to that particular approach. Visually he's big - I mean really big - as opposed to the relative litheness of Iron Fist.

When it comes to drawing the action, how do you differentiate Sabretooth's fighting style – which is presumably more savage – from Iron Fist's practiced martial arts?

MP: I think it's very important when you are drawing opposing figures in a fight that you show the difference in approach to the way they think and the way they act. I've tried to do that throughout this run when I am faced with the fights against the Masters of The Gauntlet and this is extended with the interactions between Iron Fist and Sabretooth. The brutality of Sabretooth against the measured Martial Arts finesse of Iron Fist. The readers are in for a treat.

Iron Fist #73 hits comic book stores on Oct. 4, 2017. Check out a preview of Perkins' interior artwork below.

Iron Fist #73
AUG170818
(W) Ed Brisson (A) Mike Perkins (CA) Jeff Dekal
SABRETOOTH ROUND TWO Part 1

SABRETOOTH first slashed his way into the pages of Marvel comics back in IRON FIST #14 and never looked back. But now Danny Rand, the legendary Iron Fist, has a problem only Sabretooth can help him solve. Something is threatening the very existence of K'un-Lun, and the Iron Fist must do whatever he can to protect it, even if it means convincing his old enemy to fight by his side. Will mutant claws and crane kicks be enough to save K'un-Lun? PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES! Story by Robbie Thompson and art by Mark Bagley!

Rated T+
In Shops: Oct 04, 2017
SRP: $3.99

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