Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi () is a Marvel Comics character, often called the "Master of Kung Fu". He was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin. He has no special superpowers, but he exhibits extraordinary skills in the martial arts and is well-versed in the use of numerous martial-arts weapons, including the staff, nunchaku and double-edged sword.

Publication history

Origin

The character was conceived in late 1972 when Marvel Comics acquired the comic book rights to Sax Rohmer's pulp novel villain Dr. Fu Manchu while they also held the rights to the Kung Fu television program. Instead of producing a straight adaptation of either source, the decision was made to combine them. The result was Shang-Chi, a master of Kung Fu, who was introduced as the (previously unheard of) son of Fu Manchu. Though an original character himself, many of Shang-chi's supporting characters (most notably Fu Manchu and Sir Denis Nayland Smith) were Rohmer creations. No characters from the Kung Fu television series carried over into the comic series, though the character Lu Sung, in an early issue, bears a strong resemblance to Kwai Chang Caine with the addition of a moustache.

Shang-Chi first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 in December 1973 by Englehart and Starlin (SME #1-14 were reprints of older Marvel superhero stories). Shang-Chi appeared again in issue #16, and in issue #17 (April 1974), the title was renamed to The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu. Amidst the martial arts craze of the United States in the 1970s, the title would prove to be very popular and continue on until issue #125 (June 1983). In addition to the series run; Shang-Chi appeared in: 5 Giant-Size issues, Marvel Team-Up #84 where he teams with Spider-Man, and Marvel Two-in-One #29 where teams with "The Thing". Shang-Chi also appeared in Marvel's Special collector's Edition #1 entitled "Savage Fists of Kung Fu". He also appeared quite prominently in Marvel's sister imprint magazine entitled Deadly Hands of Kung Fu.

The series started by introducing Shang-Chi as a man raised by his father Fu Manchu to be the ultimate lackey for the would-be world conqueror. However, his first mission, in which he killed Dr. Petrie, one of his father's old enemies, ended with Shang-Chi learning of Fu Manchu's true, evil nature. Disillusioned, Shang-Chi swore eternal opposition to his father's ambitions and fought him as an agent of British intelligence, under the orders of Nayland Smith.

The series was an instant sales success. Though Englehart and Starlin quickly left the book, the title's success grew even stronger with the coming of writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy, who collaborated for the first time on #22. Their critically acclaimed run went on (with short gaps) until #51 when Gulacy was replaced by artist Jim Craig, who in turn was succeeded by Mike Zeck who became official regular penciller with #64 (1978).

Gulacy was a film buff, and modelled many of the characters he drew on film stars: Juliette on Marlene Dietrich, Larner on Marlon Brando, Clive Reston occasionally looking like Basil Rathbone, and a minor character who looked like David Niven. Writer Doug Moench introduced other film-based characters, including two modelled after Groucho Marx and W. C. Fields.

Moench continued on the series for a long tenure, though the title did not again receive the same level of acclaim as the Gulacy period until Gene Day, who had previously been working on the title as its inker, took over the pencilling chores in #100 (1981). However despite critical success sales started to lag, and the title began to be published bi-monthly. Day left the series with #120, and Moench followed after #122, with both departures ascribed to conflicts with editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. The title was cancelled three issues later. Shang-Chi had two more short series: the Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black graphic novel (1990) and the MAX miniseries Master of Kung Fu: Hellfire Apocalypse (2002) (with artist Paul Gulacy on art again). The character also had several stories in the anthology series Marvel Comics Presents (including one by Moench that ran in the series' first eight issues in 1988), and co-starred in the Moon Knight Special (1992).

Although spun out of licensed properties, Shang-Chi is a Marvel-owned character and has been firmly established as a part of the Marvel Universe with guest appearances in numerous other titles, such as Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Knights and X-Men. Most of the original, licensed, characters in the supporting cast have been phased out in the more recent series and stories.

In some of his modern appearances mention made of his villainous father who has apparently returned from the dead (Marvel's version of Fu Manchu was meant to have died in Master Of Kung Fu #118). However Fu Manchu is never named, only referred to as Shang's 'father' and is never shown out of shadow, as Marvel have opted not to renew the licence to the character. Shang Chi will be a featured character in the upcoming Heroes for Hire comic book.

A feature film The Hands of Shang-Chi is in the planning stages, with Yuen Wo Ping directing and Ang Lee producing.

Supporting Characters

The series, especially as written by Doug Moench was notable for its strong supporting characters. As they evolved these characters became nearly as integral to the series as Shang Chi hmself:

Fu Manchu is portrayed in a manner mostly consistent with the Sax Rohmer novels. He is a brilliant and calculating master-villain who aspires to rule the world. As the series progresses the character deteriorates, gradually losing his nobler qualities. By the end of the series he is a pathetic figure, reduced to stealing his son's blood to preserve his immortality.
Sir Denis Nayland Smith is Fu Manchu's nemesis from the novels. In the comics he retains this role, his obsession with the villain often bringing out the dark side of his own character. In his better moments he becomes a sort of surrogate father to Shang Chi. Ultimately, he is too caught up in what Shang Chi calls 'games of deceit and death' and fails in this role. The relationship the two finally form is that of two flawed characters who feel strong friendship in spite of deep differences.
Fah Lo Suee is the daughter of Fu Manchu and is the final character from the novels to appear in the comic. She is a villainess in her own right, though she is not interested in the misguided idealism of Fu Manchu. She is a pragmatist, seeking the best way to power. As such, she shifts alliences often. Usually she is an enemy of Shang Chi and his friends but sometimes she is an ally. When last seen she had become a highly ranked official in MI-6.
Black Jack Tarr is Smith's aide-de-camp and is a powerful giant of a man with a gruff manner. Though he is initially an enemy of Shang Chi, the two become close friends over time. He exhibits the most bigoted traits of any character and invariably addresses Shang Chi as 'Chinaman' rather than using his name. It is one of the successes of the series that readers are drawn to feel for Tarr while the writing never turns a blind eye to his ugly attitudes.
Clive Reston is a British spy who resembles a younger and more vulnerable version of James Bond. Where Bond is a successful womanizer and seems unaffected by heavy drinking, Reston struggles with alcoholism and a romantic rivalry with Shang Chi. The resemblance to Bond is intentional. Reston's dialogue makes it clear that he is Bond's son, and the grand-nephew of Sherlock Holmes.
Leiko Wu is introduced as a femme fatale like those in the Bond films. She is a beautiful Chinese-British woman who is torn between her history with Reston and her growing attraction to Shang Chi. Though initially sarcastic and self-possessed to the point of arrogance (Leiko is actually a Japanese name meaning 'arrogant') her relationship with her new lover causes her to become more contemplative.
Midnight ^* an African child named M'Nai adopted by Fu Manchu, and raised alongside his son Shang-Chi. Fu Manchu impressed with his stoic nature trained him as one of the Si-Fan his elite assassins. Due to his badly disfigured face he always wore a mask. Fu Manchu sent him to kill Shang-Chi after his son refused to assassinate Dr. James Petrie. Midnight died as a result of their second battle, but was later resurrected as "Midnight Sun" by the alien Kree in cloned body and gifted with cosmic powers strong enough to challenge the Silver Surfer. After a couple of battles with the Surfer he settled down to a peaceful life in the Blue Area of the Moon where he was accepted by the Inhumans.
Rufus T. Hackstabber is a memorable character who appeared only twice in the series. The character strongly resembles Groucho Marx and his fast-paced nonsensical patter plays well off Shang Chi's laconic seriousness. Hackstabber's name is a play on Rufus T. Firefly, Groucho's character in ''Duck Soup.
Shen Kuei or "Cat" is a master thief whose skill in martial arts equals Shang Chi's. The meaning of the character's name is both similar and opposite to Shang Chi's name. he is a sort of mirror image, a 'good bad guy' in opposition to Shang Chi's 'bad good guy'. While they share mutual respect, the two always find themselves in opposition. He has recently appeared in Cable & Deadpool working as a merc for Cable. He has also defeated Deadpool, who looks at him as a Rock God among mercs and has also referred to him as "The Keith Moon of spy trade" and "The Justin Timberlake of the Cherry Pop Club".
Rufus "Super Midnight" Carter is an African-American kickboxing champion and antiques dealer who secretly works for the CIA. He is a light-hearted character who helps to draw out Shang Chi's sense of whimsy in his several appearances. Carter's unusual nickname is accounted for by his origin. A colleague challenged Doug Moench to write a story using "Carter's Super Midnight" (the name of a brand of carbon paper) as a title.

Key Comicbook Covers

Shang-Chi Comic Covers

Ultimate Shang-Chi

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Shang-Chi first appeared in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #15. He is the son of an international crime lord named Fu Manchu. Trained from birth to become a living weapon, he became the world's greatest martial artist. A noble spirit, he eventually came to renounce his father's empire. Seeking to get away from his father's reach, he immigrated to New York where he worked as a floor sweeper at Wu's Fish Market in Chinatown. At some point, he met and befriended fellow martial artist Danny Rand.

While Shang-Chi was in Chinatown, three separate gangs were threatening the locals. He was the only one who was willing to stand up to them. One day, he stopped a couple of the thugs from mugging a newcomer to the area, Leiko, unaware that she was an agent sent by his father to look for him. Shortly after, he was attacked by more gang members, attracting the attention of Spider-Man, who was in the area at the moment. Before Spider-Man could lend his help, Shang-Chi had already beaten the gang members. Seeing that Shang-Chi didn't need his help, Spider-Man left.

Leiko met with the local gangs promising them exclusive rights to the local drug trade if they broke, but not kill, Shang-Chi. Wu Kwan, the man who ran the fish market overheard the conversation and told Shang-Chi to leave the city for his own safety. Before he could do so, he was confronted by the heavily armed gangs. Shang-Chi, who was outnumbered 40 to 1, began to cut a swath though his foes but was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. This was when Spider-Man came to lend him a hand, and together they triumphed. Impressed by Shang-Chi's skills, Spider-Man asked him to teach him some moves. In gratitude, Shang-Chi taught him the White Ape maneuver and departed the city.

Shang-Chi secretly returned though, feeling that New York's Chinatown needed someone to protect them. He and his friend Danny Rand were recently drawn into the gang war between the Kingpin and Hammerhead after the latter targeted him to win over the Chinatown gangs to his cause. The conflict climaxed when Shang-Chi, Danny Rand, Spider-Man, Black Cat, Moon Knight and Elektra ambushed Hammerhead's penthouse, where a battle royale ensued. It ended with an unconscious Elektra, Hammerhead and Moon Knight. The gang members were then arrested by the police.

References

Kraft, David Anthony. Fu Manchu, Sax Rohmer, and Shang-Chi in The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Special Album Edition #1, Summer 1974, pp. 29-33.
The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
The Shang Chi Chronology A speculative biography of the character.