The Mandarin is a popular villain that debuted in the '60s and fought with such characters as the Hulk, The Avengers, but mainly focused his rage towards Iron Man, We have seen him change costumes, names, and origins. Why do I say origins? Well, Marvel Studios is changing is name to Wenwu and he is now known as Shang-Chi's father in the upcoming film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. So before the film is released, I wanted to educate you about the true Mandarin because his contribution to the Marvel Universe needs to be known.
The Mandarin was born in China before the Communist revolution to a wealthy Chinese father and an English aristocratic mother, both of whom died when he was very young. He is characterized as a megalomaniac, attempting to conquer the world on several occasions, yet also possessing a strong sense of honor. Though his primary obsession is Iron Man, given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Thor, Hulk and other superheroes in the Marvel Universe.
The Mandarin is portrayed as a genius scientist and a skilled martial artist. However, his primary sources of power are 10 rings that he adapted from the alien technology of a crashed space ship. Each ring has a different power and is worn on a specific finger.
The Mandarin sees technology as the surest means to achieve his goals. Over the years, he frequently attempts to turn the weapons and computers of various nations against them. Among the Mandarin's earliest schemes is the sabotage and theft of American missiles and spy planes built by Tony Stark. To restore public confidence in his workmanship, Stark dons his Iron Man armor and flies to China to investigate. Iron Man soon became the Mandarin's principal obstacle against his plans for world domination.
During three of their early confrontations, the Mandarin manages to take Iron Man (or his alter ego Tony Stark) captive, but fails to kill him. Similarly, Iron Man thwarts the Mandarin's various schemes, but is unable to bring him to justice. Some of the Mandarin's early technological achievements are the launching of a small orbiting satellite whose "death-ray" he aims at Stark Industries, and the building of Ultimo, a 30-foot (9.1 m) humanoid android possessing vast destructive power. The Mandarin would employ Ultimo four times over the years, but it was always defeated by Iron Man.
The Mandarin's teleportation technology enables him to kidnap people at will or teleport himself out of threatening situations. He teleports the Swordsman to his castle just before the Avengers capture him, plotting to use him to destroy the Avengers and adding the technology to his sword to aid him, though the Swordsman betrays him and throws the bomb away. During his fifth encounter with Iron Man, the Mandarin teleports Harold J. "Happy" Hogan, a friend and confidant of Iron Man, to his castle in China half a world away. Hogan is wearing the Iron Man armor at the time to help protect his employer's secret identity, and the Mandarin mistakes him for his foe. In rescuing Hogan, Iron Man physically bests the Mandarin in personal combat for the first time. Iron Man redirected the missiles that the Mandarin had launched so that they hit the Mandarin's castle, destroying it. The Mandarin escaped by means of his teleportation machinery and he materialized aboard his orbiting satellite.
The Mandarin then establishes a base in China's Gobi Desert, and turns his attention to the Hulk for a time, hoping to make the dull-witted brute into an accomplice. Two attempts at controlling the Hulk proved futile. First he places a device on the Hulk's neck, hoping to use him to start a war which will allow the Mandarin to take over the world. However, Nick Fury foils this scheme. Next, the Mandarin allies himself with the American criminal the Sandman, who had just been beaten by the Hulk earlier. The Hulk destroys the Mandarin's desert base and the Mandarin sends the Sandman into a hot vat, turning him to glass. The glass later shatters, and the Sandman has to recover slowly in the Mandarin's satellite den. When the Mandarin next attacks Iron Man, he employs an android in the Hulk's likeness rather than the real Hulk. The Mandarin sets up a makeshift base of operations in the United States, and attempts to discredit Tony Stark publicly. Holding Iron Man captive for the fourth time, the Mandarin tries to learn if Iron Man is actually Stark, but Stark fools him with a rubber mask over his own features. His plans thwarted, the Mandarin tries to kill Stark's then-girlfriend, Janice Cord, but the Mandarin's betrothed Mei Ling saves her at the cost of her own life.
These are just some examples of how vital it is to remember the true Mandarin. You cannot just hope people will forget the classic battles that took place in the comics.
Publication Information
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #50 (Feb. 1964)
Created by Stan Lee (writer) & Don Heck (artist)
Team Affiliations:
- Mandarin's Minions
- Hand
- Tong
Notable Aliases:
- Gene Khan
- Zhang Tong
- Tem Borjigin
Abilities:
Superb Athlete
Superhumanly Skilled Martial Artist
Brilliant and Brutal Tactician
Gifted Strategist
Genius Level Intellect
Wears Ten Rings that grant various Powers
For Marvel Movie Fans, they will argue that Wenwu is not the first time that Marvel Studios changed the Mandarin's name or origin and they would be correct. In the film Iron Man 3,we found Sir Ben Kingsley portraying the leader of the Terrorist Group known as the Ten Rings. We later found out he was just merely an actor, a pawn if you will, to distract the true agenda of the Ten Rings. I, myself, am looking forward to the new role that the Mandarin will play in the Marvel Universe. I just think it's important to know where the villain the Mandarin got his start and why Marvel Fans are excited to see what role he will have in the next phase from Marvel Studios.
Until next time, get your READ on!
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