Saturday Showcase: Death Dealer

 

Well, we recently got a teaser trailer for Shang-Chi, the latest project from Marvel Studios.  So, I decided to use my Showcase to educate you on exactly who Shang-Chi is as well as his the people he will face to make his destiny his own.    First we will discuss the Death Dealer.  I fill he may play a more important role in the film than he did in the comics.  He only lasted a span of four issues back in the '80s.

Li Ching-Lin was an agent working for MI6 who was secretly working for Fu Manchu. Lin was considered too brutal and dangerous by MI6's director Fah Lo Suee.  She hired Denis Nayland Smith and Shang-Chi to eliminate him. Shang-Chi visited his residence, and a small fight ensued in which Shang-Chi was able to dominate Lin and so Lin fled. He returned to Fu (who was using the alias Wang Yu-Seng) and anoints Lin as the "Death Dealer" and gives him a mask and costume. Death Dealer traveled to Leiko's apartment, where Shang-Chi and his gang were meeting. 

Death Dealer launched a grenade through the window but was unsuccessful in killing anyone. Before leaving, he again fought Shang-Chi and the pair dueled with both fists and blades until Death Dealer was disarmed by Clive Reston's gun. Outmatched, Death Dealer fled and dove out the window into the River Thames. Before leaving he dropped a deck of cards in the rubble.

He returned to Fu Manchu.  Shang-Chi realized the cards were a hidden mosaic of Fu Manchu's castle. Shang-Chi then began searching London for the location of Wang Yu-Seng. When Shang-Chi was knocked out by the poison from a giant scorpion that had been created by Fu, Death Dealer helped bring Shang-Chi back to the laboratory.  Shang-Chi eventually escaped and Death Dealer was sent to fight him again. However, even in his weakened state, Shang-Chi proved to be a stronger opponent than Death Dealer realized and he fled with Fu Manchu as the palace started to flood. He and Fu Manchu fled on a helicopter vowing to return to China.

In China, they took up residence in Fu Manchu's castle there. When Shang-Chi arrived at the fortress, Death Dealer confronted him and attempted to claim some of Shang-Chi's blood but was quickly killed when Shang-Chi threw a brazier at him and the Death Dealer erupted in flames.

DEATH DEALER

Real Name: Li Ching-Lin

Current Alias: Death-Dealer

Relatives: Huo Li (son)

Affiliation: Formally MI6

Status

Living Status: Deceased

Identity: No Dual

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Agent of Fu Manchu

Characteristics

Gender: Male

Origin

Created by Doug Moench & Gene Day

First Appearance: 

Master of Kung Fu #115

(August, 1982)

Appearance of Death:

Master of Kung Fu #118

(November, 1982)

That's all I know about the Death Dealer.  I am sure his part in the film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be more dominate than his run in the comics.  

Until next time, get your READ on!