Saturday Showcase: Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu

 

My past few post have featured characters from the upcoming Shang-Chi film.  Today, I decided to showcase Shang-Chi himself.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy today's Saturday Showcase.

Shang-Chi, also known as the Master of Kung Fu and Brother Hand,nwas created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, first appearing in Special Marvel Edition #15 (December 1973). 

Shang-Chi is proficient in numerous unarmed and weaponry-based wushu styles, including the use of the gùn, nunchaku, and jian.

Interesting Fact:

The character of Shang-Chi was conceived in late 1972. Marvel had wished to acquire the rights to adapt the Kung Fu television program, but were denied permission by the show's owner, Warner Communications, owner of Marvel's primary rival, DC Comics. Instead, Marvel acquired the comic book rights to Sax Rohmer's pulp villain Dr. Fu Manchu.  They developed Shang-Chi, a master of kung fu, who was introduced as a previously unknown son of Fu Manchu.

Shang-Chi was born in the Honan province of China, and is the son of Fu Manchu, the Chinese mastermind who has repeatedly attempted world conquest and had a thirst for blood. His mother was a white American woman genetically selected by his father.

Shang-Chi was raised and trained from infancy in the martial arts by his father and his tutors. Believing his father was a benevolent humanitarian, Shang-Chi was sent on a mission to London to murder Dr. James Petrie, who his father claimed was evil and a threat to peace. After successfully assassinating Petrie, he encountered Fu Manchu's archenemy, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, who revealed to Shang-Chi his father's true nature. 

After confronting his mother in New York City for the truth, Shang-Chi realized that Fu Manchu was evil. Shang-Chi fought his way past Fu Manchu's Si-Fan assassins at his Manhattan headquarters, telling his father that they were now enemies and vowing to put an end to his evil schemes.

After several encounters and coming to trust one another, Shang-Chi eventually became an ally of Sir Denis Nayland Smith and MI-6. Together with Smith, Tarr, fellow MI-6 agents Clive Reston and Leiko Wu, and Dr Petrie, who was revealed to still be alive.

Shang-Chi went on many adventures and missions, usually thwarting his father's numerous plans for world domination. Shang-Chi would occasionally encounter his half-sister Fah Lo Suee who led her own faction of the Si-Fan, but opposed her attempts to make him a pawn in her own schemes to usurp their father’s criminal empire.

As I have said in my Fu Manchu post, Marvel is tweaking Shang-Chi's background including the name of his father.  So I am interested in seeing what leaves and what remains the same.

Publication Information

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

First Appearance: Special Marvel Edition #15 (December 1973)

Created By: Steve Englehart & Jim Starlin

Team Affiliations:

Five Weapons Society

Avengers

Agents of Atlas

MI-6

Freelance Restorations

Marvel Knights

Heroes for Hire

Secret Avengers

Protectors

Underground

Partnerships:

Clive Reston

Black Jack Tarr

Leiko Wu

Iron Fist

Sword Master

Spider-Man

Notable Aliases: Master of Kung-Fu

                                Brother Hand

                                Commander Hand

Abilities:

Master Martial Artist

Mastery of Chi

Until next time, get your READ on!