Publication History

Introduction

The character, Shang-Chi, first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 (December 1973) by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. Shang-Chi appeared again in Special Marvel Edition #16 (February 1974). With issue #17 (April 1974) the title was changed to The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu. Amidst the martial arts craze in the United States during the 1970s, the series became very popular. It continued a ten-year run, including four giant-size issues and an annual, until MOKF #125 (June 1983).

MOKF was, for some time, the third best-selling series of all Marvel titles. During that time, only Amazing Spider-Man and Ghost Rider sold more copies per month! While the kung fu craze of the seventies and eighties was certainly a contributing factor, it was not the primary impetus driving that success.

The secret recipe was quite simple. A talented author provided relatively high-quality stories and a talented artist provided relatively high-quality art at a relatively inexpensive price! The secret to success in comic book sales is all about quality story, quality art, and price point.

Steve Englehart

The Legend Begins

The series begins by introducing Shang-Chi as a man raised by his father, Fu Manchu, to be the ultimate assassin. For his first assignment, a youthful and inexperienced Shang-Chi is dispatched to London on a deadly mission to assassinate Fu Manchu's octogenarian rival, Dr. Petrie. This brings him into contact with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith for the first time. When he discovers the truth about his father's games of death and deceit, Shang-Chi swears to oppose, denounce, and destroy the Devil Dr. Fu Manchu.

The Master of Kung Fu series was an instant sales success. Englehart and Starlin soon left as the creative talent for the title. However, its popularity continued to grow once writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy began collaborating on MOKF #22 (November 1974).

Gulacy, a film buff, modeled many characters after film stars, such as Juliette on Marlene Dietrich, James Larner on Marlon Brando. Clive Reston occasionally resembled Basil Rathbone or Sean Connery. Richard Blaine resembled Humphrey Bogart, and Ward Sarsfield resembles David Niven. Moench introduced other film-based characters, including one modeled after Groucho Marx and another modeled after W. C. Fields.

Comics historian Les Daniels observed that "Ingenious writing by Doug Moench and energetic art by Paul Gulacy brought Master of Kung Fu new life".

This critically acclaimed run continued, with few exceptions, until MOKF #51 (April 1977). Gulacy was replaced by artist Jim Craig. Craig was succeeded by Mike Zeck, who became the regular artist with MOKF #64 (May 1978).

Jim Starlin

Moench continued for a long tenure. The title did not receive the same level of acclaim as the Gulacy period until Gene Day, who had previously been inking the book, took over penciling on MOKF #100 (May 1981). Shang-Chi's long-running battle with his father ended in MOKF #118 (November 1982).

Gene Day died of a heart attack after finishing MOKF #120 (January 1983). Moench left the series after MOKF #122 (March 1983). With the main storyline resolved, Shang-Chi retired to a passive life as a fisherman in the village of Yang Yin, China. The series was canceled with MOKF #125 (June 1983).

The Legend Continues

In 1988, Marvel published a new Master of Kung Fu story in Marvel Comics Presents #1-8. It reunited Shang-Chi with most of the original supporting cast. It featured Moench scripting with Tom Grindberg penciling.

In 1990, Marvel published the one-shot Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black. It reunited Shang-Chi with most of the original supporting cast. It featured Moench scripting with David and Dan Day, Gene Day's sons, penciling.

In 1994, Marvel published a new Master of Kung Fu story in Marvel Comics Presents #156-158. It featured Shang-Chi with Leiko Wu and the "Midnight Slasher" from DHOKF #8 (January 1975), with Karl Bollers scripting and Cary Nord penciling.

In 1997, Marvel published a new Master of Kung Fu story in Journey into Mystery #514-516. It did not reunite Shang-Chi with the original supporting cast. It featured Ben Raab and Creative Differences Studios scripting with Brian Hagen penciling.

In 2002, Marvel published a new Master of Kung Fu story in Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #1-6. It reunited Shang-Chi with most of the original supporting cast. It featured Doug Moench scripting with Paul Gulacy penciling.

Doug Moench

More Recent Appearances

Shang-Chi has made many appearances in other titles. However, these appearances are beyond the scope of this dissertation. See: Complete Appearances

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 himself.

• Fu Manchu is portrayed in a manner most consistent with the Sax Rohmer novels. He's 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. He is currently known as Zheng Zu. Other notable aliases include Mr. Han, The Father, The Devil Doctor, Chang Hu, and Wang Yu-Seng.

• Sir Denis Nayland Smith is Fu Manchu's nemesis in the novels. In the comics, he retains this role. His obsession with the villain often draws out the dark side of his own nature. In his better moments, he's a surrogate father figure to Shang-Chi. Ultimately, he's too caught up in what Shang-Chi calls 'games of deceit and death' and fails in this role. The relationship is that of two flawed characters who feel strong friendship in spite of deep differences.

• Fah Lo Suee is the daughter of Fu Manchu. She's a villainess in her own right. She's not interested in the misguided idealism of Fu Manchu. She's a pragmatist, seeking the best way to power. As such, she shifts alliances often. Typically, she's an enemy of Shang-Chi and company, but sometimes she's an ally. When last seen, she'd become a highly-ranked official in MI-6. She's currently known as Zheng Bao Yu.

• Black Jack Tarr is Smith's aide-de-camp and a powerful giant of a man with a gruff manner. Though he's initially an enemy of Shang-Chi, the two become friends over time. He exhibits the most obstinate traits of any character. He invariably addresses Shang-Chi as "Chinaman", as a term of affection, rather than using his name. Despite this gruff manner and attitude, readers invariably feel fondness for him. It's one of the many successes of the series that readers are drawn to him in spite of his flaws.

• Clive Reston is a British spy. He resembles a younger and more vulnerable version of James Bond. While 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. It's clear that Reston is Bond's illegitimate son and the grand-nephew of Sherlock Holmes.

• Leiko Wu is introduced as a femme fatale, not unlike those of the Bond films. She's a beautiful Chinese-British woman. In the beginning, she's torn between a romantic 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 Shang-Chi causes her to become more contemplative.

• Shen Kuei or "Cat" is a master thief. His skill in martial arts rivals that of Shang-Chi. The meaning of the character's name is both similar and opposite to Shang-Chi's name. He's 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 opposed in both love and business.

• Rufus "Super Midnight" Carter is an African-American kickboxing champion and antiques dealer who secretly works for the CIA. Later, he leaves the CIA and opens a private investigation firm. His lighthearted nature draws 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", a particular brand name of carbon paper, as a title.

Awards

1977: Eagle Award for Favorite Continued Comic Story - Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy for Master of Kung Fu #48–51.

1977: Nominated for Favorite Comic Book Artist Eagle Award - Paul Gulacy.

1979: Eagle Award for the Favorite Cover Award  - Paul Gulacy for Master of Kung Fu #67.

1980: Nominated for Favorite Comic Book Writer Eagle Award - Doug Moench.

1981: Inkpot Award - Doug Moench.

2010: Comics Bulletin ranked Master of Kung Fu sixth on the list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels" - Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck, and Gene Day.

'Nuff said!