Possible Continuity Concerns with the Original Sequential Order
MOKF GS #1 Part 4
This adventure interrupts chronologic story-line continuity and causes geographic location issues concerning the events of MOKF # 21, MOKF GS # 1, and MOKF#22.
MOKF GS #1 Part 5
This adventure interrupts chronologic story-line continuity and causes geographic location issues concerning the events of MOKF # 21, MOKF GS # 1, and MOKF#22.
MOKF GS #3
Shang-Chi seeks to find Smith at: "Central Park West: The townhouse which Smith has recently secured for his New York residence and base of operations. Although I've been here only once before, it's a place which would be difficult to forget."
However, to the best of my knowledge and research, this is the first time we see Shang-Chi at this location. While this may be considered by some to be a continuity error, who's to say that Shang-Chi hasn't been to the townhouse at sometime in the past three years? Perhaps in some previous adventure, that has not yet been told.
MOKF #26
Shang-Chi thinks, "I did not understand Fah Lo Suees words... until I had slain a man in my fathers service, and profaned my spirit in the act..."
This could be interpreted as Shang-Chi being unaware that Dr. Petrie is alive (MOKF GS #3), which would seem to be a continuity issue at this point. However in DHOKF #17, we'll learn the fact that Petrie is alive makes little difference to Shang-Chi. The fact that Shang-Chi intended to murder Petrie and believed that he had succeeded haunts his thoughts and torments his conscience.
MOKF GS #4
When a cop is questioning Shang-Chi, Smith states that Shang-Chi is "a duly appointed agent of my office". At this point, Shang-Chi has not officially joined Smith as an agent. However, they have been, more or less, cooperating to take down Fu Manchu for more than three years now.
While this may be considered by some to be a continuity error, I don't interpret these details quite so literally. It seems to me that Smith is diplomatically informing the officer that MI-6 has jurisdiction in the matter, Shang-Chi is his associate, and it might be best to step off.
Shang-Chi leads Hackstabber to believe that he's staying "With Smith -- at his townhouse on the street named Central Park West", but in MOKF #29, when Shang-Chi officially becomes an agent, he arrives at Smith's townhouse and questions why his presence was requested. So it seems, Shang-Chi was not genuinely staying at Smith's townhouse.
While this may be considered by some to be a continuity error, I don't interpret the situation quite so literally. It's seems perfectly obvious that Shang-Chi's ruse was only an excuse to pay Hackstabber the $7.80 that Smith owed him.
MOKF #53
This issue is a reprint of issue #20. Therefore, it should be chronologically and sequentially ignored.
MOKF #55
This is a fill-in issue and interrupts a four part story. Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, it should follow after issue #58. Plot details and events are intertwined with, but must follow, the resurrection of Shaka Kharn as recorded in MOKF #40-51.
MOKF #58, 59, 60, 61
Issues #59 and 60 are a two part fill-in, but do not fit into the continuity.
MOKF #58: Leiko storms off, leaving Shang-Chi and Reston behind.
MOKF #59: A very drugged Shang-Chi is laying on a couch and Leiko is tending to him.
MOKF #60: Leiko is at Shang-Chi's bedside in the hospital.
MOKF #61: Shang-Chi states, "...my last memories of Leiko, outside War-Yore's castle" (MOKF #58). In a conversation with Reston, Leiko indicates that she has not seen Shang-Chi since the end of that War-Yore affair (MOKF #58).
The only satisfactory solution is to chronologically relocate issues #59 and 60. Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, issues #59 & 60 must occur after issue #51 and before issue #58.
MOKF #64
This is a fill-in issue and interrupts an eight part story-line. Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, it should follow after issue #70 and before issue #71.
MOKF #102
This is a fill-in issue and it is not authored by Doug Moench. In issue #101, Shang-Chi professed his continuing "need" for Leiko. His continued love for Leiko is further attested to by the events in issue #103 and many more that follow. However in issue #102, he's eager to slip between the satin sheets with some blonde bimbo.
The only satisfactory solution is to chronologically relocate issue #102. Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, it should follow after issue #31 and before issue #32.
MOKF #114
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. In 1982, that was September 2. This adventure was published in July 1982.
Chronologically, the story could not have been written or published before the events actually occur. Therefore, these events must have occurred September 12, 1981.
Additionally, Shang-Chi is listening to the song "If I Was A Dancer (Dance Pt. 2)" from the Rolling Stones album entitled "Sucking in the Seventies", which was released in the Spring of 1981.
Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, it should follow after issue #109 and before issue #110.
MOKF #120
This adventure has a publication date of January 1983. However, Shang-Chi explicitly states the month is July. Chronologically, for geographic location and story-line continuity, it should follow after issue #118 and before issue #119.
Note: While this list was independently researched, compiled, and composed, many of these continuity concerns are also found in the work at: Essential Master of Kung Fu.
Possible Continuity Concerns with the 3MAC Order
MOKF GS #1 Part 4
These issues are resolved.
MOKF GS #1 Part 5
These issues are resolved.
MOKF GS #3
This remains unaltered. I stand by my original claim. This is a non-issue and a matter of incorrect interpretation.
MOKF #26
This remains unaltered. I stand by my original claim. This is a non-issue and a matter of incorrect interpretation.
MOKF GS #4
This remains unaltered. I stand by my original claim. This is a non-issue and a matter of incorrect interpretation.
MOKF #53
These issues are resolved.
MOKF #55
These issues are resolved.
MOKF #58, 59, 60, 61
These issues are resolved.
MOKF #64
These issues are resolved.
MOKF #102
These issues are resolved.
Although, it may create a new one. In the first pages, Shang-Chi is wearing a brown suit and tie. Historically speaking, the 3MAC placement is far too early to see him wearing anything other than his uniform. Logically, I could rationalize multiple solutions to explain this, but why bother? I can live with with an artistic error. Can you? That's rather minor compared to the original problem.
MOKF #114
These issues are resolved.
MOKF #120
These issues are resolved.
Notes Concerning Placement in the 3MAC Order
MOKF #36 & #37:
Sequentially relocated and chronologically adjusted. Rationale: MOKF #36 and #37 are fill-in issues. Smith, Tarr, Reston, and Shang-Chi are at Smith's Central Park West townhouse in New York. Tarr and Reston are playing chess. Presumably, the same game of chess they are playing in MOKF #29. Leiko is not present or mentioned in this story. This suggests these events occur before Shang-Chi and Leiko first meet. This 3MAC placement fits geographic and story-line continuity.
MOKF #52:
Sequentially relocated and chronologically adjusted. Rationale: MOKF #36 and #37 are fill-in issues. Smith, Tarr, Reston, and Shang-Chi are at Smith's Central Park West townhouse in New York. Tarr and Reston are playing chess. Presumably, the same game of chess they are playing in MOKF #29. Leiko is not present or mentioned in this story. This suggests these events occur before Shang-Chi and Leiko first meet. This 3MAC placement fits geographic and story-line continuity.
MOKF #52:
We must distinguish
between reading order sequence and event chronology.
Reading Order Sequence:
A lead-in establishes that Shang-Chi has turned his back on British
Intelligence and Smith. This places the present after MOKF #51. For
the purposes of reading order, not chronology of flashback, MOKF #52
should be read after MOKF #51.
Event Chronology of Flashback:
The exact quote is: "More than a year past, I believed I had
seen the last of that strange man called Rufus T. Hackstabber. I was
wrong."
I have placed the events detailed in the flashback between MOKF #35 &
36 on the chronology. This satisfies geographic location and chronologic continuity concerns.
So, we have one
placement for the Chronologic Reading Order (present) and a different
placement for the actual events of the flashback (past) on the
Chronology.
MOKF AN #1 and
DHOKF #29:
MOKF AN #1:
Shang-Chi states he
doesn’t follow Smith’s instructions anymore. This is a clear
reference to events recorded in MOKF #40. Additionally, this is the
first meeting of Shang-Chi and Iron Fist. Therefore, it precedes the
events in DHOKF #29.
DHOKF #29:
Smith informs Shang-Chi that a message signed by Fu Manchu demands Shang-Chi go to him.
Hence, Fu Manchu is known to be living. Iron Fist makes an
appearance. Therefore, this adventure follows the events of MOKF AN
#1 and precedes events recorded in MOKF #50.
These issues can not
be placed before MOKF #40 and they can not be placed after MOKF #50. Like it or not, the only possible chronologic placement for these
is between MOKF 41 & 42.
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