MOKF Issue Guide

This is the issue-by-issue guide to the original color series: Special Marvel Edition #15–16, The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #17–125, the four Giant-Size issues, and Master of Kung Fu Annual #1. One hundred and sixteen issues. December 1973 through June 1983.

It is a publication-order guide. Cover dates, on-sale dates, credits, quotations, first appearances, and a synopsis for every issue. If you want the stories in story-time order, use the Chronologic Reading Order.

The Numbers

Of 116 issues, Doug Moench wrote 103. Steve Englehart wrote the opening 5. Gerry Conway started #20. Scott Edelman, Peter Gillis, Gene Day, Steven Grant, and Alan Zelenetz filled the remaining gaps. On pencils, Mike Zeck holds the most issues (39), then Paul Gulacy (26), Gene Day (19), Jim Craig (10), Keith Pollard (6), and Jim Starlin (4). That is the shape of the book.

Master of Kung Fu #53 is a reprint of #20. It is listed here because it was published. It should be ignored for chronology, sequence, and sanity. The Giant-Size issues also reprint 1950s Yellow Claw stories; those reprints are noted, not synopsized. The Shang-Chi material is the point.

Key

SME	Special Marvel Edition
MOKF	Master of Kung Fu
MOKF GS	Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu
MOKF AN	Master of Kung Fu Annual

Jump to an Era

• The Legend Begins — SME #15–16, MOKF #17
• The Wandering Years — MOKF #18–28, GS #1–3
• The Gulacy Classic — MOKF #29–50, GS #4, AN #1
• After Gulacy — MOKF #51–65
• The Zeck Years — MOKF #66–99
• Gene Day — MOKF #100–120
• The End of the Road — MOKF #121–125

Jump to an Issue

SME #15 · SME #16 · MOKF #17 · MOKF #18 · MOKF #19 · MOKF #20 · MOKF GS #1 · MOKF #21 · MOKF #22 · MOKF #23 · MOKF GS #2 · MOKF #24 · MOKF #25 · MOKF #26 · MOKF GS #3 · MOKF #27 · MOKF #28 · MOKF #29 · MOKF GS #4 · MOKF #30 · MOKF #31 · MOKF #32 · MOKF #33 · MOKF #34 · MOKF #35 · MOKF #36 · MOKF #37 · MOKF #38 · MOKF #39 · MOKF #40 · MOKF #41 · MOKF #42 · MOKF AN #1 · MOKF #43 · MOKF #44 · MOKF #45 · MOKF #46 · MOKF #47 · MOKF #48 · MOKF #49 · MOKF #50 · MOKF #51 · MOKF #52 · MOKF #53 · MOKF #54 · MOKF #55 · MOKF #56 · MOKF #57 · MOKF #58 · MOKF #59 · MOKF #60 · MOKF #61 · MOKF #62 · MOKF #63 · MOKF #64 · MOKF #65 · MOKF #66 · MOKF #67 · MOKF #68 · MOKF #69 · MOKF #70 · MOKF #71 · MOKF #72 · MOKF #73 · MOKF #74 · MOKF #75 · MOKF #76 · MOKF #77 · MOKF #78 · MOKF #79 · MOKF #80 · MOKF #81 · MOKF #82 · MOKF #83 · MOKF #84 · MOKF #85 · MOKF #86 · MOKF #87 · MOKF #88 · MOKF #89 · MOKF #90 · MOKF #91 · MOKF #92 · MOKF #93 · MOKF #94 · MOKF #95 · MOKF #96 · MOKF #97 · MOKF #98 · MOKF #99 · MOKF #100 · MOKF #101 · MOKF #102 · MOKF #103 · MOKF #104 · MOKF #105 · MOKF #106 · MOKF #107 · MOKF #108 · MOKF #109 · MOKF #110 · MOKF #111 · MOKF #112 · MOKF #113 · MOKF #114 · MOKF #115 · MOKF #116 · MOKF #117 · MOKF #118 · MOKF #119 · MOKF #120 · MOKF #121 · MOKF #122 · MOKF #123 · MOKF #124 · MOKF #125

The Legend Begins

Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. Three issues. A premise, a credo, and a hero who has just discovered that everything he was taught is a lie.

SME #15 — "Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu!" Special Marvel Edition #15 Cover date: December 1973  |  On sale: September 4, 1973 Writer: Steve Englehart Pencils: Jim Starlin Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

"Father... you speak with absolute assurance, completely convinced that your vision is the only proper way... and, like all men who speak thus... You are mad! When next we meet, it will be as implacable enemies!"

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi confronts five fighters on his way to Fu Manchu's inner sanctum, while Fu Manchu watches on a video monitor.

He remembers: his father, Fu Manchu, sent him on his first mission at 19 years old. He would assassinate Doctor Petrie, a Westerner who opposed Fu's plans, "the most evil man alive." Once in Mayfair, he found Petrie asleep and wondered how such an old man could contain such malice. Petrie awoke; Shang-Chi struck. He turned to go.

Denis Nayland Smith, in a wheelchair, faced him with gun drawn. Shang-Chi slapped the gun out of his hand. He turned to go.

Smith began to weep for Petrie. Shang-Chi was stunned. Smith explained the true nature of evil: Fu Manchu, a megalomaniac with a global network of assassins, a genius with a rejuvenating potion, a dreamer with the goal of bringing the glory of China's imperial age to the whole world. Fu captured Smith in Burma and gave him to Tak, a sumo wrestler who mangled him. Smith pulls up his trouser leg....

Shang-Chi visited his mother, an American, at their home in Honan. She knew he would eventually learn the truth about his father but hoped it would not come so soon. Shang-Chi went to his father's international headquarters.

In the present, Shang-Chi faces the last of the five fighters: Tak. To end the grueling battle, he seizes Tak's topknot and heaves him through a door. He finds a laboratory and hints of the monstrosities his father has created. One of them, an enhanced gorilla, almost ambushes him. He knocks it down a flight of stairs. "Excellent, Shang-Chi," says Fu Manchu. He lays out his vision for Shang-Chi and invites him to join the great work.

"Father ... you speak with absolute assurance, completely convinced that your vision is the only proper way ... and, like all men who speak thus, you are mad." He turns to go. "When next we meet, it will be as implacable enemies."

He steps out of his father's China and into a New York City street. "I have lost a father," he thinks, "and in all the world, I can never find another."

Allies / supporting: Dr. Petrie, Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan, Fu Manchu, Tak, Gorilla Guard

First appearances: Shang-Chi, Dr. Petrie (dies), Denis Nayland Smith, Si-Fan, Fu Manchu, Tak, Tony McKay (dies), Shang-Chi's Mother

Notes:

• This issue is reprinted in black and white in DHOKF #2 and in the Savage Fists of Kung Fu tabloid edition.
• With issue MOKF #17 of this series, the title changes to Master of Kung Fu Vol 1.
• Gaspar Saladino provides the lettering for the splash page of this issue.
• This issue is the first appearance of martial arts master Shang-Chi. It is also the first Marvel Comics appearance of Shang's evil father, Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu was originally created in 1913 by crime-pulp novelist Sax Rohmer and debuted in the novel, The Insidious Fu Manchu. However, Fu's son, Shang-Chi, is a character unique to the continuity of Marvel Comics.
• Shang-Chi and Fu Manchu make chronologically earlier appearances in SME #16.
• British agent Denis Nayland Smith is also a creation of novelist Sax Rohmer. He first appeared in The Insidious Fu Manchu. This issue is Denis' first Marvel Comics appearance.
• It is believed that Shang-Chi kills Doctor Petrie in this issue. However this is later revealed to be a robot. The real Doctor Petrie makes his first canonical appearance in MOKF GS #3.
• First appearance of Tak.

Trivia:

• Shang-Chi also makes appearances in vignettes featured in the Marvel magazine title, DHOKF.

SME #16 — "Midnight Brings Dark Death!" Special Marvel Edition #16 Cover date: February 1974  |  On sale: November 13, 1973 Writer: Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin Pencils: Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom Inks: Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom Cover: Jim Starlin, Gaspar Saladino Marvel Database

"Other men would wonder if they had truly seen anything other than a shadow--but I am Shang-Chi, son of Fu Manchu. I do not wonder."

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi now makes his home in Central Park. A gang tries to mug him, with predictable results. "Skillfully executed, my brother!" says M'Nai, who watched the whole thing from the shadows. Before Shang-Chi can say anything, M'Nai vanishes.

Shang-Chi remembers his history: Fu Manchu found him in an African village that the British had just raided. They were trying to stamp out a biological weapon Fu had created. The village chief was ready to kill the scarred, screaming orphan when Fu stopped him. Fu pointed out that the child did not cry; his screaming came from hatred, not fear or sorrow, and Fu could use that kind of hatred. Fu Manchu put a black hood on M'Nai and raised him alongside Shang-Chi. One day Shang-Chi wanted to look under M'Nai's mask. M'Nai refused, and they fought. Their mutual respect made them friends. Back in the present, M'Nai meets with Fu Manchu, who orders him to kill Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi encounters a policeman, who realizes that he's wanted for Petrie's murder (last issue). A bamboo tube drops from the roof onto the sidewalk. Shang-Chi knows that M'Nai wants to meet him because that was their means of passing notes in school. After knocking out the cop, Shang-Chi reads the message: a challenge to mortal combat. They meet at midnight at Broadway and Houston. M'Nai attacks with knife, nunchaku, fists, and words. The policeman appears with reinforcements, interrupting the fight, but only temporarily. M'Nai finds Shang-Chi first and attacks with bo and shuriken. They move to a construction site, where Shang-Chi finds a pipe to counter M'Nai's bo. Still outmatched, he climbs a crane to evade M'Nai and then realizes his problem: "I have never felt the death-power in my limbs tonight! ... I have never been more than the fly, however bravely I buzzed!" He can't bring himself to kill his only friend. M'Nai solves his problem for him, though. From atop the crane he kicks at Shang-Chi, misses, and falls. His cloak catches on the crane's hook. His neck snaps. Shang-Chi thinks for a moment about removing M'Nai's mask to see how he is scarred ... but he already knows.

Opposition: Hell's Ryders, Ripper, Mr. Clean, Chevy, Si-Fan, Midnight (M'Nai), Dr. Fu Manchu

First appearances: Hell's Ryders, Midnight (M'Nai)

Notes:

• Special Marvel Edition changed its title but not its numbering after this issue.
• The character Midnight (M'Nai) should not be confused with Midnight (Jeff Wilde) or Midnight Man (Anton Mogart); however, Midnight Sun is a later incarnation of M'nai. M'Nai makes a chronologically earlier appearance in the second story in Iron Man Annual #4. He also appears in flashback in this issue. Midnight chronologically appears next in flashback in MOKF #41.

Trivia:

• Midnight was a copy of DC's Shadow. Unfortunately, DC had already acquired the rights to a Golden Age character named Midnight. See the Grand Comics Database article on this issue.
• Roy Thomas consulted with Edward Summer (Ed Summer) for the design of Shang Chi. Summer contributed the dragon-shaped scar on Shang Chi's arm which was based upon characters appearing in early Chinese martial arts films. This set-up was to pay off in a confrontation between Shang Chi and a character with a snake-shaped scar on his arm.

MOKF #17 — "Lair of the Lost!" Master of Kung Fu #17 Cover date: April 1974  |  On sale: January 15, 1974 Writer: Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin Pencils: Jim Starlin Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: Ernie Chan, Ron Wilson, John Romita Sr., Jim Starlin Marvel Database

"What one knows, Sir Denis... is not always the truth."

— Shang-Chi

This story actually begins with two stories. In the left-hand panels, three punks attack Shang-Chi to get money for drugs, with the usual result. In the right-hand panels, Sir Denis and Black Jack finalize their plan to trap Shang-Chi.

The first phase of the plan works. Shang-Chi finds Sir Denis's picture on the cover of a Daily Bugle and learns that he's visiting Rye, NY. Shang-Chi wants to apologize for killing Dr. Petrie (two issues ago), so he grabs the back of a passing truck. The truck passes Fu Manchu's headquarters, where he is making his own plans against Shang-Chi and Sir Denis.

In Rye, Shang-Chi asks a cabby for directions. When he overhears the "cabby" reporting his presence, he realizes he's walking into a trap. He sneaks in through a window, which is immediately sealed by a metal plate. He easily defeats a group of federal agents and, not so easily, a group of robot knights. When he encounters Black Jack, they fight hand to hand. Nothing seems to faze the Britisher, until Shang-Chi levers him over a balcony rail. Shang-Chi finds Sir Denis, who is still confined to a wheelchair. Sensing the man's chi, Shang-Chi tells him to stand up. Sir Denis complains that the doctors say he will never walk again. Shang-Chi tells him to stand up. He does! "What one knows, Sir Denis," says Shang-Chi before he leaves, "is not always the truth. Think on what you know of me until next we meet."

Opposition: Muggers, Steve, Jim, Al, Denis Nayland Smith's Forces, Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, FBI, Four unnamed robot knights, Si-Fan

First appearances: Black Jack Tarr, Peko

Notes:

• Shang-Chi is attacked by three men, Steve, Al and Jim. Their names and look is based on Jim Starlin, Steve Englehart, and Al Milgrom and in fact may be the 616 versions of these people but it is never confirmed.
• Although numbered to follow Special Marvel Edition Vol 1 (which was cancelled), this is the premiere issue of Master of Kung Fu Vol 1.

Trivia:

• Creators Al Milgrom, Steve Englehart, and Jim Starlin make cameo appearances as muggers in this issue.
• The tagline for this issue is, "They call him Blackjack! The man not even kung fu can smash!!"
• This issue includes Marvel Value Stamp #53, the Grim Reaper, and the first installment of Missives to the Master, the letters page.

Gulacy Arrives — The Wandering Years

Paul Gulacy pencils #18–19. Doug Moench takes the typewriter with #20 (Gerry Conway wrote the first half). The vagabond-versus-assassins template still holds. Giant-Size issues begin.

MOKF #18 — "Attack!" Master of Kung Fu #18 Cover date: June 1974  |  On sale: March 26, 1974 Writer: Steve Englehart Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: Ron Wilson, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"This fort held many battles during the American Civil War-- But never was the outcome so certain-- as in this one, between a bound turncoat and a Dacoit with three times his normal speed!"

— Fu Manchu

Shang-Chi battles Satma, a dacoit assassin, and gets caught in his silk noose. Before he blacks out, he remembers what led up to this confrontation: he disguised himself as a longshoreman, brazenly walked into Fu Manchu's New York headquarters, and went through an ordinary door. Coming back to himself, he dispatches Satma, hangs him by his heels, and leaves a note that reads, "First move ~ Shang-Chi."

Back on the street, he meets Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr. Sir Denis wants to recruit him for the war against Fu Manchu and his evil empire. Shang-Chi agrees. Sir Denis tells him that Fu is smuggling something into Florida. Shang-Chi (booking his own trip) smuggles himself onto a plane to Florida and locates the inlet that Fu is using. A freighter arrives, with Fu and his pet marmoset Peko onboard. Shang-Chi sneaks aboard and finds oil drums in the cargo hold. Opening one, he is overcome by mimosa and has hallucinations.

When Shang-Chi regains consciousness, a crewman, Raskov, throws him into the courtyard. Fu generously explains his evil plan: the oil will go to an American oil magnate, who will sell it to American drivers, who will send clouds of mimosa into American skies, thus allowing Fu to hypnotize American minds. He gives Satma another chance to kill Shang-Chi, this time with an experimental potion that will triple his speed (but kill him in nine minutes). His hands tied behind him, Shang-Chi can do little more than endure Satma's blows. Suddenly, though, the burning feeling inside becomes too much for Satma— he grabs a torch, sets himself on fire, and runs into the magazine of this old Confederate fort. In the confusion after the explosion, Shang-Chi takes another torch in his teeth, jumps off the cliff, and drop-kicks the torch into the freighter's hold before he plunges into the ocean. Fu's men swear vengeance.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan, Dacoits, Satma, Fu Manchu, Raskov, Jekin, Dahar

First appearances: Satma (dies), Raskov

Notes:

• Penciler Paul Gulacy began his long run on MOKF with this issue.
• In June 1974, the cover price for all Marvel titles rose from 20¢ per copy to 25¢.
• The tagline for this issue is "Father vs. Son! Fu Manchu vs. Shang-Chi!"
• This issue includes The Plunderer Marvel Value Stamp (Series A, #62).
• The Dacoits were last seen as characters in Captain America Comics#34(1/44) first story. |Trivia =
• Fu Manchu's brilliant plan fails to account for the possibility that someone could detect the strong odor of mimosa in the oil. It's also unclear how a wooden torch could ignite a hold full of sealed metal barrels.
• I met Paul Gulacy in a comic book shop once and I mentioned to him I liked the hallucination splash he did in this issue and he chuckled and said "I didn't think anyone liked that." Obviously the person who did the layout of this page was as impressed with it as I was.

MOKF #19 — "Retreat" Master of Kung Fu #19 Cover date: August 1974  |  On sale: May 21, 1974 Writer: Steve Englehart Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: Gil Kane, Tom Palmer Marvel Database

"A man who is not at peace within himself will not be at peace with anything else."

— Lu Sun

After foiling one of Fu Manchu's sinister plots in Florida, Shang-Chi has to swim for it. When he comes ashore, he finds two Si-Fan assassins, Jekin and Dahar, waiting. He manages to push them into a morass with a tree trunk and throw it in after them, then escape into the Everglades. He still has intermittent hallucinations from a heavy dose of mimosa, so when he runs into the Man-Thing, he doubts that it's real. It grabs him. He kicks it. It's real.

Shang-Chi winds up with both feet sticking out of the Man-Thing's back. A stranger pulls him through the sodden mass. He introduces himself as Lu Sun, no fixed address, and mentions seeing the two Si-Fan climb out of the swamp. Lu Sun wanders away. Shang-Chi follows him. The Man-Thing follows Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi has a flashback. A schoolmate named K'uei Mêng told him that Fu Manchu was evil, that he wanted to control the world, not help it. Shang-Chi told his father what he had heard. Fu reassured him of his good intentions. Mêng never returned to the classes.

Elsewhere in the swamp, a fleet of empty trucks bounces along a dirt road. They should have barrels of mimosa-laced oil in them, but Shang-Chi blew them up (last issue). Fu Manchu sits in the lead van. Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr, and a group of federal agents ambush them. Tarr tears open the first truck's door, but Fu has disappeared!

After some rest in a clearing, Shang-Chi asks Lu Sun for advice about fighting against his own father. "One may may overcome another—one army may overcome another—but the world is not changed. Man will always contend." But surely evil must be destroyed wherever it is found? "Revenge is also a destroyer of men, my friend. It blinds them to the present as they dwell on past and future. Thus, it blinds them to life."

Without warning, two arrows puncture Lu Sun's leg. Jekin and Dahar have caught up to Shang-Chi, who has had a chance to recover from the mimosa. Shang-Chi battles them briskly but briefly— a flip lands him in quicksand. The assassins step back, then notice that the Man-Thing has shambled into the clearing. They go after the creature. They don't know that "whosoever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing's touch" ... which is exactly what happens. Lu Sun pulls Shang-Chi out of the quicksand and wanders away.

Allies / supporting: Man-Thing (Ted Sallis), Lu Sun, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr

Opposition: Si-Fan, Jekin, Dahar, Fu Manchu

First appearances: Lu Sun

Notes:

• Black Jack Tarr and Sir Denis Nayland Smith appear next in the Kung Fu Special Vol 1 1.
• Shang-Chi and Fu Manchu appear in a flashback in this issue that takes place after the flashback in SME #16 but before the flashback in DHOKF #6.
• Fu Manchu appears next in MOKF #21.
• Shang-Chi and the Man-Thing will face each other again in Man-Thing Vol 1 20.
• This issue is reprinted in DHOKF #15.
• This issue includes Value Stamp Vol 1 11, Deathlok.

Trivia:

• The character Lu Sun looks resembles David Carradine, the star of Kung Fu in his role as Kwai Chang Caine.

MOKF #20 — "Weapon of the Soul" Master of Kung Fu #20 Cover date: September 1974  |  On sale: June 18, 1974 Writer: Gerry Conway, Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, John Romita, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"Why... did you wish me... dead?"

— Shang-Chi

Three men in wetsuits attack Shang-Chi on a Florida beach. After he defeats them, he learns that Demmy Marston of Miami sent them. When Marston gets the news that his assassins have failed, he tells his assistant Bufford Jones to call Korain. Marston's girlfriend, Diana, asks one question too many, so he slaps her. Jones goes to visit Korain at his villa and finds that he is a samurai.

Part Two: Poison of the Soul

Shang-Chi sneaks aboard Marston's yacht, "The Sweet Home," via the anchor chain. He brazenly walks past three guards who didn't hear him approach, then knocks them out. In the onboard casino, Marston tries to reconcile with Diana and hints at bigger things to come. Shang-Chi appears and asks why Marston wants to kill him. Marston yells for the guards and draws a gun, which Shang-Chi kicks out of his hand. Korain enters through a door that he splits with his sword. Shang-Chi recognizes him as someone who had "a position of high respect in my father's court," but he was old even then. Now he seems young and vigorous, an even match for Shang-Chi. They battle through the casino. Without warning, Korain has a convulsion and visibly ages. He takes out a vial (Fu Manchu's elixir vitae) and drinks it, but he has used it for too long. His heart fails. With a dying lunge, he falls across a table. One of his swords pierces Diana's abdomen. "Nature has achieved a cruel balance. Death has arrived late for one and prematurely for another."

Opposition: Demmy Marston's Henchmen, Bufford Jones, Johnny, Chino, Three unnamed hired assassins, Demmy Marston, Korain

First appearances: Bufford Jones, Johnny, Chino, Demmy Marston, Korain (dies), Diana "Dee" (dies)

Notes:

• This issue is reprinted in MOKF #53.
• Master of Kung Fu Vol 1 becomes a monthly title beginning with this issue.

MOKF GS #1 — "Death Masque!" Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1 Cover date: September 1974  |  On sale: June 25, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Ron Wilson, Mike Esposito, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"My entire life has been one mammoth game of grandiose design. Recently, I have been involved in a more minor game. My opponent in this game has been Shang-Chi ... my son."

— Fu Manchu

Story: Death Masque!

Writer: Doug Moench
Pencils: Paul Gulacy
Inks: Dan Adkins

Part 1: Death Masque!

Shang-Chi is wandering the streets of New York on a foggy evening when he finds an effigy hanging from a streetlamp at the corner of Madison Avenue and 57th Street. When he gets closer, he sees that it wears his own outfit. A knife flies out of the darkness, barely missing him, and embeds itself in a window frame. Shang-Chi notices a paper wound around the knife's hilt and briefly wonders why someone would bother sending a written message along with the message implicit in the knife itself. Then he chases the robed figure who threw the knife. In an alleyway, a second robed figure ambushes him from above. The two remove their robes, revealing themselves as Si-Fan assassins. After a brief fight, the two kill themselves with poison capsules.

Shang-Chi returns to the effigy and cuts it down. The message on the knife is a birthday greeting from his father, Fu Manchu.

In Fu's New York headquarters, Ducharme announces a servant, who reports that the two assassins have failed. Fu goes into another room, where five robed figures sit at a table with seven chairs. He calls in two new figures to replace the fallen assassins.

Part 2: The Enemy Within!

On his way to confront Fu Manchu, Shang-Chi is dragged down a manhole by another Si-Fan assassin. After a long, brutal battle in the sewers, the man takes poison. An oriental woman, whom Shang-Chi had earlier dismissed as a prostitute, helps him out of the manhole. Another assassin appears and throws a shuriken, which hits the woman in the leg; this one also takes poison after a brief fight. Shang-Chi takes the woman to her apartment. After she makes him comfortable, she tries to garrote him, but he nearly strangles her with her own hair. She dives out the window to her death. A second effigy drops down in front of the window with a second message.

Part 3: The Council of 7

Shang-Chi kicks down the front door of Fu Manchu's headquarters. Fu learns that another assassin has failed, so he reconvenes his Council of Seven. Five members file in. A servant fetches the other two from the hall. Fu addresses the group and berates them for failing to kill Shang-Chi. When he pounds the table with his fist, one of the robed figures slumps forward. A servant lifts its hood and reveals a third effigy of Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi removes his robe, briefly explains that he ambushed two council members and substituted himself and the effigy for them, and launches himself at the remaining five.

Shang-Chi puts his training to the ultimate test. He is the equal of any one of the Si-Fan's best assassins. Now he faces five of them at once. A long, grueling fight ends with the defeat of all five. He hurries to catch Fu but finds Ducharme instead. She says, "Your father ... has just left, Shang-Chi ... perhaps you may still ... catch him ...," and appears to be under the influence of opium. Fu has indeed just left, by helicopter, on his way to "the heart of America."

Story: Frozen Past, Shattered Memories

Writer: Doug Moench
Pencils: P. Craig Russell
Inks: P. Craig Russell

Shang-Chi sees a familiar image in a Miami newspaper: a Buddha figure, now on display in a museum. Shang-Chi goes to the museum and overhears three thieves planning to steal it. They say that a Far Eastern sect, its original owners, plans to sell its temple for $300,000 to get it back— they conclude that they can ask the museum for the same amount in ransom. Shang-Chi reports the thieves to a guard, who dismisses him as a hippie. He waits until the thieves break in, follows them, and easily foils the robbery. He looks for the Buddha, but Fu Manchu has stolen it for himself.

Story: Shaolin Temple Boxing

Writer: Frank McLaughlin
Pencils: Frank McLaughlin
Inks: Frank McLaughlin

Historical information about how Zen Buddhism came to be created by Bodhidharma and some of its teachings.

Story: Reflections in a Rippled Pool

Writer: Doug Moench
Pencils: Ron Wilson
Inks: Mike Esposito

Shang-Chi tries to find an inexpensive place to stay in Miami. The proprietor of a skid row flophouse turns him down because he is an oriental. Back on the street, Shang-Chi meets a blind beggar, who suddenly falls to the ground, shot. A rooftop assassin accidentally hit him instead of Shang-Chi but takes aim again. Shang-Chi races to the building and up the stairs, pursued by two more hitmen. Instead of going directly to the roof, he climbs from a top-floor window. While the three hitmen wonder how they lost him, he attacks. Two fall quickly; the third dives to the neighboring roof and through a skylight, with Shang-Chi on his heels. The hitman takes a hostage: the same landlord who turned Shang-Chi away moments ago. Shang-Chi literally pulls the rug out from under the man. He expects no thanks, and he gets none. He only says, "My father ... does not wish me to settle into a lodging."

Opposition: Si-Fan, Council of Seven, Twelve unnamed members Death of six unnamed members, Fu Manchu, Peko, Ducharme, Burglars, Morton, Two unnamed burglars, Assassins

First appearances: Council of Seven, Morton, Bodhidharma, Jack

Notes:

• Also contains: reprint from Yellow Claw #1.
• This issue was published between MOKF #21–22.

MOKF #21 — "Season of Vengeance..." Master of Kung Fu #21 Cover date: October 1974  |  On sale: July 16, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Ron Wilson Inks: Al Milgrom Cover: John Romita, Mike Esposito, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"Only Fu Manchu may choose the moment of your death. And that moment shall arrive when it best amuses me."

— Fu Manchu

Part 1: Season of Vengeance ... Demmy Marston, an underworld figure in Miami, blames Shang-Chi for his girlfriend's death and puts out a general hit order. Shang-Chi, having swum ashore, finds Marineland. He enters, curious about the oxymoron in its name. He encounters a leaping, cheerful-looking dolphin. When he hears a gunman behind him, he ducks, just as the dolphin leaps into the path of the bullet. Shang-Chi takes down the gunman, as well as five others. Another team appears, too far away to fight, so he dives into another tank.

Part 2: Moment of Death! This tank holds a shark! Shang-Chi punches it a few times and knocks it out, then has to surface for air. A gunman punches him and knocks him out. He wakes on an island in the Florida Keys, tied to a tree, at the mercy of Marston. Marston beats Shang-Chi with a tree limb. Only gradually does he realize that a team of Si-Fan assassins has come ashore and surrounded his own team of assassins. A helicopter lands, and Fu Manchu emerges. He wants to savor Shang-Chi's death in his own way and on his own schedule. He holds out a viper that bites Marston neck and kills him. Shang-Chi, freed from his bonds, collapses on the sand.

Opposition: Demmy Marston's Henchmen, Dirk, Demmy Marston, Si-Fan, Fu Manchu

First appearances: Dirk (dies)

Notes:

• Fu Manchu appeared last in MOKF #19. He appears next in Kung Fu Special Vol 1 1.
• MOKF GS #2 is published shortly after this issue.
• This issue contains the first blurb for MOKF: Call me Shang-Chi, as my father did, when he raised me and molded my mind and my body in the vacuum of his Honan, China, retreat. I learned many things from my father: that my name means "The Rising and Advancing of a Spirit," that my body could be forged into a living weapon through the discipline of kung fu, and that it might be used for the murder of a man called Dr. Petrie. Since then, I have learned that my father is Dr. Fu Manchu, the most insidiously evil man on earth ... and that to honor him would bring nothing but dishonor to the spirit of my name.
• This issue includes Value Stamp Vol 1 62, the Plunderer.

MOKF #22 — "A Fortune of Death!" Master of Kung Fu #22 Cover date: November 1974  |  On sale: August 13, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: John Buscema, Joe Sinnott, Gaspar Saladino Marvel Database

"The others wished to season your meal with poison... but I protested, favoring a more personal execution."

— Unnamed Si-Fan Assassin

Shang-Chi, back in New York, visits a Chinese restaurant called Kwang Tung's. When he has finished eating, he opens his fortune cookie to find a very personal message: "A man very close to you will seek your death, Shang-Chi." With only an instant's warning, he dodges. A robed figure splits his table with a sword. The other diners flee. Shang-Chi takes a polearm from the wall but quickly learns that it's only papier-mâché. Kitchen knives prove more substantial, letting him block the assassin's sword, as does a chandelier that he uses to swing into his opponent and knock him out.

The other waiters pour into the room, but they fare no better than the first attacker ... except for the one who waited on him. This man can take a punch full in the face and keep smiling. Shang-Chi finally dumps him on a cart and rolls him through the front window. He has recognized their fighting styles as Si-Fan, so he knows that his father, Fu Manchu, has once more tried to kill him.

Outside the restaurant he encounters Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr. Smith has learned that Fu is about to carry out another nefarious plot, but there's no time to wait for backup. Shang-Chi tells them that he's already going to Fu's headquarters and that they should keep clear. They drive away.

By the time Shang-Chi reaches the building on foot and sneaks inside, Smith and Tarr have gotten themselves captured. He follows Fu, Smith, Tarr, and their captors up an elevator shaft, where the captives are loaded onto a small jet. Shang-Chi flips into a wheel well as the jet takes off. He finds the cargo hold filled with nitroglycerin.

Some time later, the jet lands beside a cave entrance. Fu's people take the captives and the explosives into the cave. Shang-Chi sneaks inside to hear Fu say, "You have pried into my affairs for the final time. ... What was to have been ... a simple symbolic victory ... has now taken on additional significance by serving as the means to execute you." He lights a trail of gunpowder with a torch.

Shang-Chi attacks, but he has to keep one eye on the fuse. At the last second he snuffs out the flame. His battle with the last assassin, though, upset a vial of nitroglycerin. Smith tells him it's unstable and could explode at any second. Shang-Chi rushes to the other end of the cave and throws the vial into the air, where it explodes harmlessly. Only then does he realize what Fu meant by a "symbolic victory"—this end of the cave opens out on the face of Mount Rushmore.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan, Fu Manchu

Notes:

• This issue includes Value Stamp Vol 1 79, Kang.

MOKF #23 — "River of Death!" Master of Kung Fu #23 Cover date: December 1974  |  On sale: September 10, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Al Milgrom Inks: Klaus Janson Cover: Al Milgrom, Morrie Kuramoto Marvel Database

"My eyes cross water to the gift of a symbol. It is a statue which represents freedom won at the cost of death ... and while my studies in philosophy render such a concept false, my experience with the nature of man dictates that fallacy is often truth."

— Shang-Chi

Black Jack Tarr arrives at New York Harbor, where he finds Shang-Chi gazing at the Statue of Liberty. After a brief quarrel, he tells Shang-Chi that Sir Denis Nayland Smith requests his presence. On a small jet bound for South America, Smith tells Shang-Chi that Fu Manchu is en route to South America to acquire the plans for a secret Nazi weapon—plans currently in possession of a former Gestapo agent named Wilhelm Bucher.

The jet lands by the Amazon, where they meet Smith's contact, Raymond Strawn. Smith has hired Strawn as a guide to take them down the Amazon. Strawn is bitter and belligerent and refuses to have any dealings with a man of Chinese descent, much less a man who is also the son of Fu Manchu. While Smith and Tarr try to change his mind, Shang-Chi fades into the jungle.

Onboard Strawn's boat, Smith tells Tarr what he knows about Bucher. He is a xenophobe, worse than Hitler, if such is possible. On a mission to deliver documents to Japan, he and his Japanese assistant took refuge in a bunker during an air raid. A bomb partially collapsed the bunker and trapped Bucher. The Japanese officer deserted him. Another bomb fell on the bunker, but somehow Bucher escaped, albeit with his face badly scarred. The documents—the same plans Fu Manchu wants—he took with him to South America.

Before long they find themselves at the mercy of Si-Fan assassins. The assassins drop down out of the tree branches hanging over the river, and Smith is knocked overboard.

From the shore, Shang-Chi spies a hungry alligator preparing to eat Smith. He dives into the water and fights the creature off, returning Smith to the steamer. They are horrified to see that Strawn has shot all the assassins, all of whom carried melee weapons.

Before long, Strawn's vessel catches up with the one allegedly transporting Fu Manchu. Strawn shoots at the boat, a paddlewheeler, thus giving up any chance of surprise. Shang-Chi takes the initiative and dives back into the water, to resurface on the second boat. He knocks out the pilot and cuts the engines. He incapacitates a horde of Si-Fan killers, but there is no sign of Fu Manchu. Interrogating one of the assassins, Shang-Chi learns that Fu Manchu was never aboard the boat. He is, instead, traveling via helicopter to meet Bucher.

Strawn removes a mask to reveal that he is actually Bucher and tries to shoot Shang-Chi. Although Shang-Chi dives off the paddlewheeler, a bullet strikes him in the shoulder. Strawn forces Smith and Tarr onto the other boat and makes his escape.

Meanwhile, Fu Manchu secretly monitors the affair from his personal helicopter. He remarks that he saw through Bucher's trap and that his plan is on schedule. Smith tells Tarr that he knew Strawn was Bucher but that Strawn was the only way to get to Fu Manchu.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan, Fu Manchu, Raymond Strawn (Wilhelm Bucher)

First appearances: Raymond Strawn (Wilhelm Bucher)

Notes:

• Shang-Chi makes references to his first fight with Black Jack Tarr, which took place in MOKF #17.
• This issue is part one of a two-part story.
• This issue includes Value Stamp #97, the Black Knight.

MOKF GS #2 — "The Devil-Doctor's Triumph" Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #2 Cover date: December 1974  |  On sale: September 24, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Jack Abel Cover: Al Milgrom, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"The girl surprises me. I have met her in a place which demands money in return for the 'teaching' of a skill which may only be learned... through a process of self-effacement ... and yet she has learned."

— Shang-Chi

Chapter One: Eyes

On a sidewalk outside a martial arts studio, a drunk accosts Shang-Chi while he waits for Sir Denis Nayland Smith to arrive. The man swings, misses, and crashes through a plate glass window. The owner of the studio, a woman named Sandy, invites Shang-Chi inside. She invites him to dinner, then to a walk in the park. The "drunk" reports to Fu Manchu that Shang-Chi missed his appointment with Smith.

Sandy and Shang-Chi sit on a park bench. They stare into each other's eyes. They kiss. Shang-Chi hears a stealthy motion in the bushes, just before a group of Si-Fan assassins appears. Not only does Sandy strike first, she holds her own in the ensuing battle. Smith appears in a horse-drawn carriage, driven by Black Jack Tarr, and picks them up. Smith tells Shang-Chi that Doctor Ling (called "Chen" later), a Chinese scientist, will defect soon and needs protection. Sandy reluctantly leaves.

Chapter Two: Air

Smith continues to give instructions to Shang-Chi right up to the door of the plane. Smith will take another route, but he has placed agents on the plane for backup. Once aboard, Shang-Chi realizes that the plan has gone awry when the stewardess tries to garrote him. One by one, the other passengers shed their innocent appearances and attack. Shang-Chi knocks out the pilots and finds the real crew tied up in a closet, along with his contact. The plane lands in Peking. The contact gets Shang-Chi past customs and gives him a pair of nunchaku.

Chapter Three: Deceit

Shang-Chi makes his way through the streets of Peking to meet another contact. He hears footsteps following him. Assassins gather in his wake until there are dozens. He reaches a courtyard and cannot go any further. He draws the nunchaku, angry that he must use a weapon, but here he has no choice. "Madness rules his spirit! He would oppose us all!!" says one of the assassins before they close in.

Rather than scattering his concentration, Shang-Chi's anger only makes him more dangerous. Some of the assassins flee rather than face him. The others fall.

Shang-Chi reaches the rendezvous point. A robed figure beckons him to a waiting car. The figure pulls back its hood to reveal ... Sandy! The car takes them to Chen's home in the countryside. Sandy turns out to be the daughter of Doctor Chen, whom she has not seen in ten years.

While Sandy prepares tea, Chen tells Shang-Chi that he must pass on the secret of his research. He whispers it before Sandy returns. Next morning Sandy and an agent leave to make the final arrangements for Chen's defection. The "agent" goes to Fu Manchu's fortress and carries an unconscious Sandy inside.

Shang-Chi patrols outside Chen's house. He notices a door left open and finds Chen has stabbed himself. Fu has arrived too late to wrest the secret from Chen, but he can still get it from his son. Someone knocks out Shang-Chi.

He awakens in the fortress with truth serum in his bloodstream. Fu wants the secret. Shang-Chi only says, "Where ... is ... the ... girl?" Fu pulls a lever, and Shang-Chi falls through a trap door.

Chapter Four: Dementia

Shang-Chi finds himself in the top half of an hourglass, and the bottom half has metal spikes set in a pool of acid! Fu Manchu demands the secret, but time runs out. Shang-Chi falls headfirst ... and grabs two spikes. He flips onto a normal floor. Taking the only exit, he enters a maze.

The truth serum (or, more likely, something Fu added to it) causes Shang-Chi to hallucinate. At every corner in the maze, the voice of Fu Manchu mocks him, threatens him, demanding the secret. Around every bend lurks a Si-Fan assassin—or it might be a skeleton—or it might be a shadow. When he can go no further, he meets Sandy—or it might be Death. Whatever they are, they fall before his fury. So does the stone wall that blocks his path.

Shang-Chi steps into the original room. He has proven that Fu cannot force the secret from him, so there is no reason to keep it. But in fact, there is no secret. Chen was trying to develop a synthetic nutrient and abolish hunger. He failed, and so he killed himself. Fu becomes angry. When Shang-Chi asks again about Sandy, Fu says, "You fool!! You killed her yourself!"

A commotion erupts upstairs. Smith, Tarr, and several agents erupt into the room, guns blazing. One of the assassins tries to kill Shang-Chi with a large sword but manages only a deep cut in his side before getting shot. Fu Manchu escapes in the confusion. Smith tells Shang-Chi that they found Sandy's body in the maze.

Allies / supporting: Sir Denis Nayland Smith's Agents, Sandra "Sandy" Chen, Jimmy, Al, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr

Opposition: Si-Fan, Dr. Fu Manchu, Ducharme

First appearances: Sandra "Sandy" Chen, Jimmy, Al, Chris (Sensei), Prof. Ling Chen (dies)

Notes:

• Also contains: reprint from Yellow Claw #1; reprint from Yellow Claw #1.
• The Yellow Claw reprints were edited to make Jimmy Woo an agent of SHIELD rather than the FBI. These retcons have been ignored and as such those stories are still considered to have happened while he was with the FBI and not SHIELD.Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 13
• This issue was published between MOKF #21–22.

MOKF #24 — "Massacre Along the Amazon!" Master of Kung Fu #24 Cover date: January 1975  |  On sale: October 10, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Al Milgrom, Jim Starlin, Alan Weiss, Walt Simonson Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Gil Kane, Mike Esposito, Annette Kawecki Marvel Database

"Those men were willing to die for Fu Manchu - and he has an army of identically fanatical followers stationed on every point of the globe. And that is more resource that most nations command."

— Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Shang-Chi crouches on a limb in the Brazilian jungle, waiting for a file of Si-Fan to pass beneath him. He drops on the last one, Chai Phan, knocking him out. He takes Chai's robe, mask, and place at the end of the line. Nearby, Fu Manchu orders the pilot of his helicopter to hover over Wilhelm Bucher's compound, from whom he wishes to get the plans for a Nazi secret weapon. The Nazis in the camp spot him and prepare to spring a trap, while Fu comments that he has predicted it and has a trap of his own. On the Amazon River, Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr have restarted the engines of a paddlewheeler and set course for Bucher's compound. Bucher, in his own boat, arrives at his compound.

Shang-Chi and the Si-Fan meet Fu. They split into two groups: one to assault the compound head on, the other to circle around and catch the Nazis from behind. Fu goes with the first group, Shang-Chi with the second, where he hopes to remain undetected. The first group of Si-Fan attack the compound, guns blazing. One of the Si-Fan in the second group detects Shang-Chi. He pulls off his disguise and prepares to fight.

Moments later, Fu fires a flare gun. The second group bursts out of the jungle and catches the Nazis in a crossfire. The few survivors have already taken shelter in a quonset hut, where Bucher sees the Si-Fan make their final assault. Another group of Nazis opens fire from a facing hut, catching the Si-Fan in another crossfire.

Shang-Chi finally defeats his foe and heads for the center of the compound. He ducks behind a hut for cover and sees something inside: "It ... cannot ... be ...." When he reaches the battle, the Si-Fan have shrugged off the hail of bullets and taken the battle inside the hut, where they have the advantage. Bucher will not allow "inferior" races to best him; he uses a machine gun to mow down Si-Fan and Nazi alike. His men find Fu and bring him forward. Bucher has him tied to a tree and aims a rocket launcher at him. Shang-Chi hesitates for a moment: his father deserves to die, but not at the hands of a bigot. At the last second he kicks the rocket launcher to one side. The rocket hits the wall of a hut, revealing a missile with a swastika on it. Bucher orders his men to shoot Shang-Chi.

Instead, a volley of shots comes from the jungle and takes care of the remaining Nazis. Smith and Tarr have finally arrived. Bucher throws a knife at Shang-Chi, wounding him in the shoulder. Then, seeing that his nuclear missile will fall into Chinese hands, he tries to detonate it. Shang-Chi tells Bucher that he deactivated it. Bucher can't stand the fact that a Chinaman not only survived his knife but also defused his bomb. He backs away and falls down the missile shaft.

When Smith, Tarr, and Shang-Chi go back outside, they find that Fu Manchu has (as usual) escaped.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan, Chai Phen, Dr. Fu Manchu, Kwai Sing, Nazis (Fourth Reich), Kley, Wilhelm Bucher

First appearances: Chai Phen, Kwai Sing (dies), Kley (dies)

Notes:

• Shang-Chi took a bullet in the shoulder in the previous issue; there is no acknowledgement of the fact in this issue.
• This issue includes Value Stamp Vol 1 15, Iron Man.

MOKF #25 — "Rites of Courage, Fists of Death!" Master of Kung Fu #25 Cover date: February 1975  |  On sale: November 12, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Ron Wilson, Joe Sinnott Marvel Database

"... to the beginnings of life ... and to the ends of death. I am prepared, now, to leave both."

— Shang-Chi, to Tarr's question, "Where've you been, chinaman?"

Shang-Chi, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, and Black Jack Tarr have begun a long trek through the Brazilian jungle. The paddlewheeler that brought them to a Nazi compound had its fuel tanks punctured during a furious gun battle, but they kept a nuclear missile out of Fu Manchu's hands. (It all happened last issue). They hear a helicopter - Fu Manchu's - as it passes them by.

Some time later, Shang-Chi's keen hearing picks up an unusual sound. He melts into the jungle to investigate. In the middle of a clearing he finds an infant crying...and a jaguar about to pounce! He fends off the big cat until it gives up and leaves. He picks up the child. Several tribesmen come from the jungle, so quietly that even Shang-Chi didn't hear them. He holds out the child, thinking he got lost. A man raises a machete and tries to kill the child. Shang-Chi kicks the man away.

The tribesmen hang back and discusses the matter. They lead Shang-Chi, still carrying the infant, to their village. He sees a Si-Fan assassin, chosen for his familiarity with the region, bound to a stake in the village. He explains that these Jivaro headhunters exposed the child because he was born during a new moon and is thus considered unlucky. The Jivaro have a heated discussion. The assassin says that one faction, led by the chief, considers Shang-Chi a divine messenger and a sign to spare the child; the other faction, led by the chief's main rival, considers Shang-Chi a mortal. They agree to settle the question by putting the stranger through a trial by fire.

The villagers prepare their gauntlet by creating a long narrow fire. Not only must Shang-Chi walk over the coals, he must protect the child from clubs wielded by the tribesmen. When he succeeds at this task, another quarrel breaks out between the chief and his rival. The rival settles this question by running his spear through the chief, then leading an attack by his faction against Shang-Chi.

"I become the storm," narrates Shang-Chi, "channeling its force into the ranks of chaos ... transforming their numbers into self-imposed barriers ... striking as the lightning strikes ... and whirling as the wind ... until those would fight ... have done so."

The Jivaro, says the assassin, now consider Shang-Chi a true god, not just a messenger. Shang-Chi asks that they release the assassin. The two leave the village. In the jungle, the assassin finds that his duty to Fu Manchu outweighs his gratitude to Shang-Chi; he is last seen flying out of the trees and over a precipice. Some time later, he catches up to Smith and Tarr at a landing strip.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan assassin

Notes:

• Shang-Chi took a knife in the shoulder in the previous issue; there is no acknowledgment of the fact in this issue.
• This issue includes Value Stamp Vol 1 41, the Gladiator.

Trivia:

• Issue Vol 1 23 showed Smith, Tarr, and Shang-Chi arriving in Brazil in a small jet; when they return to the landing strip in this issue, it has become a propeller-driven plane.
• For the first time in MOKF, Smith smokes a pipe.

MOKF #26 — "Daughter of Darkness!" Master of Kung Fu #26 Cover date: March 1975  |  On sale: December 10, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Gil Kane, Tom Palmer Marvel Database

"She was dark—sultry ... she was coldly sensual ... her voice was low, throaty—it seemed to purr, and yet there was no doubt that she was capable of a snarl ... her eyes ... actually seemed to glow in the darkness of my bed chamber. And I don't mind admitting that I was frightened ..."

— Lord Robert Greville, speaking about Fah Lo Suee

In a restaurant in El-Khârga, Egypt, Lord Robert Greville talks to Sir Denis Nayland Smith. He relates a dream in which a bewitching woman appeared to him and promised that he would unearth the Golden Beetle of the pharaoh Seth-Amon. She left him a ring, which he found the next morning. Smith tells him that his father, Shan, encountered this same woman—Fah Lo Suee, daughter of Fu Manchu—that her wiles nearly destroyed him, and that she cannot be trusted. Greville will have none of it. Smith also says that he is looking for Fu Manchu, who seems to be shadowing his daughter. Unbeknownst to Smith, Fu sits at the next table, disguised by a hood.

Shang-Chi arrives at the restaurant to meet Smith, but a group of Si-Fan assassins has followed him, disguised by robes. Shang-Chi senses the presence of his father and tells Smith so. Fu stands up and drops his hood. The assassins burst through the windows to cover Fu's escape.

The ensuing scuffle fails to convince Greville that he should leave Seth-Amon's tomb alone. After all, Fah Lo Suee has become his muse. He leaves. Shang-Chi remembers his first meeting with her: Fu Manchu introduced his half sister and left them alone. She observed, flatteringly, that he was being trained as a master assassin and then said that a day might come when the both of them might want Fu dead ....

In a nearby library, Smith finds mention of the Golden Beetle. The pharaoh thought that it could hypnotize anyone and thus gave him ultimate power over his subjects. Smith realizes that Fah Lo Suee wants the Golden Beetle, specifically its ruby eyes, to have the same power. He also realizes that Fu has come to Egypt to keep his daughter from getting that power, which could be used against Fu himself.

Armed with this new information, Shang-Chi and Smith go to Greville's lodgings but get no answer at his door. Shang-Chi climbs through a window. He finds a Si-Fan inside, who is also looking for Greville but gets thrown out the window for his trouble. Shang-Chi finds a map to the dig, so he and Smith go there.

Inside Seth-Amon's pyramid, Fah Lo Suee leads Greville to the crypt, which he has breached only that day and has not yet surveyed. She finds the box with the Golden Beetle inside, but someone has pried out the ruby eyes. Shang-Chi and Smith arrive. Smith reluctantly admits that he too fell under Fah Lo Suee's spell years ago, and he does so again ... as six Si-Fan burst forth from sarcophagi! Fah Lo Suee orders Greville and Smith to protect her from them, so Shang-Chi must not only fight them, he must protect Greville, Smith, and (reluctantly) his half sister.

During the battle, the seventh sarcophagus topples and breaks open. It holds the mummified body of Seth-Amon, whose eyes are rubies. It also reveals a bomb! Fah Lo Suee takes the rubies and Greville. Shang-Chi defeats the Si-Fan at last and brings Smith back to his senses. They flee the pyramid just before it explodes. Out on the sands, they find Greville, who is dying of Fah Lo Suee's poisoned lipstick. Fu Manchu's helicopter departs. Smith and Shang-Chi are left to wonder: did Fah Lo Suee make it out of the pyramid?

Allies / supporting: Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Fah Lo Suee, Si-Fan assassins

First appearances: Fah Lo Suee, Lord Robert Greville

Trivia:

• Fah Lo Suee was originally created by crime pulp novelist Sax Rohmer. Her name means sweet perfume.

MOKF GS #3 — "Fires of Rebirth" Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #3 Cover date: March 1975  |  On sale: December 24, 1974 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Vince Colletta Cover: Gil Kane, Joe Sinnott Marvel Database

"My father has often said to me: 'A man may not be too careful in his choice of enemies, for once he has chosen ... he has forfeited a friend.' These are words my father has lived by, for he is Fu Manchu, and his life is his word."

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi looks into a toy-store window on Park Avenue, well aware that someone has followed him there. He confronts the man, who shows him an identity card from the British Secret Service and says that Sir Denis Nayland Smith sent him. Shang-Chi follows him to a sedan and gets into the back seat. Gas begins to fill the compartment. He punches through the roof, climbs atop the car, breaks the passenger-side window, and grabs the man by his tie. The car veers off the street and into a wall. Shang-Chi examines the man's effects and finds a dragon amulet—the sign of the Phansigars, an eastern Indian cult that handles Fu Manchu's most important jobs.

At Smith's Central Park West townhouse, the butler informs Shang-Chi that Smith has left. He introduces Clive Reston, a British agent, who takes a sudden interest in the amulet. Just as suddenly, three Phansigars burst through the windows. Shang-Chi defeats two of them quickly, worried about Reston. Even without his gun, though, Reston is still dangerous; he pulls a curtain over his opponent and knocks him over a railing. In the process he knocks an elephant statue off a stand. With the fight over, Reston tells Shang-Chi that their destination is ....

Chapter 2: London

Shang-Chi and Reston find Smith in the Orientology Hall at the British Museum of Natural History. He and Black Jack Tarr are combing through the debris from a break-in. Smith says that the Phansigars have recently ransacked several such places, searching for something that they have not yet found. He draws this conclusion because they have taken nothing. No clues turn up, so they head out of the museum. Shang-Chi asks why Smith has focused his efforts on England; Smith says that a policemen found a note reading, "I am alive ~ Petrie" (Shang-Chi apparently killed him in Special Marvel Edition Vol 1 15).

They pass an exhibit of cavemen, who come to life and attack. Reston looks for some deeper meaning behind this sort of attacker, but Smith assures him that Fu Manchu is simply showing off.

Chapter 3: Crucible of Deceit

An English bobby guards a curio shop, following mysterious orders from Scotland Yard. Out of the fog flies a bola that wraps around his neck. Three Phansigars break into the shop to search it. The door swings open, surprising them. A muffled figures says only, "Stop," but then punches through the opened door, stunning the Phansigar hiding behind it. Shang-Chi drops his disguise and goes after the other two. He pins one to the wall with two swords, because Smith wants someone to interrogate, and sends the other through a window. On his way out, he finds the bobby's wallet lying on the steps; he had a wife, a son, a daughter. Shang-Chi puts the wallet with the bobby's body and drags the surviving Phansigar away.

Chapter 4: Test of Loyalty

At Scotland Yard, the Phansigar has been given truth serum. Smith asks what Fu Manchu wants so badly. "Vengeance .. for the theft of life ...." Where will he go next? "Buckingham ... Palace ...."

Fu meets with Shadow Stalker, his most trusted assassin, and sends him on an unspecified mission. Shang-Chi, Smith, Tarr, and Reston race toward the palace. A Phansigar flattens one of their tires with a blowgun. Shang-Chi gives chase, but while he is gone, Shadow Stalker knocks out Tarr and Reston and kidnaps Smith. When Shang-Chi returns, he finds Tarr being loaded into an ambulance; he and Reston continue on to the palace. There they guard the queen's collection of antiquities.

Two Phansigars burst in. Reston shoots, dropping one and wounding the other. Shang-Chi chases the wounded assassin through the halls to the queen's throne room. The Phansigar goes through a secret door behind the throne. Shang-Chi realizes that stealth is paramount, so he pinches Reston's neck to knock him out and follows the secret passageway.

At the end of the trail Shang-Chi finds Fu Manchu ... and the real Petrie! Only then does he realize how duplicitous his father can be and how thoroughly he has been used. He is angry enough to kill ... but Fu claps once and a panel opens. Smith is strapped to a table, with two Phansigars ready to stab him if Shang-Chi attacks Fu. Shang-Chi reluctantly agrees to a bargain: if he can beat Shadow Stalker, Smith will die quickly, but if he loses, Smith dies slowly. To make the fight interesting, Shadow Stalker has two spiked balls on chains at the ends of a bar run through his topknot, and both fighters are chained to a pole. Shang-Chi uses one of the spiked balls to break his chain and breaks the pole to knock out Shadow Stalker.

Fu orders a Phansigar to kill Smith. Reston appears and shoots the assassin. Fu presses a button that drops him through a trap door, escaping yet again. Smith releases Petrie, who tells him that Fu's object was an elephant statue filled with elixir vitae, his potion of immortality, because his supply is low. Smith recalls that he took such a statue from one of Fu's bases years ago. Shang-Chi recalls that this statue broke during the fight in Smith's townhouse, which means that Fu Manchu is desperate... and more dangerous than ever...

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Shadow Stalker, Phansigars

First appearances: Clive Reston, Doctor Petrie, Shadow Stalker

Notes:

• Also contains: Concentrate on Chaos! (reprint from Yellow Claw #2); (Unnamed Yellow Claw Story) (reprint from Yellow Claw #2).
• Although the real Petrie makes his first appearance in this story, a doppelganger appeared in SME #15. Until now, Shang-Chi (and the authorities) believed that he had assassinated Doctor Petrie by order of Fu Manchu. This issue reveals that the Petrie killed by Shang was in fact a duplicate of some sort created by Fu to cover his kidnapping of the real Doctor Petrie.
• Clive Reston (who first appears in this story) became a regular supporting character throughout the remainder of the Master of Kung Fu series.

Trivia:

• Alert readers may infer that the character of Clive Reston is the son of James Bond, although for copyright reasons that name is never explicitly given.

MOKF #27 — "Confrontation" Master of Kung Fu #27 Cover date: April 1975  |  On sale: January 14, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: John Buscema Inks: Frank Springer Cover: Gil Kane, Klaus Janson Marvel Database

"I would speak with you of this dagger. Of this death. Of this man."

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi knocks over a television antenna and uses it to reach the roof of Fu Manchu's headquarters. He then pulls a rope from a flagpole, ties it to the antenna, and climbs down it. Why? He was walking through Times Square when a man in a robe stopped him and tried to give him a religious tract. A dagger flew out of an alley and hit the man in the back, killing him instantly. Shang-Chi recognized the dragon dagger as a Si-Fan weapon.

He smashes through a window and makes his way down through the building. In the bottom of an elevator shaft, he kicks through the wall. Fu tells his Council of Seven that his daughter Fah Lo Suee has found the ruby eyes of Seth-Amon; using their hypnotic power, she has begun to recruit Si-Fan assassins to her own service. A dragon dagger slams into the table. Shang-Chi will hold his father accountable for the death of an innocent man. The seven Si-Fan, of course, attack.

Shang-Chi levers the first one into the second and third. He leaps to a beam, breaks it, and lets the beam knock down the fourth and fifth, while he lands on the sixth. The seventh rushes at him and gets flipped onto the table.

Fu takes Shang-Chi to his laboratory. He says that the betrayal of his son (Shang-Chi) and then his daughter (Fah Lo Suee) has made him lonely. He says that Fah Lo Suee has weakened his control over the Si-Fan and that she was responsible for the recent attempt on his life. He says that a war is coming, but Shang-Chi can prevent that war by killing him. Shang-Chi cannot bring himself to do it. Fu says, "Nothing has changed between us. Nothing."

Later, Shang-Chi thinks, "I carry his last words into the cold night, and I walk long in their echo ... until I decide, at last, that once again ... my father has lied to me."

Allies / supporting: None

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Si-Fan assassins, Council of Seven

Trivia:

• A letter comments on Shang-Chi's gunshot wound at the end of issue Vol 1 23 and his miraculous recovery in the next issue. The editor explains that Fu Manchu gave him a serum ... or it was a flesh wound ... or whatever else the reader can imagine ....

MOKF #28 — "A Small Spirit Slowly Shaped..." Master of Kung Fu #28 Cover date: May 1975  |  On sale: February 11, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Ron Wilson, Ed Hannigan, Aubrey Bradford Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

"I do not seek power. I seek only peace."

— Shang-Chi (Earth-616)

Shang-Chi visits a penny arcade in Times Square to "observe," but he does not understand the attraction of the games with their lights and noises. Black Jack Tarr and Clive Reston pick him up and tell him that Sir Denis Nayland Smith has been kidnapped. The only clue is a bamboo tube (used for passing messages; last seen in Special Marvel Edition Vol 1 16). Shang-Chi opens it and pulls out a note: "we will talk under the tree where a little spirit was slowly shaped." He understands that it came from Fah Lo Suee.

He remembers the tree. Fu Manchu led him there to meet his half sister for the second time (their first meeting appeared in issue Vol 1 26). Fah Lo Suee showed him a bonsai tree and asked which was more beautiful: the small tree, meticulously trimmed, or the large tree, shaped by nature? Shang-Chi could not make a choice. Fah Lo Suee pointed out that nature is not evil, whereas human agency can be, and that Shang-Chi himself was being slowly shaped by his father: "some day you may be called upon to wield your choice."

Tarr, Reston, and Shang-Chi fly to China. Shang-Chi climbs across the plane and disappears before Tarr and Reston can exit. He breaks into his father's fortress, finds Fah Lo Suee on Fu Manchu's throne, and follows her to the tree in the courtyard. She has the ruby eyes of Pharaoh Seth-Amon (obtained in issue Vol 1 26), now made into earrings, and is using them to hypnotize members of the Si-Fan to serve her instead of Fu. She asks Shang-Chi to ally with her against Fu Manchu. "I cannot now choose between two forms of the same evil," he answers. She claps her hands and orders her Si-Fan to kill him.

Shadow-Stalker leads the attackers. To everyone's surprise, he turns and tells Shang-Chi they will fight back to back. Fah Lo Suee watches the brief battle with dispassion and flees. Shadow-Stalker explains his decision: together, he and Shang-Chi could beat anyone, so they should take over the Si-Fan. Shang-Chi demurs. Shadow-Stalker tells him that Smith is in the dungeon, and he leaves.

Shang-Chi breaks Smith out of his cell. Only then do Tarr and Reston arrive. Shang-Chi shows them the ruby eyes, which he took during the fight, and smashes them together. He thinks, "I have learned that this fortress is much like the arcade ... a place of games I do not understand."

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Shadow Stalker, Si-Fan assassins

Notes:

• This issue includes the second chronological appearance of Fah Lo Suee .

A Blisteringly Volatile New Direction

The Moench/Gulacy classic. Marvel advertised it. This time the blurb was true. Leiko Wu, Clive Reston, the Cat, Mordillo, the Oriental Expediters, and the Arctic-to-moon crescendo of #44–51.

MOKF #29 — "The Crystal Connection" Master of Kung Fu #29 Cover date: June 1975  |  On sale: March 11, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Paul Gulacy Cover: Gil Kane, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

"Through that door you now block."

— Shang Chi, to a bodyguard who asks, "Where do you think you're going, fancypants?"

Shang-Chi meets with Sir Denis Nayland Smith in his New York townhouse. Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, and Doctor Petrie also attend. Smith has an offer for Shang-Chi: become an informal agent of the British Secret Service and fight evildoers besides Fu Manchu. Their current target is a heroin kingpin. Smith takes Shang-Chi to the Spengler Rehabilitation Clinic and shows him how heroin can destroy the spirit. Shang-Chi has reservations about methodology but accepts the offer.

On a seaplane to the Gulf of Lions in southern France, Smith briefs Shang-Chi on the mission. Reston has become a buyer named Mr. Blue. He will go on ahead to Carlton Velcro's lavish estate and make a large purchase. Instead of leaving with his heroin, though, Reston will locate Velcro's warehouse and dispose of its contents, thus bankrupting Velcro. Shang-Chi and Tarr will use SCUBA gear to reach the estate through undersea tunnels and create a diversion so that Reston can escape. Every second counts.

Reston, as Blue, meets Velcro and an unexpected development: an "employee" named Razor-Fist. The man has had his hands replaced with swords. He demonstrates their effectiveness by slicing a statue into pieces. A pair of guards escort Reston to his room. Forty-five minutes later, on schedule, he distracts the guards and escapes. He also sets off a silent alarm, which is not part of the plan.

Petrie takes the seaplane over the estate to reconnoiter before dropping Shang-Chi and Tarr into the sea by parachute. They follow the tunnels and surface in the grotto. Thanks to the alarm, though, men with machine guns and black panthers patrol the beach. Tarr disables them with a concussion bomb.

Reston makes his way to the warehouse and enters through a window, which sets off another alarm. He finds sacks of heroin piled to the ceiling, a much larger store than expected, but gamely goes about slashing the sacks and dousing them with a fire extinguisher. Velcro sends his two bodyguards to the front entrance and takes some guards to the warehouse.

Tarr leaves Shang-Chi at the foot of the causeway and tells him to wait for an explosion. Moments later, some guards spot Tarr. He uses a gas bomb on them. Shang-Chi naturally assumes that's the signal and crosses the causeway, beneath which lies a pit full of black panthers. Velcro's two bodyguards barely have time to realize they're in a fight before Shang-Chi throws them off the causeway.

Velcro reaches the warehouse and captures Reston. Smith and Petrie, in the seaplane offshore, wait for the signal to pick up their agents. Shang-Chi kicks open the front door and meets Razor-Fist....

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Carlton Velcro, Razor-Fist

First appearances: Carlton Velcro, Razor-Fist

Notes:

• For the first time, neither Fu Manchu nor his minions appear in a Master of Kung Fu story.

MOKF GS #4 — "Why a Tiger-Claw?!," Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #4 Cover date: June 1975  |  On sale: March 25, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Gil Kane, Dan Adkins Marvel Database

"I've been meaning to ask you something - do you ever get bunions on your feet from all that kicking? Still, if you keep working out like that, I bet you'll be able to lash out with your little pinkie and fell a tree without even calling on a single bunion - or even Paul Bunyan for that matter."

— Rufus T. Hackstabber

Shang-Chi, about to cross the street at Madison and 57th, nearly gets hit by a taxi. At 54th Street it turns sharply and runs through the window of a bank. Two men in masks get out, guns ready. They rob the bank, the customers, and the taxi driver. On their way out, they run into Shang-Chi, who disarms them. The police arrive and try to apprehend Shang-Chi along with the two robbers. Suddenly the taxi smashes out of the bank. In the confusion, the robbers pile into their intended getaway car. Shang-Chi gets into the taxi. The taxi driver introduces himself as Rufus T. Hackstabber, and he wants the $7.80 that the robbers took from him.

They trail the car to an alley, but by the time they get there, it has disappeared. Shang-Chi opens the back of a truck parked there. The car is inside, but the occupants have disappeared. Hackstabber, inspecting the car, falls through a hole in the truck's floor ... and through the open manhole beneath ... and into the sewers.

A servant tells Fu Manchu that a search for Tiger-Claw has turned up nothing. When Ducharme asks about Tiger-Claw, Fu tells her that he is a traitor. In the sewers, Shang-Chi and Hackstabber manage to follow the robbers to a manhole in a subway station. The robbers board the train, while Shang-Chi and Hackstabber leap onto the rear platform. Sir Denis Nayland Smith gets a call from the police commissioner, asking if Fu Manchu has something to do with the twelve bank robberies committed that day. Smith thinks not, but he and Black Jack Tarr will look into it. The robbers get off the train at an elevated station. Shang-Chi subdues them again. He learns that they left all the loot in the truck and that the man who hired them calls himself Tiger-Claw.

Chapter 2: The Way of the Tiger: A Movement in Blood

Shang-Chi remembers Tiger-Claw. He was ten years old and spying on his father's court. The man demanded that Fu Manchu make him a lodge master of the Si-Fan. Fu ordered three assassins to kill Tiger-Claw. Even at that age, Shang-Chi quickly saw that the three were outmatched, but Fu did not stop the conflict. The three died, and Tiger-Claw became a lodge master.

Back in the present, Smith and Tarr find the truck. Shang-Chi, Hackstabber, and the robbers arrive. The police almost arrest Hackstabber, but Smith vouches for Shang-Chi. Hackstabber drives off in his taxi; he knows where the robbers were supposed to meet their gang, and Shang-Chi, Smith, and Tarr head for the same lumberyard in Brooklyn. When they arrive, Hackstabber has been captured and the money is gone again, but he knows it has gone to Rockefeller Center.

At Rockefeller Center, Hackstabber distracts the gangster carrying two suitcases full of loot, and Shang-Chi knocks him out. Tiger-Claw, expecting to pick up the loot, arrives. He tells Shang-Chi that he intends to come out on top in the war between Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee. A group of Si-Fan assassins arrives. Tiger-Claw unites with Shang-Chi against the Si-Fan, and the two make short work of them.

Hackstabber tries to get his $7.80 from a suitcase, but Tarr kicks it shut. Smith and Tarr watch Shang-Chi battle Tiger-Claw. It looks bad until Shang-Chi uses a broken umbrella pole to snag Tiger-Claw's poisoned-claw gloves and pull them off. In a fair fight, Shang-Chi beats Tiger-Claw.

Hackstabber asks Smith for his $7.80. Smith tells him to "file a proper claim with the authorities." Hackstabber replies: "Well that's a fine how do you! And it's also a criminal outrage! Why I never heard of such a thing! Harumph, sir - harumph, I say! And furthermore, you'll hear from my lawyers in the morning. ... oh, and by the way - is that your final offer?" Shang-Chi takes Smith aside, while Tarr snaps Hackstabber's cigar in two, and receives a few bills. Hackstabber gives Shang-Chi a ride home to Smith's townhouse. When Shang-Chi arrives, he gives Hackstabber his "fare": $7.80.

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr

Opposition: Tiger-Claw, Fu Manchu, Si-Fan assassins, Ducharme

First appearances: Tiger-Claw, Rufus T. Hackstabber

Notes:

• Also contains: Temujai-the Golden Goliath! (reprint from Yellow Claw #2); The Mystery of Cabin 361! (reprint from Yellow Claw #2).
• Final issue of the series.

Trivia:

• The character of Rufus T. Hackstabber is a pastiche of characters that Julius "Groucho" Marx played in films as one of the Marx Brothers. He appears next in MOKF #52.

MOKF #30 — "A Gulf of Lions" Master of Kung Fu #30 Cover date: July 1975  |  On sale: April 8, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Dan Adkins Marvel Database

"That's the trouble with back-tracking, Tarr - you run into people you've already met."

— Clive Reston (Earth-616)

Shang-Chi encounters Razor-Fist at the entrance to Carlton Velcro's castle, above a pit full of black panthers. He somersaults past and grabs a candelabra to defend himself from the swords that are Razor-Fist's forearms. Pinned against a wall, he tries to ignore the hot wax dripping on his chest, but he has to discard his defense. He dodges one sword, which sticks in the wall, and breaks the other with his wrist bands.

Black Jack Tarr finds Reston and Velcro in the heroin warehouse, but the guards outside have spotted him. He crashes through a window and tosses a smoke grenade. Tarr and Reston escape in the smoke but are quickly surrounded.

Razor-Fist corners Shang-Chi in front of a statue but embeds his remaining blade in the stone. Following through on his plan, Shang-Chi delivers a kick to the back of Razor-Fist's head, which results in a stone head-butt. The statue's head shatters, and Shang-Chi takes the ear.

On the seaplane waiting to pick up their operatives, Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Doctor Petrie argue over how long they should wait. Petrie wants to go by the book: the agents are late, they should leave before they too are compromised. Smith radios Marseilles and orders a speedboat full of explosives.

Velcro, impatient for answers, threatens to throw Tarr and Reston into the pit of panthers. Shang-Chi appears with his clenched fist up and threatens to "drop what I am holding." Everyone assumes it's a bomb, so Velcro lets them go. Minutes later, he triggers a ramp to collapse so that Shang-Chi, Tarr, and Reston fall into the pit anyway. Reston says, "Toss the bomb you've got!!" Shang-Chi tosses the stone ear at his feet. He notices a door nearby. Luckily it's unlocked, and they escape the panthers. Once outside the pit, they fall through a loose grate and down a metal shaft, where they see Velcro's ultimate objective: a nuclear arsenal....

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Carlton Velcro, Razor-Fist

Trivia:

• The letters page in this issue includes one from Ralph Macchio.

MOKF #31 — "Snowbuster" Master of Kung Fu #31 Cover date: August 1975  |  On sale: May 13, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Dan Adkins Marvel Database

"It is over now ... the first result of my decision to leave passiveness for a path of direct action ... it has been worth it ... but the decision, and its path, still leaves much ... to be desired."

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi, Black Jack Tarr, and Clive Reston have found Carlton Velcro's arsenal of nuclear missiles. Unarmed and perched on a ledge in a cave under Velcro's fortress, Reston wants to go after the missiles. Tarr only wants to find a way out. Shang-Chi finds a rope and secures it to an outcrop for the others. He dives off the ledge, knocks a soldier off the dock, and lands in the water. Tarr and Reston follow via the rope. They fight their way to a tank and get inside. Tarr drives it to a platform, which takes them up to the fortress.

Shang-Chi, realizing the place will be destroyed, leaves the tank to rescue Razor-Fist, whom he left unconscious. He heads toward the entrance and enters a garden. Pavane, Velcro's lover and last line of defense, tries to stop him. Shang-Chi grabs her whip, pulls her into range, and knocks her out. Razor-Fist enters from one door, Velcro and some guards from another. Velcro orders the guards to shoot. Shang-Chi dodges the attack. Razor-Fist does not. The tank crashes through the wall, giving Velcro a chance to escape.

Out to sea, Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Doctor Petrie still wait for word from their agents. The remote-control launch Smith ordered, full of explosives, arrives.

Shang-Chi carries the unconscious Pavane out of the fortress. He dodges a flamethrower and gets back into the tank. Tarr drives it into the grotto, and the three swim out through the caves that brought Tarr and Shang-Chi into the place.

Velcro runs through the fortress. "Can't let them destroy my arsenal," he says, "not when I'm so close to making the connection with Mordillo ... when we're both so close!" On the seaplane, Smith admits that he suspected Velcro had nuclear weapons.

Shang-Chi gets into the launch, aims it at the fortress, and activates the thirty-second timer. It flips off the beach and into the fortress. Everything explodes. A helicopter pulls Shang-Chi out of the grotto.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Carlton Velcro, Pavane, Razor-Fist

First appearances: Pavane

MOKF #32 — "Assault on an Angry Sea" Master of Kung Fu #32 Cover date: September 1975  |  On sale: June 10, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Sal Buscema, Mike Esposito Inks: Mike Esposito Cover: Gil Kane, Mike Esposito Marvel Database

"He seems so calm all the time—even when he's blastin' the ears off ten bozos at once. And the way he he's got everything together—the whole bloody universe in a nutshell ... and yet he's so naive ... innocent."

— Black Jack Tarr, speaking about Shang-Chi

In a Marseilles park, Black Jack Tarr and Clive Reston watch Shang-Chi meditate. Sir Denis Nayland Smith returns from the "local office" with a new mission: he, Tarr, and Shang-Chi will return to London via the Ile de France, an ocean liner, while Reston and Doctor Petrie will fly back. Shang-Chi thinks, "I assumed we would return to New York. In my concentration, then, I have ... missed something." On their way to the docks, Smith explains that one of their agents has some documents that must reach London. They have passed through several hands, so he has no idea who has them now. He does know that several foreign powers want the documents.

At the dock, Shang-Chi helps a blind woman carry her luggage aboard. Smith checks in with the captain, who doesn't like the "special considerations" he has to extend to their party and having to bump "less worthy" passengers. At dinner that evening, Shang-Chi sees the blind woman and mentions that she seemed interested in their conversation with the captain. Smith suggests inviting her to their table. She introduces herself as Therese Beswick. Shang-Chi, listening to her guarded conversation with Smith, thinks, "In cryptic phrases, each seems to toy with the other."

A yell comes from the deck. Shang-Chi stops three men from throwing another overboard. To rescue the victim, though, he has to let the others escape. The captain wants to arrest Shang-Chi, Smith, and Tarr for creating a disturbance. The victim says that Shang-Chi saved him and that his attackers wanted some documents. Back inside, they find Beswick missing. A waiter says that hooded goons took her.

Next morning, Beswick is still missing. A storm rises. While looking for Beswick, Shang-Chi is attacked by crew members. He, Smith, and Tarr find the captain dead, stabbed repeatedly by a dagger. The lone conscious "crew" member says that the real crew is "held captive ... ten kilometers outside Marseilles." Shang-Chi goes to look for Beswick, while the storm rises.

At the earlier victim's cabin, Shang-Chi finds four hooded goons trying to get the documents. He defeats three of them. The fourth escapes to the deck. Blocking her dagger attack, he pulls off her hood and finds Beswick. She attacks again. He ducks. She goes over the rail. He throws a life ring to her.

Everyone gathers around Smith on deck. He explains that the original victim is not the agent; that he is the agent; that he hid the documents in the life ring, so they are now illegible; that they were meaningless and served only as bait in a trap. Shang-Chi walks away and thinks, "In my concentration, then, I have ... missed something. The storm continues."

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Therese Beswick

First appearances: Therese Beswick

MOKF #33 — "Wicked Messenger of Madness" Master of Kung Fu #33 Cover date: October 1975  |  On sale: July 8, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Joe Sinnott Marvel Database

"You'll like her, Chi. Leiko's one of the best agents Smith's got—you and I included ... and a classier woman you won't find anywhere."

— Clive Reston

Shang-Chi, Denis Nayland Smith, and Black Tarr reach London's Victoria Station after their sea voyage. Clive Reston has a car there to pick them up. A robot walks toward Reston, begins saying, "Mis-ter-Res-ton-I-pre-sume," and fires bullets from gun barrels set in its eye sockets. Shang-Chi kicks it and Smith shoots it, both without effect. Shang-Chi, guessing that its armor is not proof against its own bullets, twists its head over so that it shoots itself. Tarr comments that it looks like a Mordillo creation, except that Mordillo is dead. He goes on to tell Shang-Chi that Mordillo was a world-class assassin and a world-class loon; he preferred to use offbeat machines.

Reston takes Shang-Chi to his new place, an apartment on King's Row. They find Leiko Wu using his bathtub. Reston strongly hints that he and Leiko were lovers; she hints just as strongly that the relationship is over. Smith calls and asks them to come to Scotland Yard. Once there, they learn that the bullets fired at Reston all have the same inscription on the base: "MY FAIR LADY." That ties Reston to agent Norris Putnam, recently killed by bullets similarly inscribed with "DED CBCD ABC BCD." Putnam's contact, Simon Bretnor, is now missing. When Leiko hears this, she slips out of the meeting. Putnam's last assignment was to protect the report from Project: Ultra-Violet, a scheme to open holes in the ozone layer at specific locations; unfiltered sunlight could kill anyone outdoors at such a location. The cryptographic team reports that, when assigned to musical notes, these letters are the refrain of "London Bridge Is Falling Down"—and Putnam was shot on Tower Bridge.

Shang-Chi and Tarr go to Tower Bridge, where Putnam may have left a clue so important that the enemy is willing to blow up the bridge to keep it hidden. They find a construction van parked on the bridge. The goons inside the van attack. After Shang-Chi and Tarr defeat them, Shang-Chi finds a bomb attached to a girder. He throws it into the Thames, where it explodes.

Reston and Smith arrive, carrying a note Reston found at Leiko's place: "If you love me at all, meet me at the usual place~~Simon." Smith says that the Project: Ultra-Violet research was shredded, but there is a copy hypnotically placed in Leiko's mind, along with a command to forget that she had it. Only Putnam had the code word to unlock the hypnosis. Between two bricks, they find Putnam's clue: a note that says, "Bretnor is Mordillo," along with the latitude and longitude of his base in the East China Sea.

At that moment, Bretnor/Mordillo and his captive, Leiko, are landing on his small island in the East China Sea ....

Allies / supporting: Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Mordillo (Simon Bretnor)

First appearances: Leiko Wu, Mordillo (Simon Bretnor)

Notes:

• Leiko Wu becomes a regular supporting cast member beginning with this issue.

MOKF #34 — "Cyclone at the Center of a Madman's Crown!" Master of Kung Fu #34 Cover date: November 1975  |  On sale: August 12, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

"Pretty tall order, boss—I better change my hat."

— Brynocki

Clive Reston pilots a rocket plane, with Shang-Chi aboard, to Mordillo's island in the East China Sea. Below, Mordillo unties the wrists of Leiko Wu, his captive. She knocks him down. Brynocki, wearing a cowboy hat, lassos her.

Without enough room for a landing strip, Reston crashes the plane into the trees. When he and Shang-Chi reach the ground, a train meets them. They find an invitation and climb aboard. In London, Black Jack Tarr confronts Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Doctor Petrie. He complains that Reston, once the lover of Leiko, has a "personal involvement" in this case and that he (Tarr) should have gone instead. Smith says, "there is far more at stake in this matter than the mere lives of three agents."

Brynocki, wearing a director's beret, shows Mordillo film of Shang-Chi destroying Carlton Velcro's operation in France (issue Vol 1 31). Mordillo says that Shang-Chi cheated him out of a million-dollar contract on Velcro, who was "an interference to the Red Chinese plans for solar warfare." At dinner that evening, Mordillo asks Leiko about Project: Ultra-Violet. She professes ignorance (since she was hypnotically programmed to forget about it). He shows her the Solar-Chute, a device that can strip away the ozone layer in a spot and focus deadly ultraviolet radiation directly from the sun onto the earth below. She still professes ignorance.

Reston and Shang-Chi reach a giant shoe. Wooden soldiers charge, bayonets at the ready. They are four in number and slow. Once Reston and Shang-Chi beat the soldiers, they reboard the train. It goes to the castle in the center of the island and begins to accelerate as it climbs. The drawbridge rises, so they have to jump and grab it while the train crashes. Once inside, they find a toy village with a box set in the middle. A Fu Manchu doll pops out of the box. Reston shoots it. A mime leads them through the village. Shang-Chi hears a stone Humpty Dumpty being pushed off a wall and pushes Reston out of its way. The mime takes them into a theater. Brynocki, wearing an usher's cap, leads them to the front row. A metal bar traps them in their seats. The curtain opens. Leiko is on the stage, trapped in the bottom of an hourglass ....

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie

Opposition: Mordillo, Brynocki, Carlton Velcro

First appearances: Brynocki

Notes:

• Beginning with this issue, Marv Wolfman took over as editor of this title and as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics.
• Denis Nayland Smith appears next in a behind-the-scenes cameo in DHOKF #16.

MOKF #35 — "Death Hand and the Sun of Mordillo" Master of Kung Fu #35 Cover date: December 1975  |  On sale: September 9, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia Marvel Database

Mordillo threatens to allow Leiko to suffocate in an hourglass unless she reveals the final secret of the Solar Chute, when one of his robots appears and fires upon him. Mordillo starts to flee, terrified, as Shang Chi frees himself. Realizing that he can’t leave until Leiko reveals the secret, Mordillo turns and fires upon the robot, before fleeing from the now free Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi allows his escape, and uses the bar that held the two of them to smash the hourglass, freeing Leiko. The robot that attacked Mordillo turns out to be Black Jack Tar, and Clive Reston goes after Mordillo, but can’t find him.

Mordillo sends Brynocki to prepare the tube to the Doom Dome as he goes to speak to the “Lady of the Tower”, who turns out to be Pavane. He sends her to fight Shang-Chi and his friends as he launches the Solar Chute. Shang-Chi jumps on board, and the two battle.

Pavane catches up to the others, just as Mordillo unleashes the Solar Chute upon the island. Their battle is forgotten as they flee for cover, and Mordillo jumps off of the platform. He falls through the Solar Chute’s beam, and is killed.

Shang-Chi crashes the Solar Chute, and he and Leiko embrace as Reston looks on. While the agents leave the island, Brynocki cradles Mordillo’s skeleton and promises not to leave him.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Brynocki, Carlton Velcro, Mordillo, Pavane

Notes:

• This is the final issue of the three-part "Mordillo" story-arc. Death of Mordillo.

MOKF #36 — "Cages of Myth, Managerie of Mirrors!" Master of Kung Fu #36 Cover date: January 1976  |  On sale: October 14, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Gil Kane, Mike Esposito Marvel Database

Shang-Chi walks through the streets of New York with Moon Sun, when they are attacked by the Warlords of the Web, who murder Sun. Shang-Chi battles the ninjas, when all signs of their battle disappear and Sun turns out to be alive. Chi follows him into his sanctuary demanding answers, and Moon Sun instructs him to introduce himself to the canvas covers around the room. Doing so, Chi meets the members of the circus, who all give him cryptic answers to his questions, until Moon Sun returns with his daughter Tiko.

Shang-Chi agrees to protect them from the Warlords of the Web, and their leader, Darkstrider. He departs with them the next morning aboard a train, as ninjas of the Warlords make their way along the top.

Opposition: Warlords of the Web

First appearances: Warlords of the Web, Moon Sun, Cinnabar, George the Angel-Hawk, Pan Sing, Rynor, Sheena, Sybilis and Snake, Tiko Sun

Notes:

• This issue was originally intended as "Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #5".

MOKF #37 — "Web of Dark Death" Master of Kung Fu #37 Cover date: February 1976  |  On sale: November 11, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Sal Trapani Cover: Rich Buckler, Mike Esposito, Frank Giacoia Marvel Database

"We are all freaks under other eyes, and life is our cage. The watching world is beautiful... The watching world is blind."

— Shang-Chi

Having embarked with Moon Sun’s circus, Shang-Chi finds himself battling the Warlords of the Web atop the train. When he defeats them, they flee by jumping off the engine into the path of the train, but he is surprised to find that there’s no evidence of their having been hit. Rejoining the others, he asks what caused Darkstrider to seek their death, receiving different answers from each of the circus members.

When they arrive at the deserted plain that is to be the circus’ next venue, the members all erect the tent, after which Rynor asks Tiko if she’d like to go for a ride (an offer that is angrily rebuffed). Shang-Chi is angered that the beautiful Tiko would act so prideful toward one she considers a “freak”, but he later discovers that the opposite is true, and that Tiko’s beautiful appearance is a rubber mask meant to hide her disfigured face.

Shang-Chi enters the big top, where a single man sits in the bleachers, and Cinnabar asks him to locate Moon Sun. He leaves the tent for a moment, realizes there’s nowhere Sun could have gone, and then re-enters to find everyone seemingly missing. Looking up, he finds the members of the circus ensnared in Darkstrider’s web, with the six-armed ninja master waiting in the middle. He fights the ninja, who insists that the members of the circus are desperate for the peace that death will provide.

Shang-Chi bests Darkstrider, when the members of the circus become the Warlords of the Web and disappear into the sky. Darkstrider chides Shang-Chi before disappearing, leading him to wonder if the ninja was also Moon Sun. He wanders into the desert, reflecting on the nature of mystery and perception.

Opposition: Darkstrider, Warlords of the Web

First appearances: Darkstrider, Warlords of the Web

MOKF #38 — "Cat" Master of Kung Fu #38 Cover date: March 1976  |  On sale: December 9, 1975 Writer: Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins, Jim Steranko Cover: Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

In Hong Kong, Shang-Chi saves a cat from being mauled by others, as he flashes back to a conversation with Sir Denis, in which he begrudgingly agrees to save a counter-agent whose cover is about to be blown. Arriving at the Jade Peacock bar, he watches a woman named Juliette sing and thinks about Leiko. After the song, Juliette approaches and informs Shang-Chi that his information is wrong: She wishes to remain in Hong Kong.

They are interrupted by a man who tells Shang-Chi to leave her alone, and accuses him of betraying his own people. The two fight, and the man is quickly beaten, before running out of the bar. Juliette takes Shang-Chi into the back, through an illegal gambling den, and into her dressing room, and explains that she has fallen in love with Shen Kuei, the man she was supposed to surveil. However, they are seen, and a gambler runs to inform Shen Kuei that she is British intelligence, as suspected.

The man Shang-Chi fought returns with other members of his gang, but they are cut short by the arrival of Shen Kuei. Kuei fights alongside Shang-Chi against the gang members, as a demonstration of his skills. Once they are routed, he turns on him, and informs Juliette that he is going to kill her for selling him out.

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Shen Kuei's spy, Hong Kong street gang, Chandar (leader)

First appearances: Cat (Shen Kuei), Juliette, Bewitchers of the Night

Notes:

• Plot by Moench and Gulacy, script by Moench.
• The title to this issue is alternately known as "The Claws of the Cat".

MOKF #39 — "Fight Without Pity" Master of Kung Fu #39 Cover date: April 1976  |  On sale: January 13, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Dan Adkins Cover: Gil Kane, Klaus Janson Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Juliette try to explain to Shen Kuei that she had not betrayed him, but Kuei will not listen. When they are interrupted by criminals from the illegal gambling den in the back of the nightclub, Shang-Chi uses the opportunity to escape with Juliette through a window. The gangsters defer to Kuei when they find out it is a personal matter.

Shang-Chi and Juliette, followed by the Siamese cat he’d saved earlier in the night, discuss her safety, and Juliette tells him that Kuei won’t actually kill her. He has a temper, but eventually he’ll calm down and see that she loves him.

In London, Leiko has a late night visit from Clive Reston, and the two embrace.

Shang-Chi and Juliette arrive at the harbor to retrieve some documents for Sir Denis, that are located on a boat a ways out from shore. However, upon boarding the boat, Shang-Chi discovers that Sir Denis has again lied, and that the documents were always the property of the Chinese government. Since the agent who explains this had already transmitted their contents, Shang-Chi rips them up without reading them and scatters them in the water.

Returning to shore, Shang-Chi is confronted by Shen Kuei, who accuses him of allowing himself to be polluted by the Western world. They fight, Kuei with a guandao, Shang-Chi with nunchaku.

As the fight ranges from the pier to the beach, they are abruptly stopped by Juliette, who threatens to stab herself with a dagger. Kuei hesitates, so she goes through with her threat; he races to her side, apologizing and saying he loves her. He gives Shang-Chi the opportunity to kill him if he so chooses.

Shang-Chi boards a plane for London, with his new pet cat.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Hong Kong gangsters

MOKF #40 — "The Murder Agency" Master of Kung Fu #40 Cover date: May 1976  |  On sale: February 10, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Paul Gulacy Cover: Gil Kane, Dan Adkins Marvel Database

Returning to London, Shang-Chi confronts Sir Denis and tells him that he quits.

Later, Black Jack Tarr comes to his flat, telling him that someone is murdering British agents. Shang-Chi eventually agrees to help, and the two head to Leiko’s apartment. Upon arriving, they find her being menaced by counter-agents, who demand to know how close they are to uncovering the mole in the agency. Their arrival allows Leiko the opportunity to break loose, and the three of them make short work of the agents.

As Tarr chases after the stragglers, Leiko explains that they attacked her because she is about to meet with “Agent-D”, a British intelligence operative under heavy cover that has been feeding them information. She tells Shang-Chi that she is being sent to collect the agent, a probable suicide mission, and that she loves him. Shang-Chi balks, saying that he’d never said he loved her, and Leiko is heartbroken.

Tarr returns after Leiko leaves, and Shang-Chi informs him that they are to “re-enlist Larner”, a former agent who blamed Leiko for the death of the woman he loved, and was ousted from the intelligence service after he left her for dead on a mission. They arrive at his home, finding him drinking with Reston, when they are attacked by masked gunmen that blow up Reston’s flat. The four men fight and repel the gunmen, and find a card on one for a company called “Oriental Expediter’s, Ltd”. They argue over the obvious set-up, but Tarr insists it’s their only lead.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, James Larner

Opposition: Oriental Expediters

First appearances: Oriental Expediters

Notes:

• Beginning with this issue, the price blurb on the cover reads, "Still only 25¢".

MOKF #41 — "Slain in Secrecy, and by Illusion" Master of Kung Fu #41 Cover date: June 1976  |  On sale: March 9, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Sal Buscema, Mike Esposito Inks: Mike Esposito Cover: Dan Adkins Marvel Database

While Black Jack Tarr heads alone to Oriental Expediters, Shang-Chi stays behind in James Larner's apartment and meditates. The issue is mostly a flashback: years earlier in Fu Manchu's fortress, Shang-Chi and his foster-brother M'Nai (Midnight) are students of Cho Lin. Priest-chef Kwan-Shu accuses M'Nai of stealing alcohol; the two boys catch Kwan-Shu himself at the cask, but Cho Lin will not believe them, and Fu Manchu never follows up. In the present Shang-Chi wonders whether the theft was a loyalty test, and leaves thinking that the mole inside Nayland Smith's organization could be anyone.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, James Larner, Black Jack Tarr

Opposition: Midnight (M'Nai), Cho Lin, Kwan Shu

First appearances: Kwan Shu

Notes:

• This issue is a flashback story from Shang-Chi's past.

MOKF #42 — "Clock of Shattered Time" Master of Kung Fu #42 Cover date: July 1976  |  On sale: April 13, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Tom Sutton Cover: Gil Kane, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

Shang-Chi tells Nayland Smith he will not be treated as a disposable agent, then goes with Tarr to Oriental Expediters. The shop is a trap. Former MI-6 man Lancaster Sneed — Shockwave, whose ruined face is plated in metal and whose exoskeleton delivers electric shocks — beats Shang-Chi nearly to death. Reston and Larner reveal that Sneed was Smith's nephew, declared unfit after an injury. A bomb destroys Smith's desk after Shang-Chi has already walked Smith out of the office. At headquarters, a policeman finds Dr. Petrie planting another bomb in Tarr's office under Shockwave's control.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Shockwave, Oriental Expediters, Skolnik, Dr. Petrie

First appearances: Melissa Greville, Shockwave

MOKF AN #1 — "The Fortress of S'ahra-Sharn!" Master of Kung Fu Annual #1 Cover date: April 1976  |  On sale: April 27, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Duffy Vohland, John Tartaglione Cover: Rich Buckler Marvel Database

Daniel Rand seeks Shang-Chi's help in locating the missing Colleen Wing only to be approached by Quan-St'ar, a resident of S'ahra-Sharn, the mirror image of Danny's homeland. Quan-St'ar lies to Danny and Shang-Chi about an army gathering to attack Danny's homeland. The two Kung Fu masters believe him and are arrested and imprisoned in S'ahra-Sharn for five days. It turns out that Quan-St'ar is the one gathering the forces for the impending attack and he wants to be sure Iron Fist does not interfere. With the help of another S'ahra-Sharn resident who does not see eye to eye with Quan-St'ar, Shang-Chi and Iron Fist escape their dungeon cell and take the fight to their foe. In order to nullify Quan-St'ar's sorcery they must battle their way to the Globe of Eternity and destroy it. After they succeed in defeating Quan-St'ar the grateful citizens return the fighters to Earth. They part as friends, Danny telling Shang-Chi that he has resolved to locate Colleen on his own.

Allies / supporting: Iron Fist (Daniel Rand)

Opposition: Quan-St'ar, Shai-Tahn

First appearances: Quan-St'ar (dies), Shai-Tahn

Notes:

• Danny Rand is in London searching for Colleen Wing, who was kidnapped in Marvel Premiere Vol 1 25. Danny arrived in London in Iron Fist Vol 1 3 and followed her on to Halwan in Iron Fist Vol 1 6; this issue must take place some time in between.
• Shou-Lao's history as a performing dragon as recounted in the flashback of this issue has most likely been effectively retconned. In later comics, this part of Shou-Lou's lore is ignored and overwritten.Avengers Vol 8 13Immortal Iron Fist Vol 1 23
• The removal of Shou-Lao's heart as recounted in the flashback of this issue results in the iconic dragon-shaped scar that is seen on the dragon's chest in future appearances.Marvel Premiere Vol 1 16DHOKF #10

MOKF #43 — "A Flash of Purple Sparks" Master of Kung Fu #43 Cover date: August 1976  |  On sale: May 11, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Jack Abel Cover: Rich Buckler Marvel Database

Shang-Chi, treated for electrical burns, flies to Switzerland to protect Leiko Wu and Agent D at Sir Herbert Griswold's estate. Shockwave's Oriental Expediters snipe the house; Griswold survives in a vest. Shang-Chi lures Shockwave through a hedge maze and beats him without touching the live armor. Leiko arrives with Agent D: Ducharme, Fu Manchu's longtime companion, now a defecting British double agent. In London, Petrie still feeds Shockwave information; a grenade wrecks Shang-Chi's flat (his cat survives). Tarr is nearly killed by the bomb in his office.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Ducharme

Opposition: Shockwave, Dr. Petrie, Fu Manchu, Oriental Expediters

First appearances: Sir Herbert Griswold

Notes:

• Last 25¢ cover price issue.

MOKF #44 — "Prelude: Golden Daggers (A Death Run)" Master of Kung Fu #44 Cover date: September 1976  |  On sale: June 8, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Jack Abel Cover: Sal Buscema, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

"I know what's been going on between you and Leiko -- but I still can't help what I feel. I've tried to turn it off, Lord knows, but this is one fire inside me that can't be doused by booze. So I guess I'm your rival, Chi -- and since you're also a friend, I owe you a warning -- I make a bad rival. I fight dirty."

— Clive Reston

Sir Herbert Griswold orders two MI6 agents to escort the injured Shock-Wave off his estate, and transport him back to London.

Elsewhere, Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu converse with Agent-D. They learn that Agent-D is actually Ducharme – a member of Fu Manchu's entourage. She has been working undercover as a mole in Fu Manchu's empire for over forty years. Ducharme tells the agents that she became a double agent at the behest of Nayland Smith in order to save the life of her lover, Pan Chen, a Si-Fan assassin who had incurred Fu Manchu's wrath.

Back at MI6, Clive Reston discovers that a Swiss named Tarrant manufactured the bomb used in the assassination attempt against Black Jack Tarr. Knowing that Tarrant operates out of Lausanne, he arranges to track him down.

While Denis and Doctor Petrie visit Black Jack in the hospital, Clive, Leiko and Shang-Chi agree to go to Switzerland to track down the Golden Daggers. Shang and Clive take Clive's Ferrari, while Leiko takes another path on her cycle. A vehicle filled with Golden Dagger agents attempts to run Clive off the road. Reston outmaneuvers them however, sending their vehicle caroming off the side of a cliff.

Other agents manage to ambush Leiko as she comes around a turn. She takes down two of them with her pistols, but the impact of a nearby grenade launcher shell renders her unconscious.

More of the assassins capture Clive and bring him inside of their safe house off Lake Geneva. Shang-Chi fights them off, saving Clive, but as he turns around, he discovers who is really leading the Golden Daggers, his sister, Fah Lo Suee.

Meanwhile back in London, Doctor Petrie reveals himself as a mind-controlled mole for Fu Manchu. He shoots Denis Nayland Smith inside of Black Jack's hospital room.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Doctor Petrie, Shock-Wave, Golden Daggers, Quann, Sarno, Bolo, Kimba

First appearances: Bolo, Kimba, Pan Chen (dies)

Notes:

• Fah Lo Suee becomes a regularly featured character with this issue.
• First and only appearance of Five and Nine, two MI6 agents.
• With this issue, the cover price raises from 25¢ per copy to 30¢ per copy.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Death-Day of the Golden Dagger!"
• The fourth letter in this issue's letters column is from Ralph Macchio.

MOKF #45 — "The Death Seed" Master of Kung Fu #45 Cover date: October 1976  |  On sale: July 13, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Pablo Marcos Cover: Gil Kane, Al Milgrom Marvel Database

Fah Lo Suee sets Bolo and Kimba of the Golden Daggers on Shang-Chi and Reston in Lausanne. In London, Petrie leaves Nayland Smith to die after shooting him and framing Shockwave; Larner interrupts. Tarrant unmasks as Griswold. Fah Lo Suee claims Fu Manchu is behind the MI-6 assassinations and offers Shang-Chi a place in her Si-Fan. Leiko escapes a truck, shoots two Expediters, and the heroes chase Fah Lo Suee's boat. Reston is dragged aboard; a shot rings out as the boat leaves Shang-Chi and Leiko behind.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Dr. Petrie, Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, The Si-Fan, Bolo, Kimba, Golden Daggers/Oriental Expediters

Notes:

• This issue is chapter one of a six-part storyline.
• This issue is narrated by Shang-Chi.

Trivia:

• When shot, Nayland Smith had a moustache and goatee. While in a coma, he is seen with only the goatee - his lower lip can be seen when Petrie prepares to murder him, so apparently he was partially shaved by the medical staff. In his following appearance in #47, Nayland Smith consistently has the moustache, but not the goatee.

MOKF #46 — "The Spider Spell" Master of Kung Fu #46 Cover date: November 1976  |  On sale: August 10, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Pablo Marcos Cover: Ron Wilson, Jack Abel Marvel Database

Reston, later interrogated by Tarr, recounts faking unconsciousness on Fah Lo Suee's boat, punching the sumo Chankar, and swimming for shore. Shang-Chi and Leiko drive around Lake Geneva; Fu Manchu's divers recover a giant oyster whose pearl hides the skull of ancestor Shaka Kharn, maker of the elixir vitae. Fah Lo Suee doses Reston with mimosa and leaves a spider tattoo on his chest. Shang-Chi finally drops Chankar. Leiko boards Fah Lo Suee's helicopter in Expediter disguise. Reston tells Tarr that the others are bound for the Arctic; Smith is in a coma.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Golden Daggers, Fu Manchu, The Si-Fan, Sumo (Chankar), Tarrant

First appearances: Shaka Kharn

Notes:

• This issue is chapter two of a six-part storyline.
• This issue is narrated by Clive Reston.
• The character of Sumo that appears in this issue is not to be confused with Sumo of the Mutant Liberation Front. Also, he is only called Sumo on the cover, in the story he is named Chankar.

MOKF #47 — "Phantom Sand" Master of Kung Fu #47 Cover date: December 1976  |  On sale: September 14, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Pablo Marcos Cover: Dave Cockrum Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Leiko ride Fah Lo Suee's Arctic flight in stolen Expediter gear, radio the newly awakened Smith, and are forced to unmask. Fu Manchu plans to resurrect Shaka Kharn as a replacement son. Reston and Larner's plane is shot down. Death Angels in jetpacks attack; Griswold is shot by Fah Lo Suee. Ducharme radios Fu Manchu, still loyal. Fah Lo Suee tells Larner that Fu Manchu means to knock the moon from orbit. Leiko offers Fah Lo Suee a place with the heroes as they wait for Tarr.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, The Si-Fan, Golden Daggers, Tarrant, Ducharme

First appearances: Ward Sarsfield

Notes:

• This issue is chapter three of a six-part storyline.
• This issue is narrated by Leiko Wu.

Trivia:

• Fu Manchu's bird in this issue is named Fleurette. This was the name of Dr. Petrie's daughter in the movie "The Bride of Fu Manchu".

MOKF #48 — "City in the Top of the World" Master of Kung Fu #48 Cover date: January 1977  |  On sale: October 12, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Pablo Marcos, Jack Abel Cover: Marie Severin, Dave Cockrum, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

Tarr parachutes into Fu Manchu's city inside an Arctic mountain, narrating over a wireless mic to Smith in London. Fu Manchu unveils the immortal Shaka Kharn and orders everyone but Shang-Chi killed. The heroes split; Shang-Chi cuts through green-uniformed Si-Fan with improvised weapons, then meets Shaka Kharn in armor, sword drawn, as the city closes around them.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, The Si-Fan, Shaka Kharn

Notes:

• Cover art: pencils by Severin, inks by Cockrum and Giacoia.http://www.romitaman.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=10250&ArtistId=968
• This issue is chapter four of a six-part storyline.
• This issue is narrated by Black Jack Tarr.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "The Bridge of a Thousand Dooms!"
• “Missives to the Master” includes a letter from Arthur Byron Cover.

MOKF #49 — "The Affair of the Agent Who Died!" Master of Kung Fu #49 Cover date: February 1977  |  On sale: November 9, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Pablo Marcos Cover: Ernie Chan Marvel Database

Reston and Leiko find Fu Manchu's moon rocket. Fu mesmerizes Tarr and drops him into a pit of giant scorpions. Shaka Kharn knocks Shang-Chi through ice into the same pit; Tarr blows a scorpion apart and they climb back. Shang-Chi and Reston hide aboard the rocket as it launches. Larner, still blaming Leiko for his girlfriend's death, delays detonating the mountain, then reconnects a cut wire as he is shot. The fortress explodes. Smith, listening in London, hears him die.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, James Larner, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, The Si-Fan, Shaka Kharn

Notes:

• This issue is chapter five of a six-part storyline.
• This issue is narrated by Denis Nayland Smith.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Shaka Kharn - the Demon Warrior!"

MOKF #50 — "The Dream Slayer!" Master of Kung Fu #50 Cover date: March 1977  |  On sale: December 7, 1976 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Paul Gulacy Inks: Mike Esposito Cover: Dave Cockrum Marvel Database

Fu Manchu's rocket docks with a station on the far side of the moon. Shang-Chi and Reston sabotage the doomsday controls. Fu Manchu argues that overpopulation and Western poisons justify flooding the Earth and preserving China. Shaka Kharn, decaying without elixir, stabs Reston, then fights Shang-Chi until Shang-Chi beheads him. Reston tosses Shang-Chi a gun; Fu Manchu's launch keys fail because of the sabotage. A shuttle sealed in plexiglass carries Fu Manchu away. Shang-Chi is left wondering if his father was right about mankind.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Ducharme, Shaka Kharn, The Si-Fan

Notes:

• This issue is chapter six of a six-part storyline.

After Gulacy

Jim Craig takes the penciling chair. Fill-ins, War-Yore, the Phoenix Gambit, and the Hong Kong crates. Mike Zeck begins to appear.

MOKF #51 — "Epilogue: Brass and Blackness (A Death Move)!" Master of Kung Fu #51 Cover date: April 1977  |  On sale: January 11, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: Pablo Marcos Cover: Paul Gulacy Marvel Database

After escaping the station in a preset shuttle, Shang-Chi and Reston return for James Larner's funeral. At Smith's office Shang-Chi, sleepless and unfed, condemns MI-6 for having been ready to nuke Asia if Fu Manchu succeeded. Oriental Expediters smash through the windows; Melissa Greville is wounded. Shang-Chi walks out on Smith. Leiko quits with him; Reston takes leave; Tarr walks too. Smith is left without his team.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, James Larner

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Shaka Kharn, Sumo, Oriental Expediters

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "To end -- To begin!"
• Pablo Marcos' name is mis-spelled as "Marcus" in this issue.

MOKF #52 — "A Night at the 1001 Nights" Master of Kung Fu #52 Cover date: May 1977  |  On sale: February 8, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Keith Pollard Inks: Keith Pollard Cover: John Romita Jr., Al Milgrom Marvel Database

An inventory flashback: after leaving Smith's service, Shang-Chi recalls a Morocco job hunting Fu Manchu rumors. Cab driver Rufus T. Hackstabber is attacked by Si-Fan; Shang-Chi helps, meets cousin Quigley J. Warmflash and daughter Dinah, and fights Tiger-Claw over a stolen elephant statue they believe holds elixir vitae. It does not. Shang-Chi leaves the farce behind.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Rufus T. Hackstabber

Opposition: Tiger-Claw, Si-Fan

First appearances: Quigley J. Warmflash, Dinah Warmflash

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Mayhem in Morocco!"

MOKF #53 — "Weapon of the Soul" Master of Kung Fu #53 Cover date: June 1977  |  On sale: March 8, 1977 Marvel Database

Reprint. This issue reprints MOKF #20, "Weapon of the Soul." It should be chronologically and sequentially ignored. See the entry for MOKF #20.

MOKF #54 — "The Story of War-Yore!" Master of Kung Fu #54 Cover date: July 1977  |  On sale: April 12, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Jim Starlin Marvel Database

Leiko is putting Shang-Chi up on her couch. Reston is attacked in his flat by War-Yore (Eric Slaughter), an experimental MI-6 asset who assumes historical warrior identities — here a high-tech Robin Hood. Outside the hospital, Shang-Chi and Leiko are attacked by War-Yore as Attila; Leiko is gassed and abducted. Shang-Chi falls into the Thames saving a bystander. He, Tarr, and Reston compare notes and realize someone in or above MI-6 wants the former agents dead.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: War-Yore (Eric Slaughter)

First appearances: War-Yore (Eric Slaughter)

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Death Wears Three Faces!"

MOKF #55 — "The Ages of Death!" Master of Kung Fu #55 Cover date: August 1977  |  On sale: May 10, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Jim Mooney Cover: Paul Gulacy Marvel Database

A fill-in: Shang-Chi, soaking at the Savoy, is attacked by men sent by childhood friend Han Sung. Flashbacks show Han Sung taking young Shang-Chi to watch Fu Manchu drink elixir vitae. Now aged by Fu Manchu's resurrection experiments, Han Sung has stolen serum to restore himself and is hunting his daughter in London. Shang-Chi warns that the dose is lethal; Han Sung drinks on a bridge and dies. Mike Zeck pencils the issue.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Ducharme

First appearances: Han Sung (dies)

MOKF #56 — "Of Heroes Past and Battles Present" Master of Kung Fu #56 Cover date: September 1977  |  On sale: June 7, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Ron Wilson, Mike Esposito Marvel Database

War-Yore holds Leiko in a dungeon, cycling from Saint George to ninja. He bombs Tarr's Savoy suite; Shang-Chi beats him, then he escapes. The trio decide to break into MI-6 for his file. War-Yore, as the Red Baron, strafes their car in a triplane as they stake out Whitechapel. One of War-Yore's men finds Leiko alive and reports that she was supposed to have been killed.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Black Ninja

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Death is the Black Ninja!"

MOKF #57 — "Call it Thunder!" Master of Kung Fu #57 Cover date: October 1977  |  On sale: July 12, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Dave Cockrum, Ernie Chan Marvel Database

Shang-Chi jumps the Red Baron plane from a lamppost and crashes it; War-Yore vanishes. The heroes cut into MI-6's hidden war room, confirm War-Yore is an MI-6 asset, and race to his Surrey castle. Leiko escapes her cage and is trapped in a tower; she jumps to a rampart as Shang-Chi and Reston come under fire. War-Yore rides out as Saint George. Nayland Smith's helicopter lands in the courtyard.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: The Red Baron

Notes:

• This is the last issue of the series to carry a 30¢ cover price. Beginning next issue, the price raises to 35¢ per copy.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Rage of the Red Baron!"
• The registry number indicated on the side of the Red Baron's plane on the cover to this issue reads "DC-EC". These are the initials of cover artists Dave Cockrum and Ernie Chan.

MOKF #58 — "The Final Faces" Master of Kung Fu #58 Cover date: November 1977  |  On sale: August 10, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Dave Cockrum, Frank Giacoia Marvel Database

Smith did not order the hits; gunmen claim orders from above him. In the chaos War-Yore grabs Leiko. She almost talks him back to himself; Shang-Chi's attack snaps the spell. Reston shoots War-Yore dead. Leiko condemns both men for killing someone she might have saved, tells Shang-Chi she is not 'his woman,' and walks out. Smith is left on his knees as Tarr leads him away.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: War-Yore (Eric Slaughter)

Notes:

• With this issue, the cover price raises to 35¢ per copy.
• War-Yore first appeared in Master of Kung Fu #54 and returned in most of the intervening issues, using a variety of names and guises.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Behold the Final Mask!"

MOKF #59 — "The Phoenix Gambit Part I: The Temples of Time" Master of Kung Fu #59 Cover date: December 1977  |  On sale: September 13, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: John Tartag Cover: Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi Marvel Database

Shang-Chi suffers visions of an ice-covered Earth, metallic pyramids, resurrected Razor-Fist, and a hippie 'Amar-Tu,' then wakes into real attacks: a cab in London, Pavane as a robot, Reston as a masked robot. Prime-Mover and Doctor Doom are playing a cosmic chess game with Shang-Chi's allies and old enemies as pieces. Reston, drugged, was one of the players' tools.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Razor-Fist robot, Pavane robot, Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom)

Notes:

• Cohen credited as Jan Cohen.

MOKF #60 — "The Phoenix Gambit, Part II: End Game" Master of Kung Fu #60 Cover date: January 1978  |  On sale: October 11, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Ernie Chan Marvel Database

"It is time to clear the board of unfinished gambits, and put the remaining pieces... away. [...] You see, my sense of fair play extends only to the limits of the match -- and now that the game has concluded, I have no qualms whatsoever about multiplying the odds... in my favor."

— Doctor Doom

Reston flies a drugged Shang-Chi to a fake Castle Doom in Sussex. Robot doubles of Shaka Kharn, Shockwave, and others attack. Doom gloats that Shang-Chi has killed the real Shadow-Stalker, then is himself revealed as a robot. Prime-Mover shorts out with Reston inside; they fall into the Thames. In hospital a nurse delivers a laughing Doom chess set. Elsewhere the real Doom and Prime-Mover claim Doom won.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom), The Prime Mover

Notes:

• Pavane and Razorfist appear as chessboard simulacrums only in this issue.

MOKF #61 — "Glass Orchids" Master of Kung Fu #61 Cover date: February 1978  |  On sale: November 8, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Jim Craig, Sal Trapani Marvel Database

Back in London continuity after the Doom fill-in, Shang-Chi broods at the Savoy. Skull-Crusher, a hired killer with a ball-and-chain, attacks him in an alley to stop him leaving the city. Melissa Greville leaves hospital; Reston takes her home. They open a letter from Hong Kong: Juliette, cryptic and unhappy, is calling Shang-Chi back. Skull-Crusher flees when Reston's car arrives.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Skull-Crusher

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Savage is the Skull Crusher!"

MOKF #62 — "Red Seas" Master of Kung Fu #62 Cover date: March 1978  |  On sale: December 13, 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: John Tartaglione Cover: Jim Craig, Tony DeZuniga Marvel Database

Shang-Chi returns to Hong Kong's Jade Peacock. Juliette no longer sings there. A crate marked X explodes and kills the owner. Shang-Chi rides a sampan fight to the man in the robe overseeing the shipment: it is Juliette, hijacking Shen Kuei's cargo. Shen Kuei, now tied to Communist China, wants Shang-Chi framed for the murder and killed by others so his honor stays clean. Reston and Melissa fly to Hong Kong. In London, Smith sends Tarr undercover against smuggler Kogar.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Skull-Crusher (Chao Sima)

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Coast of Death!"

MOKF #63 — "Hiding Cats" Master of Kung Fu #63 Cover date: April 1978  |  On sale: January 10, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: Jim Craig Cover: Gil Kane, Terry Austin Marvel Database

Juliette says Shen Kuei has a new lover and that she is stealing from him. Tarr, alias Black Jack Blue, is knocked out and taken into Kogar's high-tech cave city behind a waterfall. At Juliette's riverside house Shang-Chi knocks out Skull-Crusher, then finds Pavane — Shen Kuei's new woman — in the rafters with her panther. Reston and Melissa are arrested by Hong Kong police who know too much about them.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Juliette

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Pavane, Skull-Crusher, Kogar, Mara

First appearances: Kogar, Mara

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Doom Wears Three Faces!"

MOKF #64 — "Deadly Lesson: Like Father... Like Son?" Master of Kung Fu #64 Cover date: May 1978  |  On sale: February 7, 1978 Writer: Scott Edelman Artist: Mike Zeck Cover: Paul Gulacy Marvel Database

Scott Edelman fill-in: in New York Shang-Chi meets Shoh Teng, a boyhood classmate he thought dead. A flashback shows Fu Manchu using Shoh Teng to lure Shang-Chi into a fight with Death-Dragon, then killing Death-Dragon himself to prove only a father can be trusted. In the present Shoh Teng still serves the Si-Fan; after failing to kill Shang-Chi he throws himself on the third rail shouting Fu Manchu's name.

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Shoh Teng

First appearances: Shoh Teng (dies), Death-Dragon (dies)

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "To Challenge a Dragon!"
• This is one of the few issues of the series not written by Doug Moench.

MOKF #65 — "Black Knights" Master of Kung Fu #65 Cover date: June 1978  |  On sale: March 14, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig Inks: Ricardo Villamonte, John Tartaglione Cover: Ernie Chan Marvel Database

Skull-Crusher and Pavane double-team Shang-Chi; he knocks Pavane out and Skull-Crusher retreats. Juliette says she was working for Kogar against Shen Kuei and was herself betrayed; she does not know what is in the crates. Reston and Melissa jump from a fake police car. Leiko arrives in Hong Kong and reads MI-6 files. Pavane escapes; Shang-Chi fights her and her panther. Kogar bursts in with Tarr still undercover. Shang-Chi realizes Smith wants the crates too.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Juliette

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Pavane, Skull-Crusher, Mara, Kogar

Notes:

• This is the first issue of the series with James Shooter as Editor-in-Chief.

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "At the Mercy of Pavane!"

The Zeck Years

Mike Zeck becomes the regular penciler. Nightimes. Brynocki. The Warriors of the Golden Dawn. The New York gang two-parter. Gene Day inks, then finishes over Zeck's breakdowns.

MOKF #66 — "Two Rivers" Master of Kung Fu #66 Cover date: July 1978  |  On sale: April 11, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Jim Craig, Mike Zeck Inks: M. Hands, Ricardo Villamonte, John Tartaglione, Pablo Marcos Cover: Dave Cockrum Marvel Database

Kogar fights Shang-Chi with a prosthetic blade and energy corkscrew. Juliette's remaining men die as she and Shang-Chi flee on the sampan. Shen Kuei finds the leftover crate: hashish bricks hiding microdots. Juliette kisses Shang-Chi; he thinks of Leiko. Leiko swims into Kogar's grotto to infiltrate. Reston and Melissa evade fake cops toward the MI-6 office.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Juliette

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Pavane, Kogar

Notes:

• Letters: page 1 by Saladino (uncredited).
• Pencils: last 5 pages by Zeck.http://www.mikezeck.com/pages/checklist/marvel/marvel3/masterkungfu/masterofkungfu.html

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Showdown With Kogar!"

MOKF #67 — "Dark Encounters" Master of Kung Fu #67 Cover date: August 1978  |  On sale: May 9, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Fred Kida Cover: Paul Gulacy Marvel Database

Shang-Chi grenades Kogar's pursuit boat. Leiko rides the monorail inside the cave city. Kogar confirms the microdots assemble plans for a neutron bomb. Reston and Melissa shoot their way in. Shang-Chi, after a beach interlude with Juliette, offers to join Kogar and is taken prisoner. Lights fail when Leiko shoots a generator. Tarr is still at Kogar's side when Shang-Chi is dragged in.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Juliette

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Skull-Crusher, Kogar

MOKF #68 — "Final Combats!" Master of Kung Fu #68 Cover date: September 1978  |  On sale: June 27, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce D. Patterson Marvel Database

Kogar orders Tarr to kill Shang-Chi as a loyalty test. Shen Kuei challenges Kogar to trial by combat; Shang-Chi is forced to fight Cat with double-headed mace staffs. Juliette offers the hashish crates for Shang-Chi's life. Tarr blows his cover. Shang-Chi and Shen Kuei destroy the bomb plans and much of the base with grenades, then part. Shang-Chi takes Juliette home; Leiko weeps as Tarr waits until morning.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Juliette

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Kogar

Trivia:

• With this issue, the cover blurb reads, "Still only 35¢!"

MOKF #69 — "Stairway to Rage!" Master of Kung Fu #69 Cover date: October 1978  |  On sale: July 25, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: John Tartag Marvel Database

Weeks later Shang-Chi approaches Po Lin Monastery. Juliette told him Skull-Crusher would test him there after striking her with his chain. Shang-Chi passes three warrior tests, then fights Skull-Crusher intending to kill him for hurting Juliette. She stops the beating: she is with Skull-Crusher; he hit her because he saw them kiss. Shang-Chi walks out and returns the temple to the priests.

Allies / supporting: Juliette

Opposition: Skull-Crusher

MOKF #70 — "Home to Die" Master of Kung Fu #70 Cover date: November 1978  |  On sale: August 22, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Pat Broderick Inks: John Tartag Marvel Database

Tarr takes Shang-Chi to the New York 'Murder Mansion' a week early: a note from Anna, a lover missing thirty years, asked him to meet. The house seals and Black Demon Sect terrorists — and Anna, who now leads them — try to kill them. The Chinese defector Dr. Chow is a CIA fake. Tarr accidentally shoots Anna; she says he never had time for her. He throws her locket in the water and they go home.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr

Opposition: Black Demon Sect

First appearances: Black Demon Sect

MOKF #71 — "Nightimes" Master of Kung Fu #71 Cover date: December 1978  |  On sale: September 26, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce D. Patterson Marvel Database

A month after Hong Kong, Shang-Chi and Leiko have a quiet London life: pizza, Fleetwood Mac, sparring at a thinning kung fu school, Close Encounters, a carriage ride. He wonders if he chose her because she is familiar. The evening ends when a battered Nayland Smith collapses in their doorway: he has resigned from MI-6, sick of its corruption.

Allies / supporting: Leiko Wu, Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Skull-Crusher, Pavane, Kogar, Cat (Shen Kuei)

MOKF #72 — "Traitors to the Crown" Master of Kung Fu #72 Cover date: January 1979  |  On sale: October 24, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce D. Patterson Marvel Database

Smith says his attacker was Shockwave, now an MI-6 deniable asset. Shockwave beats Reston in the street; Shang-Chi fights him with insulated wood while Leiko fires from above. Shockwave flees. Tarr, warned by phone, is gassed and kidnapped by Brynocki, Mordillo's surviving robot.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, James Larner

Opposition: Shockwave (Lancaster Sneed), Brynocki

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Suddenly... Shockwave!"

MOKF #73 — "Prisoners of the Crown" Master of Kung Fu #73 Cover date: February 1979  |  On sale: November 21, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce Patterson Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Leiko parachute onto Mordillo's mutated island to rescue Tarr. Shockwave and Brynocki bring Tarr to a skull fortress. Reston hides Smith and Melissa at his great-uncle's Scottish estate; masked figures abduct Melissa. Shang-Chi and Leiko destroy ogre robots as a dragonfly craft lifts off with Shockwave and Brynocki.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Brynocki, Shockwave (Lancaster Sneed)

MOKF #74 — "Brynocki Triumphant" Master of Kung Fu #74 Cover date: March 1979  |  On sale: December 19, 1978 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce Patterson Cover: Mike Zeck, Terry Austin Marvel Database

Tarr shoots down the dragonfly with a 'Cannon Zapper.' Shockwave, half-reprogrammed by MI-6, helps fight Brynocki's robots, then overloads a generator to clear a path. In Scotland, Ward Sarsfield holds Smith, Reston, and Greville for Project: Sinking Ship — purging 'rats' from MI-6. The heroes dive off the island and find Brynocki waiting with a sea-monster robot.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Brynocki, Shockwave (Lancaster Sneed)

MOKF #75 — "Shattered Crowns" Master of Kung Fu #75 Cover date: April 1979  |  On sale: January 23, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Bruce Patterson Cover: Mike Zeck, Rudy Nebres Marvel Database

Shang-Chi wrecks the sea monster and records Shockwave's confession of MI-6 brainwashing on a robot voice box. They take Shockwave's seaplane after collapsing a pass on the remaining robots. Brynocki apologizes to Mordillo's skeleton. Shang-Chi asks how to fix Shockwave and stay alive; Tarr says only the Prime Minister could help, and would not believe them.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Brynocki, Shockwave (Lancaster Sneed)

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Where Monsters Dwell!" Where Monsters Dwell is also the name of a Marvel Comics horror reprint series published from 1970-1975.

MOKF #76 — "Smoke, Beads and Blood!" Master of Kung Fu #76 Cover date: May 1979  |  On sale: February 20, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Joe Rubinstein Marvel Database

"My very name speaks of higher truths, higher goals. That is my identity. How can I deny it? How can I resent it?"

— Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi (Earth-616) meets with an old Chinese wise man in London's Limehouse District. He tells him that his spirit has been ill at ease, and that he is striving to define his purpose in life. After discussing the situation at length, the old man leads Shang into a rear parlor. There, he finds a second man who produces a gun and orders Shang-Chi out into the alley. Shang is disheartened to discover that the old man has sold him out.

Outside on the docks, several rough-looking individuals surround Shang, ready to take him down. Shang-Chi kicks up a rock to distract the thugs, before launching into them with a flurry of blows. He quickly defeats them all and interrogates one of the fallen adversaries. The man reveals that they are employed by someone named Zaran.

In Scotland, Jack Tarr conducts surveillance outside of an ancient estate. This is the last known appearance of Denis Nayland Smith. Jack suspects that something terrible has happened and prepares to contact Shang-Chi.

Back in London, Shang-Chi goes to Leiko Wu's apartment. He asks her about a night that they recently shared together, and wonders if what he remembered was real, or just some fanciful vision. Leiko grows very concerned for Shang-Chi's emotional state and tries to console him. As they talk, Shang receives Black Jack's telephone call.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Zaran the Weapon Master (Maximillian Zaran)

Notes:

• A follow-up storyline to this issue is revealed in MOKF #101.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Battle on the Waterfront!"

MOKF #77 — "Weapons" Master of Kung Fu #77 Cover date: June 1979  |  On sale: March 27, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod Marvel Database

"Come now, Shang. By now you should be wise to the rules of our 'Games of Deceit and Death'."

— Leiko Wu

Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu discuss an incriminating audio tape, which proves that MI-6 ordered their execution. They intend on delivering the tape to the Ministry of Defense in the hopes of exposing the corruption inherent in MI-6. Leiko secures the tape in her boot pocket and prepares to meet Sir Denis in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Black Jack Tarr sneaks into Stormhaven Castle where he finds Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Melissa Greville and Clive Reston unconscious at a dining room table. Suddenly, two of Mordillo's robot assassins descend the staircase and attack him.

Meanwhile, Shang and Leiko are driving through the Scottish hills when their vehicle is overtaken by a large truck at an overpass. A mercenary named Zaran the Weapons Master exits the vehicle demanding the tape. Leiko throws the tape to Shang, and then attacks Zaran's men. Zaran intercepts the tape by hurling one of his sai, and the tape flies over the bridge onto a train. Shang-Chi and Zaran both leap on top of the train where they begin fighting one another. Leiko attempts to follow the train's path in her car. Zaran throws a blade at the car, puncturing the tire. Leiko's car tumbles off the road, and Shang-Chi rushes to her aid. Zaran collects the tape and makes his escape.

Meanwhile back at Stormhaven Castle, Ward Sarsfield enters the room shortly after Black Jack disposes of the robots. He pulls a gun on Black Jack and announces that he intends on killing anyone associated with him including Shang-Chi.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Shockwave, Zaran

Notes:

• This issue introduces the character of Zaran, the Weapons Master. Zaran made a behind-the-scenes appearance in issue #76, and appears again in Master of Kung Fu #78.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Blood on the Tracks!"
• The letters column for this issue includes a letter by Kurt Busiek.

MOKF #78 — "Tread the Night Softly" Master of Kung Fu #78 Cover date: July 1979  |  On sale: April 24, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Al Gordon Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Leiko go to Scotland with Shockwave's tape. Mercenary Zaran ambushes them on a bridge, demanding the tape; it falls onto a passing train. Zaran takes it and Leiko crashes. Tarr sneaks into the castle, finds Smith and the others bound, and is shot. Sarsfield reveals himself, obsessed with a living Fu Manchu.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Zaran

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Moving Targets!"

MOKF #79 — "To Sleep... This Side of Death" Master of Kung Fu #79 Cover date: August 1979  |  On sale: May 22, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi leaves injured Leiko at a pub, swims to Zaran's lodge, and fights him through a room of weapons. Zaran flees; Shang-Chi recovers the tape from a moose head's glass eye. A woman left the lodge unseen. Zaran stabs Sarsfield, saying he has a new employer, and holds a knife to Tarr's throat as Shang-Chi and Leiko reach the castle.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Zaran

MOKF #80 — "The Pride of Leopards" Master of Kung Fu #80 Cover date: September 1979  |  On sale: June 26, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Exhausted Shang-Chi and concussed Leiko freeze at the sight of Zaran. Tarr clocks him; Leiko is hit by a deflected blade. Zaran collapses the ceiling and escapes. Smith's men, with Sarsfield dead, take Smith's orders. Smith plays the tape: Shockwave's confession has been overwritten. Shang-Chi recognizes the new voice — Fah Lo Suee.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Maru, Leopard-Cult

First appearances: Maru, Lyman Leeks

MOKF #81 — "Breathless" Master of Kung Fu #81 Cover date: October 1979  |  On sale: July 24, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Marie Severin, Gene Day Marvel Database

The team debates whether Fah Lo Suee is with MI-6. Smith's South America contact Lyman Leeks is stabbed at Victoria Station during a coded meet; leopard-cult killers and a drive-by hit the group. Fu Manchu, in shadow, has two leopard fighters killed for failing. A fake Leeks dies; the riddle he gasped is only half the puzzle.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: MI-sixers, Fu Manchu, Si-Fan, Leopard-Cult

Notes:

• Origianl cover art by Zeck was rejected, and Severin pencilled this new cover.mikezeck.com

MOKF #82 — "Like a God, Weeping Fire" Master of Kung Fu #82 Cover date: November 1979  |  On sale: August 28, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Smith decodes Leeks's riddle as a 1933 Petrie/Karamaneh mission pointing to a London museum peacock. The real Leeks turns up alive; the corpse was an impostor. Leopard cultists steal the packet at dawn: it is a taunt from Fah Lo Suee. Melissa is chased from the castle after Smith is kidnapped. Leeks later describes Fu Manchu's South American fortress and leopard cult, built after a 'comet' — Fu Manchu's surviving station — hit a lagoon.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Lyman Leeks

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Leopard Cultists

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Flight into Fear!"

MOKF #83 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 1: The Phoenix and the Snake" Master of Kung Fu #83 Cover date: December 1979  |  On sale: September 25, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Fu Manchu proclaims the Order of the Golden Dawn, soaks in elixir, and has visions of conquest and of his infant son. Fah Lo Suee brings Zaran to join. Blindfolded Smith is led to Karamaneh — Petrie's wife, young again on elixir — who commands leopard cultists. Fu Manchu works alchemy over a ziggurat pool; glowing lights rise. UN abductees are wired for mind control.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Lyman Leeks

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Order of the Golden Dawn, The Si-Fan, Twenty-Third Sect, Leopard Cult, Phansigars, Thugees, Knights Templar, Hashishin

First appearances: Order of the Golden Dawn, Twenty-Third Sect, Left-Hand Path, Three-Cornered Sight, Light-Seekers

Notes:

• Sean is credited as Benjamin Sean.
• Fu Manchu appeared last in MOKF #81.

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "The Return of Fu Manchu!"

MOKF #84 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 2: The Bull and the Dragon" Master of Kung Fu #84 Cover date: January 1980  |  On sale: October 23, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Tarr hunt Fu Manchu in South America; Reston and Leiko go to Casablanca after a telegram. They find a convoy of electrode-wearing captives. Karamaneh, in Casablanca with Smith, says Fu Manchu's implants control her except when a secret ally frees her. Shang-Chi and Tarr are pinned on an alligator riverbank by cultists after Tarr kills a sentry.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Lyman Leeks

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Order of the Golden Dawn, The Si-Fan, Leopard Cult, Zaran

MOKF #85 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 3: The Ram and the Dove" Master of Kung Fu #85 Cover date: February 1980  |  On sale: November 27, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Tarr escape the river and find Fu Manchu's jungle compound empty — a trap. In Casablanca, Karamaneh stages Smith's 'rescue'; Reston takes them to a cafe run by 'Richard,' a Rick analogue. Shang-Chi falls through a trapdoor toward his father. Leiko tells Reston their kiss is for old times. Tarr finds rooms of Fu Manchu's new 'zombies.'

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Richard

Opposition: Order of the Golden Dawn, Celestial Order of the Si-Fan, Leopard Cult, Phansigars, Thugees, Knights Templar, Hashishin, Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu

First appearances: Richard

MOKF #86 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 4: The Phoenix and the Dragon" Master of Kung Fu #86 Cover date: March 1980  |  On sale: December 25, 1979 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi denounces Fu Manchu, who only cares that his electrode network will sabotage the world. Tarr shoots the control machine, then is dosed by Fah Lo Suee's smoke and sees visions. Fu Manchu was a hologram; a light-ship leaves the volcano. Shang-Chi and Tarr ride a rising light out, steal a vehicle, and vow to reach Casablanca. Fu Manchu is bound for New York.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Richard

Opposition: Order of the Golden Dawn, Celestial Order of the Si-Fan, Leopard Cult, Phansigars, Thugees, Knights Templar, Hashishin, Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Zaran

MOKF #87 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 5: The Chrysalis and the Peacock" Master of Kung Fu #87 Cover date: April 1980  |  On sale: January 22, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Joe Rubinstein Marvel Database

In Casablanca Leiko confesses she kissed Reston; Shang-Chi decks Reston for lying about it, then wrecks Zaran in a street fight. Fah Lo Suee stops the brawl: she is cutting a deal with the next MI-6 leadership, erased Shockwave's tape, and helped Smith escape. She wants a joint strike on Fu Manchu in New York. Smith refuses to trust her. Shang-Chi is gutted by Leiko's betrayal.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Richard

Opposition: Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Zaran, Thugees

MOKF #88 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 6: The Leopard and the Dove" Master of Kung Fu #88 Cover date: May 1980  |  On sale: February 26, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

As the New Jersey oil refineries exploded, Fu Manchu planned to use a nuclear device to destroy New York from below and blame the Soviets in order to start World War III. Shang-Chi and his companions met with Fah Lo Suee at Pier 23, where she claimed that her father told her to meet him, but she was injured when her father set up a trap in retaliation for deceiving him. Clive went to take her to a hospital, while Nayland Smith and Black Jack attempted to dismantle the device and while Shang-Chi searched for his father with Leiko while going up the World Trade Center, although they only fought Maru before Fu Manchu exposed them to gas and showed himself to them.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Order of the Golden Dawn, Celestial Order of the Si-Fan, Phansigars, Thugees, Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu, Zaran, Maru

MOKF #89 — "Warriors of the Golden Dawn Part 7: The Dragons" Master of Kung Fu #89 Cover date: June 1980  |  On sale: March 25, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi caught up to his father's UFO and caused it to crash, while Tarr and Smith disarmed the bomb. He fought monsters before he fought his father in another craft, then smashed its controls and fled before it exploded, seemingly killing his father.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Order of the Golden Dawn, Fu Manchu, Zaran, Leopard Cult, The Si-Fan, Maru, MI-6, Fah Lo Suee

Notes:

• Fu Manchu appears next (behind the scenes) in MOKF #115.

MOKF #90 — "Triumphs of the Flesh" Master of Kung Fu #90 Cover date: July 1980  |  On sale: April 22, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Leiko stay with her brother David, a Hong Kong cultural attaché in New York. Chinatown is at war: American-born Joy Boys versus Golden Claws. Shang-Chi, wandering at night, is jumped, then asked to lead the Joy Boys after their leader was killed. He is reluctant; Chen, a Joy Boy, already hates the outsider.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Joy Boys

First appearances: Joy Boys, David Wu

Trivia:

• Gene Day fills various walls with the names of numerous creators in the same fashion initiated by Terry Austin in X-Men. (From GCD)

MOKF #91 — "Triumphs of the Spirit" Master of Kung Fu #91 Cover date: August 1980  |  On sale: May 27, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Chen sends Shang-Chi on a gun-shop robbery, then ambushes him and flags the police. Shang-Chi spends the night in a cell; Leiko and David get the charges dropped through Smith. At a park standoff Shang-Chi preaches peace; Leiko says both gangs are being used by drug lords. Chen fires; Shang-Chi takes the bullet to save a Golden Claw leader. The gangs listen and walk away. Chen is left raging.

Allies / supporting: Leiko Wu

Opposition: Joy Boys, Golden Claws

First appearances: Golden Claws

Trivia:

• The tagline to this issue is "Gang War!"

MOKF #92 — "Shadows of a Silent Past" Master of Kung Fu #92 Cover date: September 1980  |  On sale: June 24, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

A 'monster' terrorizes a Chinatown shop. Shang-Chi and Leiko follow it into tunnels and an empty building. A Si-Fan 'dweller in darkness,' planted years ago by Fu Manchu, sets the stairs on fire. The monster is an ape. It turns on its master. Shang-Chi and Leiko escape; the grandmother prefers her legend to the facts.

Allies / supporting: Leiko Wu, David Wu

Opposition: Si-Fan, Dweller in Darkness

First appearances: Dweller in Darkness (dies)

Notes:

• With this issue, the cover price raises from 40¢ per copy to 50¢ per copy.

MOKF #93 — "Midnight Wind" Master of Kung Fu #93 Cover date: October 1980  |  On sale: July 22, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

"Aw, for pity's sake, Chinaman -- can't you do nothin' without questionin' every step of the way?"

— Black Jack Tarr

Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu are in a bookshop in Chinatown. Leiko takes an interest in a Chinese book of Fables called the "Midnight Wind" and purchases it. They return to her brother’s place at the embassy.

When they arrive, they discover that Black Jack Tarr has come all the way from London to visit them. Although he is glad to see them both, he also informs them that Melissa Greville's sister, Mandy, has been kidnapped. The perpetrators are a global cult known as the Dawning Light. Jack suspects that the Dawning Light is actually a front for a weapons smuggling operation between West Germany and Britain. Shang-Chi and Leiko agree to help him search for Mandy Greville.

As they leave the embassy, a car full of armed thugs attacks them. Shang-Chi provides a distraction, enabling Jack time to get to his rented car. They speed off towards Long Island, the last known whereabouts of Ms. Granville.

They pull up to a veritable mansion owned by the alleged cult leader, Samisdat. Shang and Leiko drop down on top of two guards, knocking them unconscious. They grab two cloaks and sneak into the ceremony room. They are surprised to discover that not only is Mandy a part of the cult, but she is actually leading them in service. Jack is convinced that she's been brainwashed.

Before long, their cover is blown and the heroes are forced fight up against the cultists. Black Jack grabs Mandy and leaps out a window, leaving Shang and Leiko alone to deal with the others. The two martial artists kick their way through a throng of angry cultists and meet up with Jack and Mandy outside. Mandy is still under Samisdat's thrall, and promises that she will kill each and every one of them.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Samisdat, Dawning Light

Notes:

• This issue is the first chapter of a three-part storyline.

MOKF #94 — "Agent Syn's Nightmare" Master of Kung Fu #94 Cover date: November 1980  |  On sale: August 26, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Smith has founded Freelance Restorations at Stormhaven Castle. KGB-enhanced Agent Syn (Samisdat) is trained to kill Smith's people, especially Shang-Chi. Mandy Greville, Melissa's sister, tries to stab Tarr; Shang-Chi fights Syn in the garden and pool. Reston shoots Syn into the water. Mandy snaps out of the cult. The issue includes Stormhaven floorplans and Fu Manchu's China fortress.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Dawning Light, Agent Syn

First appearances: Dawning Light, Agent Syn

MOKF #95 — "The Samisdat Secret!" Master of Kung Fu #95 Cover date: December 1980  |  On sale: September 23, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Leiko infiltrate a Dawning Light liner to Samisdat Island. Samisdat plans a satellite to kill spy satellites; he has five Agent Syn variants. Unmasked, the heroes fight while Reston sabotages the rocket. Leiko shows cultists they are being used. Samisdat's launch destroys his own mansion. Caribbean authorities round up the flock.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Dawning Light, Agent Syn, Agent Syn's agents, Samisdat

Notes:

• First appearance of Freelance Restorations.

MOKF #96 — "Carter's Super Midnight" Master of Kung Fu #96 Cover date: January 1981  |  On sale: October 28, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, John Beatty Marvel Database

At a London karate title fight, one-eyed champion Carter asks Shang-Chi and Leiko to stop gangsters shaking down his antique shop. The theft of a 'red book,' a fight with giant Oryx on the docks, and planted tickets are a CIA/French/Yugoslav sting to make Shang-Chi stop Samisdat remnants without asking him to spy. Carter, stabbed, says he will go freelance. Mandy plans a school for the blind at Stormhaven.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Mandy Greville

Opposition: Oryx (Jeremiah Winston)

First appearances: One-Eye Carter

MOKF #97 — "Lost Art" Master of Kung Fu #97 Cover date: February 1981  |  On sale: November 25, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Nayland Smith throws a party to show a new Surrealist painting. Caterers run a 'dessert train' that disgorges masked art thieves. Shang-Chi and Leiko take them apart; Major Pendleton Asquith, who recommended the caterers and sneered at Shang-Chi, is the ringleader. Shang-Chi stays inward, still arguing with himself about violence and balance.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Razor-Fist, M'Nai, Oriental Expediters, Fu Manchu, Bucher, Zaran

First appearances: Pendleton Asquith

Notes:

• Shang-Chi compares the controlled nature of his early fights against Razor-Fist (MOKF #30), M'Nai (SME #16), the Oriental Expediters (MOKF #40) and Bucher (MOKF #24) to the anger of his recent altercations with Zaran (MOKF #79), Clive Reston (MOKF #87) and Fu Manchu (MOKF #89).

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Games of Death and Deceit!"

MOKF #98 — "The Journey as Goal" Master of Kung Fu #98 Cover date: March 1981  |  On sale: December 23, 1980 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Hong Kong fighter Shadow-Slasher comes to London to challenge Shang-Chi, using Leiko's address and a blind child, Christine Markham, as bait. They fight through streets, a historical reenactment (a cannon deafens Shang-Chi), and finally Stormhaven's driveway. Shang-Chi hits him with a tire iron and has to drive the unconscious man back to London.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Mandy Greville, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Shadow Slasher

First appearances: Shadow Slasher

Notes:

• If Clive Reston's father is James Bond - as Reston has implied many times - then there is a James Bond appearance in this issue. However, it has not been confirmed that Bond is indeed Reston's father - it is also possible that was a longstanding joke on Reston's part.

MOKF #99 — "Bitter Harvest" Master of Kung Fu #99 Cover date: April 1981  |  On sale: January 20, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day Cover: Mike Zeck, Gene Day Marvel Database

Shot CIA man Rufus 'One-Eyed' Carter staggers into Stormhaven: a Libyan plot and an inside CIA leak, Nicholas Blair, mean to blow an Israeli weapons ship in Aberdeen harbor. Shang-Chi helps stop Blair aboard the freighter and turns the ship so the explosion is offshore. In London, Leiko hears of Whitechapel murders echoing Jack the Ripper and gears up to hunt.

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Nicholas Blair

First appearances: Nicholas Blair

Gene Day — and the War with Fu Manchu Ends

The double-sized #100 splits the art. Day holds the job from #102. The long war with Fu Manchu is resolved in #118. Day's last issue is #120.

MOKF #100 — "Red of Fang and Claw, All Love Lost" Master of Kung Fu #100 Cover date: May 1981  |  On sale: February 24, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day, Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day, Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Bob McLeod Cover: Mike Zeck Marvel Database

Double-sized anniversary in three eras. 1932: Nayland Smith hides in a sarcophagus to betray Fu Manchu in Egypt; Fah Lo Suee saves him from mind-control drugs. Shang-Chi's childhood: Fah Lo Suee and a white lover, Phillip, visit Honan; Fu Manchu punishes her into old age, then she leaves. 1980: Leiko walks London as Ripper bait. The killer is Phillip, elixir-mad; Fah Lo Suee, who loved him, shoots him dead when he lunges at her. Gene Day and Mike Zeck split the art.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Si-Fan assassins, Dacoits, The Mad Slayer

First appearances: The Mad Slayer (dies)

Notes:

• Double-sized 52-page 100th issue.
• Earliest chronological appearance of Shang-Chi and Fah Lo Suee.

MOKF #101 — "Not Smoke, Nor Beads, Nor Blood!" Master of Kung Fu #101 Cover date: June 1981  |  On sale: March 24, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mike Zeck Inks: Gene Day, Mike Zeck Marvel Database

At the hospital Shang-Chi stops two men suffocating an old Chinese man — the dockside stranger who once betrayed him. Yakuza have taken Malay Jack's. Shang-Chi fights the boss and swordsmen across the Thames and the hospital stairs. Leiko, barely able to stand, reaches the old man's room; he unplugs himself. She reconnects the machine and tells Shang-Chi he died naturally. Zeck's regular run ends.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Notes:

• This issue follows up on events that were first chronicled in MOKF #76.

MOKF #102 — "A Vision of Winter in Spring" Master of Kung Fu #102 Cover date: July 1981  |  On sale: April 21, 1981 Writer: Peter Gillis Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Gene Day's first issue as penciller. Shang-Chi is at a French château for a house-party mystery: the owner has died of an apparent heart attack. After fasting insight, Shang-Chi baits the killer. Diadem (Luciane) attacks in yellow, paralyzes him with a hug, and leaves. A Zeck pin-up sequence of Shang-Chi's friends closes the issue.

Allies / supporting: Dame Renée de Peyraud

Opposition: I.D.I.C., Diadem (Luciane d'Hiver)

First appearances: Dame Renée de Peyraud, I.D.I.C., Diadem (Luciane d'Hiver), Lord Burtonwil, Monsieur Anton Paulve, Georges Kalougine, Dr. Lugash

Notes:

• The issue includes two pages with galleries of Shang-Chi's friends and enemies to date:
• The Bewitchers of the Night; Black Jack Tarr; Clive Reston; Leiko Wu; James Larner; David Wu; Dee; Sandy; Karamenah; Richard; Ward Sarsfield; Juliette; Shen Kuei/Cat; Melissa Greville; Lyman Leeks; Mrs. Haversham; Rufus T. Hackstabber; Petrie; Sir Denis Nayland Smith; Siamese cat;
• M'Nai; Korain; Phansigar; Dacoit; Si-Fan; Shadow-Stalker; Carlton Velcro; Razor-Fist; Pavane; Mordillo; Darkstrider; Cat/Shen Kuei; Tiger-Claw; Shockwave; Golden Dagger assassins Bolo and Kimba; Chankar; Shaka Kharn; War-Yore; Doctor Doom; Skullcrusher; Kogar; Black Demon Sect; Zaran; Leopard Cultist; Maru; Fah Lo Suee; Dr. Fu Manchu and Peko; Ducharme; Warriors of the Golden Dawn; Samisdat.

MOKF #103 — "A City Asea" Master of Kung Fu #103 Cover date: August 1981  |  On sale: May 19, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Leiko took a solo Hong Kong job Tarr had refused; Shang-Chi and Tarr follow as backup. Junks are being chained into a floating city to raise a WWII Nazi ship sunk in the harbor. Their contact is Juliette, working for someone. Shang-Chi sees Leiko embrace a man on the central tug — Shen Kuei. The wreck surfaces and Cat wants to fight.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei)

MOKF #104 — "Fight Without Reason!" Master of Kung Fu #104 Cover date: September 1981  |  On sale: June 16, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi and Cat fight while Tarr finds canisters from the Nazi wreck. Leiko takes Tarr's gun, stops the duel, and leaves with Cat. Juliette hides Shang-Chi and Tarr: Cat wanted a Nazi particle-beam weapon to keep it from every government. At a crumbling temple the two couples face off until Juliette and Leiko threaten each other into a truce. The wreck is blown and sunk; each man leaves with the woman who chose him.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Cat (Shen Kuei), Juliette

MOKF #105 — "The Razor-Fist Connection" Master of Kung Fu #105 Cover date: October 1981  |  On sale: July 21, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

"Nothing like the shadow of a death-threat to put a damper on one's evening."

— Leiko Wu

In Hong Kong, Razor-Fist enters a bar in search of Shen Kuei - the Cat. The patrons confess to knowing very little about Shen Kuei's whereabouts. Razor-Fist dives into them and begins slaughtering the guests with swift strokes from his single bladed hand. One thug breaks down and admits that Shen Kuei returned to England with Pavane and Shang-Chi.

In England, Denis Nayland Smith confers with Clive Reston and Jack Tarr. He has learned that someone has been assassinating known enemies of the late crime-lord Carlton Velcro. He is convinced that Shang-Chi and Pavane are the next targets.

Shang-Chi learns the news and travels to Leiko's flat to inform her. Shang decides to track Pavane down and warn her. Leiko is still bitter over past dealings with Pavane, but agrees to help out regardless.

Denis Nayland Smith goes to MI-6 headquarters. He has heard rumors that the agency had since weeded out its corruptive influences, and was once again a legitimate espionage unit. Upon entering his old office, he finds that Fah Lo Suee is still in charge.

That night, Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu sneak into Pavane's lavish estate to warn her. Pavane doesn't trust their motives and a fight ensues. Suddenly, a second Razor-Fist enters the house and Pavane has to divide her attack between fighting Shang and Leiko, as well as Razor-Fist. Shang diverts his attention away from Pavane and concentrates on the new threat. Razor-Fist tries to strike him, but lodges his blade into a table-top, allowing Shang-Chi the chance to put him down with a heavy kick to the chin. Once everything settles down, Pavane informs Shang-Chi that there are actually three men who have assumed the name Razor-Fist; all three of whom are triplets.

Elsewhere, the Razor-Fist who was operating out of Hong Kong meets up with Carlton Velcro. Carlton is miraculously still alive, but requires cybernetic enhancements to survive.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Cat (Shen Kuei), Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu, Juliette

Opposition: Carlton Velcro, Pavane, Razor-Fist (William Young), Razor-Fist (William Scott), Razor-Fist (Douglas Scott)

Notes:

• First appearance of Razorfist II and III; origin revealed in this issue.
• Razorfist's name is alternately spelled as "Razor-Fist" and "Razor Fist".
• Carlton Velcro is revealed to be alive in this issue.

MOKF #106 — "The Assassin Master" Master of Kung Fu #106 Cover date: November 1981  |  On sale: August 18, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Armando Gil Marvel Database

Razor-Fist II, interrogated, says Velcro lives on a Marquesas island with a metal arm and leg, and that he and his brother are not the original Razor-Fist. Shang-Chi and Leiko parachute in wearing samurai-style armor, fight through Velcro's killers, and take the estate. Velcro shoots Razor-Fist III by mistake; Shang-Chi knocks Velcro out as Tarr and Reston arrive with local police. Both agents feel their confidence returning.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Carlton Velcro, Razor-Fist (Douglas Scott), Razor-Fist (William Scott)

MOKF #107 — "A Painless Result of Having Lived" Master of Kung Fu #107 Cover date: December 1981  |  On sale: September 15, 1981 Writer: Peter Gillis Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Shang-Chi fasts ten days at sea, then is cabled to Rome to find 'Dark Angel.' A mermaid-tattoo contact and an old man die by sai; Sata, a trident-themed ex-Si-Fan, fights him in the Colosseum while hunger makes Shang-Chi hallucinate gladiators. He beheads a statue by mistake, then beats Sata. Dark Angel — a woman with white-streaked hair — says the old man was going to betray her, and they go to breakfast.

Allies / supporting: Dark Angel

Opposition: Sata

First appearances: Dark Angel

Notes:

• First and only appearance to date of Sata, a Roman gladiator.

MOKF #108 — "Chameleons" Master of Kung Fu #108 Cover date: January 1982  |  On sale: October 20, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Dark Angel informs Shang-Chi and the others that Winston Markham is a double agent who has infiltrated the British Ministry of Defense and that he plans on passing secret missile documents to foreign agents that day. The attempt to stop this hand off goes slightly awry as Dark Angel is taken by foreign agents while Shang-Chi takes and destroys the missile documents.

After a chase Dark Angel is rescued just before the foreign agents had almost managed to take her away in a lorry. She claims her voice is hoarse due the agents strangling her.

Later Shang-Chi finds Dark Angel snooping around in some files in the dark. He confronts her and she attacks him with thrown blades. She manages to escape while Shang-Chi dodges. Clive and Shang-Chi follow her to a Pet Store where Shang-Chi believes she has fled to.

They are ambushed by enemy agents in the store, including Dark Angel. After defeating these agents they find the real Dark Angel tied up in a back room, revealing that the Dark Angel who betrayed them was a body double.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Dark Angel (Mia Lessing)

Opposition: Winston Markham, Dark Angel Double

MOKF #109 — "The Dark Angel's Kiss" Master of Kung Fu #109 Cover date: February 1982  |  On sale: November 17, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Jack Abel Marvel Database

At Stormhaven, Mandy moves her school toward London; Reston drops Melissa for Dark Angel. Fah Lo Suee dumps Zaran with mimosa; he calls the KGB to kill Dark Angel. During a fox hunt Shang-Chi spots Zaran in the trees, saves Dark Angel, and finishes the fight in the castle cemetery while a fox runs parallel to the hunt.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville, Mandy Greville, Dark Angel (Mia Lessing), Fah Lo Suee

Opposition: Zaran

MOKF #110 — "Perilous Reign" Master of Kung Fu #110 Cover date: March 1982  |  On sale: December 15, 1981 Writer: Doug Moench, Gene Day Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Jack Abel Marvel Database

Leiko is angry that Shang-Chi's mind is elsewhere while they spar. Dark Angel warns of Ghost Maker, a China-trained operative after a shelved British weather weapon in a Sussex manor-spire. Sleep gas takes the base; the commander dies. Ghost Maker's jetpack fight with Shang-Chi is a Day showcase. Ghost Maker escapes with a device that turns rain to flesh-burning acid, Leiko hanging from his boot, bound for a royal parade in Paris.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Dark Angel (Mia Lessing), Ghost Maker

First appearances: Ghost Maker

Notes:

• Plot by Moench and Day, script by Moench.

Trivia:

• This issue and Master of Kung Fu #112 were displayed on a store shelf in the horror film Friday the 13th Part III.[http://scabbyhorror.blogspot.com/2013/07/comic-books-in-friday-13th-part-iii.html]

MOKF #111 — "Deadly Rain Conclusion: Gaining Slowly on Death" Master of Kung Fu #111 Cover date: April 1982  |  On sale: January 19, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench, Gene Day Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Jack Abel, Rick Magyar, Joe Rubinstein Marvel Database

Shang-Chi chases the Ghost Maker all the way to Paris to stop him from assassinating the Queen.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Dark Angel (Mia Lessing), Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Ghost Maker

Notes:

• Plot by Moench and Day, script by Moench.

MOKF #112 — "Commit and Destroy" Master of Kung Fu #112 Cover date: May 1982  |  On sale: February 16, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Rick Magyar Inks: Ricardo Villamonte Cover: Gene Day Marvel Database

Someone in MI-6 is attempting to frame Sir Denis as a mole. Shang-Chi's team tails the suspected agent to Toronto to get to the bottom of it and reveal the plot of a rival Chinese operation whose evidence lies in Smith's memories from 50 years earlier.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu, Dark Angel

Opposition: Red Reaper, Communist Chinese Assassins

Trivia:

• This issue and Master of Kung Fu #110 were displayed on a store shelf in the horror film Friday the 13th Part III.[http://scabbyhorror.blogspot.com/2013/07/comic-books-in-friday-13th-part-iii.html]

MOKF #113 — "Learn & Burn" Master of Kung Fu #113 Cover date: June 1982  |  On sale: March 16, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Rick Magyar, Alan Kupperberg Inks: Alan Kupperberg Cover: Gene Day Marvel Database

Decoding the dossier on Operation: White Heat drawn from Sir Denis' memories leads Shang-Chi's team to Africa, where the Red Reaper's forces are mining for rare blue diamonds to pursue deadly MASER technology. The ensuing conflict results in the collapse of the mine and the loss of the diamonds, much to the consternation of Fah Lo Suee, who had been aiming to claim the operation for MI-6.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Freelance Restorations, Denis Nayland Smith, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu, Dark Angel, Talon, Gaboa

Opposition: Red Reaper, Assassins

First appearances: Simon (dies)

MOKF #114 — "A Fantasy of the Autumn Moon" Master of Kung Fu #114 Cover date: July 1982  |  On sale: April 13, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Denis Smith gathers Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu together at his mansion in Scotland. He tells them that a woman named Mara Ling has contacted MI-6's Hong Kong branch and told them that her husband and she have become targets for the Si-Fan. Determined to destroy any and all facets of his father’s empire, Shang agrees to investigate the matter.

He flies to Hong Kong where he arrives at the house of an aging blind archer named Li. Li is Mara Ling’s husband. A Si-Fan assassin, garbed in the vestments of the ancient samurai stalks the property and attacks Li. His true target however, is Mara Ling. Shang-Chi intervenes and pushes Mara Ling out of the way of the Si-Fan's throwing knives. He manages to drive him off, and the assassin vanishes into the night.

Li is upset that Shang-Chi involved himself in their affairs and storms off into his room. Shang notices that Mara Ling is many years younger than her husband, and she confesses that she was once a bride of Fu Manchu. As such, she has benefited from Fu’s Elixir of Life. She tells Shang the story of her life, revealing facts that even her husband was unaware of. Li awakens however and hears his wife’s confession. He leaves the house and marches out into the courtyard.

Late into the evening, the assassin returns and murders Li, stringing his body up from a tree. Shang-Chi races out into the courtyard and engages the assassin. During their fight, the Si-Fan falls backwards onto an archery target, impaling himself on the arrows sticking out of it.

When Shang returns to Mara Ling's room, he finds that she is so wrought with guilt that she has decided to take her own life. She has already drank a cup of poison, and there is nothing Shang can do but to mourn her.

Allies / supporting: Leiko Wu, Freelance Restorations, Denis Nayland Smith

Opposition: Si-Fan assassin

First appearances: Mara Ling

Notes:

• Fu Manchu appears in a cameo flashback only.
• First and only appearance of Li. Dies in this issue.
• First and only appearance of Mara Ling. Dies in this issue.

Trivia:

• This story takes place during the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival (中秋節).
• In the beginning of this issue, Shang-Chi is listening to the Rolling Stones song "If I Was a Dancer".

MOKF #115 — "Deals" Master of Kung Fu #115 Cover date: August 1982  |  On sale: May 18, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Stormhaven is broke and facing foreclosure. Fah Lo Suee offers Smith forged mortgage papers if Shang-Chi eliminates MI-6 rival Li Ching-Lin. Li becomes Death-Dealer under Wang Yu-Seng, who wants MI-6. Death-Dealer rockets Leiko's flat; Shang-Chi disarms him in a Gene Day fight, Reston shoots a blade away, and Death-Dealer dives into the river. Smith burned the forgeries: he was already hunting Li, tipped by someone Shang-Chi both knows. Playing-card backs hide a message from Fu Manchu.

Allies / supporting: Blackjack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu, Melissa Greville

Opposition: Death Dealer (Li Ching-Lin), Wang Yu-Seng (Fu Manchu), Si-Fan assassins

First appearances: Death Dealer (Li Ching-Lin)

Notes:

• This issue is the beginning of the four-part Fu Manchu Saga, which concludes in issue #118.

MOKF #116 — "Blood of His Blood" Master of Kung Fu #116 Cover date: September 1982  |  On sale: June 15, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

"But worry not Shang-Chi, my son... your death will be slow in coming. I hope it will be a duration of months, in which time I will take from you as much blood as is possible. Your every care will be met here -- you will be fed rich, red, raw meats... and you shall bleed... you shall bleed your life... for mine."

— Fu Manchu

Shang-Chi (Earth-616) analyzes a set of playing cards. The back of each card forms a piece of a mosaic, a puzzle that points the way to Fu Manchu. Doctor Petrie reminds everyone that Fu Manchu is dead, but Shang-Chi begins to doubt such a claim. Shang completes the puzzle and finds that the back of the cards form a picture of Fu Manchu's fortress in Honan.

Denis Nayland Smith sends Shang-Chi on a mission to investigate Wang Yu-Seng – the man who hired Death-Dealer. Hopefully in his journey, Shang may be able to draw a connection between Wang and Fu Manchu.

Moments later, an officer stops at Stormhaven and informs Smith that his mortgage has foreclosed and Freelance Restorations is to be evicted from the property. Black Jack drives Shang and Leiko to London leaving Smith, Clive Reston and Doctor Petrie to deal with the eviction notice.

In London's Limehouse district, a group of Si-Fan assassins attack the trio, but Black Jack and Shang manage to easily defeat them. The presence of the Si-Fan so near to Wang Yu-Seng's estate is a clear marker of Fu Manchu's influence. After dispelling the thugs, the three sneak into Wang's townhouse. The house appears deserted however and they take their leave.

Back at Stormhaven, more Si-Fan assassins attack the castle. Doctor Petrie is gravely injured, and Clive is unable to stop them from kidnapping and driving off with Sir Denis.

Later, Shang-Chi goes the offices of MI-6 in Whitehall. His sister, Fah Lo Suee is now the director of this branch of British Intelligence. Fah confirms Shang's suspicions and reveals that Fu Manchu is most certainly still alive, and has been the power behind Wang Yu-Seng.

After leaving the office, Shang-Chi meets up with Bolo and Kimba, two former Si-Fan who now serve Fah Lo Suee. A fight breaks out and the two men want to know why Shang-Chi is in Whitehall. Shang defeats them, but the two men refuse to submit to interrogation. As they run off, Shang gives chase and runs directly into the Death-Dealer. The Death-Dealer sends a giant scorpion to kill Shang-Chi. Shang manages to survive the experience, but he is infected with the scorpion's deadly venom.

When he revives, he finds himself strapped to a table back at his father's fortress in Honan. Fu Manchu enters the dungeon laboratory, appearing closer to his true age than the visage that Shang is accustomed to. He reveals that his body has become immune to the Elixir Vitae and that only the blood of Shang-Chi can restore him to full health. He cures his son of the scorpion venom, but also distills a volume of Shang's blood. Consuming it like a vampire, Fu Manchu regains his youth and vigor. He turns to leave, citing that he will leave Shang-Chi imprisoned as his permanent and personal blood donor.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Doctor Petrie, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Death-Dealer, Fu Manchu

Notes:

• This issue is part two of the four-part Fu Manchu Saga.
• Final appearances of Bolo and Kimba; both die in this issue.

MOKF #117 — "Devil Deeds Done in Darkness" Master of Kung Fu #117 Cover date: October 1982  |  On sale: July 13, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Fu Manchu, disguised as Wang, drinks Shang-Chi's blood and becomes young again: elixir vitae now works only with his children's blood. Shang-Chi frees himself with rats and spilled blood, fights Death-Dealer as a crypt floods, and watches Fu Manchu helicopter out. Reston's flat explodes after Fah Lo Suee phones. A scarred duplicate Shang-Chi has already abducted Fah Lo Suee. A mutant creature's false eye holds a summons to Honan.

Allies / supporting: Blackjack Tarr, Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Death Dealer, Peko, Si-Fan assassins

Notes:

• This issue is part three of the four-part Fu Manchu Saga.

MOKF #118 — "Flesh of My Flesh" Master of Kung Fu #118 Cover date: November 1982  |  On sale: August 17, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Double-sized finale of the Fu Manchu war, Gene Day's peak layouts. Shang-Chi, Tarr, and Reston hit the Honan fortress; Si-Fan of every faction burn the forest. Fu Manchu has cloned Shang-Chi as a child. Shang-Chi smashes the blood lab, burns Death-Dealer, sees Cho Lin shot by Fah Lo Suee, and fights the clone (Dark Shang) after snakes and a giant mantis. Fu Manchu, suddenly old, tries to lap the clone's blood. Shang-Chi pours the last vials out. Gelignite drops early; the fortress explodes. Shang-Chi is found meditating under snakes, 'glowing,' certain Smith lives. In London Leiko and Mia save Smith from Si-Fan. At Stormhaven Shang-Chi tells Smith he is the father he never had.

Allies / supporting: Blackjack Tarr, Clive Reston, Leiko Wu, Denis Nayland Smith, Mia Lessing

Opposition: Order of the Golden Dawn, Celestial Order of the Si-Fan, Leopard Cult, Phansigars, Thugees, Dacoits, Knights Templar, Hashishin, Death Dealer, Fah Lo Suee

First appearances: Shang-Chi clone (dies)

Notes:

• This issue concludes the Shang-Chi/Fu Manchu saga.

MOKF #119 — "Brynocki's Marauders" Master of Kung Fu #119 Cover date: December 1982  |  On sale: September 14, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Mark Silvestri Inks: Kevin Dzubin Cover: Gene Day Marvel Database

Brynocki, still talking to Mordillo's skull, loads Ultra Men robots and raids empty Sunday MI-6 to kidnap Leiko. Shang-Chi, Leiko, Reston, and Mia (Dark Angel) wreck the robots through a locker room and a war-room map of Britain. The last craft crashes in the Thames; Shang-Chi and Leiko swim free. Brynocki's detached head walks off into London. Mark Silvestri pencils.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Brynocki

MOKF #120 — "Dweller by the Dark Stream" Master of Kung Fu #120 Cover date: January 1983  |  On sale: October 19, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: Gene Day Inks: Gene Day Marvel Database

Gene Day's last issue. Freelance karate man Rufus Carter hires Shang-Chi to help Jock McBridie keep ancestral Scottish land from McKinnons with a fake deed and dynamite. They prove title, then a night raid blows the dam; floodwater opens graves and reveals the family gold in a coffin. Carter refuses payment. McBridie plays bagpipes on the cliff. Day died of a heart attack after finishing the issue.

The End of the Road

Moench's last regular issue is #120. #122 is a fill-in already in the drawer. Alan Zelenetz scripts the finale. Shang-Chi retires to Yang Yin.

MOKF #121 — "Passing Strangers" Master of Kung Fu #121 Cover date: February 1983  |  On sale: November 16, 1982 Writer: Steven Grant Pencils: David Mazzucchelli Inks: Vince Colletta Cover: Armando Gil Marvel Database

Steven Grant and David Mazzucchelli: in Paris Shang-Chi steals a notebook from a British seller meeting the KGB. The book keeps switching — stewardess Vienna is a freelancer stacking buyers. Smith tails Russians; Shang-Chi follows the original Brit. Vienna walks with the real book and American cash; a car shoots her in the arm and the money flies into the river. Shang-Chi lets her go.

Allies / supporting: Denis Nayland Smith

Trivia:

• The tagline for this issue is "Death... In the City of Lights!"

MOKF #122 — "The Madhouse Effect" Master of Kung Fu #122 Cover date: March 1983  |  On sale: December 14, 1982 Writer: Doug Moench Pencils: William Johnson Inks: Ernie Chan Marvel Database

Moench's last regular issue. Reston is hired to recapture mad double agent Carrington Scullers, who once hunted Reston and Leiko. It is a drug-and-asylum trap: Scullers poses as the client, doses Reston, and dresses an institution as Stormhaven full of clowns and barbarians. Shang-Chi and Leiko pull Reston out. There is no payday. A letters-page obituary by Archie Goodwin records Gene Day's death.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Denis Nayland Smith, Fah Lo Suee, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Carrington Scullers

Trivia:

• This is Doug Moench's last work on the series. Moench quit the title due to creative differences with Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter Shang-Chi; publication history; Wikipedia

MOKF #123 — "The Sins of the Son!" Master of Kung Fu #123 Cover date: April 1983  |  On sale: January 18, 1983 Writer: Alan Zelenetz Pencils: William Johnson Inks: Mike Mignola Marvel Database

Alan Zelenetz. Shang-Chi goes to New York to see his mother; her apartment is trashed. Si-Fan attack him at the Met, Rockefeller Center rink, and a Chinatown joss house. She staged the wreck. White, she wanted Fu Manchu's power and immortality and now hates Shang-Chi for killing him. She slaps him, calls him a false son, and says Si-Fan revenge will come later. He runs, beating a street photographer, afraid he is fated to become his father.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu, Shang-Chi's Mother

Opposition: Si-Fan, Dacoits, Phansigars

MOKF #124 — "Retribution" Master of Kung Fu #124 Cover date: May 1983  |  On sale: February 15, 1983 Writer: Alan Zelenetz Pencils: William Johnson Inks: Mike Mignola Marvel Database

Shang-Chi climbs Minya Konka toward Rachë Churân, the monastery of fear, after a brawl in a Tibetan inn. Lama Thugben Sung says Fu Manchu once studied and healed there, then mesmerizes Shang-Chi into jumping from the mountain as penance. A migou (yeti) catches him and sends him to a cave. A voice he never sees tells him to find his father's grave and do a son's duty.

Allies / supporting: Clive Reston, Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Fu Manchu, Si-Fan assassins, Thugben Sung

Notes:

• Earliest chronological appearance of Fu Manchu (in flashback).

MOKF #125 — "Atonement" Master of Kung Fu #125 Cover date: June 1983  |  On sale: March 15, 1983 Writer: Alan Zelenetz Pencils: William Johnson, Alan Kupperberg Inks: Mike Mignola, Alan Kupperberg Cover: Ron Wilson, Mike Mignola Marvel Database

Series finale. Shang-Chi meditates in the Honan fortress, burns a mutated tortoise that attacks from a pool, and takes Fu Manchu's ceremonial cup. Traveling with actors, a play about a false son drives him on. In a fishing village, the Noh Master uses robe tech to show him Midnight, his mother, Leiko, and the spilled elixir. Shang-Chi breaks free; a wave takes the Noh Master. He drinks from the cup, lets wave take cup and gi, and stays as a fisherman, atonement found. In Scotland, Leiko waits. Smith and Tarr tell her he will return. A closing Zen parable by Denny O'Neil ends the book.

Allies / supporting: Black Jack Tarr, Denis Nayland Smith, Leiko Wu

Opposition: Genetically enhanced turtle, M'Nai

Notes:

• This is the final 20th-century issue of the series. Master of Kung Fu Vol 3 126 was published 35 years later.
• Final appearance of Sir Denis Nayland Smith. The final fate of Sir Denis is revealed in MCP #1.

That is the complete original color run. One hundred and sixteen issues. For appearances beyond this run, collected editions, and the omnibuses, see Complete Appearances. For story-time sequence, see the Chronologic Reading Order.

Sources

Issue credits, cover dates, on-sale dates, quotations, appearance lists, notes, and many of the plot synopses are adapted from the Marvel Database (Fandom), used under CC-BY-SA. Cover scans are from that wiki, displayed through wsrv.nl because Fandom blocks hotlinking from Blogger. Where a Marvel Database issue page had no synopsis, an original plot summary was written from published recaps, principally James Fulton's Inside Pulse omnibus reviews and William Patrick Maynard's Black Gate series. Those recaps were used as sources. The synopses here are not copied articles.

'Nuff said!