This
first volume reprints one of the most beloved properties of the ‘70s and ‘80s,
stories of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Created by writer Steve Englehart and
artist Jim Starlin, Shang-Chi was the son of Chinese supervillain Fu Manchu and
an unnamed American mother. With a publishing history stemming from the early
1900s, Fu Manchu was a well-known literary character licensed from the estate
of author Sax Romer. A character original to Marvel, Shang-Chi (whose name
means “rising and advancing of a spirit”) is trained from birth to be a human
weapon and assassin for his father. Dispatched for his first kill, he is told
his target is an evil operative who is a danger to the world. After killing the
man, Shang-Chi is assaulted by doubt and eventually learns the truth about his
father. Desperate to assuage his guilt for the murder, Shang-Chi joins British
spymaster Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and his group of operatives to fight Fu Manchu
and regularly save the world. Rounding out the cast is man-mountain Black Jack
Tarr, man of style and action Clive Reston (son of James Bond and great-nephew
of Sherlock Holmes), and Shang’s lover Leiko Wu.
These
reprints start with Special Marvel
Edition #15, then the title changes to Master
of Kung Fu in issue #17, which keeps the Special Marvel Edition numbering. By issue #21,
Englehart is off the book and writer Doug Moench takes over and becomes the
creative force most closely identified with Shang-Chi and his adventures.
Moench
takes Shang through some very James Bond-inspired adventures, and the group
regularly battles Fu Manchu, usually resulting in a draw. Fu sends assassins
like clockwork to kill Shang—they come in the form of waiters, lovers, spies
and people on the street. Everyone knows kung fu and everyone is out to kill
Shang-Chi for the price on his head placed there by his father. It is clear
these tales were never meant to be read all at once, put together they can be
somewhat repetitive. Even some of the included letters pages bear this out. But
the characters and characterization are top-notch. Shang-Chi makes a conscious
decision at one point that, while he abhors violence, he must work with Smith
to fight villains and evildoers who mean humanity harm. It’s a tough decision
for Shang, at heart a pacifist who just wants to be left alone to find himself.
The
largest criticism of Master of Kung Fu
is the kung fu itself. I’m not sure anyone on the creative team had ever
cracked a magazine or saw a movie about martial arts. Forms are wrong, stances
non-existent, punches, kicks and strikes are not related in any way to actual
kung fu. Some artists are better than others (Paul Gulacy definitely improved
as he went along), but this is a massive missed opportunity for the book. Shang-Chi
could have brought real kung fu to the masses. Instead, the book turns out to
be another superhero punch-fest with little or no authentic martial arts. But
this criticism pales in comparison to the general quality of the stories and
the characterization of Shang-Chi as constantly divided, always wanting to
retire from his “games of death and deceit.” That conflict drives the series
and Moench plays it perfectly.
Obviously
inspired by the contemporary television show Kung Fu, starring David Carridine, Master of Kung Fu does manage to be its own separate entity.
Shang-Chi is not Kwai Chang Caine, he has his own hang-ups and goals. The
stories are fun and action packed, and do contain quite a bit of Eastern
philosophy and aesthetic. Moench is a thoughtful writer who can write big
concepts, meditation scenes and globetrotting exploits. Overall, MOKF gives readers killer plots, explosive
action and a lot of bang for their buck. I very much look forward to the next
volume in the series.
The Master of Kung Fu Omnibus
collects Special Marvel Edition
15-16, Master of Kung Fu 17-37 &
Giant-Size 1-4, Giant-Size Spider-Man 2 and Iron
Man Annual 4.
Rating:
****½ stars out of 5
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