Hi everyone,
Today, I'll be writing about the first giant-sized issue of Marvel's Master of Kung Fu comic. Marvel introduced the giant-size quarterly issues in the 1970s, and they ran for about 3 years before being cancelled entirely. Some giant-size comics were a mix of reprinted and new material, while others were strictly reprinted from previous comics. This one had 5 new Shang-Chi stories and a Yellow Claw reprint. The cover showed Shang-Chi bursting through a stone wall while facing the reader.
The first story, by Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Dan Adkins, was called "Death Masque!" It began with Shang walking down a foggy street in New York until he came upon an effigy of him hanging from a street lamp. Moments later, a knife whizzed past Shang's head and was lodged in a nearby window ledge. Shang-Chi soon entered battle with a pair of Si-Fan assassins. They removed their robes and struck swiftly at their target.
Shang threw one of his attackers into a wooden door. The other opted to swallow a lethal gas capsule that was lodged between his teeth rather than admit defeat. Afterward, Shang-Chi opened a note that had been tied to the handle of the knife that had been thrown at him earlier. It was a message from his father, Fu Manchu, greeting his son on the anniversary of his birth, and declaring that it would be a fitting occasion for the day of his death. Visibly angered, Shang threw the knife at the rope that had affixed his effigy to the lamp post, cutting it down with that toss.
Meanwhile, inside Manchu's chambers, Ducharme offered her master his pipe. One of his soldiers informed him that the pair of Si-Fan warriors had failed. Manchu was not fazed by this, noting that the warriors took their own lives instead of facing his wrath over their failure. He then left the chamber and entered another room where the remaining five members of his silent council sat awaiting their leader. Fu Manchu then called for two more warriors to take the seats of those who had just fallen in battle against his son. He then engaged them in dialogue about their top priority: the death of Shang-Chi.
The second part of the tale was titled "The Enemy Within!" It began with Shang standing over the effigy of himself, which was now lying facedown in the street before him. He realized that his father was a man who would taunt him with a life-like mannequin to symbolize his death, but would never grieve over his son's actual death. He knew that Manchu was trying to goad his son into dying, and thought that it was his inner weakness that compelled him to obey his father. He noticed a pretty girl as he walked on, just before being tackled by his feet and dragged into an open manhole to face another enemy.
This time, Shang went face-to-face with a singular foe. This assassin seemed more impressive than the last two, but not even his size or their sewer surroundings would impact the outcome. This foe again opted for a poisonous gas capsule over admitting defeat.
A few minutes later, the girl that Shang had noticed earlier called down from the manhole, asking him if he needed help. He climbed the ladder and returned to the surface moments before a throwing star tossed by another foe struck the girl in the leg. Shang-Chi ran after their attacker and defeated him just before the would-be assailant swallowed a poison capsule.
Shang then returned to the girl. The wound was not deep, and she asked him to accompany her back to her apartment. While they chatted inside, Fu Manchu noted that another member of his silent council had failed. He was a bit optimistic that the next member might succeed. Shang soon learned that his next opponent was in the same room with him. As the woman pulled toward him for a kiss, she held a garrote in one hand. Shang-Chi sensed the deception and forced her to drop the weapon. She chose to rush through a window and plunged toward the street below to her death.
As he peered out the open window, Shang then saw another mannequin of himself drop in front of him. This one had a message from his father. reminding him that his birthday would also be the day of his death. Shang struck out at the decimated window frame, as the third chapter, titled "The Council of 7," began. He made his way toward his father's sanctum in New York and quickly made his way inside. As he did so, Fu Manchu sat once more with Ducharme. Ducharmed asked her love why he hated his son. The monarch replied that he did not hate Shang-Chi, but simply wished him dead.
A lackey then informed his master that the third assassin had failed. Manchu observed that she had not failed, because her message had been delivered to his son. He then commanded that the council of seven reconvene. His employee understood and told the council members to gather in the council chamber. Shang watched the soldiers enter the chamber through an intricately carved dragon's mouth and began formulating a plan.
Inside the chamber, Manchu assembled his warriors. He informed them that he was frequently fond of games and was currently involved in one with his son, Shang-Chi. Manchu added that his council members were pawns in that game, but the contest was now over, and it was time for his son to die. Just then, Manchu's associate informed him that a pair of the council members had been found lying unconscious outside the hall, moments before Shang-Chi leapt down onto the table in front of them. He renounced his father's gift and fought the remaining council members.
After the battle, Shang heard his father's voice emanating from a speaker in the room. Manchu congratulated his son on surviving his birthday, but assured him that his death would arrive soon. Shang-Chi burst through his father's private chambers to find only Ducharme there waiting for him. Fu Manchu had escaped yet again in his helicopter, as we went off to plot against his son once more.
This led to a new story created by Moench and artist Craig Russell called "Frozen Past, Shattered Memories." The new tale took place in Miami. Shang caught a newspaper that had drifted by in the wind. He read the front page and learned about a religious statue that was on display at a local museum. Curious, he made his way to the museum. A security guard confronted him about not wearing shoes, but after their discussion, Shang-Chi was able to explore the museum freely.
Unbeknownst to our hero, a trio of unsavory characters inside the museum was plotting to steal the artifact and hold it for ransom. Shang caught wind of their plans and tried to warn the security guard, who approached him at closing time. The guard dismissed his claim and ordered Shang to leave. He did so willingly, knowing that trouble would soon be underfoot.
Sure enough, the robbers arrived after hours and knocked out the guard. What they didn't know was that Shang had doubled back to defend the statue. After defeating them, Shang-Chi went to find the statue. He followed the men's tracks outdoors, where he found the statue lying in pieces on the ground. Shang realized that the clumsy crooks couldn't have done it, and that the sabotage must have been the work of his father, who we saw flying away in his helicopter once more.
After a two-page spread about Shaolin temple boxing featuring Shang and Iron Fist and an 8-page Yellow Claw reprint, the final story of the issue, named "Reflections in a Rippled Pool," which was crafted by Moench, Ron Wilson, and Mike Esposito, began. Shang-Chi continued to walk the streets of Miami until he came upon a run-down-looking boarding house.
Shang knocked on the door, stating that he was looking for lodging. The owners took one look at the Oriental man and swiftly shut the door in his face. Shang was stunned by the dismissal. He turned and engaged in a conversation with a blind beggar, who was soon shot by a sniper who fired from a nearby rooftop. Shang-Chi went after the assassin and ran up the three flights of stairs toward where the gunman was perched.
Knowing that his opponent would probably be waiting for him, Shang chose to jump through a window on the third story and wait. In the meantime, the gunman was joined by his two accomplices. As they talked, Shang-Chi snuck up behind them and took them on individually.
Shang defeated two of the criminals, but the third opted to jump through the studio window of the boarding house that he had just visited minutes earlier. Shang-Chi followed his foe, and voices indicated his hiding place. He entered the doorway to see the man holding one of the building's owners at gunpoint. He looked down and grabbed the rug. He yanked the rug brusquely, catching the villain and his hostage off-balance. A swift kick sent the crook to dreamland. The hostage was surprised that Shang tried to save his life, even after he refused to rent him a room. Shang-Chi replied that the room no longer mattered, since his father did not want him to settle into a lodging anyway before departing.
I really liked the format of this giant-sized issue. It was billed as five stories, but it was really a three-part epic, with two shorter tales, a brief spread showcasing characters from the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu black and white magazine, and a Yellow Claw reprint thrown in for good measure. This issue helped me learn more about the feud between Shang and his father and the inner workings of the titular character. It was also interesting to see three different artists' perspectives on Shang-Chi. I thoroughly enjoyed all four giant-size issues of Master of Kung Fu.
Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the twenty-second issue of Marvel's Master of Kung Fu color comic. That Moench/Gulacy epic will feature Shang squaring off against his father once more. We'll also see the return of Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr, as the trio learn about the evil ruler's future plans. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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