Hi everyone,
Today's topic is the sixty-second issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang engaged in battle with a trio of knife-wielding opponents in a swamp. The story was called "Red Seas." The issue had a cover date of March 1978.
Shang-Chi was walking the streets of Hong Kong. His thoughts went back to a pair that he'd left behind in London: Leiko Wu and his Siamese cat. Shang was also reminded of his fight with Skullcrusher (last issue) and the note he'd read from Juliette, who he'd met at the same nightclub that he was now standing in front of.
He entered the club just as a hooded figure who went by Moonsong was busy loading up a van in the back of the building. Shang-Chi was surprised to see that Juliette was not the Jade Peacock's featured singer, and had no knowledge of what was transpiring on the other side of the club. Moonsong's workers loaded several crates into their van, but left one behind for the crew.
After her performance, Shang-Chi asked the new singer Mei-Lin a few questions. She admitted that she'd only worked at the club for a short time, and that Juliette had left before she started her employment there. He was about to ask where Juliette had gone, when a bouncer intervened. The tall man didn't like a customer talking with the performers in the back area. Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of an explosion.
Shang ran to the back of the club where the explosives contained in the crate left behind had detonated. The truck that it came from took off. Shang-Chi was able to follow it and eve nmanaged to hang on to the back of the moving vehicle before it took a sharp turn. Undeterred, he later clung to the back of a moving car who was going the truck's way.
Meanwhile, Leiko was knocking on Clive Reston's door. She arrived to apologize for her earlier behavior and to find out where Shang-Chi had gone. Reston had moved on with Melissa Greville, and informed Wu that Shang had gone to Hong Kong, the same place where he and Greville were on their way to. He told Leiko that she knew where to find the orchids before closing the door.
Back in Hong Kong, Shang hopped off the car just after the truck he'd been tailing reached its destination. They were at the wharf, where crates were being loaded onto one of the boats. Shang-Chi headed toward the vessel, and eventually managed to climb aboard after it had already taken off. A few of the crewmen attacked him, but they provided little resistance to Shang. The mysterious masked figure then took a swing at him, A swift punch knocked his opponent down, who was revealed to be Juliette herself.
Skullcrusher was busy reporting to his master that the Jade Peacock had been stripped, its shipment stolen and the club owner had been killed. He added that Mei Ling had identified Shang-Chi. The boss stated that was due to his lackey's failure to stop Shang in London before he could kill the club owner who was also his brother. The leader stepped out of the shadows, and we saw that it was Shen Kuei, aka the Cat.
This issue was definitely a blast from the not too recent past. It was good to see Juliette and Kuei back in this comic once more. I was surprised to see how quickly Wu had a change of heart, especially after her former love Reston had found someone else. The only things missing were Black Jack Tarr and Sir Dennis Nayland Smith.
Well, that's all for this article. Next up is the sixty-third issue of Master of Kung Fu. In that issue, we'll find out what the Cat and Juliette have been up to since their last appearances. There will also be the return of another popular character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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