Good afternoon, loyal readers,
Welcome to my 450th blog article! Today's focus is the sixty-fifth issue of The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover, drawn by Ernie Chan, showed the titular character rushing to save Juliette from attacks by Pavane and her pet panther. The story was named "Black Knights." The issue had a cover date of June 1978.
The tale began where issue #63 left off. Pavane was attacking Shang-Chi with her whip as her associate Skullcrusher looked on. Shang threw a nearby sack at his attacker, knocking her out. He then assaulted Skullcrusher with one swift kick. Pavane ordered her panther to go before passing out. Skullcrusher threatened to crush Juliette's skull before retreating. Shang picked up both unconscious women and took them to Juliette's safe house.
Outside Hong Kong's Jade Peacock nightclub, Clive Reston and Melissa Greville found themselves under arrest by men who claimed to be part of the local police for damages incurred to the establishment. However, as they drove past the police station, it became obvious that their captors weren't who they said they were. Reston and Greville quickly fled the speeding car and escaped on foot, after having grown curious as to why their accusers knew so much about them so soon after they arrived in the country.
At the Hong Kong MI-6 branch, Leiko Wu met with an agent. She brought papers certifying her work with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and said that she was looking for her friend Shang-Chi. Wu asked for the latest information on Shen Kuei, also known as the Cat, and Juliette.
Meanwhile, Juliette was just coming around at her safe house. She admitted to Shang-Chi that a man named Kogar had hired her. He was the one who'd instructed her to leave the crate with an X marked on it. The explosives inside that crate killed Shen Kuei's brother at the Jade Peacock. Juliette was finally starting to see the double-crosses in her business arrangement. She also knew that Kogar would be after her, and confessed to Shang that she didn't know the contents of her cargo before passing out. After checking to see that Pavane was still tied up safely in the chair she sat on, Shang-Chi went back to the storeroom to inspect the containers' contents personally.
As for Kogar, he was in his base, telling Black Jack Tarr (who went by the alias of Black Jack Blue) that the crates in question should have already arrived. Kogar was just saying that they should learn what happened to them when a member of Juliette's crew who'd abandoned ship (in issue #63) arrived. He told his leader of the fight onboard Juliette's ship and that his associates were ordered to find their friends at the camp.
Shang was about to open one of the crates when he heard the sound of breaking wood coming from the house. He ran to see what the commotion was and found Juliette lying unconscious on the floor. Pavane had escaped.
In the meantime, Skullcrusher ran into his master, Shen Kuei. Kuei was displeased by his lackey's failure and lashed out at him. He then ordered Skullcrusher to return to the house with him. Together, they would take care of Shang-Chi.
Shang wandered outside the house and was soon attacked from above by Pavane's whip. He was reluctant to fight a woman, but Pavane gave him no choice. Shang-Chi eventually used his opponent's weapon against her, as he pulled her whip, bringing both of them tumbling to the ground outside the house.
While their struggle continued, Kogar, Tarr, and several of his other employees ventured out by boat to search for their missing crates. Shang knocked out Pavane's faithful panther before the villainess crashed through a house window. Shang-Chi followed her inside and gave a swift punch, knocking out his foe.
Shang then went to Juliette's. She was still weak, but had recovered enough to inform her ally of the impending danger. She had no sooner stated that Kogar was on his way when he and Tarr arrived. Tarr's presence informed Shang-Chi that Smith was also after the crates, which made him wonder just what was so important about them.
This issue just kept deepening the mysteries. I wondered who this Kogar character was, and how he'd gotten to know Juliette. I also began to question if Kuei would ever believe the truth behind his brother's death. It did seem like most of the supporting characters were going to reunite eventually in this storyline, and this issue kept things moving toward that path.
Well, that's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the sixty-sixth issue. Doug Moench, Mike Zeck, and Jim Craig will return for Craig's final issue. We'll see Shang-Chi face off against the mysterious Kogar and what dangers he poses. The contents of the crates will also be revealed. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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