Retro Comic Recap: What If? #16

Hello again,

I'm devoting this post to the sixteenth issue of Marvel's bi-monthly double-sized comic, What If? The story was "What If Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, fought on the side of Fu Manchu?" The issue had a cover date of August 1979.

As long-time Master of Kung Fu readers probably know, Shang-Chi's first mission was to assassinate Doctor Petrie in London, at his father's order: the evil Fu Manchu. Shang accomplished the task (on what we later learned had been a robot duplicate of the dear doctor). After accomplishing the task, Shang-Chi was confronted by a wheelchair-bound Sir Dennis Nayland Smith, who told the lad about the evil he'd witnessed in his years of working with the tyrant. He also showed his leg that had been damaged during one incident. 

Shang-Chi later returned to his father's Honan, China retreat, and listened to his father's claims of trying to restore their nation to its former glory. He was not convinced that Manchu's intentions were pure, and renounced his father. They would then go on to become mortal enemies.

However, in this alternative, Shang accomplished his task and quickly left after killing Petrie. A sorrowful Smith was left behind to mourn his longtime friend. Shang-Chi met with Manchu afterward and was informed that Smith was more evil than Petrie. 

Meanwhile, Smith informed Black Jack Tarr about the loss of their associate. While Smith and Tarr were recruiting Clive Reston and Leiko Wu to their cause of revenge against Manchu, the dictator was advising his son that selective killing would at times be necessary. 

The heroes embarked on searching for leads in London that might lead to Manchu, while Shang was assigned to stand guard as his Si-Fan warriors attempted to dig up five Dacoit members who had been dead for twenty years. Little did he know that the task would bring him into contact with Smith's colleagues.

Shang-Chi soon squared off against Tarr for the first time, while the Si-Fan warriors were digging up the graves and loading them onto a nearby truck. Wu and Reston, who were still lovers at the time, joined in the battle that ensued. The truck eventually got away, but not after leaving one of the soldiers behind as a captive.

Fu Manchu intended to revive the long-dead Dacoit warriors. He then planned to use them to strike the leadership at Buckingham Palace in London. Back at their headquarters, a few doses of truth serum were finally enough to convince the captured warrior to disclose his master's plans to Smith and company.

After questioning his father's motives, Shang had been exiled to his quarters. He didn't stay there very long and soon went to stop the attack. By the time that Tarr, Wu, and Reston arrived at the palace, the resurrected warriors had just burst through the ground below, riding large lizards as they charged. 

Shang-Chi evaded the attackers and the gas that was meant to provide minimal resistance, breaking through an open window of the palace. The warriors and their beasts posed formidable threats, and Shang soon found himself joining the others in battle against them. Before long, Tarr and a British guard eliminated their foes with several flamethrower bursts. 

Angered by the Dacoits' destruction, Shang-Chi cried out and slapped Reston before departing. He fought his way to the throne, where his father now sat. He informed Manchu that his opponents were already on their way to him. 

Manchu eventually escaped, before Shang ran into Reston and company once more. This time, he explained that he was the son of Fu Manchu, but that he had no desire to serve him any longer. Smith asked the youth if he would join them. Shang-Chi refused, noting that the revived warriors should have been assisted instead of killed. He then went off on his own. 

This was an interesting take on the main and supporting characters. I'm not a big fan of Rick Hoberg's art, but I'm glad that this tale was penned by Doug Moench. He's the one person who I feel really understood each of the characters individually. I'm glad that he chose to have Shang-Chi see the error of his ways, much like he did in the regular Master of Kung Fu title. I couldn't imagine an evil Shang, especially one that continued on with his evil father's ways. 

Well, that wraps up my Master of Kung Fu series of articles. I hope that you enjoyed them. They were fun to write about. I started picking up these issues because they were relatively inexpensive, and once I started reading them, I just had to know what happened during the entire series' run. You can find the individual issues and omnibus collections in print and online. Shang and company were also featured in the second Giant-Sized issue of Spider-Man, and Shang-Chi made guest appearances in Captain America, Daredevil, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-In-One, and other titles as well. 

Time for me to take a breather for a bit. I'll kick off the new month with a new series. This one will feature a certain group of star warriors in stories that took place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black

Hi everyone,

This post will be dedicated to the Master of Kung Fu one-shot issue. It was called Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black. This special issue was 80 pages of brand new content, featuring Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, Black Jack Tarr, and Clive Reston. It had a publication date of February 1991.

It took place not long after the events of the Master of Kung Fu storyline from Marvel Comics Presents in 1988. Shang was dealing with the inevitability of his pending demise, thanks to being poisoned by a brand-new toxin that had been created by their previous foe, the arms dealer Argus. He was busy meditating to try to get some sense of his life.

Meanwhile, a man named Li Chun was being tended to by his female attendants. While Shang-Chi was meditating, Leiko was getting a tray for tea ready and still dealing with the newness of her artificial left hand. At the same time, Tarr and Reston were waiting for their contact.

Unfortunately, the meeting would not take place, at least not while their contact was alive, anyway. He was fatally stabbed by a knife that was thrown by their old opponent, Zaran, the weapons master. The villain soon delivered the reliquary that the contact had in his possession to Chun, who was also known as Shadow-Hand. Tarr and Reston later discovered the dead body and told Shang that the courier had information about a secret stash of the elixir that was often used to extend his father's life. 

In Chapter II: The One-Eyed Guide, Shang talked with his friend about the elixir. It was something that he'd originally eschewed (last seen in the monumental Master of Kung Fu #100), but was willing to search for it, if it could possibly reverse the poison. Wu told him how much she'd missed him (since he left to become a fisherman in MOKF #125) and wasn't about to abandon him on his quest.

First, Shang needed to consult with a man called One-Eye. He ventured down to the Hong Kong wharf. After fighting off a few attackers, he met the old man who gave him an address. Chun and Zaran were occupied at the time with examining the reliquary, which was a model of an Oriental temple. 

At his destination, Shang-Chi found a check that confirmed Zaran's involvement in the affair. The payment also gave him another location, which belonged to Chun himself. That was his next destination.

This began Chapter III: The Unfolding Puzzle. After dispatching the guard dogs outside, Shang made his way in the building. He soon found the reliquary. Lifting it from the base exposed a maze that also served as a floor plan. Shang-Chi also found several pieces of faded parchment that identified the location of the serum, as well as pictorial information about a few related items. 

Upon hearing someone approach, he made quick work of returning the floor plan and reliquary to the state that he'd found them in, and departed before Chun entered the room. However, once he was outside, he found himself up close with Zaran once more. 

Their rematch kicked off Chapter IV: The Floating Serpent. Although Shang abhorred weapons, he would use them defensively from time to time when necessary. A swift elbow to Zaran's jaw ended the scuffle, right before guards could approach. Shang hopped the fence and soon returned to his comrades.

Once inside, Shang told his friends what he'd seen. While Leiko bandaged his wounds, he asked for maps that could verify the location of the island that he'd seen on one of the pieces of parchment. While he was dong research, a group of masked assasins were on the island. One of them used the beam from a ring worn on his finger to open a hidden cache of items contained in a stone that bore the mark of the phoenix. The soldiers then went to meet Zaran and Chun.

In Chapter V: The Returning Stranger, we learned that the masked men were Si-Fan warriors, who had the same prior master as Chun, aka Shadow-Hand. Chun was a potential tyrant who used various weapons in place of his hands. As Tarr, Reston, Wu, and Shang were discussing their course of action, Zaran was bringing out the reliquary on the island, which would act as their guide.

A fight soon broke out between the Si-Fan and the island's new guests. After Chun and Zaran's victory, Shadow-Hand thought back to the time when a strange caged creature forcibly removed his hands from his body. That explained his use of weapons in the place of those lost appendages. 

What they didn't know was that the heroes were traveling via submarine to the island at that very moment. After a while, they emerged, using scuba gear to swim to shore. They were still as committed to the cause as their foes were to theirs.

Chapter VI: The Crowning Darkness began with Reston making sure that there were no immediate threats in their vicinity. Their goal was to reach the volcano, which would be the main entrance to the lair. Zaran, Chun, and the remaining Si-Fan warriors who had since joined their cause were almost at that landmark by then.

Several Si-Fan warriors took the rear and eventually wound up fighting our heroes. Chun and Zaran proceeded inside the volcano. Zaran used the ring to gain access to an inner level, where they soon found the actual temple that the reliquary had been based on. 

During the fracas, Shang-Chi and Wu found themselves separated from Reston and Tarr. As Tarr and Reston were being taken to their foes' leader, Shang and Leiko soon branched off on different paths, hoping to find the volcano at the end of one of them. 

Shang encountered a strange, tall, white, hairy beast. His tussle with it continued on in Chapter VII: The Beasting Man. It looked somewhat similar to the Wendigo that battled the Hulk, Wolverine, X-Men, and other Marvel characters in different titles. An attack from above by Zaran was enough to gradually convince the beast and Shang-Chi that they were on the same side.

After dispatching their common enemy, Shang made a fire and used some leaves as a poultice for his injured leg. He then used the same remedy on the creature's back. The duo soon left the scene as friends instead of enemies.

Wu's path was chronicled in Chapter VIII: The Rising Bars. It didn't take her very long to find the cells where Reston and Tarr had been held. As she made short work of the female guards, Shang-Chi entered the temple. He followed the path that he'd remembered from the small-scale model. At one point, he ran into the creature, who soon gave him the ring that served as a key. 

Chun's ritual began in Chapter IX: The Mirroring Darkness. He hadn't located the prize yet, but Shang was coming closer to him with each passing step. The two soon faced off for the first time. Shadow-Hand's ball and chain weapons were impressive, but they weren't enough for him to win the fight against either Shang or his old foe, the creature, who had broken into the room just before Chapter X: The Dying Elixir started.

Unfortunately, Shadow-Hand got his revenge on the beast by knocking him several stories below. He then renewed his attack on Shang, who quickly ripped the chained weapons from his foe's body. He then used the ring to open a compartment that bore treasure along with the serum. He drank from the vial right before the warriors proclaimed him their new leader. 

Shang-Chi accepted the mantle long enough to issue two commands. First, he asked the soldiers to give up the way of assassins and forget his father. His second request was for their prisoners to be freed. Tarr, Reston, and Wu were then rejoined with their friend.

Afterward, the quartet sailed away from the island. Shang tossed the vial onto the rock, stating that one taste was enough. He was content to wait to see if the serum had worked to counteract the poison and allow him to go on living. If not, he was willing to accept his fate.

Obviously, the serum worked, and Shang-Chi would go on to face new challenges. His appearances were somewhat sporadic in Marveldom until his own movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was announced. All in all, this was a rather satisfying epic crafted by writer Doug Moench and artists Dan and David Day, who were brothers of the late Master of Kung Fu artist Gene Day. 

I have one more Shang-Chi article to write, which will be from What If. The sixteenth issue of that bimonthly mag posed the question: What if Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, fought on the side of Fu Manchu? It's something that we'll dig into next time. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisisted: Marvel Comics Presents #8

Hello all,

Now it's time for me to recap the Master of Kung Fu story that appeared in the eighth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The story was called "Crossing Lines VIII: Kills." The issue had a publication date of early December 1988.

While a battle blazed on in an island off the coast of Sardinia, Shang-Chi found himself face to face with the evil arms dealer Argus, who proclaimed that his girlfriend, Leiko Wu, was dead. Their initial encounter was interrupted by the arrival of Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr. The villain retreated to his laboratory, followed closely by Shang. 

Several terrorists entered the melee, and Reston and Tarr were forced to return fire. Meanwhile, Shang-Chi stepped in front of Hashioka (whom he'd met earlier in Tokyo under the guise on arms dealer) just as a vial of acid was flung at him. He knocked Hashioka down and pursued Argus, who had fled down the corridor.

Shang-Chi soon saw that Argus was in a room where the very much alive Leiko was being held captive. Furious, he lunged at her kidnapper and beat him unconscious. He was reminded of what he was doing when Tarr and Reston arrived. They let Leiko go, and the two lovers embraced. 

Afterward, they left Argus and his minions to be picked up by the proper authorities. Leiko and Shang were taken to a hospital in Rome. Three days later, the group returned to Hong Kong. 

Back at the Oriental Expediters headquarters, Shang-Chi and Leiko were gathered at Xiao's headstone. She told Shang that the ring Xiao gave her had belonged to his late wife. They'd pretended to be lovers to help him change and distance Xiao from his past as a member of the Red Wolves gang. 

Meanwhile, reality was about to set in. Tarr and Reston watched Shang and Leiko while they talked about the fact that Shang-Chi's exposure to the virus that was contained in Argus's vial was potent. It appeared that his time was limited, but Shang wasn't about to let a single moment go to waste. 

This was certainly an interesting twist for long-time Shang-Chi readers and fans. I didn't think that the virus had been fully developed yet. I wanted to know more, but thankfully I didn't have long to wait. I'm glad that I finally understood Leiko's relationship with Xiao during Shang's absence. 

That's it for this article, but my next blog post will pick up where this storyline left off. It'll cover the one-shot Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black comic that came out in 1991. It's an 80-page epic that takes our heroes on a quest to resolve Shang-Chi's condition. On the way, they encounter a new foe and a well-known opponent from their past. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #7

Good afternoon all,

I'm making some time to discuss the Master of Kung Fu story from the seventh issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The tale was titled "Crossing Lines VII: Hooks." The issue had a cover date of late November 1988.

The story began on a busy highway, as a car driven by Black Jack Tarr was following an arms dealer's truck. He, Clive Reston, Shen Kuei, and Shang-Chi were hoping that the vehicle would lead them to the villain Argus. They soon learned that the next leg of their journey would be by air once they reached the Tokyo airport.

Reston found out by talking to a member of the grounds crew that the plane that had loaded the last shipment from the truck they had been following was bound for Sardinia. He and his friends were on a commercial flight to that destination within the hour. Shortly after arrival, they saw that the crates were being placed on a boat, which looked like it was headed to an island not far away.

Kuei and Shang acquired access to a boat, while Reston and Tarr were planning to find a helicopter. They had no sooner landed on the island when Shang-Chi and Kuei noticed that Hashioka was speaking with the man named Argus. It seemed apparent that the two were business partners. The heroes were about to try to find a way to sneak in when a guard spotted them and opened fire.

The noise of the machine gun caught Argus's attention, just as he was speaking to his captive, Leiko Wu. By then, Tarr and Reston had arrived via helicopter and joined the fray. As the violent conflict outside continued, Shang found a way inside. He was confronted by Argus, who told him that he should have heeded the warning conveyed when he'd sent Shang-Chi Leiko's severed hand, and proclaimed that because of his recklessness and stupidity, his girlfriend was dead.

This was the most action-packed chapter of this storyline to date. It seemed inevitable that a conflict would arise between Argus' forces and Shang-Chi and his companions. I was beginning to wonder if the drug and gun running were merely fronts for larger criminal intentions. I also wanted to know more about the character called Xiao and his larger role in the whole affair.

Well, that's it for this article. Later today, I'll discuss the final part of this series. You can peruse the other stories in this issue if you wish until then. Have a great Saturday, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #6

Good afternoon,

I figured that now was about as good a time as any to write about the Master of Kung Fu story that appeared in the sixth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The story was called "Crossing Lines VI: Shoals." The issue had a cover date of early November 1988.

The tale began at a Japanese warehouse, where Shang-Chi was posing as an arms dealer. His associate, Shen Kuei, took out one of the buyers, who took his delivery, made payment, and left with his cargo quickly. Afterward, Shang made a phone call to his colleague, Black Jack Tarr.

Tarr wasn't happy with the results of the conversation, but Clive Reston reminded him how Shang-Chi had been affected by his visit to a heroin ward under the recommendation of Sir Dennis Nayland Smith. Shang had morals, which the two men did find honorable. 

Later, Kuei and Shang-Chi watched as their crate was dropped off by a plane. It was then picked up by their buyer, who loaded it onto a ship. The unexpected crate soon exploded, severely damaging the vessel. Shang and Kuei were able to slip by afterward undetected. 

The duo was on their way to meet with Hashioka, their contact who had been involved in the whole affair. They went to a Yakuza nightclub in Tokyo to meet him. After completing their transaction, Kuei and Shang-Chi rejoined Tarr and Reston, who had more information on Argus, the drugrunner who had kidnapped Leiko Wu. 

They learned more about the villain's motives and knew that he had been a key player in the arms deals. Argus was also linked with the terrorist organization that they were trying to stop, and that Leiko was a pawn in their games of deceit and death. 

I like the fact that the twice-monthly Marvel Comics Presents allowed creators to showcase works that probably wouldn't appear in other titles. However, the eight-page limit restricts just how much can be shared in a single issue. This issue felt like it went by rather fast. I wanted to know more about Hashioka and Argus, but I guessed that I'd have to wait for the remaining chapters to see how everything played out, including what would happen to Leiko. 

You can go ahead and read the other stories in this issue about Wolverine, Man-Thing, and the Hulk (in his Joe Fixit persona) until I write about the seventh chapter in this storyline. In the next issue, we'll see Shang's first meeting with Argus and learn more about the chemical weapon that the villain was preparing. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #5

Happy Friday, all,

'This morning's topic is the Master of Kung Fu story from the fifth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The story was called "Crossing Lines V: Lures." The issue had a cover date of late October 1988.

The tale began just outside of a Tokyo warehouse, where members of the Yakuza gang had arrived for a scheduled arms transaction. Unfortunately for them, they were interrupted by Shang-Chi's arrival. After taking out the gang members, Shang walked toward the warehouse behind him.

Inside was a man with a gun and a briefcase. He was easily disarmed by Shang-Chi. After being tossed into a nearby crate, it was discovered that the contents of the warehouse were drugs, not guns. His attacker had sold the weapons to buy illegal drugs, which could then be sold to purchase more munitions. He was then knocked out by Shang's partner, Shen Kuei.

While Shang-Chi and Kuei were figuring out their next move, Leiko Wu was sitting alone, tied to a chair in the arms dealer known as Argus' training compound. He had some terse words to say to his silent captive before moving on to get an update from a scientist known as Mannheim, who was working on a potent new biological weapon. The formula was intended to be an airborne virus that would strike its victims' bloodstream via their skin pores.

Meanwhile, several opposing factions were preparing to move in on Argus' compound. We didn't really know the identities of these masked men, but from this story, we could see they were on Argus's island. The evil weapons dealer was busy making sure that his scientist's formula would be ready in time for the upcoming NATO conference in Rome. 

This was the fastest-paced chapter of this story thus far. I wasn't surprised by the arms dealer and drug-running angles, since they were common themes of a lot of works of spy fiction at the time. I wondered why Leiko was suddenly silent in this issue, and where Tarr and Reston were. 

Some of my questions posed above will be answered in the next chapter of this saga, which was included in the sixth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. We'll see just what Shang, Kuei, Tarr, and Reston do next to unravel the mystery and save their friend. Please feel free to enjoy the rest of the stories in this issue until then. Have a great day, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #4

Good afternoon all,

Now I'm going to write about the Master of Kung Fu story that was in the fourth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The tale was titled "Crossing Lines IV: Water." The issue had a cover date of early October 1988.

The story began with Black Jack Tarr paging through files at his Oriental Expediters office. He finally located a folder containing information about an arms dealer who was working on developing a central location for his items to be purchased at. He went by the name Argus. A picture in the file showed an older, bald man with a hook where a person's right hand would be.

Tarr had a plan for contacting the arms dealer, but Shang-Chi wasn't about to agree. He would play the game, but without him or Clive Reston. He then departed to reconnect with Shen Kuei, the man also known as Cat. After telling his friend about Leiko Wu's kidnapping, Kuei agreed to join him.

Meanwhile, at an undisclosed location, Leiko was being tormented by her kidnapper, Argus. He told her that Shang had probably received the package (that contained her severed left hand, as shownin the last issue) before she lashed out at him. However, having lost blood due to that amputation, she wasn't as swift as her captor, who retaliated with a few swift strikes of his hooked hand.

A short while later, on a junk in the Hong Kong harbor, Shang and Kuei regrouped with Tarr and Reston. Tarr explained that an arms deal was set to happen in a warehouse outside of Tokyo. Members of the Yakuza gang were rumored to be the buyers in two days. His plan was to have Kuei and Shang-Chi replace the Yakuza buyers and pose as members of the Red Wolves.

The first part of the scheme was believable. The second part was disagreed upon. Shang reasoned that Wu's hand had been sent to him as a warning. It told him that she was still alive and she'd remain that way so long as no one came to rescue her. 

After a bit of discussion, the quartet decided to take a smaller boat that was moored next to the junk and enter the harbor. They had no sooner regrouped there when their junk exploded. Shang and his friends had been mere minutes from being blown away in the water. 

This was another interesting twist. It let the readers know that Shang-Chi and his friends were being surveilled, most likely by Argus. I was glad to see Leiko again and that she fought for herself, even though she was in a weakened condition. I still wanted to know more about why she'd been kidnapped and what her relationship with Xiao (who had been killed in the second issue of MCP) had been.

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the MOKF tale from the fifth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. We'll learn just what Shang-Chi, the Cat, and their companions do to help their lost friend. In the meantime, I suggest reading the rest of the stories in this issue, especially the Wolverine epic, where the beloved Canuck squares off against Shang's old foe Razor Fist for the first time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #3

Good morning,

Today, I'm going to discuss the Master of Kung Fu story that was included in the third issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The tale was titled "Crossing Lines III: Fish." The issue had a publication date of late September 1988.

The story began on the streets of Hong Kong, where Shang-Chi was searching for any sign of Leiko Wu, who had been kidnapped by masked men three days prior. Unfortunately, his journey didn't turn up any clues toward her disappearance. He then returned to rejoin his comrade, Black Jack Tarr.

Tarr wasn't surprised by Shang's results. He and Clive Reston were also taking Leiko's abduction hard. Reston had picked up the bottle again and had talked about giving up the game entirely. Tarr was also concerned about the terrorist cell that they'd hoped to infiltrate. Britain was about to end its occupation of Hong Kong, which could leave the area ripe for takeover by other legitimate or illegitimate groups looking to seize power and control.

Tarr admitted to his old friend that Xiao (who had been murdered last issue) had come to them after his daughter and wife had been killed by a Red Wolves bomb. As he and his crew investigated the matter, they learned that the Red Wolves were connected to a significant, growing terror network. He wanted to stop them before any more lives were lost.

Feeling a bit disenfranchised, Tarr returned to the Oriental Expediters storefront, where Reston was sitting in a corner, spooked by a recent package delivery. It was addressed to Shang-Chi and was starting to stink. Shang opened the box and was stunned to find what they assumed was one of Leiko's hands, which still had Xiao's ring on it.

Wu and Xiao had become an item during Shang's absence, but it was obvious during their reconnection (as shown in the last issue) that she still had feelings for the Master of Kung Fu. Shang-Chi agreed to listen to Tarr's plan, and Reston also counted himself in. Shang thought that Reston would soon be sober but he would still be wrong.

I was surprised by the package as much as the cast of this issue. I didn't think that Doug Moench would resort to something like this, but I guess times had changed. After all, this title prominently featured Wolverine, so it seems that Marvel's comics had evolved from the tameness of the previous decades. 

Well, that's all for now. You can read this issue's Wolverine, Man-Thing, and Thing stories if you want while you wait for my return. Next up for me will be the MOKF story from the fourth issue of Marvel Comics Presents. We finally see what happened to Leiko and learn more about just what Tarr's plan entails. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #2

Hi everyone,

Today, I'm going to recap the Master of Kung Fu story that was included in the second issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The issue also had stories featuring Wolverine, Man-Thing, and the Captain (Steve Rogers in a new identity after giving up his role as Captain America). The story was called "Crossing Lines II: Bait." The issue had a cover date of mid-September 1988.

The tale began with Shang reconnecting with his friends Leiko Wu, Black Jack Tarr, and Clive Reston. Tarr had saved one of Shang-Chi's robes, which he eschewed for a different look. Over a lobster dinner, Tarr explained how he'd taken over the organization from their previous leader, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith. Smith's heart apparently was not in that type of role anymore after Shang's father, the evil Fu Manchu, had been defeated once and for all.

Shang-Chi paid attention during the gathering to Wu's closeness with her colleague Xiao and Reston's new habit of smoking cigarettes. Tarr stated that they were now going after terrorists. Shang stated that he hadn't returned just to repeat the past or make the same mistakes from his youth. He then went outside to gather his thoughts.

When he returned, he went to Leiko's room. She quietly pushed him aside, saying that she'd explain in the morning. Shang went to his own quarters, thinking about how much everything had changed during his absence. 

Shang-Chi's sleep was fitful. He awoke after a nightmare to hear loud noises coming from a nearby room. He ran to investigate and saw that Wu and Xiao were being attacked. Shang fought the intruders, who had been scared off after gunshots from Reston and Tarr. 

Afterward, Tarr accused Xiao of sleeping on the job. Shang quietly observed that Xiao was dead. He added that the now-kidnapped Leiko's ring was new. 

This was an interesting development in the story that I hadn't expected. Doug Moench really did know these characters very well. I was also glad to see that things didn't automatically just return to normal after Shang-Chi's return.

Well, that's all for now. You can read the rest of the stories in this issue if you want to. The Wolverine storyline by Chris Claremont and John Buscema is very good, as are the Steve Gerber-scripted Man-Thing tales.

Next time, I'll write about the Shang story in the third issue of Marvel Comics Presents. The search for Leiko is on. Her friends receive a gruesome clue that leads to an unwanted conclusion. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Revisited: Marvel Comics Presents #1

Hi all,

This article will focus on the Shang-Chi story from the first issue of Marvel Comics Presents, which debuted in September 1988. The series was famous for its series of Wolverine epics, particularly the Weapon X storyline. This issue had issues featuring Wolverine, the Man-Thing, Shang-Chi, and the Silver Surfer.

The Master of Kung Fu tale in this issue was called "Crossing Lines I: Ripples." It began with Shang's boat coming ashore. He made his way through a busy city street until he came across what his late colleague Laner would have termed a flophouse. Shang-Chi entered the decrepit abode, knowing full well that he was being followed.

Shang's followers soon sprang into attack mode. Had he been nothing more than an ordinary fisherman, Shang-Chi would have been ripe pickings for those opportunists. However, as fans of the character know, he was much more than that. 

After a rather easy victory, Shang continued on foot. He came across a store with a sign that read Oriental Expediters Limited. He remembered how that name had been used as a front for terrorist activities in London in the past, but still decided to venture inside. 

Making his way to the rear courtyard, he came across a pool, in which swam someone who was very familiar to Shang-Chi. It was none other than Leiko Wu who brought him close once more after being apart for quite some time. They then surfaced and left the pool to join their old comrade Black Jack Tarr and a few other gentlemen on another issue.

I'm glad that Doug Moench returned to Marvel to pen this series. He's the one writer who has the most experience with the main character and supporting cast, and I can't think of anyone else more fit for this role. Legendary X-Men artist Dave Cockrum's inks made penciler Tom Grindberg's work more serviceable in this story. I was glad to see Shang's return, and anticipated learning where the characters would go next.

I'm only going to cover the Shang-Chi stories in the first eight issues of Marvel Comics Presents, to continue my coverage of the Master of Kung Fu. You're free to read the remaining tales at your leisure in print or online. Next time, I'll write about the continuation of this storyline in the second issue of Marvel Comics Presents. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #126

Good morning everyone,

I chose to discuss the one hundred and twenty-sixth issue of Master of Kung Fu today. This was a one-off that featured Shang-Chi and his monkey companion, Chee. The story, written by Anthony Gambino, who is also a professional wrestler who goes by the stage name CM Punk, was called "Shang-Chi's Day Off." The issue had a publication date of January 2018.

The tale began in Shang's New York apartment. He was completing a set of 300 pushups with the television behind him tuned to a local news station. A reporter was talking about the recent disappearance of Ruth the octopus from a local zoo. 

After the workout, Shang and Chee headed downtown to get some ice cream. They ran into several acquaintances along the way. Unfortunately, their treat was interrupted by the arrival of several dark-robed ninjas. They were no match for Shang-Chi or Chee, but the heroes were swallowed up by a hole in the pavement below them. 

We then saw a pair of ninjas checking the doors of several underground cells. One of them starts to talk about their employer, a Doctor Mel Prasis, whose name sounded a lot like the word malpractice. If you're thinking that the antagonist wasn't playing with a full deck, you're probably right.

The attention then turned to the doctor himself, who stood in front of Shang, who had been bound to a table in one of the cells. Shang-Chi let it be known that he'd been on to the villain and his evil deeds. It began by noticing rats on the surface and an increase in missing pets.

Shang-Chi eventually located the ninjas and tracked them down to their underground hideout. He was disgusted by what he'd observed. Shang rescued the monkey known as Chee and started training him. Shang-Chi later retraced his steps, which led him to the Prospect Park Zoo. Officials at the zoo confirmed that the doctor had been fired from their facility for trying to take the octopus from the zoo during his lunch break.

Prasis claimed that he'd quit, and soon revealed Ruth the octopus, whom he planned to implant with Shang's brain. Just as a pair of the villain's lackeys were about to move Shang-Chi, Chee stepped in to cause mischief and chaos. Shang was able to free himself, and the duo went to free Ruth.

The octopus soon disappeared into the murky waters below and eventually prevented her captor from escaping via boat. Shang brought Prasis to the local officials above ground. He and Chee then resumed their ice cream break where they'd left off. 

This was a fun tongue-in-cheek issue. Marvel did a series of one-offs with titles that had previously been cancelled, like this one, including Star Wars (the original series from 1977), Darkhawk, and several others. One of their house ads promoting this revival was a spoof of an old house ad from the 1980s promoting their Fun and Games publication. This was a good jumping-on point for those who had never heard of the character before, wanted to know what had happened to him, or simply wanted to know more after his Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.

Next time, I'll jump back to the first issue of Marvel Comics Presents. One of the four stories in that issue deals with Shang-Chi's return since leaving his old life behind in MOKF #125. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #125

Hi everyone,

Today's focus is the one hundred and twenty-fifth issue of The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang walking away from his robe that lay on the ground and heading toward a city. The story for this final issue was called "Atonement." The issue had a cover date of June 1983.

The tale began in the meditation chamber of the Honan, China compound, where Shang-Chi had been raised. As he stared at an image of his late father, Shang confessed that he did not honor or obey his father, but he also knew how evil Fu Manchu had been. His father was anything but honorable.

After a while, he left the chamber to find solace in the courtyard outside. He thought about their opposite natures, as well as the emperor Fu Hi, who had observed a turtle's shell and found the lines of yin and yang, light and darkness, and sky and earth, and found reality in them. 

Shang-Chi thought about this after picking up a common turtle that had been in the pool before him. He set the animal down back where he'd found him, only to be attacked moments later by a larger-than-life turtle. The battle moved back inside, where a lit brazier's flames extinguished the threat. During the fracas, Shang bumped a pedestal and found his father's ceremonial cup resting atop it. He took the cup before leaving his family home.

Before long, Shang-Chi came across what he assumed to be a battle. He engaged with the combatants briefly before realizing that they were merely actors rehearsing their parts for a traveling show. Shang was invited to join them, and he accepted.

Back at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Leiko Wu continued to miss her love. Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr tried to reassure her that he would be back sooner rather than later. However, that didn't help to heal her heart.

Later that evening, the actors began a performance in Tsipang, a village in northern China. Shang observed the actors and was quite unnerved when one of them accused another of being a false and accursed son. That accusation hit a bit too close for him personally. 

Shang ran, and later caught a train bound for the southern province of Kwang Tung. After reaching his destination, Shang-Chi traveled via bicycle until he met some villagers who were in need of assistance. He offered to help and even showed some of them a few of his martial arts moves.

He was offered lodging before a storm was due to arrive. During Shang's slumber, he was visited by an apparition that claimed to be the avenger and disciple of his celestial father. Shang-Chi was shown visions of people from his past and present, including Midnight and Leiko, as well as the moment that he'd disposed of what remained of his father's elixir vitae, leaving the tyrant begging for the final drops of the serum that had extended his life far beyond that of mere mortals.

Shang appeared to engage in a swordfight with the avenger outside in the middle of a rainstorm. Just when it seemed that all might be lost, a large wave of water washed over the two combatants. Shang-Chi was the only one who remained.

He went back inside and brought his father's cup with him. He scooped some water outside into the cup and drank from it deeply, thinking that he would be renewed. Shang-Chi then went to rest as the storm slowly began to dissipate.

The sun returned the next morning, and Shang was on his way to join his new comrades on board a fishing boat. He appeared quite ready to leave his old life behind, and as the craft sailed on, we saw the head of Shang-Chi's last opponent floating lifelessly behind. It seemed like Shang had finally found atonement after all.

Master of Kung Fu was one of several titles that Marvel cancelled at the time, along with Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and Marvel Two-In-One (which was replaced by The Thing, a new monthly series featuring Ben Grimm). Without Moench or Day, it was quite likely that this series would soon be cancelled.

This isn't the last-ever issue of Master of Kung Fu. Shang-Chi and several of his supporting characters would return. Fu Manchu and other characters created by Sax Rohmer would not, since Marvel didn't renew the license for them. 

Tomorrow, I'll recap the one hundred twenty-sixth issue of Master of Kung Fu. This was a one-off issue that was published by Marvel in 2018. From there, I'll cover Shang's return that was chronicled in the first eight issues of Marvel Comics Presents. After that, I'll write about the 1990 Master of Kung Fu one-shot and the What If? issue that revolved around Shang-Chi and Fu Manchu. Those will be my last articles about this character for now, as I want to focus on other series. There's a great story where Spider-Man meets Shang-Chi and several of his friends in the second Spider-Man giant-sized comic that you can read if you want to. 

Until tomorrow, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #124

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to discuss the one hundred and twenty-fourth issue of The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang squaring off against a trio of spear-wielding warriors. The story was called "Retribution!" The issue had a cover date of May 1983.

The tale kicked off in an inn in Talsienlu, Tibet. A quartet of natives were upset by Shang's wish to stay there for the night before he went off to find Minva Konka mountain. It took a brief fight for the proprietor Joba Garuda to accede to Shang-Chi's wishes. After winning the battle, he was given lodgings and tea. 

Shang set off in the morning with provisions provided by Garuda. Meanwhile, back at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Leiko Wu and Black Jack Tarr wondered how their friend was faring. Wu missed him greatly, and Tarr did his best to reassure her that her love would come back. 

Shang-Chi continued his climb and prevented a red fox from devouring a small white rabbit. The cold and snow set in once he reached higher elevations, and Shang-Chi stopped to rest and meditate for a while. Eventually, he came across a Mani file and added a stone to it. Moments later, a tall furry creature known as Migou stood in his way.

The beast said nothing, but allowed Shang-Chi to pass. After the moon rose in the sky, Shang reached his destination: the monastery of Rache Churan. He encountered resistance in the form of a pair of guards at the front door, but was easily able to defeat them. 

Shang-Chi ventured further inside the complex until he reached a man named Thugben Sung, who was surrounded by more warriors. Sung spoke to Shang telepathically and informed him that his father, Fu Manchu, had been tutored there. The monks surrounding Sung were descendants of Manchu's disciples and rose to defensive positions. 

Unfortunately, this was a conflict that Shang-Chi did not win. Afterward, he was brought before Sung once more. The old man held his attention as he thought about his father. Later, Shang left and continued on.

He'd been advised not to enter the caves of wisdom, and Sung encouraged him to dive down to the earth in retribution for slaying his father. Shang-Chi was about to fall until Migou reached out a hand to save him. He then ascended to a cave, where an unknown and unseen presence told him to seek out his father's grave. That could help him find what he wanted to know.

This was the second-to-last issue in the monthly series that showed any of the supporting characters. The story had become a solo quest of Shang's for discovering his meaning and purpose. I understand the writer Alan Zelenetz's intent, but the writing was also on the wall, and it was obvious that this title wasn't bound to last much longer. Another well-inked issue by Mike Mignola. 

That's all I have for today. Incidentally, this is my 200th retro comic book blog article. I hope that you've enjoyed reading them as much as I've enjoyed re-reading these classic comics and writing about them. Rest assured, there are a lot more articles in the works.

Tomorrow's topic will be the one hundred and twenty-fifth issue of Master of Kung Fu. This double-sized issue wraps up the monthly series, as Shang continues on his quest and moves on to the next chapter of his life. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #123

Good morning everyone,

This morning's topic is the one hundred and twenty-third issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover depicted the titular character on his knees, looking up at a woman while three masked men brandishing weapons surrounded him. The tale was titled "The Sins of the Son!" The issue had a cover date of April 1983.

The story began in New York City, with Shang-Chi breaking down a door. He'd arrived looking to reunite with his birth mother. Instead, he saw that her apartment had been ransacked. The first thing that drew Shang's attention was a framed photograph of him with his late father, Fu Manchu.

Back at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Black Jack Tarr and Leiko Wu were discussing Shang-Chi's absence. Tarr assured Wu that Shang would return in no time. In New York, Shang-Chi looked behind him and narrowly evaded the blade wielded by a Si-Fan warrior. He fought back before his opponent departed via an apartment window.

Afterward, Shang then found his mother's answering machine. Noticing a light was on, he pressed a button and listened to a message about a reservation at the city's Metropolitan Museum arms and armor exhibit. He then left for that destination, but was jumped from above by another Si-Fan soldier on the elevator ride. 

Shang-Chi made short work of his foe, and soon encountered more resistance inside the museum. After battling a pair of men wearing medieval armor, he went to Central Park to rest and meditate for a while. Shang's concentration was interrupted by a kite that a young boy could not loosen from a high tree branch.

It was a simple matter for Shang to free the kite from the branch. When he climbed down, he returned the kite to the boy and was greeted by him and his mother. The trio then walked to a nearby cafe. Before returning to work, the woman chatted with Shang for a while as her son played. 

Shang-Chi sat for a few moments to admire the ice skaters. He was surprised to see one of them hurl a weapon at him. After confronting his attacker, Shang learned from him that his mother was at a place called Joss House. He then knocked his foe unconscious before retreating to the streets. Note: In one panel, as Shang walks, we see Luke Cage, also known as Power Man.

Before long, a cry for help draws Shang-Chi's attention. He climbs the fire escape steps to see a son pointing a gun at his father. It turned out that the duo were having a dispute over money. Shang couldn't resolve the matter, but became involved after the gunman pointed his pistol at him. Shang-Chi knocked the weapon from his hand, but a bullet fired and grazed the old man's skull. This incident led both father and son to a reconciliation, something that Shang and his own father never had.

Shang-Chi finally arrived at Joss House. On the surface, it appeared to be a store hawking tourist wares. On the inside, it was much more. Shang was led to a back room, where he finally saw his mother (who was last seen in Marvel Special Edition #15). She was surrounded by a half-dozen armed guards.

Instead of being happy to see her son, she seemed quite angered. She went on to blame Shang-Chi for his father's death and slapped him at one point. That strike probably hurt Shang more than any other stronger blows from foes that he'd faced over the years. 

Shang-Chi left soon thereafter, knowing that the Si-Fan would be after him. With his mother's cries of "false son" ringing in his head, Shang walked the streets alone. He was aggravated by a man who took his photo after he was asked not to and had the nerve to ask Shang for payment for the picture. He lashed out at the photographer before walking away. 

Later that evening, we see Shang staring out at the Brooklyn Bridge, pondering his fate. Meanwhile, the photographer and his companion were sitting on the street. As they got up, the camera expended a photo that showed Shang-Chi's internal emotions bursting through in that image. 

I can understand the lessons that writer Alan Zelenetz was trying to share with readers in this issue. Future Hellboy artist Mike Mignola's inks saved the art here. I was stunned to see how Shang's mother sided with his evil father. I assumed that the Si-Fan warriors had filled her head with lies, and that she was left without much chance to learn anything else about his demise. This story also gave Shang-Chi a bit of closure with her.

Well, that's all for now. Later today, I'll recap the one hundred and twenty-fourth issue of Master of Kung Fu. The second-to-last issue of this monthly title has Shang traveling to Tibet, where he learns more and encounters new individuals. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #122

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to discuss the one hundred and twenty-second issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang knocking an opponent through the window of a shop that had several masks on display. The tale was titled "The Madhouse." The issue had a cover date of March 1983.

The story began with Clive Reston admiring several masks on display at a store in Piccadilly Circus as he lit a cigarette. He was looking for a man who was flipping a coin in his hand. Once he located his contact, the two descended a staircase and entered a pub before reaching a backroom that was guarded.

Clive found himself sitting before a bald man at a desk who'd asked to hire him to find a person who'd escaped a mental institution. Reston was handed a photograph and instantly recognized the man known as Carrington Scullers. Scullers was a former MI-6 agent who tried to kill Leiko Wu once, back when she and Reston were still an item.

She fired at him, which caused Sculler to exit through a window. The couple was eventually chased to a farm, where Reston was finally able to catch his foe off guard. Reston was glad to accept the case for Freelance Restorations and for a bit of personal redemption.

Back at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Shang-Chi's half-sister, Fah Lo Suee, had just arrived from the London MI-6 office to inform Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and his companions about Sculler, who had worked for both that agency and the KGB. At the same time, Reston went to another bar to find his former colleague. He walked into a trap and was struck from behind.

Suee's words were enough to convince Shang and Wu to find Reston and assist him. The next morning, Reston awoke groggy in a car that was parked right outside Stormhaven's front door. When he entered, he was surprised to see several mental patients, all of whom were being observed by Scullers himself. 

Clive fought his way through several rooms before being joined by Leiko and Shang-Chi. Another battle ensued before the truth was revealed. They were actually in an asylum that had a wooden backdrop in front that mimicked the entrance to Stormhaven Castle. It turned out that the man who'd hired Reston on this mission was Scullers in disguise. Shang took his drugged friend in his arms and took him outside with Leiko close behind. As they walked off, they were observed by a man in clown makeup who was flipping another coin in his hands.

This was Doug Moench's last script for this monthly title. Ernie Chan's inking saved the artwork on this issue. It was an okay story, but I felt like it was a bit incomplete. It felt kind of rushed, or maybe half-thought-out. Moench had already moved on by the time it was published, so I guess they had to go with what he'd left behind in this case.

Well, that's all from me for today. I'll kick off tomorrow with a recap of the one hundred and twenty-third issue of Master of Kung Fu. Shang returns to the US to find someone that we haven't seen in this series since it began. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #121

Good morning all, 

This morning's topic is the one hundred and twenty-first issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang surrounded by a trio of unsavory characters. The story was called "Passing Strangers!" The issue had a cover date of February 1983. 

The tale began in Paris, France. Shang was observing several spies from a window. He soon crashed down to the floor below, interrupting the conversation. Shang-Chi was acting on behalf of Freelance Restorations and his employer, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith, to retrieve a code book. He'd been informed that both British and Russian spies were after the book. 

Shang didn't really care who was who at that point. He grabbed the book after a brief scuffle and left in a hurry. The flight back to Heathrow Airport in London was mostly peaceful until the British agent he'd encountered earlier approached Shang-Chi. The timely intervention of a stewardess prevented any harm to the two of them.

After picking up his luggage at Heathrow, Shang ran after seeing Russian KGB agents behind him. He fought them off before hailing a cab. Once he was on his way, Shang-Chi examined the book and discovered that it was blank. He asked the cabbie to take him back to the airport, where he found the stewardess and obtained what he thought was the correct book from her.

At a safe house on Charing Cross Road in London, Smith and a Mister Bess were waiting for Shang's arrival. Bess nervously grabbed the book from Shang-Chi's hand as soon as he entered the room. He was angered to see that the code in this one was nonsense. Moments later, the stewardess, who went by the name of Vienna, arrived. She offered to sell Bess her book for 25,000 British pounds, which he gladly agreed to. 

On their way out, Smith told Shang that Vienna was a freelance spy. What they didn't know is that Vienna left Bess with the wrong book. After noticing the switch, Bess ran out to find Smith and Shang-Chi to hire them to pursue Vienna and acquire the correct code book. Smith was willing to do so for the sum of $25,000 British pounds. A deal was struck while Vienna was busy phoning her contact, as she planned to sell the book that was presently in her possession.

The next night, Smith and Shang were following the Russian agents by car. Shang-Chi eventually left the vehicle and trailed them to the building that Vienna was rumored to be occupying. Shang opted to climb the exterior walls while the KGB men and the British agent who accosted Shang-Chi earlier went inside. Shang was able to prevent a sniper from taking out his targets. Unfortunately, his lunge toward the gunman sent both of them falling through the skylight window.

Another fistfight ensued, which was broken up by Vienna, who had picked up the code book and a pistol during the confusion. She was then stopped by Smith, who ordered her to hand over both the gun and the book. He and Shang then departed, followed close behind by the British and Russian agents. 

Outside the safehouse in London, Smith was remarking how easy the mission seemed to be, when something caught Shang-Chi's attention. Inside a local pub, Vienna was giving the real code book to a man from the American CIA in exchange for $25,000. Shang approached her after the transaction had concluded.

She freely admitted what she'd done as they walked out of the bar and along a bridge. As they did so, a car driven by the British agent named Kiley followed them closely. He fired at them, winging Vienna. A swift kick knocked him down, but by the time he saw Vienna's purse full of money scatter into the river below, Kiley lost all interest in his pursuit. Vienna was also ready to leave the money and the caper behind, and said that she might even leave the whole business altogether if it wasn't for the money.

This was a fair story by writer Steven Grant, penciler David Mazzucchelli, and inker Vince Colletta. The British and American agents looked too similar to each other, which is why some readers may have been confused. It was an okay single-issue story, but not up to the usual standards of excellence that Doug Moench and company had left regular readers accustomed to. 

Well, that's all for this morning. Later today, I'll recap the one hundred and twenty-second issue of Master of Kung Fu. Clive Reston takes a starring role in Moench's last script for this series that also involves Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, and a new menace for the trio. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #120

Hi everyone,

Today's focus is the one hundred and twentieth issue of Master of Kung Fu. The cover depicted the titular character in a forest peering at a kilted man who was playing the bagpipes. The story was called "Dweller by the Dark Stream." The issue had a cover date of January 1983.

The tale began at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland. Shang was enjoying a little quality time with nature in the yard when he was goaded into an impromptu sparring session with his friend, Rufus "Midnight" Carter, who had just scaled the nearby wall. Afterward, they began to chat about a mission that Carter wanted to recruit Shang-Chi for. 

This was Carter's first solo excursion since leaving the CIA. Shang-Chi agreed to assist, and the two drove to a residence in the countryside. After arriving, they spotted the owner, who was standing atop a cliff playing his bagpipes. The trio retreated to the old man's cottage, where he explained why he needed protection. 

The client's home had been in his family for generations. There were rumors that treasure had been hidden on the property, which the old man was determined to find. He then left his guests to rest while he caught fish for their meal. 

Carter and Shang had doubts about the stories of treasures and ghosts, and discussed them as they explored the land. They soon ran into several men who claimed that the property was theirs. A fight broke out before Carter could examine the documents firsthand. 

Later on, Shang-Chi and Carter went into town. They examined a copy of the deed that proved that their client, Mr. McBride, was indeed the legal owner of his property. The duo then returned to share that confirmation with him. Carter and Shang decided to stay for a while to protect McBride.

Little did anyone know that the intruders weren't about to give up. They returned that evening to set explosives near the river. The sounds of the explosions drew Shang-Chi and Carter out to face them once more.

Rufus concentrated on the men who were lighting sticks of dynamite, while Shang followed several men who were busy digging up a grave in a small cemetery close by. Things escalated as a bird knocked a stack of dynamite into the water, setting off another explosion.

The conflict then carried underneath the rising waters. Shang-Chi was convinced that he'd seen a spectre playing bagpipes atop a hill in the meantime. However, when he resurfaced after the battle, he saw that it was McBride playing the instrument.

Carter and Shang brought their foes to shore and learned that the casket that had been partially dug up contained the rumored family treasure. Carter decided not to charge the old man anything for their help, and noted that the gold that was discovered could be used to restore McBride's family home. He and Shang-Chi then left the old man in peace. 

This was the last mission that Shang-Chi embarked upon with Rufus Carter during this series' run. This was also the last issue illustrated by Gene Day, who passed away after having a heart attack in October 1982. The second and third pages really showcased his artistic abilities, and he's greatly missed decades later. In my opinion, he and Paul Gulacy were the best artists on this book.

Well, that's all for now. I'll kick off Saturday with a recap of the one hundred and twenty-first issue of Master of Kung Fu. A new creative team crafts a yarn that involves Shang traveling to the city of lights to help a damsel in distress. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #119

Good morning everyone,

Today's topic is the one hundred and nineteenth issue of Marvel's monthly comic The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover featured a picture of Shang, accompanied by images of Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu, a skeleton seated in a chair, and an unidentified person depicted on his torso. The tale was titled "Brynocki's Marauders." The issue had a cover date of December 1982. 

The story began on Mordillo's island, where his robot lackey Brynocki was asking his long-dead ruler, whose skeleton rested on a throne, for guidance. He needed to know what to do next, but was apparently unaware that his master wasn't about to provide him with any information anytime soon. Brynocki decided to remove the skull so that he could show his boss what had happened recently.

Meanwhile, at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith was resting in bed, still recovering from the events of last issue. Shang-Chi visited him, noting that he'd finally come to terms with the world, himself, and the connection of both. It was obvious that Smith had finally earned Shang's respect and trust.

Back on Mordillo's isle, Brynocki was showing his master's skull the broken machines and soldiers that Shang-Chi and his friends had caused during their two previous visits. He also showed him the solar chute that now sat near the shore. He sat pondering why Shang-Chi had come to wreak havoc, and deduced that it was due to love and Leiko.

Speaking of Wu, she was occupied in a training session at Stormhaven at the moment at Stormhaven. She eventually caught Shang's attention, after he'd been observing how similar the love that Clive Reston and Dark Angel shared was to their own affections for one another. Leiko then asked him for a kiss.

Brynocki returned his master's skull to its rightful place and begged him for a sign. He placed his leader's left hand down on a control panel on its chair, and an image in the viewing screen across from them displayed a headshot of Wu. Brynocki assumed that she would be their next target and summoned a new ship and a half-dozen ultra men robots. He then ordered the robot soldiers to provide them with a display of their destructive capabilities. The exhibition was apparently impressive enough to send Brynocki and his new soldiers on a course toward their target.

Reston and Angel were about to head to London so that Angel could catch up on some work at MI-6, and asked Shang-Chi and Leiko to tag along with them. They agreed and piled into the car together. After arriving, Reston and Angel headed to her office, while Leiko and Shang went to the exercise facilities to play some tennis.

As Shang-Chi entered the locker room, he heard a strange noise. He was surprised to see his old foe Brynocki waiting for him. The diminutive disciple of Mordillo then introduced Shang to his ultra men. While better than his previous efforts, Brynocki's newest inventions still weren't enough to defeat Leiko or Shang-Chi. After the battle, the couple ran to find their friends.

At the same time, while Angel was working at her desk, she asked Reston to retrieve some files for her. He went to the door and noticed that the guard had been incapacitated. A squadron of ultra men was headed their way. However, the robot warriors had no defense against small arms fire. 

Wu and Shang had made their way to the building's war room when they were attacked by more ultra men. In the middle of that conflict, Reston and Angel arrived to provide backup. Together, the quartet overcame the second wave of Brynocki's minions. 

While Clive and Angel were recovering from the scuffle, Shang-Chi and Leiko ran outside and discovered Brynocki's ship. They made their way inside and kicked the small menace off the craft before overpowering his ultra men guards. They then took the vessel in for a crash landing in the water. 

Leiko and Shang swam to safety and rejoined their comrades. The now-headless Brynocki guided his body toward his skull and wandered off in despair. Shang surmised that in some ways the sentient robot's relationship with Mordillo was somewhat akin to that of a real father and son. Brynocki had lost, but wasn't about to give up just yet.

This was the last appearance of Mordillo and Brynocki in this title before its cancellation. They did show up in other magazines, most notably in ROM: Spaceknight, as ROM and Starshine visited the island shortly thereafter. I liked the idea of an intelligent robot, and it's often hard to catch up with all of his rapid costume changes. Guest artists Mark Silvestri and Kevin Dzubin did a good job of capturing his essence, but I wasn't fond of their depictions of the other regular characters in this issue. 

That's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the one hundred and twentieth issue of Master of Kung Fu. Gene Day returns for his final Shang-Chi story. An old friend recruits Shang to assist him on a case and help solve a mystery. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #118

Good afternoon everyone,

Today's topic is the one hundred and eighteenth issue of The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover of this double-sized epic showed SHang, Black Jack Tarr, and Clive Reston ready to do battle, with the image of Shang-Chi's father, Fu Manchu, and a fiery phoenix in the background. The story was called "Flesh of My Flesh." The issue had a cover date of November 1982. 

The tale began with Reston, Tarr, and Shang parachuting down toward Manchu's Honan, China retreat. The trio was following up on a note sent to Shang-Chi from his father (as shown in the last issue). Meanwhile, in the Limehouse portion of London, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith was being held captive by a pair of Manchu's Si-Fan warriors. The soldiers were growing restless, and Smith's words did nothing to assuage them. 

Shang and his comrades were heading toward the compound when they came across several Phanisgar, Dacoit, Knights Templar, leopard cultists, and Hashishin assassins riding horseback. They blocked the heroes' path, and a battle began while the nearby forest burned.

Inside the complex, Manchu was busy extracting blood from his daughter, Fah Lo Suee. The tyrant needed blood from his offspring to counteract his natural immunity to the elixir vitae that had extended his life for decades. Manchu got what he wanted and then left his daughter shackled with steel manacles to the table in the room.

The conflict continued to rage outside. Eventually, Shang-Chi made his way inside his childhood home. He evaded a spiked floor trap and ventured further inside until he came across a laboratory that contained multiple beakers filled with his stolen blood (taken last issue). At the same time, his father was preparing Shang-Chi's lookalike for his upcoming responsibilities.

Back in London, Dark Angel and Leiko Wu continued their search for Smith. At the same time, while Shang was exploring, he came across a familiar-looking robe right before he was attacked from behind by Death Dealer. His foe had planned to purloin more of Shang-Chi's blood for his master, but wound up being burned by the open flames from a nearby brazier that Shang used as a weapon in self-defense.

Shang-Chi then made his way to the room where his sister had been imprisoned. He freed her, and the siblings continued on in search of their nefarious father. They encountered Cho-Lin, Shang's former instructor, who struck at him before being shot and killed by Suee. The duo then found his father's bathhouse. Ducharme had just handed her master a vial of serum that was destroyed by one of Suee's bullets.

While the tyrant swam under the waters to safety, Smith decided to take matters into his own hands. He was able to break the window and fall down to the street below. The crash severed his bonds, and he escaped on foot, knowing that he may have shattered his ankle during his landing.

Manchu had depleted the precious blood he needed and was now instructing his new protege to slay his biological offspring to acquire more. By then, Shang-Chi had arrived at a chamber that was filled with candles. The room that was previously used for reflection and meditation was suddenly invaded by a giant praying mantis. Shang defeated the creature by heaving a giant statue down upon its body before departing.

Tarr and Reston had finally entered the complex and were beginning to set explosives around the building. They were then besieged by more soldiers. One of them knocked the detonator from Reston's hand and sent it tumbling into a grate. The duo knew they had to hurry, since they had only thirty minutes before the explosives detonated.

While Smith slowly made his way along the rainy London streets, Shang-Chi finally encountered his doppelganger. Their fight continued across several rooms, culminating with the clone plunging toward his demise as he hit the hard floor of the chamber Manchu was occupying. The despot was desperate for blood. Shang-Chi took the remaining vials of blood and poured them on the floor, which his father lunged for like a hungry dog. 

Tarr and Reston led Suee to safety mere moments before the bombs went off. Back in London, Smith's captors had finally caught up with him. However, Smith was soon guarded by Angel and Wu, who took care of their opponents with a few well-placed bullets. They then helped the former MI-6 director.

Shang had taken a few moments to meditate before leaving his family home for the last time. He rejoined his colleagues, who informed him that Smith had been found and was safe. A while later, the group reconvened at Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, which had reverted to ownership by the bank with Manchu's presumed demise. Cheers went up for Smith, whom Shang-Chi called the father that he'd never had. 

This was an explosive end to Fu Manchu and his evil machinations. He was a character licensed by Sax Rohmer, and Marvel chose not to renew the license, so this was the last appearance of the character in any Marvel comic book. He proved to be a formidable foe. I liked him better than the Yellow Claw, a villain from the 1940s that was resurrected decades later after Marvel resumed their superhero comic titles. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll recap the one hundred and nineteenth issue of Master of Kung Fu. A familiar face reappears for a lighter-hearted conflict, one that longtime readers of this series had eagerly anticipated. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #117

Hi everyone,

Today's focus is the one hundred and seventeenth issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover depicted the titular character wrapped in the arms of a strange-looking alien, with other creatures and a very familiar shadow in the background of the temple that they were in. The story was called "Devil Deeds Done in Darkness." The issue had a cover date of October 1982. 

The story began deep underneath a cemetery in England, where Fu Manchu had just extracted blood from his son Shang to help temper the potency of his elixir vitae. Things had gotten to the point that he'd built up a natural immunity to the serum without the addition of blood from his offspring to the mixture.

Meanwhile, in the Limehouse section of London, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith (who was kidnapped from Stormhaven Castle in Scotland last issue) was being led into a building where he was about to be taken into custody by Si-Fan warriors. He started resisting as soon as he heard the mention of Manchu's legendary assassin legion. Fortunately, he was spotted by a local police officer as he was dragged into the building.

Back at Stormhaven, Leiko Wu, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, and Doctor Petrie were preparing to leave. It was now after midnight, and the eviction order (that was served in the previous issue) was now valid. They piled into a car and headed toward Reston's residence in London. After they left, the phone started ringing. Fah Lo Suee and Dark Angel were at London's MI-6 headquarters and were trying to inform Reston and company about what the bobby had just seen.

After his father had left the room, Shang-Chi began formulating an escape plan. He bit into a blood packet that was above him, hoping that would draw the attention of rats in a nearby cage. Shang moved his foot just enough to open their cage and set them free. The rodents swarmed toward him and were hungry enough to bite through the bonds that had held him to the table.

Shang-Chi was finally free! He made his way into another room where his father was busy mixing potions. Manchu admitted that he held the deed to Stormhaven and that he'd escaped their last encounter by swimming to freedom. Death Dealer was lurking behind the duo and waited patiently for his moment to strike at his weakened opponent.

His battle with Shang took them outside the room and down into the waters below. Death Dealer escaped by ascending a staircase, with Shang-Chi close behind him. Shang was then attacked by more alien creatures concocted by his father. He battled three of them in a conflict that ended in the cemetery grounds. Afterward, Shang-Chi watched his father and Death Dealer escape via helicopter before going to rejoin his friends.

At Reston's flat, Wu answered the telephone. Suee finally was able to contact them and share where Smith had been taken. The group left the apartment moments before an explosion rattled inside. Wu spotted Shang and rushed to assist him. We then saw Smith bound in a chair and being tormented by a pair of masked men.

Shang-Chi awoke in a hospital room. Leiko informed him that he'd been given a blood transfusion after observing that he was severely weakened and had lost a lot of blood. Tarr and Reston had taken Petrie to a local hotel. While Wu dozed, Shang got up and left the room. Minutes later, he was accosted by Dark Angel.

Angel accused him of slaying Suee's bodyguards, Kimba and Bolo (who passed away last issue). Their melee was broken up by Wu, who pointed her pistol at Angel. Angel had accused Shang-Chi of abducting his half-sister, a deed that was actually committed by the lookalike that was spotted in the photo assemblage from the playing cards (as shown last issue). Shang was neither surprised nor stunned by this news. Leiko advised him to take a nap and that they would reconvene at the bookstore in Picadilly Circus in the morning.

Shang-Chi tried to rest, but was soon woken by another one of his father's monsters. After defeating it, he saw a false eye pop from its socket. Inside it was a message from Manchu, asking his son to come home to return his blood to him. 

Afterward, Shang walked away. He confirmed the meetup with his friends in the morning in his mind, and opted to go to a home without a house where he could possibly sleep and dream to face the dark and dreaded morning with new eyes. We then saw a blind man walking down a street, declaring that it was a beautiful day. 

More pieces started to fall into place in this issue. I wasn't surprised to see more of Manchu's alien monsters, although I wondered why he was fixated on them. The fact that he was the owned Stormhaven's deed was an unexpected touch. This wasn't the first time the villain tried to create a new son that would bow to his whims, and I guess we'll have to find out just how effective this new threat is. 

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the one hundred and eighteenth issue of Master of Kung Fu. The double-sized issue is the end of this storyline. All parties come together for a final showdown. You won't want to miss it! Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #116

Good morning all,

Today's topic is the one hundred and sixteenth issue of The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover allows viewers to peer inside a rooftop window, where we see Shang being attacked by a knife-wielding opponent while he's shackled to a table in a rather ominous-looking laboratory. The tale was titled "Blood of his Blood." The issue had a cover date of September 1982.

The story began where the last issue left off. Shang-Chi was peeling off the false backing from the playing cards that his friends had just been using. He put them together and saw an image of the Honan, China retreat where he had been raised by his father, the evil Fu Manchu. 

Afterward, Shang went to consult with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith, who said that he'd seen Manchu the previous week. Smith admitted that it wasn't what he saw directly, but instead what he felt, that bothered him. He then asked Shang-Chi to recruit Black Jack Tarr and look in on Wang Yu-Seng once more, because he believed that the old man who advised the double agent Li Cheng-Lin was working for Shang's father. Leiko Wu was welcome to join them on that mission.

The trio was no sooner preparing to depart when a police officer arrived outside Stormhaven Castle with an eviction notice that would be valid at midnight. Tarr drove Shang-Chi and Wu toward Wang's home while Clive Reston, Smith, and Doctor Petrie stayed behind. 

Tarr and Shang crept up the wall after arriving. They peered in a window and saw Wang, who then quickly turned and observed them. Moments later, our heroes were attacked from above. There was a brief fight, but Wang and his men were gone by the time Wu rejoined Tarr and Shang-Chi.

Shang then decided it was a good time to check in with his half-sister, Fah Lo Suee, at the MI-6 office in London. Meanwhile, Reston was busy tossing darts at the Stormhaven eviction notice when he heard a crash. He ran to investigate and found that Petrie had been struck on the head from behind. Clive looked up and saw three intruders retreating. He fired at them, but it was too late to stop the assailants, who drove away with Smith in their car.

Dark Angel was conversing with Melissa Greville when Shang entered the MI-6 facility. He then went in to see his sister, who was aware that Lin, whom she'd sent Freelance Restorations after, was a double agent. Suee was also confident that Manchu was very much alive (he was presumed dead after this last defeat in issue #89) and up to his usual mischief. She asked her brother to take precautions.

Tarr and Wu were waiting for Shang-Chi in their car when Clive called them with the news that Smith had been kidnapped. That left Shang alone to fend for himself. He soon stepped outside of MI-6 headquarters and was attacked by Suee's associates, Bolo and Kimba. The fight ended after he convinced the duo that he was indeed Suee's half-brother. They said that they would still protect his sister and that he was not to be hurt, but that they wouldn't answer any of his questions before departing.

A few moments later, Shang heard an agonizing scream. He turned a corner and found that Kimba and Bolo had just been brutally murdered. Shang-Chi noticed a truck fleeing the scene and jumped to catch its back bumper. He looked into the side mirror and saw that Death Dealer (Lin's alter ego) was driving the vehicle, which entered a graveyard.

A few minutes later, Shang was accosted by a giant scorpion that emerged from the back of the vehicle. Its pincers dug deep and infected the young warrior with its poison. After lapsing into unconsciousness, Shang was carried inside by Death Dealer and one of his lackeys.

Back at Stormhaven, Tarr, Wu, and Reston were waiting with Petrie for midnight. Reston took a closer look at the picture assembled from the playing cards and saw what appeared to be Shang-Chi peering out of a window. However, this character had a scar across his face, and this seemed to be a recent photograph.

Later, Shang awoke. He found himself bound to a table, with Wang standing over him. The old man was mixing fluids from two beakers together. He drank the mixture from one of them and began to transform. Shang-Chi was stunned to see the familiar visage of his father, Fu Manchu, appear before him. He explained that he needed the blood of his offspring to blend with his life-extending elixir vitae to overcome his natural immunity to the serum. 

Manchu was free once more to pursue his evil plans, which included the elimination of Shang and his comrades. He planned for his son's death to be slow, but eventual. With that, he left Shang-Chi alone in the room, still strapped to the table all by himself. 

I have to admit that this was a rather unexpected way to revive the best villain from this series. This issue raised several questions, some of which were bound to be answered sooner rather than later. I was curious to find out how Manchu survived his watery crash in New York last time, and wondered what had happened to his associates like Ducharme and his other loyal soldiers.

Tomorrow, I'll discuss the one hundred and seventeenth issue of Master of Kung Fu. The middle of this trilogy will show us what happened to Shang-Chi after his capture. We'll also see another encounter with Death Dealer and the final fate of Stormhaven Castle. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.