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.