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.
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