Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #30

 Hi everyone,

Today I'm writing about the thirtieth issue of Marvel Comics' The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang battling Razor Fist in what appeared to be a pit of lions. The story was named "A Gulf of Lions." The issue had a cover date of July 1975.

The tale began on a stone archway, where Razor Fist was blocking an entrance to Carlton Velcro's headquarters. Shang-Chi fought his way into the complex. His battle with Razor Fist was fierce, but not one that he couldn't win. Within minutes, he'd already broken one of his opponent's blades.

Meanwhile, as Clive Reston was being interrogated by Velcro in a warehouse full of large bags of heroin, Black Jack Tarr was lurking outside on a ledge before breaking in and drawing the fire of Velcro's guards. A smoke bomb bought them some cover and time to escape, but that was short-lived. The building was like a vast maze, and the two heroes were soon captured. Velcro demanded to know how they got in and who else had entered.

Shang continued to combat Razor Fist and gained a temporary victory. He left the chamber after grabbing a memento, as Sir Dennis Nayland Smith and Doctor Petrie continued to fret over the lack of communication from their friends, who had missed the rendezvous time. Inside their seaplane, the two old friends quarreled. Petrie knew that his comrade was a stickler for the rules. However, Smith wasn't afraid to break rules when it came to the safety of their comrades. He asked Petrie to put in a call to their office in Marseilles, France, for a motor launch loaded with as much high-grade explosive as possible as soon as they could get there. 

Back inside Velcro's headquarters, Carlton sat on a throne. He, Reston, Tarr, and his armed guards were separated by a hole in the floor that led to a pit filled with deadly panthers. The tyrant interrogated his captives until they were interrupted by Shang-Chi, who had already defeated a few soldiers. Shang made a threat that was construed as him having an explosive in his closed fist. That was enough to convince Velcro to set Tarr and Reston free. However, he continued to monitor the intruders carefully via electronic surveillance. 

Before long, Velcro pushed a button, allowing the walkway that the heroes had just crossed to descend, dropping them into the pit filled with more than a half-dozen black panthers. Shang-Chi's weapon was revealed to be nothing more than a stone ear from the statue that Razor Fist had lunged toward and become stuck in during their battle. Reston soon spied a doorway across from them. The trio made a mad run for the escape exit and succeeded without any of them being injured or having to fight the large cats.

Tarr, Reston, and Shang had no sooner made just a few steps when the grated floor underneath them gave way. They fell through a metal tunnel before coming to rest on a stone ledge. From there, they could see Velcro's real goal, as an impressive army of soldiers, ships, and weapons lay in wait, ready to be used, below them. 

I have to say that I was impressed by this issue. This was one of several stories that began with a splash page that combined Gulacy's artwork with Moench's narrative to introduce new readers and catch up longtime fans on what happened in the previous issue. I was a bit disappointed, thinking that Shang-Chi's fight with Razor Fist would have lasted longer, but the villain would make more appearances throughout this series' run and interact with other characters in the Marvel Universe as well. Also, the cover was a bit misleading, as Shang and his friends would encounter panthers, not lions, as the cover suggested. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-first issue of Master of Kung Fu. This is the final part of the Velcro story. We'll see what happens after what Shang and his friend discovered on the last page of this comic. Razor Fist will return, and a person who led the panthers will make their debut. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #29

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be recapping the twenty-ninth issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover depicted the titular character engaged in battle with a mysterious new character known as Razor Fist. The story was called "The Crystal Connection." The issue had a cover date of June 1975. 

The tale began at Sir Dennis Nayland Smith's townhouse on Central Park West in New York. Shang-Chi had just arrived to join his companions, Smith, Doctor Petrie, Clive Reston, and Black Jack Tarr. This time, a new menace loomed large. Smith produced a photograph of a man named Carlton Velcro. Velcro dealt in heroin and operated out of his estate at the Gulf of Lions in southern France. 

Shang-Chi asked why the authorities hadn't simply confiscated the illegal drugs. Petrie replied that Velcro was basically untouchable by those authorities, which necessitated the use of agents like himself, Tarr, Smith, and Reston to cut through the red tape. Tarr and Smith explained that they basically had to play dirty. Shang was unsure if he wanted to be a part of the mission until Smith took him to a drug rehab clinic. Once he saw the men who had voluntarily opted to suffer to purge illicit drugs from their system, he agreed to join his friends.

During the flight to southern France, Shang-Chi and his companions were informed of the routes that the components of Velcro's drugs took. The poppies from which the narcotic was grown were harvested in Turkey, and then processed in the Mediterranean. The refined drug was then shipped through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean to South America.

Before long, the group arrived at their destination. Reston, in his disguise as Mister Blue, approached Velcro with an offer in French currency. Velcro accepted the briefcase full of money and introduced Reston to his associate, the aptly named Razor Fist. The warrior gave a brief demonstration of his destructive capabilities before "Mister Blue" was sent to his quarters, where he would be attended to at all times.

Meanwhile, Tarr and Shang-Chi were preparing to make their drop. They would descend from the plane, land in the water, and swim toward the entrance to Velcro's private grotto. In his quarters, Reston extracted a small gas capsule from a false tooth and tossed it at the guards outside his room.

"Mister Blue" was free, but his escape caught Velcro's attention almost immediately. Troops were dispatched to find him, while Shang and Tarr found the underwater tunnel. Velcro's ground forces were searching the perimeter as Reston eventually found the drug cache, which was much larger than expected. 

Tarr and Shang-Chi had no sooner entered the grotto when they were attacked by more of Velcro's men. Tarr's concussion bomb knocked out several attackers. Tarr was soon able to unleash a gas bomb on more soldiers while Shang went to the stronghold to find Reston. Little did the duo know that Clive had been apprehended by Velcro and ordered to provide his real name and mission, while Smith and Reston waited for updates in a nearby seaplane. Shang-Chi then faced Razor Fist for the first time.

This issue was another great example of how well artist Paul Gulacy and writer Doug Moench worked together as a team. The story had a very logical flow, and Gulacy's artwork improved more and more with every issue. Velcro and Razor Fist proved to be very interesting characters. Razor Fist was even featured in the Shang-Chi movie a few years ago. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirtieth issue of Master of Kung Fu. That issue will continue this epic. We'll find out what happened during Shang-Chi and Razor Fist's first encounter, and learn what happened to Reston after his capture. We'll also gain more insight into Carlton Velcro's real motives. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #4

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be discussing the fourth giant-sized issue of Master of Kung Fu. Marvel cancelled their giant-size line of quarterly comic books shortly thereafter, although they briefly revived some of them for one-shots for the 50th anniversary of the concept. The cover of this tome showed Shang-Chi squaring off against a warrior known as Tiger Claw. This two-part tale began on the first page with the selection entitled "Why a Tiger Claw?"

The action began on a busy New York City street, where a rather ambitious taxicab driver was trying to satisfy his customers' wishes. We soon learned that the cab driver's passengers were robbers wearing monster masks, and that the driver was named Rufus T. Hackstabber (who was depicted as an obvious homage to legendary comedian Groucho Marx). The cabbie's fast driving eventually catapulted the vehicle into the front window of a bank that his passengers had intended to rob. 

Rufus was stymied, but did as he was told, even if that meant handing over his taxicab's receipts. Before long, the local authorities were on the scene. One of the robbers shot a policeman before Shang-Chi intervened. He made short work of the two criminals, but unfortunately, during the melee, several police officers somehow mistakenly assumed that Shang was involved in the heist. Hackstabber drove his cab between the officers and Shang-Chi while the robbers took off in another car.

Hackstabber and Shang followed the car until they reached a dead end. Rufus wanted the $7.80 that the robbers took from him, which was all the money that he had in the world. Shang-Chi offered to help and kicked an opening in the truck that had been in front of them in the alley. Inside, they found the getaway car that they had just been chasing. Once inside the truck, Rufus soon fell into a trap door that was placed right above an open city sewer grate. The pair moved on further into the sewer system to find the crooks.

Meanwhile, at Fu Manchu's headquarters, one of his subordinates informed his master that his associate, known as Tiger Claw, had not been located yet. Manchu feared that he might have fallen in with his daughter Fah Lo Suee's soldiers, and ordered that a group of Si-Fan warriors be sent to find Tiger Claw. When asked by Ducharme what the leader had in mind for Claw, Manchu replied that he was a traitor and that traitors to his cause die in slow pain. 

Before long, Shang and Rufus had caught up with the robbers. They went up the stairs through another open sewer grate, only to find themselves in the path of an oncoming subway train! Shang pulled his friend to safety, but the criminals boarded the train, followed shortly by our heroes. Back at Smith's domicile, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith was on the phone with the commissioner about the bank robberies. He was certain that Manchu wasn't involved in them, but promised to do what he could to help. Doctor Petrie offered his assistance, but Smith thought that his friend was probably still too weak from his last encounter with Fu Manchu (which was chronicled in the third giant-sized issue of Master of Kung Fu). Black Jack Tarr then entered the room and was about to depart with Smith.

At the third stop, the robbers left the train. So did Shang and Hackstabber. Shang-Chi quickly overpowered the hoodlums and learned that they were employed by a man known as Tiger Claw. Upon hearing that name, Shang was reminded of a time in his youth.

That memory started part 2 of the story, which was called "The Way of the Tiger: A Movement in Blood." It began as Tiger Claw stood before Fu Manchu in his Honan, China retreat, as young Shang looked on. The warrior soon proved why he had applied to the rare rank of lodge master by defeating and killing three of Manchu's toughest warriors. He explained that his claws were dipped in a venomous poison. 

Shang Chi then ordered the crooks to tell them more about the man who had hired them as they made their way back to the truck. When they arrived, Hackstabber found that his cab was being towed. While he was preoccupied with trying to prevent that, Tarr and Smith reached the scene. After a few hasty explanations were made, and the authorities were satisfied, Rufus took off in his taxi to where his money was located.

Shang, Smith, and Tarr soon followed. As they did so, news of the robberies engineered by Tiger Claw had made its way to Manchu. He told his lackey to meet him there and provide him with the death that he felt traitors deserved. 

The trail to the stolen money led to a lumber yard. Shang, Tarr, Smith, and Hackstabber found several of Tiger Claw's men in the main building. After a brief tussle, one of the henchmen admitted that they'd received their share for the job, and that Claw was supposed to pick up the remainder at Rockefeller Center. There, another battle ensued, this time involving Shang, Tarr, Tiger Claw, and a cadre of Manchu's Si-Fan warriors. 

Eventually, Tiger Claw and Shang-Chi faced off against each other. Claw declared himself a free agent, having sided with neither Fu Manchu nor his daughter Fah Lo Suee. The battle was an even match, but Shang emerged the victor once more.

Hackstabber thought he'd finally get his $7.80 back, but that was not to be. Smith insisted that the stolen money be held as evidence. After wrapping things up, Shang-Chi asked Smith for a small loan. He got into Rufus' cab and paid him $7.80 as his fare, the exact amount that his new friend had stolen from him earlier in the evening. 

Tiger Claw was a formidable foe, and I can see why Moench and penciler Keith Pollard included him. I also enjoyed the comedic antics of Rufus Hackstabber (who called Shang Chang-Shee at times). He would return in the monthly magazine, no doubt because fans demanded it. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the twenty-ninth issue of the monthly Master of Kung Fu comic book series. Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee did not appear in that issue, but Paul Gulacy returned to combine with Moench in crafting another great story, one that introduced a pair of new villains, including one that became popular enough to be featured in the Shang-Chi MCU movie. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #28

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be recapping the twenty-eighth issue of Marvel Comics' The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The title showed Shang squaring off against the Shadow Stalker once more as patrons of the supermarket that they occupied tried to stay out of their way. The story was called "A Small Spirit Slowly Shaped..." The issue had a cover date of May 1975.

The tale started inside a Times Square penny arcade. Shang-Chi was wandering the entertainment hall, trying to understand the purpose of the many illuminated, noisy machines around him. A few minutes later, a car carrying Black Jack Tarr and Clive Reston arrived outside the arcade. The duo stepped out of the vehicle and went in to find their friend.

Tarr and Reston soon located Shang and informed him that Sir Dennis Nayland Smith had been kidnapped. Reston showed him a hollow bamboo tube that had been found in Smith's room. Shang-Chi opened it and found a message for him, asking him to have a conversation under the tree where a little spirit was slowly shaped. Although his friend thought that his father, Fu Manchu, had taken Smith, Shang realized this was not the case.

Shang-Chi then thought back to a time eight years prior at his father's Honan, China retreat, when Shang's father ordered him to the courtyard, where he would meet someone familiar to him. That person was his half sister, Fah Lo Suee. Suee reminded him that being the offspring of Fu Manchu was all that one could hope to be, and never a sibling to anyone. 

Shang did not yet understand, but his sister did not expect him to. She then showed him a small bonsai tree. Suee pointed out how its beauty mirrored that of the larger tree that they sat under. She asked Shang-Chi which tree was more beautiful. He couldn't decide, noting that the larger tree's beauty was overwhelming in size and grew freely, while the smaller tree's beauty was more intimate and could be held in the palm of a hand. Suee agreed that there was beauty in things both large and small, and that his spirit must be shaped as it grew, and its beauty would continue to evolve over time. Fah Lo Suee asked her brother if he would let himself be affected by time and the changes of seasons, or by the hand of man. Before departing, she reminded him that time and changing seasons had been known to hold evil, and advised him to choose wisely, knowing that one day he would be called upon to carry that choice.

He informed his friends that it was his sister who had sent the message. It led Shang to believe that Smith had been taken to his father's complex in Honan, China. Reston, Tarr, and Shang-Chi were soon en route to rescue their comrade. During the plane trip, Shang explained that during his last encounter with his father that Fu Manchu had declared himself innocent by circumstance. He went on to tell his son that part of the Si-Fan had broken off and became loyal to the one who owned the golden beetle's ruby eyes, which were said to have hypnotic abilities. Manchu asserted that Suee owned those baubles, leading to a potential war between father and daughter.

The trio soon arrived in China. Minutes after debarking, Shang-Chi separated from his traveling companions and entered the Honan retreat on his own. He overpowered the few guards he saw and soon found himself standing in front of his sister Fah Lo Suee, who now occupied the throne that their father had previously sat in. She led him to the chamber where the large bonsai tree still remained. 

Shang convinced Suee to talk business. She explained how she had used the golden beetle's ruby eyes to persuade several of her father's Si-Fan warriors to side with her. She then asked her brother which side he would choose. Shang-Chi opted not to pick one of the two sides that he considered to be both evil. With a clap of her hands, Suee then summoned her own soldiers to attack Shang.

One of the warriors was the one known as Shadow Stalker (whom Shang had encountered several times before). He asked Shang to stand with his back to him, so that they could guard each other. Fah Lo Suee was not surprised by their loyalty and commanded her remaining troops to kill Shang-Chi and the Shadow Stalker. It was a spirited battle, one that was won by Shang and Stalker. Afterward, Shang-Chi asked his companion why he chose to fight with him. Shadow Stalker replied that they could take on any opponents when they joined forces. While the tall warrior sought to end the lives of Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee, Shang sought only peace. Shadow Stalker went off on his own after telling Shang where Smith had been kept.

A short while later, a mighty kick from Shang-Chi broke open the chamber door where Smith had been held prisoner. Smith and Shang headed toward Suee's quarters just before Reston and Tarr arrived on the scene. Suee was nowhere to be found, but she had left the rubies behind. Shang took the jewels and smashed them with his fists, ensuring that no one would ever be hypnotized by them again. He then left the stronghold with his friends, thinking about how the fortress was much like the arcade in New York City. Both venues were places of games that he did not understand. 

Although penciler Paul Gulacy was absent from this issue, I thought this was a well-woven tale by writer Doug Moench and artists Ron Wilson, Aubrey Bradford, Ed Hannigan, and Sal Trapani. It moved the storyline of Shang and his family further, and we got to see more of the Shadow Stalker, who wasn't quite the enemy that most of us initially thought he would be when he was first introduced.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the fourth and final giant-sized issue of Master of Kung Fu. That issue will feature the debuts of both a new villain and a new supporting character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #27

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be discussing the twenty-seventh issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed the titular character engaged in battle with a half-dozen attackers. The tale was called "Confrontation." The issue had a cover date of April 1975.

The story started on a rooftop in New York City, where Shang-Chi toppled a television antenna with one strong kick. He used the downed antenna as a bridge to traverse from one rooftop to another until he came across a flagpole with a rope tied to the top. Shang then used the remainder of the rope to slowly descend. 

As he did so, Shang-Chi thought back to his recent encounter with a man in Times Square who had been distributing religious leaflets. The man offered Shang a pamphlet moments before he was struck by a knife that had been thrown from afar. As he fell, Shang-Chi glimpsed the dragon pattern on the hilt of the blade and recognized it as a type of weapon commonly used by some of his father's Si-Fan assassins. He knew that the fatal blow was meant for him instead of the stranger. 

Shang then braced his foot against the building and swung backward, using his momentum to launch into a window and an abandoned office. He then left the room and headed for the elevator. Pressing the down button, Shang continued on toward meeting with his father once more.

At his father's New York headquarters, seven cloaked men sat around a table waiting for the arrival of Fu Manchu. Their leader soon arrived and greeted his council of seven. He warned them of the dangers posed by his daughter and the ruby eyes of the golden scorpion. Manchu also emphasized the importance of relying on his own eyes. 

Meanwhile, Shang-Chi had reached the first floor of the high-rise. He had no sooner stepped into the hallway when an armed security officer yelled at him to stop. He said that he had orders not to let anyone into the building after hours and drew his service revolver. Shang disarmed the officer with one kick and used another neck pinch to send his opponent into unconsciousness.

Shang then pushed the up button, sending the elevator car to a higher floor. He opened the elevator doors and climbed down the cables to the bottom. Another strong kick made an opening in a stone wall into a secret portion of Manchu's New York facility. 

Moments later, Fu Manchu was reminding his council that both his father and daughter were enemies, when Shang announced his presence overhead. He dropped the dagger that had slain the man he'd met in Times Square, knowing that he was its intended target. Manchu ended the conversation by saying that the time for words had ended, and with a clap of his hands, the council of seven stood, ready to take on their leader's son.

The ensuing battles were impressive, as each council member took on the intruding Shang-Chi. However, none of them proved to be much of a match for Manchu's son. Afterward, Shang was granted an audience with Manchu. He led his son into his laboratory, where they discussed their perspectives of good and evil. Fu Manchu informed Shang-Chi that his father had survived the explosion (of the pyramid in the last issue) and now controlled a fair number of his Si-Fan warriors. He warned that there would be war unless his son killed him.

Although Shang had expressed interest in ending his father's life before, he knew that he could not make that choice then. He professed his desire to slay evil instead. Shang-Chi left knowing that nothing had changed between them, and wondering if his father had lied to him yet again. 

Even though this kind of seemed like a fill-in issue, with artwork by guests John Buscema and Frank Springer, I still felt that it fit in well with the overall storyline. Shang had his opportunity for revenge against his father, but chose not to take any action in that regard. It also showed more of his moral compass, as he fought an inner battle against slaying him and feeling genuine remorse for the stranger who had died in his arms at the beginning of the story. Writer Doug Moench is the one person who really had a grasp on this character.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the twenty-eighth issue of Master of Kung Fu. Shang-Chi will reunite with Black Jack Tarr, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith, and Clive Reston. We'll also learn what happened to Fah Lo Suee and the ruby eyes of the golden scorpion, and see the return of another opponent who just popped up a few issues ago. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #3

 Hello again,

Welcome to my 100th comic recap article! Today's topic is the third giant-sized issue of Marvel's Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed the titular character fighting off a trio of warriors that had emerged from a shattered storefront window in front of him. The first chapter of the four-part epic was titled "Fires of Rebirth."

The tale began with Shang-Chi thinking about his father Fu Manchu's words as he stood in front of the display window of a toy and novelty shop. He had noticed a man wearing glasses and a suit standing behind him, who soon identified himself as a member of the British Secret Service. His credentials were enough to convince Shang to follow him and enter a waiting automobile. 

The Bureau of Foreign Affairs agent went to the driver's seat. In the back compartment, Shang soon found himself closed off and encased in a trap set by his father. Fortunately, Shang-Chi was able to break through the top of the car before the gas that had started seeping in could do any harm. He bounced on top of the now-moving auto. The driver tried swerving several times to dislodge his opponent, but Shang eventually made his way to the front passenger window, which he smashed before fighting his father's man. Shang leapt away before the car crashed after jumping a curb. 

The driver survived. Shang checked the body and found an amulet, which was a symbol of the East Indian sect of assassins known as the Phanisgar. He pocketed the item and jumped over the British police officers who had arrived on the scene of the accident. Shang was cognizant of the fact that he was still wanted in Britain for the murder of Doctor Petrie (which happened in Shang's debut in Special Marvel Edition #15), so he wasn't about to dally for too long. 

Shang-Chi soon made his way to Sir Dennis Nayland Smith's base of operations in Central Park West in New York City. He was greeted by Smith's butler, who informed him that his master was currently away on business, but that Shang was welcome to stay in his absence. Shang-Chi chose a spot to sit down and examined the amulet. He knew that it was a symbol of the Phanisgars that originated in Tibet, and that they practiced assassination, unlike the Bodicharma before them, who preferred only to fight in self-defense. 

Shang's train of thought was then interrupted by the butler, who announced the presence of a Clive Reston, who had just arrived from London. Reston greeted Shang, and the dragon amulet quickly caught his eye. He demanded to take a closer look at it, right before a trio of Phanisgar warriors broke into the room. The pair of new acquaintances took on the challengers, each in their own way. Before long, the duo emerged victorious.

Shang-Chi appreciated Reston's help, but he was a bit wary of his new ally, even after he provided him with a handwritten note from Smith vouching for him. Shang knew that handwriting could be copied. When asked where Smith was, Reston replied that he was with Black Jack Tarr in London, where chapter 2 of this story began.

The second part kicked off with Reston and Shang flying to London. Shang-Chi was concerned once more that the British authorities would apprehend him for the murder of Doctor Petrie, but Reston offered a fake passport and trenchcoat to allow Shang to get through customs without incident. Upon arrival, Shang and Reston joined Tarr and Smith at the British Museum of Natural History. The quartet convened in a room that had been ransacked hours earlier. Smith observed that each incident was similar in that property was destroyed, but nothing was stolen. When Shang-Chi asked Smith how he knew that these acts were the work of Phanisgars, he replied that three museum guards had been strangled, and that each victim had one of the same amulets around their necks that Shang had found earlier in the story.

Convinced that there was nothing more they could do there, the quartet headed further into the museum, intending to return to Scotland Yard. As they walked through the halls containing dinosaur exhibits, Reston and Smith argued about the reasons for the Phanisgar attacks. Smith asserted that leaving the amulets behind on their victims was fanatical behavior, while Reston postulated that the incidents were devised as a distraction from Manchu's plots. Smith replied that Fu Manchu probably didn't care if they knew what he was after or not and was determined to fulfill his objectives. He added that all they could do was to follow each Phanisgar clue to its end. Reston disagreed once more, suggesting that they put their efforts toward a concentrated search for Shang's father.

Smith remarked that he'd spent years trying to track down and apprehend the elusive tyrant. Reston advised that new methods be used, before Tarr reminded him that he served under Smith, instead of over him, and that it would probably be best if he'd followed orders. Minutes later, at the prehistoric man exhibit, Shang-Chi talked to Smith about the Phanisagar appearances in both New York and London. He asked Smith why he felt that his father was in London. Smith replied that a London policeman had recovered a piece of paper that said "I am alive." It was signed, Petrie. Shang was stunned to hear this, knowing that Doctor Petrie was the man that Fu Manchu had ordered him to kill (on his first mission, shown in Special Marvel Edition #15). 

Moments after Smith said that was impossible, the duo was distracted by the sounds of glass being shattered from inside one of the exhibits. A large warrior lunged for them. Shang stepped in to protect his friend and was quickly joined by Tarr and Reston as more attackers arrived. Brute force, martial arts skills, and firepower were keys to victory that day. Smith figured that the assault was for Manchu's amusement, but Reston wasn't quite so convinced. 

Chapter 3, titled Crucible of Defeat, began outside a London curio shop, where a bobby was admiring some of their wares displayed in the shop window, just before a trio of Phanisgars overtook him and entered the store. They were soon alerted to the fact that they were not alone. Shang-Chi had been waiting for them. They drew their weapons before beginning the battle, which Shang won convincingly. Afterward, Shang went outside and found a wallet belonging to the slain police officer. He opened it to a picture of a beautiful woman and two young children. Shang gently placed the wallet in one of the officer's hands before going to have a conversation with one of his attackers.

The final chapter was named Test of Loyalty. It began at Scotland Yard, where Tarr, Smith, Shang, and Reston were waiting for a doctor who had administered a dose of truth serum to the Phanisgar that Shang-Chi had captured. Smith went to question their captive, and learned that the soldier worked for Fu Manchu, who was seeking vengeance for the theft of life, and that Manchu's next target was Buckingham Palace. Reston assumed that was a trick, but Smith wasn't deterred. He asked for clearance for the four of them to go to Buckingham Palace.

Meanwhile, in Manchu's stronghold, the towering Si-Fan warrior known as Shadow Stalker reported to his leader. Manchu said that he placed his greatest trust in him and ordered him to his next task of stalking his enemies after reminding him about the penalty for failure. Hours later, Smith finally had the necessary clearances, and the quartet was driving toward their destination when one of the car's tires was deflated by a dart fired from nearby.

Shang exited the car to find the person who had fired the dart. In his absence, Tarr left the vehicle to inspect the damage and was struck from behind by the Shadow Stalker's flying kick. He overpowered Reston and Smith and carried away Smith's unconscious form in his outstretched arms. Shang-Chi soon realized that the alley was empty, and he returned to his companions just to see Tarr on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance. Reston filled him in on what had happened.

Inside Buckingham Palace, Reston and Shang stood inside a chamber containing the queen's personal collection of Oriental art. Two guards stood outside the room until one of them noticed something in a corner. They went to investigate and were overpowered by a pair of Phanisgar soldiers. The soldiers then entered the chamber and attacked Shang-Chi and Reston. One of the Phanisgar escaped through a secret passage. Shang was right behind him, after using a brief neck pinch to ensure that Reston would not accompany him. 

Shang-Chi soon found himself in a corridor with multiple entrances. He moved a stone panel and proceeded down a winding staircase. At the bottom, he found his father standing next to Doctor Petrie, who had been trussed up on the wall behind them. Manchu admitted that the person he'd sent his son to kill was nothing more than an automaton of his own creation. He'd kept the real Doctor Petrie to experiment on, revile, and exact revenge on while he sought a valuable item that had been taken from him. 

This did nothing to change Shang's anger toward his father. He reminded Manchu that he'd taught him to kill, and stated that he would use that knowledge against him until his father led him into an adjoining room where Smith had been chained to a table. He'd captured his opponent to learn the whereabouts of the item that Petrie had not provided him with yet. Manchu was confident that the threat of the two Phanisgars next to Smith would be enough for his son to drop his ideas of retaliation against him. 

Shang-Chi reluctantly agreed, and soon found himself in a small arena, where he and the Shadow Stalker had been chained to a post. The Shadow Stalker was strong, but proved to be ineffectual against Manchu's son. Manchu declared that his son's victory only assured his death and the demise of Smith. A hidden panel then opened in the small arena, letting a bevy of vipers slither forth, while Manchu ordered his men to kill Smith.

The killing stroke was averted by Reston's arrival. Manchu escaped through another hidden panel beneath his throne while the now freed Smith helped Shang escape from the poisonous reptiles. Afterward, Smith and Petrie were reunited after many long, agonizing months. Petrie revealed that Manchu had been after a statue of a small elephant that contained a vial of elixir vitae, the concoction that Shang's father had used to extend his life. 

Smith remembered the trinket, having taken it years ago in a raid when he also acquired a list of all the Si-Fan lodge masters in China. Petrie presumed that Manchu wanted the statue when his own supply of the elixir began to dissipate. Smith remembered that he still had the statue at his residence in New York and vowed to destroy it so that no one would have the elixir. Shang-Chi expressed his relief that Petrie was alive and his sadness for knowing that he was still guilty of his murder, in his mind. The issue closed with a pair of Yellow Claw reprint stories. I won't cover those stories because they are reprints and aren't relevant to the main characters or storylines. 

This was one of the first Master of Kung Fu issues that I bought years ago. I was hooked by Paul Gulacy and Doug Moench's storytelling right away. I loved the conflict between father and son in many of these early issues. This was a well-crafted tale that finally resolved the mystery of why Shang had been ordered to kill Doctor Petrie back in his first mission. Petrie, like Reston, would go on to be an important supporting character for some time.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the twenty-seventh issue of Master of Kung Fu. Big John Buscema joins Moench to show Shang back in New York, facing off against his father and learning what happened after their last encounter in the monthly magazine. We'll also see a revamped Council of Seven, who were first introduced in the initial Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu issue. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #26

 Hi everyone, 

Today, I'll be discussing the twenty-sixth issue of Marvel Comics' The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang jumping to avoid an attacker who lunged headfirst into a tall column, as a mystery woman watches them from behind. The story was called "Daughter of Darkness!" The issue had a cover date of March 1975.

The tale began with a character recounting his experience with a beautiful woman, who had been searching for the ruby eyes of a golden beetle. The female was apparently intoxicating to the eyes and other physical senses. On the second page, we learned that the person sharing the story was a man named Greville, who was conversing with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith at a restaurant. At first, Greville assumed that what he'd witnessed was just a dream, until he awoke and found a sparking emerald ring next to his pillow that morning.

Smith immediately knew that the ring his friend Robert held in his hand was identical to the one that had been gifted to Greville's father, Shan, many years ago by the daughter of Fu Manchu. Smith explained that her name was Fah Lo Suee and that she had once coerced Shan to fall in love with him. He went on to say that Manchu's daughter was capable of using her powers to convince men to do whatever she pleased. 

Greville knew nothing about this until just then. Smith remarked that few men would tell their offspring that they'd fallen in love with a temptation from hell. He added that once he broke free of Suee's temptations, he eventually met Robert's mother, Rima Barton, and was content with their new life together. Greville laughed at what might be considered to be a ghost story and was curious as to why one of his father's old friends had contacted him.

Smith replied that he'd had reason to believe that Fu Manchu was currently residing in the same city of El Kharga, Egypt, where they were now. Greville dismissed Smith's belief as more poppycock, thinking that the old man might be a bit delusional. Smith asked him if a delusion had also entered his bedroom and left the emerald earring behind. 

Meanwhile, in the crowded streets of El Kharga, Shang-Chi was nearing the designated site where he would rendezvous with Smith. Sir Dennis Nayland Smith asked Greville to get rid of the ring immediately, as Shang found the restaurant's entrance and entered cautiously. He arrived to find Smith and Greville still locked in debate as to whether or not the presence of the ring signaled trouble.

Shang interrupted the conversation to inform his friend that his father was in the same room with them. The trio of men then turned slowly to see the cloaked figure who had been sitting quietly stand up and reveal himself as none other than Fu Manchu. Moments later, several of Manchu's trained warriors broke through the restaurant's plate-glass window. Shang-Chi leapt into action to defend his comrades. The battle was quick. Manchu's Si-Fan warriors had all been defeated, but not before Manchu slipped away once more.

After the battle, Smith asked Greville again to get rid of the ring and remove himself from any involvement with Manchu or Suee. Robert pressed his father's old friend for more information as to why Smith knew so much about their opponent. Smith admitted that at one time, he was also under the love spell of Suee and was almost lost in it. That response apparently wasn't enough for Greville. He stormed off, after stating that the emerald ring was his to do with as he wished. Smith remarked to Shang that Robert had lost his reason and that they should still try to protect him from Shang's sister. 

This made Shang-Chi think back to a time several years before, during his first meeting with his half-sister Fah Lo Suee. Manchu explained that they did not have the same mother and left the siblings alone for a while. Suee started by saying that she liked Shang's name and asked her half-brother what she thought of the man who had sired them both. Young Shang replied that his father was a great man, one whom evil men sought to destroy. 

Suee responded by saying that there is evil in many beings, including possibly some in herself and Manchu. Before leaving, she asked Shang to think about the fact that Manchu and she were the same, and someday she may wish their father to be slain. On that day, he would be allowed to share Suee's wish. Shang didn't understand those words at the time. It wasn't until he had killed another man in his father's service (as witnessed in Special Marvel Edition #15) and desecrated his spirit in the process that he finally started to understand. 

By that time, Shang and Smith were in a nearby library. Smith had been poring over hefty tomes until he found a depiction of the pharaoh Seth-Amon's golden beetle. Rubies were affixed to its eye sockets. The book went on to say that Seth-Amon believed that the rubies were able to hypnotize others, which explained why Suee sought the trinket. It was a key to success that had been out of her grasp before. Smith postulated that both Manchu was also in Egypt as a last attempt to stop Suee.  

A while later, Smith and Shang arrived at Greville's lodging. The front door was locked, but Shang-Chi managed to slip into a window several stories above the main entrance. He noticed that the desk chair was out of place and that the letter on the desk in front of him remained unfinished. His reverie was then interrupted by a knife thrown at him by a large Si-Fan warrior. Both he and Shang were after the same person.

The soldier added that he was also sent to slay Shang, and another battle ensued. The conflict in close quarters was impressive, but Shang-Chi walked away victorious as expected. Afterward, he rejoined Smith outside and showed him a map that he had found, which would lead them straight to Greville's archaeological excavation site. 

They guessed correctly that Suee would have led Robert to that spot to help her find the golden beetle. They searched for the item inside the pyramid, just before Shang and Smith arrived via Jeep. Both parties continued to venture further inside the structure. Greville and Suee eventually located a crypt that held six sarcophagi of women and servants. The seventh sarcophagi contained the mummified remains of Seth-Amon and the beetle, which was kept in a small box beside him. 

The duo found the box, but Suee was shocked to find that the beetle's eyes had already been removed. She wondered who had taken them and accused Robert of theft. He swore that wasn't true, noting that his workers had only found the crypt the day before and that he hadn't had enough time to review it thoroughly. Suee commanded him to search for them just before Shang and Smith arrived. She remembered Smith and soon entranced him again. 

Shang-Chi tried to prevent Smith's enchantment, minutes before several sarcophagi opened, and the beings from within declared death to Manchu's enemies. Suee ordered Greville and Smith to defend her, a cause which Shang joined as well. During the fracas, Seth-Amon's sarcophagi broke open after one of Manchu's soldiers crashed into it. We then saw that his sightless eyes housed the beetle's rubies.

Shang was able to defeat the soldiers and break Smith free from the spell. He'd noticed a bomb sitting on the floor during the confrontation and was able to leave the pyramid with Smith moments before its explosion. Manchu's helicopter pilot had triggered the explosive remotely, but as far as we knew, there was only one casualty. After the blast, Shang and Smith discovered Greville lying next to them. He hoarsely mentioned that Suee had kissed her before expiring. Smith figured out that Suee had been wearing poisonous lipstick. 

Smith and Shang-Chi knew that Manchu had escaped again and figured that Suee had probably fled the pyramid before the bomb was detonated. Smith wondered if Grevile had been left outside as a decoy. Both men realized that this would not be the last time that either of them would see Shang's dangerous relatives.

Even though some comic book fans don't particularly care for Keith Pollard's work, I find him to be a very acceptable artist. His pencil drawings were inked nicely by Sal Trapani and helped to move Doug Moench's script along nicely. Fah Lo Suee would prove to be an interesting character that I wish had been more involved over the course of this title's run. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the third giant-sized edition of Master of Kung Fu. Penciller Paul Gulacy returns to craft an all-new four-part epic with Moench. Shang, Smith, Black Jack Tarr, and Fu Manchu will also be there. We'll also be introduced to a new ally and a new foe. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.