Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #38

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'm writing about the thirty-eighth issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang reflected in a mirror as he attacked one opponent from above, while another foe lay beneath him. The story was aptly named "Cat." The issue had a cover date of March 1976. 

In a seemingly deserted Hong Kong street, we see several felines on the prowl. A small rock tossed by Shang disrupts them, but only for the moment. As the titular character walks on, he thinks back to what brought him there. Sir Dennis Nayland Smith was surprised by Shang-Chi's initial refusal to travel to Hong Kong, noting that he'd never turned down a mission before. Shang replied that it was because Smith had never asked him to kill a man before. Smith noted that he only wanted him to stop an opponent's operations and retrieve some important documents. Shang-Chi countered that the only way to stop such a person would be to end their life. 

Smith urged his friend to reconsider, stating that the counter agent was in more danger with each second that they delayed. Leiko Wu agreed with that statement, adding that she was in danger. Shang-Chi agreed to the mission to save a life, and not cause a death. Wu informed him that the agent was Shen Kuei, who, for his mystery, stealth, and cunning, was also known as Cat.

By the time the recollection was over, Shang had arrived at the Jade Peacock nightclub. He stepped inside, in the middle of a set performed by a stunning blonde singer. Her haunting melodies made him think back to saying goodbye to Leiko at the airport, with their embrace (from the end of the Mordillo trilogy in issue #34) lingering in both of their minds. 

The memory faded as the song did. The singer sat down with Shang and asked what brought him to Hong Kong. Shang-Chi replied that he was looking for a cat. He used the proper code words, and she identified herself as the counteragent. Shang went on to say that he was to protect her from Kuei, who was trying to prevent her from returning to London.

The singer didn't seem very interested in returning to London. When asked why, she talked about the magicians of old China who were known as the bewitchers of the night. They played on the five senses while they entertained their audiences, turning their performances into nights of pure fantasy. The magicians no longer existed, but their ghosts still remained in that country. That was why she preferred to stay where she was.

Shang-Chi was about to ask her where to find Kuei when a man from behind her expressed his concern that Juliette had asked to be left alone. Shang fought him off. The man was young and skilled, but not well enough to defeat Shang-Chi. Afterward, Juliette told Shang that his opponent belonged to a local street gang. They decided to leave before more gang members arrived.

Once inside Juliette's room, and after she confirmed that it had not been bugged, she admitted to Shang-Chie that Shen Kuei was her lover. She asked him to go to the harbor and retrieve the documents before the gang members returned. Meanwhile, an associate of Kuei's confirmed the suspicion that Juliette was a British counteragent.

On his way to the harbor, Shang-Chi reentered the Jade Peacock. It was empty, but only momentarily. He was soon joined by more gang memers. Shen Kuei himself appeared on the balcony. The man who was also known as Cat fought side by side with Shang. Together, they successfully defeated the Hong Kong gang members one by one. 

Following the battle, Juliette reappeared. Kuei said that he had come to repay his lover for betraying him to Shang and telling him his location. Juliette admitted that she hadn't disclosed that information, to which Kuei replied that he had come to repay her false love in death.

The artwork in this issue was magnificent! Just the first three pages alone belong in an exhibit of modern or comic book art. Paul Gulacy and Dan Adkins did an excellent job of portraying Doug Moench's story. Both Kuei and Juliette proved to be interesting characters, although Juliette does look and act a bit similar to Pavane.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-ninth issue of Master of Kung Fu. That issue wraps up this story. We'll learn more about both of the supporting characters that were just introduced. There's also a development involving Clive Reston and Leiko Wu. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #37

 Hi there,

Today, I'll be discussing the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang squaring off against an eight-limbed being known as Darkstrider in a bright yellow web, as Moon Sun's mysterious beings looked on. The tale was titled "Web of Dark Death!" The issue had a cover date of February 1976.

The story began with a sound coming from the exterior of the train car's roof, right about the time Shang-Chi appeared. Sun Moon and his daughter Tiko realized that the Warlords of the Web had returned. Shang did his duty to defend his new friends from the invaders. He battled them both inside and outside of the train car. However, when he ran to follow the attackers as they headed toward the engine car, he found that they had once more vanished into thin air. There were no bodies, no blood, and no signs that they had even been there in the first place.

Back inside the train, Pan Sing and his comrades demanded to be released from their cages so that they could assist Shang-Chi. Sun told them that he could not grant that wish. He was about to go on about the commitment they'd made long ago when Shang returned. Shang-Chi said that he'd won the battle, but wanted to know more about the assailants who vanished on him yet again. 

Pan Sing began the explanation by recounting the times when their circus toured the island of Taiwan. During that tour, they once performed for a powerful mandarin at his residence. He was so impressed by their performance that he demanded that they stay and perform for him and him alone for the rest of their days. Sun said that he appreciated the offer, but they must decline it honorably. 

This angered the mandarin, who remarked that they could either stay there and live their lives in luxury or leave and find only death. Sun and his companions chose to leave, which prompted the mandarin to send out his Warlords of the Web after them, led by the dangerous Darkstrider. 

When asked by Shang who the Darkstrider was, Sing replied that he was a tiger in human form. Rynor debated that claim, as well as how their troubles began. Rynor then went on to say that Sing's tale had been true up until their performance. He stated that the mandarin had not asked them to stay because he had not been pleased with their performance. He thought that it was horrible and should have been stopped. However, they continued on, and that the threats were only made after the performance ended. Rynor claimed that the Darkstrider was a mantis in human form.

Angel Hawk refuted both stories. He told Shang-Chi that they had decided to perform at a poor person's house for no charge. The performance never happened. The farmer and his wife went outside to greet the performers, and the wife was so frightened by Cinnabar that she gasped in fright, clutched her chest, and fell to the ground, dying before their very eyes. Her distraught husband was so unnerved by this that he swore then and there that he would become a master assassin and ally others to his cause. When questioned by Shang about his appearance, Hawk said that Darkstrider was a crane in human guise. 

Sybilis claimed that Darkstider was a snake in human guise. Its other head, known as Snake, agreed as it told their version. It said that their performance was held in a large arena. Among those in attendance were several Taiwan government officials. Some of them had become intoxicated and feared that, in their drunken state that they may have inadvertently shared some confidential government secrets. They would have a cabinet meeting in the morning, and if it was found that the performers overheard any secret information, they would send Darkstrider to kill all of them. 

Cinnabar declared all of those who had shared the tale before to be liars. He said that they saved a woman in Taiwan from being beaten. Her assailant said that he would call Darkstrider and his Warlords of the Web to find them. Cinnabar then claimed that Darkstrider was a dragon in human form. 

Seena had yet another story to tell. She told Shang-Chi that a woman approached their wagon at sunset. She was so affected with sympathy by their appearances that she would fix nature's errors by calling for her lover Darkstrider to slay them all. Their misery would then end, and they would be reincarnated in the true beauty that she wanted to share.

Sybilis advised Shang-Chi not to listen to Seena, adding that Darkstrider was a snake in human form. When asked what Tiko thought, she felt that it was not her place to explain the beauty of a mystery. Before they could continue the discussion, Sun reminded everyone that they should get some rest, as they still had a long trek ahead of them. 

The following morning, Moon Sun decided to set up camp on a barren plain. Shang-Chi assisted with the tent setup and other duties, interacting with several of Sun's associates as he did so. Later on, Sun asked Shang to summon Tiko to assist her father with preparations for the evening's performance. Shang-Chi entered her quarters and was stunned to see her deformed face.

Tiko raised her wig and showed him her true face, one that in her eyes made her as much of a reject as her father's exhibits. Before Shang could offer any advice or words of comfort, Tiko ordered him to leave her alone. Shang-Chi wandered over to the performance tent, only to find that Sun was absent. He went outside to try and find him. Before he did so, he noticed a stranger wearing a hat and an overcoat in the stands. 

When Shang returned to the tent, he saw the hat and overcoat on the ground. There before him was the one known as Darkstrider. The six-armed man was in the center of a long web, one that held all of Sun's performers captive. Shang fought the villain to a standstill before realizing that the performers who had been caught in the web were suddenly replaced by Warlords of the Web. Each warrior spoke in the voices of the six. They and their seemingly immortal leader continued to stymie Shang with their words and actions. 

After a few minutes, the warriors tossed their swords upward, slashing a hole in the tent through which they escaped. Darkstrider made a dash for the tent's opening below them. Shang-Chi rushed to catch up with him. Once he was outside, he realized that everything around him, including the tent, wagons, Sun, Tiko, and their performers, had disappeared. All that was left was a piece of Darkstrider's clothing, and even that disintegrated in his hand. Shang was left with more questions, but as he walked alone, he realized how much he had learned from this adventure, including the fact that we are all freaks under other eyes and life is our cage and that the watching world is both beautiful and blind.

This was a trippy two-part story that made readers like me wonder if it was all just a dream. Darkstrider was an interesting villain. He certainly could have given Doctor Octopus a run for his money. I got the impression, because of the story and setting, that this tale took place before the recent three-part Mordillo story because Leiko Wu wasn't even mentioned. It was good to see the focus on Shang-Chi, because although the Mordillo epic was great, it felt like that storyline was more of a way to develop the supporting characters. Shang often felt like a supporting character himself in that three-issue trilogy. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-eighth issue of Master of Kung Fu. Paul Gulacy and Dan Adkins return to team up with Moench on a story that's a pure artistic masterpiece. The first few pages alone belong in a gallery. Shang embarks on another solo mission, and we're introduced to a couple more new, intriguing characters. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #36

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'm taking a look back at the thirty-sixth issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover shows the main character fending off an attack by at least a half dozen strangers. The story was named "Cages of Myth, Menagerie and Mirrors!" The issue had a cover date of January 1976.

The tale began in Manhattan, as we find Shang walking alongside a man known as Moon Sun. The elderly gentleman had information to share with his young companion, but would only do so once they descended a nearby staircase leading into a building next to them. Sun Moon warned that the Warlords of the Web were awaiting an opportunity to strike just moments before he was felled by a knife thrown at his back.

As the old man crumpled to the ground, a half dozen dark-robed ninjas surrounded him and Shang-Chi. One of them asked Shang to step away from the stairs, because they sought the death of seven. Shang replied that they'd already sought and found the death of one, and that would end then and there. 

The Warlords of the Web's skill with their assorted weapons was impressive, but not enough to overcome Shang's Kung Fu expertise. After the battle was finished, the ninjas mysteriously vanished, leaving Shang-Chi with his dead companion and far more questions than answers.

Shang then thought back to his earlier conversation with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith at his townhouse on Central Park West. Smith informed Shang-Chi about a letter that was addressed to him by someone who identified themself as Moon Sun. There were no other details, except that they were to meet at Columbus and 93rd by midnight. Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr, who were embroiled in a checkers match with each other, asked Shang if he wanted assistance, but he preferred to go it alone.

Shang-Chi was lulled from his reverie by the sound of Moon Sun's voice, asking him to come here. He was stunned to see that Sun was alive. The elderly man said that the dagger had killed him for a moment, but in reality, it had missed. The weapon had not been hurled with the true spirit of death behind it. He then led Shang down the stairs and into what appeared to be an empty room. 

Moon Sun promised that explanations would be given in due time. For now, he asked Shang to introduce him to someone who was on the other side of a green curtain before him. Sun left, stating that his absence would be temporary. 

Shang-Chi was understandably confused by the request. He then pulled the curtain aside, as the being on the other side of it had asked. There he came upon the first mystery: Satyr. A gray-skinned humanoid conversed with him from behind the bars of its cage. He introduced himself as Pan Sing and gave few details about himself, except that he preferred to stay where he was and that he would not reveal much more until Shang went to the next canvas and introduced himself. 

Shang did so, and soon pulled off the next canvas to discover the second mystery: Wulff. Here, a wolf-like creature (somewhat similar to the Werewolf by Night character that had its own Marvel magazine at about the same time) introduced itself as Cinnabar. Cinnabar stated that he had not always been a wolf and that he would cause Shang-Chi harm if he failed to obey Sun's instructions. 

He told Shang to introduce himself before the next canvas, which he did once more. This time, the third mystery was a being known as Angel Hawk. It was both angel and hawk, although it did not really like being either entity. He asked Shang-Chi if he really knew himself before guiding him to the next canvas.

The fourth mystery was a Seamaid named Seena. Her message was that the feeling in which words were communicated was what mattered. Feeling didn't really care if the person didn't. 

From there, Shang went to the fifth curtain, which was hiding an impressive-looking Unitaur, the fifth mystery. It was named Rynor and admitted to having a gruff exterior but a soft interior. All he wanted was to help Shang help himself. Shang-Chi was then asked to approach the last curtain.

He did so, and behind it was the sixth mystery: and a serpent, two. This being was an amazing two-headed snake. Each head spoke in turn to Shang-Chi. The purple head was known as Sybilis, while the green head called itself simply Snake. Sybilis wanted to devour Shang, while Snake preferred to be friendly. Both heads warred with each other, even though they were attached to the same body. 

They were ordered to stop bickering by Moon Sun, who had arrived with his most prized possession: his daughter Tiko. Shang-Chi was pleased to meet her, but still wanted more answers from her father. He explained that he wanted Shang to protect his exhibits, which he referred to as mysteries. They were a traveling circus, and he wanted to keep them safe from the evil Dark Strider and his Warlords of the Web. 

Tiko confessed that she tried to dissuade her father from continuing on, but he was adamant that the show must go on, even though he knew full well that could mean putting himself and those he traveled with in danger. Shang-Chi agreed to protect them, since they had been threatened with harm. 

The next morning, Shang made his way to the train terminal, where he was greeted by both Tiko and Moon Sun. Just the ten of them were making the journey together. What they didn't know was that not long after their train left the station, more Warlords of the Web pounced on top of the train, eager to accomplish their goal of the death of the ten, including Shang-Chi. 

This was a bit of an offbeat issue, especially when compared to the Moench-Gulacy three-part epics. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it. The menagerie of characters reminded me a bit of different-looking characters from a Len Wein-Sal Buscema storyline in the Incredible Hulk's color comic. I know that not every comic book fan likes Keith Pollard's art, but I've always found him to be a capable artist, and probably drew the mystery characters better than anyone else probably would have. 

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-seventh issue of Master of Kung Fu. Doug Moench, Pollard, and inker Sal Trapani will continue this story as we learn what happened to Shang and his new companions. We'll also delve into more of the backstory of the Warlords of the Web and the Dark Strider. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #35

 Hi everyone,

Today I'm going to discuss the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel Comics' The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed Shang attacking Mordillo, as his men rushed to assist him. Leiko Wu was still encased in an hourglass, as shown in the previous issue. The story was named "Death-Hand and the Sun of Mordillo." The issue had a cover date of December 1975.

The tale began with Mordillo using a metal glove to blast bursts of flame at Shang-Chi and Clive Reston, who were locked in the seats in front of the stage. Mordillo and Leiko Wu, who had been imprisoned in a large hourglass whose sand had almost entirely reached the bottom by now, were on the stage. Mordillo had captured Wu to force her to reveal what she knew about Project Ultra Violet.

Reston admitted that she knew nothing about it because she'd been hypnotized not to consciously be aware of her knowledge regarding that matter. He added that Mordillo had killed agent Putnam (as revealed in issue #33), who was the only one who knew how to unlock that information. Mordillo refused to believe this, thinking that it was merely a fabrication by one who was a former love interest of Leiko's. 

Mordillo tapped a button on his metal glove, launching a compression dart at his rival. Before he could use the gauntlet again, it was struck by an energy bolt, fired by a metal man (who looked similar to the enemy from issue #33). The robot continued firing at Mordillo, which allowed Shang-Chi to find a way to break the metal pole that kept him and Reston in place in their seats. He then used that piece of metal to shatter the hourglass, freeing Wu.

Shortly before that, the robot was felled by another concussive bolt from Mordillo's glove. The villain left the room swiftly, heading toward a clock and the solar chute. Meanwhile, the robot was revealed to be Black Jack Tarr. He had commandeered one of Mordillo's metal man and used it as a disguise to get closer to their foe, who by then had enlisted Brynocki's assistance once more. 

Reston opted to go off to find the villain by himself. While Tarr, Shang, and Wu waited, Tarr informed his companions that a rescue craft was anchored to the island. Unfortunately, Reston's quest was in vain. He soon returned to his comrades, who were ready to plan their next move. Wu informed them about Mordillo's solar chute and how he thought that the information that she'd been hypnotized to remember would be the key to operating the machine properly so that it could cut holes through Earth's ozone layers, allowing Mordillo to focus UV radiation on designated ground targets. She suggested destroying the apparatus, or at the very least, preventing Mordillo from being able to use the solar chute. 

While the heroes were planning, Mordillo was traveling to the castle, where Pavane and her black panther waited. He informed her that Shang-Chi and Leiko had been freed. Pavane was ready to defeat the female, who arrived at the island blindfolded, and might not know the exact location of the geodesic dome where the solar chute was held. He thought that it might be better to move the machine, just in case Leiko and her friends discovered its location. 

Brynocki operated a tram that took him and Mordillo to the dome. Along the way, Mordillo instructed several of his warriors to join forces with Pavane, who would provide them with additional instructions. Outside the castle, Tarr, Shang, Wu, and Reston were trying to figure out where the chute was. Wu said that she'd been blindfolded and only knew that she had been put in an underground railcar. Minutes later, the geodesic dome halves retracted. Reston and company knew that had to be where Mordillo and his weapon were. 

Shang-Chi volunteered to go after Mordillo, while his friends would head toward the rescue craft. Shang soon encountered Mordillo, who still launched the craft to fulfill his mission. Shang leapt after it, and caught a panel just as the chute took off. He tried to convince his opponent to cease his actions, even as Mordillo announced his plans to kill him.

Tarr, Reston, and Wu soon found themselves face to face with Pavane and her companions. Battles began both there and on the solar chute, as Shang blocked Mordillo's attacks. A few beams struck portions of the island, reducing the natural growth to ash. After witnessing the initial blast, Reston and the rest of the ground crew sought cover in one of the tunnels hollowed out in a nearby mountain.

Mordillo was soon defeated by Shang in personal combat, but he wouldn't go down easily. He eventually slid off the contraption, and his body was incinerated by another burst of radiation. Brynocki ran toward him as his body fell to the ground. 

Shang couldn't turn the machine off, but was at least able to send it into the sea, where it could cause no further damage. On the rescue craft, he was consoled by Leiko. The two embraced, not knowing that Reston was watching. Back on the island, Brynocki was carefully cradling the skeleton of his master, Mordillo, vowing that he wouldn't leave him. As Shang-Chi's narration noted on the last panel, love is strange. 

This was indeed the end of Mordillo, at least in his mortal form, but we would see Brynocki and Mordillo's island return both in this comic and other Marvel titles. Regular readers of this blog know that both of them appeared in an issue of ROM: Spaceknight. Mordillo was an interesting character. I just wish that his demise wasn't so premature. He could have been a regular thorn in the side of Shang-Chi and his friends. All in all, another excellent issue by Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, Dan Adkins, and company.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-sixth issue of Master of Kung Fu. Shang-Chi will embark on solo action embellished by Keith Pollard. He will face off against familiar-looking foes and take on a half-dozen new mysteries. I'll explain more about that in that blog post. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #34

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be discussing the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. The cover showed the titular character engaged in battle with what appeared to be an army of robot soldiers. The story was called "Cyclone at the Center of a  Madman's Crown!" The issue had a cover date of November 1975. 

The action began in the East China Sea, as a strange-looking plan maneuvered toward an island encased in a circle of mountains. Shang-Chi and his friends were on their way to rescue their colleague Leiko Wu from the madman known as Mordillo. Clive Reston thought about his relationship with Wu and how he was stunned at first by knowing that she had chosen Simon Brentor over him. Now that he knew that Brentnor and Mordillo were the same person, he was ready to take care of two opponents at once.

As they neared the island, Reston and company were amazed by what they saw below them. The island had a castle, a pyramid, a geodesic dome, and a shoe straight out of a fairy tale, all within close proximity of each other. The rocketship started its descent at about the same time that Mordillo, Wu, and Mordillo's soldiers departed their own craft. 

Leiko was not about to be a willing captive. She initially fought off Mordillo's men before expressing her regret over leaving Reston for what she now knew was a lesser man. Mordillo asserted that he can play the game as well as anyone else, adding that he played the role of Brentnor long enough to persuade Wu to fall in love with him. Now he was the evil genius and martial arts master known as Mordillo, having presumably shed his alter ego for good.

He engaged in a spirited battle with his former love until she was lassoed by another associate of Mordillo's. This one was a pasty-complexioned, short being named Brynocki. Brynocki was wearing garb typically associated with cowboys from the days of the old West. Mordillo was thankful for the assist and eagerly awaited more shenanigans in the castle that lay just ahead of them. 

Meanwhile, the rocketship was continuing to lose altitude, eventually crashing into several trees. The lightweight suits worn by its crew undoubtedly saved the passengers from serious harm. They had only ventured a few yards when the sounds of a train caught their attention. This was no ordinary locomotive. It talked and had a friendly face. It looked like something out of a children's book. A calling card was issued from the seat of the first car. It was an invitation by Mordillo to a gathering. Reston and Shang were skeptical, but decided to board the vehicle anyway, presuming it would lead them to their lost teammate.

Back in England, Black Jack Tarr and Sir Dennis Nayland Smith had a lengthy conversation. Tarr expressed his desire to join his friends, instead of staying behind at Scotland Yard with Smith. He went on to say that Smith should have stopped Reston's initial association with Wu. Doctor Petrie said that there was plenty to do in London. However, Tarr was less than convinced, stating that he wanted to be where the action was before leaving the room and slamming the door loudly behind him as he did so. 

Inside Mordillo's headquarters, he and Byrnocki were viewing footage of Shang-Chi's recent exploits. The leader lamented the loss of income and the opportunity to do in Carlton Velcro himself. He went on to say that he'd gotten to the point where he'd convinced Velcro and he and Pavane were trusted allies and could have moved along with his plans until Shang and company intervened.

He then told Brynocki to burn the film, before moving to the dining room for a rather uncomfortable meal with Leiko. The former couple sat at opposite ends of a long table. He continued to grill her about Project Ultra Violet, something that she swore she had no knowledge of. As he continued to press the issue, she reminded him of their past relationship, which he stressed was in his former guise as Simon Brentor, and that he was no longer that character.

The Chinese government was willing to pay Mordillo a million dollars for what Leiko knew about the project, which explained his insistence on grilling her. She still claimed no knowledge of it, which prompted Mordillo to provide further motivation. The wall behind them opened slowly, revealing a large device called a solar chute. It would be used to deliver soldiers up into Earth's stratosphere, where they would inject freon to deplete the ozone layer, leaving sections open from which to fire rays of UV sunlight down on targeted opponents. 

At the same time, Reston and Shang-Chi's train ride was about to come to an end. They stopped by the shoe, and saw a quartet of robotic soldiers march toward them. The deadly toys proved to be no match for the heroes. They resumed their journey on the odd train until another trap was sprung. This time, a drawbridge before the end of the train tracks saved Shang and Reston, who leapt toward it just before the train crashed underneath them.

Clive and Shang landed in what seemed to be an area filled with toy houses. From one of them sprang a puppet of Shang's father, the evil Fu Manchu. Reston shot the puppet before it could issue more taunts at them. He had just holstered his weapon when they turned to find a silent figure wearing a mask with a smile adorned on it behind them. They followed the figure along a path, avoiding more trouble until they arrived at a theater.

Inside the building, Brynocki served as an usher, directing Shang-Chi and Reston to their seats. On the stage before them sat a large hourglass. Leiko was inside the trap, whose sands were pouring down upon her with great intensity. Before the two could move to save her, Mordillo entered the scene. He then put on a metal glove that spat fire before asking what fun he could have with his captive audience. 

This was a very satisfying continuation of the story from the previous issue. We got to learn more about Mordillo and Leiko, who would continue to evolve during the monthly comic's run. Mordillo's artificial assistant Brynocki would be the first supporting character to serve as comic relief since Rufus Hackstabber. It was even nice to see the return of Shang's father, even if it was only in puppet form.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-fifth issue of Master of Kung Fu. That issue wraps up the Mordillo introduction. We'll find out if Wu escapes the hourglass and the fate of Reston and Shang-Chi. We'll also see what Mordillo had in mind for his solar chute and the return of another character who was briefly mentioned but not seen in this issue. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #33

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'm writing about the thirty-third issue of Marvel's monthly The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu comic book. The cover showed the main character squaring off against an armored being who was firing rays from its eye sockets at our hero. The story was called "Wicked Messenger of Madness." The issue had a cover date of October 1975.

This time, we find Shang, Sir Dennis Nayland Smith, and Black Jack Tarr at Victoria Station in London, England. Having recently returned from Marseilles, France, the trio was waiting for a cab. What they didn't know was that someone else was there waiting for them. 

A figure with a mechanical voice asked for Reston, and then proceeded to fire at him with gunports that emerged from where a human's eyes would be. Clive instinctively ducked for cover while Shang-Chi attacked it. Smith and Tarr drew their pistols after realizing that their opponent wasn't alive. They fired at it until Shang was able to bend the robot backward until it fired upon its torso, seemingly destroying it.

Afterward, Tarr presumed the assassin had been sent by Mordillo. He explained to Shang that Mordillo was a hired assassin. He'd gained a reputation for himself over the years, even though none of them knew what he looked like. Reston was surprised that he was the intended target, and suggested that the slugs fired into the car during the attack be retrieved and inspected, after telling Smith that Petrie was waiting at headquarters with a new case for them. 

Smith had arranged living quarters for his companions during their stay. The flat on King's Road in Chelsea was more lavish than Shang-Chi expected. As he explored his living quarters, he was surprised to see a mysterious woman in the bath. She introduced herself as Leiko. It became obvious during the conversation that she and Reston had some sort of history together. 

While Leiko and Shang got to know each other, Reston was on the phone with Smith. The three of them had been summoned to Scotland Yard, where Tarr and Smith had already begun preparing for a debriefing about Mordillo. Once everyone had arrived, Smith began by sharing what was already known about their new opponent. He went on to display blown-up images of slugs fired at agents. Each of them had inscriptions, such as: "my fair lady," "three blind mice," "see how they run," and "the clock struck one." The last three engraved bullets had been extracted from the hearts of three agents who had been shot and killed in front of Big Ben. The eyes had also been removed from their sockets. The coroner determined that their time of death was approximately one o'clock. 

The pattern was ominous and showed some psychopathic tendencies, but Reston wondered what those incidents had to do with the case that Petrie had mentioned. Doctor Petrie let Smith explain the correlation. Smith went on to describe Earth's ozone layer and how it was commonly known that the layer had begun to erode over time. He added that a couple of their government scientists had been working on a way to add a mixture of plastic emissions and freon into the stratosphere, which would eliminate the ozone layer over certain strategically located parts of the world.

If this were to happen, the radiation from the sun could be enough to fry people on the streets. Knowing the military potential of this, the scientists trusted that those assembled at Scotland Yard that day would prevent that top secret project, labeled Project Ultra-Violet, from becoming a global disaster. An agent named Norris Putnam had been tasked with counter-spy operations to stop the information from being leaked. Another agent, named Simon Brentor, was supposed to meet Putnam at Tower Bridge to accept the news. However, Putnam was found dead at the meeting spot.

The bullet taken from Putnam's body had a series of letters, in what seemed to be a code. It was assumed that meant that Mordillo was involved in plans to roll out Project Ultra Violet. Another concern was the fact that Brentor had gone missing since his intended rendezvous. Leiko reacted to that news, which indicated that she knew the agent personally. Moments later, an agent entered the room, stating that the code might be a series of musical notes, which translated to the chorus "London Bridge is falling down." This appeared to indicate even more correlation between the murders and the madman known as Mordillo.

Assumptions were made that Leiko was the fair lady referenced by the bullets, just after it was realized that she'd left the room. Reston thought that she was off to find Brentnor and went to find her, even though Smth warned him not to fall prey to Mordillo's lure. Later that evening at Tower Bridge, Tarr and Shang-Chi encountered soldiers who emerged from a truck, posing as ordinary workers. Shang soon found a bomb on the bridge and quickly removed it. H tossed the bomb into the waters below, where it exploded harmlessly.

Smith then ordered his men to search the bridge from top to bottom for any more incendiary devices. Reston told him that he'd been to Leiko's flat. She was nowhere to be found, but a note from Brentnor asking her to meet him at the usual place had been left there. Tarr assumed that Reston was vying for her affection as well, which led to an argument. 

Before things could proceed further, Smith admitted that the physical Project Ultra Violet file had been destroyed several months ago, but that Leiko had been hypnotized to retain the full file in her subconscious. She could be hypnotized a second time and repeat the contents of the file after being given the requisite code word. The person who had initially hypnotized her was the now deceased Norris Putnam.

Reston produced a note that had been found near Putnam's body. The piece of paper said that Brentnor was Mordillo, and included latitude and longitude coordinates for an island in the East China Sea. The group deduced that Mordillo/Brentnor had been talking about himself, saying that Leiko was his fair lady. That explained why the robot assassin at the beginning of this yarn had been sent to eliminate Reston.

On the last two panels, we find Leiko traveling alongside Mordillo/Brentor. They were traveling by air in a small shuttle to a strange-looking island. Once they arrived, Mordillo promised that there would be some most amusing contests about to take place. 

This was another thrilling Moench-Gulacy masterpiece. It also introduced Leiko Wu, who would remain a supporting character for this title and subsequent stories that followed after it was cancelled. Mordillo was an interesting villain, but I could see why some would criticize his physical similarities to Clive Reston. The robot assassin was something different for this magazine. He reminded me a bit of Yul Brynner's character in the movie Westworld and Doctor Doom. Oddly enough, the famed Marvel supervillain would interact with Shang-Chi later on in this series' run.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-fourth issue of Master of Kung Fu. That issue will continue this story, as we'll learn more about Mordillo's mysterious island. We'll find out what happened to Leiko, discover if anyone came to rescue her, and see the debut of a minor but memorable character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Master of Kung Fu #32

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll summarize the events that happened in Marvel's The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu #32. The cover showed the title character embroiled in battle with four masked men on a boat. The story was called "Assault on an Angry Sea!" 

The tale began with Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr resting on a park bench in Marseilles, France, while Shang sat meditating in front of a fountain. The pair were appreciative of their comrade's ability to remain calm even while fighting off some of the toughest men on the face of the planet. The quiet reverie was soon broken up by the arrival of Doctor Petrie and Sir Dennis Nayland Smith. Smth informed his companions that they would be embarking upon another mission before returning to England.

As they piled into a waiting automobile, Smith went on to say that Reston and Petrie would be flying together back home. He, Tarr, and Shang-Chi would head for the docks to protect a British courier carrying important papers and ensure that those papers arrived home safely. 

The group arrived shortly before boarding was to be completed. Shang met a young blind woman and helped her while Tarr and Smith conversed with the ship's captain. The captain was not pleased with the fact that strings were pulled to grant their accommodations, or that others were bumped from the trip as a result. Smith persuaded Tarr to walk away before drawing further attention to them.

As the trio headed toward their staterooms, Tarr made several assumptions about fellow passengers who may or may not be secret agents. Smith informed them that they would not know the identity of their agent. He added that since the original agent was instructed to travel by ship that the route information had probably been passed on along with the documents. They would be protecting someone whose identity was as yet unknown to them. 

Smith, Tarr, and Shang-Chi agreed to meet up at eight o'clock that evening. They joined for dinner. Shang-Chi spotted the woman he'd met earlier and asked her to join them. She introduced herself as Therese Berwick before the conversation was interrupted by a cry for help outside the dining room.

Shang ran to help. In the fog, he fought off several masked men. Their victim explained to the ship's officers that Shang-Chi had saved him from his attackers, who had asked him about documents that he had no information about. Smith and Tarr had joined the group before returning inside. They were then stunned to see their table smashed and learning that Miss Berwick had disappeared. A waiter explained that masked men had captured her and taken her away. 

The next morning, Shang-Chi and Tarr stood talking, neither having had much of a restful night's sleep. Smith arrived and informed them that Therese was still missing. He wondered why the captain had not informed the passengers of the storm warning, and found that Shang had gone off on his own again. 

Shang-Chi had heard something that caught his attention. He soon found a quartet of new foes. Shang defeated three of them, and Tarr punched out the fourth man. The trio then made their way to the captain's quarters, where they found him lying dead, having been cut several times by long daggers. 

Smith, Shang, and Tarr returned to the men they'd just defeated. One of them confessed that the real captain and crew were still alive and held captive ten kilometers outside Marseilles. Smith and Tarr were headed for the radio room to inform the office in Marseilles, while Shang-Chi went to find the girl. 

Meanwhile, four more people in hoods were about to enter another cabin. They burst through the door and demanded that the passenger tell them where the papers were. The occupant had no clue and told them so moments before Shang arrived. He defeated three of the assailants before the fourth got away. Outside the cabin, Shang-Chi realized that this opponent was a woman, one who carried long daggers that had already dealt death that evening.

During their duel, Shang removed the mask, revealing the face of Therese Berwick. She wasn't blind after all. Her eyes filled with rage as she lunged at Shang-Chi before falling overboard. Shang tossed a life preserver to bring her back on board the ship. 

Later, once the suspects had been rounded up, Smith confessed that there was no additional agent that they would be meeting. He added that the papers were concealed in the life preserver that Shang-Chi had tossed to Berwick. Tarr took a knife to the preserver and found nothing but papers whose ink had run in the rain. Smith noted that they contained nothing more but Lewis Carroll lines. 

Smith went on to say that the home office had intentionally leaked the fake papers story to draw out foreign agents. Tarr was angered by the ruse, but realized it did serve its purpose. He then asked who among them could pilot the boat. Berwick told Shang that her actions didn't reflect her personal feelings and that she still wanted to talk with him again eventually. Shang-Chi walked away without responding, thinking about how he'd missed something in his concentration as the storm went on. 

I thought that this was a fun little single-issue story. Longtime readers of my blog know that I'm a big Sal Buscema fan, and have been ever since he penciled the monthly Incredible Hulk and ROM: Spaceknight comics back in the 1970s and 1980s. He penciled or inked almost every Marvel color comic during those decades, so I enjoyed his take on Shang-Chi and his companions. Writer Doug Moench, as always, delivered a script that was easy to follow and admire.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the thirty-third issue of Master of Kung Fu. Paul Gulacy returns to combine with Moench on another multi-part epic. This one introduces a couple of new threats, as well as another supporting character that was featured prominently for the rest of this title's run. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.