Shang-Chi #1 - Marvel Comics

SHANG-CHI No. 1, November 2020

Publicised by “Marvel Worldwide” as a “new chapter in the legend of Shang-Chi”, Gene Luen Yang’s script for this five-issue mini-series’ opening instalment probably pleased the majority of its 63,000 strong audience when it first hit the spinner racks. For whilst the twenty-two page periodical initially depicts the ‘Master of Kung-Fu’ innocently working behind a store counter in Chinatown, the comic’s plot soon has him battling for his life against a myriad of formidably-armed opponents inside the titular character’s cramped apartment just “off Sacramento Street.”

In addition, the American born Chinese author also does a fine job of penning a fascinating insight into the enthralling saga behind Shang-Chi’s lineage, most notably that of his infamous father, the “evil, presumed-dead sorcerer and martial arts master Zheng Zu.” This clearly convoluted family history immediately grabs the reader’s attention, and quickly becomes doubly important when it becomes clear that the selection of the malevolent magic user’s successor is going to come back and haunt Fu Manchu’s killer; “I am the Supreme Commander of the Five Weapons Society! You’ve never been able to accept that, dear sister, so all I can off -- is death!”

Of course, this comic’s biggest selling-point lies in its aforementioned Kung-Fu action, with “Brother Hand” quickly teaming up with the beautiful yet deadly Leiko Wu, and taking on a band of nunchaku-wielding assassins. Frantically paced, and entertainingly interspersed with the female British Secret Agent mercilessly gunning down some of their attackers with her sure-fire hit pistols, this sense-shattering sequence is only then matched by the surprise generated by some of Shang-Chi’s would-be attackers suddenly turning on their comrades-in-arms and mercilessly mowing them down at the battle’s climax.

Equally as enjoyable as this book’s writing are the layouts by Philip Tan and Dike Ruan, who split their artistic duties between this comic’s flashbacks and present day activities respectively. Ruan’s pencilling is particularly proficient, especially once the martial arts show starts, with the illustrator managing to include all sorts of nice touches into his panels, such as Zheng Zu’s son donning his metal bracelets just as his first assailants pounce through a shattered window.

The regular cover art of "SHANG-CHI" #1 by Jim Cheung & Laura Martin