Shang-Chi [2021] #11 - Marvel Comics

SHANG-CHI No. 11, June 2022

Overflowing with large-scale kung fu fights, an appearance by the mythical Jade Emperor himself, and the return of the titular character’s dead father Zheng Zu, it’s perhaps somewhat surprising that Issue Eleven of “Shang-Chi” only sold 6,920 copies in April 2022 according to “Diamond Comic Distributors”. But whilst this predominantly fast-paced twenty-page periodical’s plot undeniably delivers on its prepublication promise to depict the titular character “on a dangerous mission to rescue his mother from Ta Lo”, Gene Luen Yang’s script does arguably rely upon a few ‘corny’ stunts in order for his storyline to progress.

The first of these has to be the mind-activated energy hammer Zheng Shi-Hua suddenly sports since having her right-hand chopped off by her homicidal grandfather. This goofy-looking ‘glowing weapon’ smacks of being little more than a technologically advanced middle-ground between Razor Fist’s impractical blades and Skull Crusher’s chain-balls, and resultantly seems a little too gimmicky for the rest of the American author’s seriously-toned narrative; “Shang, don’t get me wrong. I am grateful, but… after the way we left things, why would you give me a hammer..?”

Likewise, the dramatic fall of the supposedly all-powerful Yu Huang initially appears to establish Chieftain Xin as the new occupant of the Jade Throne, and seemingly sets up the Master of Kung Fu for the grand battle of his life. However, rather than have Shang-Chi somehow scramble his formidable family together into a last minute defensive force, this third instalment to “Blood And Monsters” instead has the Supreme Commander disconcertingly desert his outclassed siblings so as to follow the ghost of his treacherous parent – who rather conveniently knows all the secret passages and hidden stone levers which lead to “one of the five sets of heavenly weapons.”

Such quibbles as to this book’s penmanship can easily be forgotten though, due to the strength of Marcus To’s illustrations, whose dynamic vigour readily carries the reader from one action-packed set-piece to another. Indeed, Xin’s savage transformation into an aging Kyle Rayner lookalike is one of the publication’s highlights, and definitely helps sell the plausibility of the Qilin Riders’ leader shockingly throttling “the son of the King of the Pure Blissful Kingdom of Lofty Heavenly Lights and Ornaments” in the very heart of the Jade Emperor’s domain.

The regular cover art of "SHANG-CHI" #11 by Leinil Frances Yu & Sunny Gho