Shang-Chi And The Ten Rings #6 - Marvel Comics

SHANG-CHI AND THE TEN RINGS No. 6, February 2023

Bringing both the Game of Rings multi-part narrative and “Shang-Chi And The Ten Rings” comic book series to a satisfying end, Gene Luen Yang’s twenty-page plot certainly must have wrong-footed a fair few of its Kung Fu fans, courtesy of some unexpected twists and turns. In fact, it’s probably difficult to decide which of this publication’s surprises is more shocking - Shen Kuei’s stomach-churning decision to scoff down the still-quivering remains of a Wyrmspawn, or the revelation as to just who is the leader of the cyborg-infested criminal organisation known as the Red Dot Collective.

Enjoyably though, these sense-shattering shenanigans aren’t simply crowbarred into the storyline just for the sake of giving its considerably sized cast something to do. But help add an extra dimension to some of the characters concerned, especially the likes of Cat, who demonstrates just how increasingly frustrated he is becoming by being continually outmatched by Commander Hand despite supposedly being the better warrior; “Frankly, it’s infuriating. You’re not stronger or faster or more skilled. Why should victory favour you?”

Similarly as solid is the pulse-pounding pugilism on show throughout this comic, with all the martial artists demonstrating some utterly insane abilities with which to either severely batter or defend against their opponents. Of course, at the centre of all these super-powered devilries lie the “mystical iron rings originating from Ta-Lo”. However, due to all the contestants having access to at least some of the Heavenly Weapons, the actual winner of the deadly tournament is debatably always in doubt – particularly after Kuei turns into a misshapen monstrosity following his disagreeable amalgamation with the spawn of the Wyrm of Desolation.

Unquestionably helping make this magazine a visual masterpiece are both Marcus To’s adrenalin-packed panels and Erick Arciniega’s atmospheric colours. Together the creative team genuinely provide this book with some stunning set-pieces, most notably the insanely fast fistfight between Shang-Chi and Cat, as well as the palpable heft to Red Cannon’s formidable hand-cannon. Indeed, many a perusing bibliophile will doubtless feel a chill of terror when Shen suddenly realises his mistake in aligning himself with a gruesome demon from a pocket dimension and is prodigiously pencilled momentarily showing that comprehension within an all-too human-looking eye.

The regular cover art of "SHANG-CHI AND THE TEN RINGS" #6 by Dike Ruan & Matthew Wilson