Monday, October 11, 2021

Halloween Horror GHOSTLY TALES FROM THE HAUNTED HOUSE "Promise" Conclusion

Pursued by Japanese invaders, a wounded Korean soldier comes upon a house inhabited by two sisters who agree to aid him upon condition that he marry one of them.
He does so, and when the Japanese squad arrives, the sisters reveal themselves to be expert swordswomen who kill the entire squad...
The phrase "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned!" apparently applies to women in all cultures.
Here's writer/artist Sanho Kim explaining the basis of this type of tale...
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Monday, October 4, 2021

Halloween Horror GHOSTLY TALES FROM THE HAUNTED HOUSE "Promise" Part 1

Many Asian martial arts stories are "cross-genre"...
...like this ghostly wartime romance...which was also completely bi-lingual (Korean and English)!
Based on a classic Korean folk tale, this fascinating tale, scripted and illustrated by Sanho Kim was an experiment that, unfortunately, was never repeated.
The Frightening Conclusion!
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Sunday, August 29, 2021

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Opens Friday...


...so why not learn about his earlier exploits before the flick opens in theatres on Thursday night?
Yes, you read that right!
You'll note there's no mention of the "Devil Doctor" in the upcoming movie Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!, though Shang's father does appear!
When Marvel lost the licensing rights to Fu, they modified the character of Shang's father in comics to become Zheng Zu, an immortal sorcerer, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Mandarin, based on a "Yellow Peril"-type supervillain dating back to the 1960s, who was Iron Man's arch-enemy.
(The movie Iron Man 3 introduced a false Mandarin, an imposter played by an out-of-work actor, into Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity.
The Mandarin in Shang-Chi is the real character, heading the Ten Rings terrorist/criminal group which wounded and kidnapped Tony Stark, forcing him to become the Armored Avenger in the first Iron Man film.)

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

WHAT IF? "Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, had Remained Loyal to Fu Manchu?" Conclusion

When Last We Left our Antagonist and His Son...

...on an alternate Earth, Shang-Chi, who has not turned against his father, Fu Manchu, as he did in the Marvel Universe, is now questioning the wisdom of his pater's plans...which are being revealed to Fu's long-time nemesis, Sir Denis Nayland-Smith and his team...
While this never-reprinted tale from Marvel's What If? V1#17 (1977) was open-ended, there was never a sequel, as was done for several of the alternate-universe tales presented in the title!
Exactly why this particular story, of all the Shang-Chi tales, has never been republished, is unknown.
Considering that the character's saga (including all the other stories that mention or feature Fu Manchu) has been completely reprinted...except for this one...we're at a loss to explain why!
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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

WHAT IF? "Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, had Remained Loyal to Fu Manchu?" Part 2

On an alternate Earth where Shang-Chi has not turned against his father, Fu Manchu, the Master of Kung Fu is leading a team of Si-Fan dacoits to exhume dead bodies for experiments by Fu.
However, a team of special agents has just been alerted about the grave-robbing...
What secrets will be revealed?
Would you believe...
KUNG FU ZOMBIES???
Find Out

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Monday, July 26, 2021

WHAT IF? "Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, had Remained Loyal to Fu Manchu?" Part 1

He's the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe hero...

...but Shang-Chi has an almost 50-year history...which has been altered and revised numerous times over the years.
This is the never-reprinted first alteration to his history.
The stage is set!
The band is engaged!
We'll see if our protagonists can perform the Dance of Death...
Written by Master of Kung Fu's primary scripter, Doug Moench, and illustrated by non-regulars penciler Rick Hoberg and inkers Bill Wray and Dave Stevens (Yes, that Dave Stevens), Marvel's What If? #16 (1977) continued the book's mission of presenting possible alternate versions of popular characters and storylines, some of which have since been incorporated into whatever the mainstream Marvel Universe now is!
Notes: As we mentioned earlier, this story has never been reprinted, perhaps the only Shang-Chi tale to be unseen since it's initial publication!
Before you ask, Fu Manchu is not Shang-Chi's father in the upcoming movie.
Here's some background about the famous character and why he was chosen to be the father of Marvel's brand-new martial arts master in 1973!
Here's a partial explanation as to why Fu isn't Shang's poppa in the new movie,t hough it leaves out two points...payment for use of the character to the estate of his creator, Sax Rohmer, and the problem of getting approval from the estate for how the character is portrayed!
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