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?

Start with his first "team-up" with Marvel's other martial-arts masters against his daddy...Fu Manchu!

Yes, you read that right!

His father is (or was) the legendary Asian Master of Menace!

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.)

Finally, have a look at the only never-reprinted Shang-Chi story...which was also the first alternate-universe tale about the character!
Then go enjoy the movie!

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

We Have Already Seen...

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

TOMORROW!

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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...

TOMORROW!

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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SAVAGE FISTS OF KUNG FU "Master Plan of Fu Manchu" Chapter 3: Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu

When Last We Left Our Martial Arts Heroes...

Iron Fist and the Sons of the Tiger each inadvertently-encounter members of supervillain Fu Manchu's Si-Fan organization as the criminals kidnap members of the Chinese and American delegations to the United Nations!

Though the heroic martial artists triumph in hand-to-hand combat, the delegates are abducted!

But there is hope for a rescue, as a man who has fought Fu previously is about to enter the situation...

Note: Fu Manchu himself appears in this segment, colored the lemon-yellow color we mentioned HERE, so this chapter may be NSFW / NSFS due to visual racial stereotypes!

The gray tones in the original version of this story are flat separations rather than a wash effect!

You'll see the difference compared to the other stories which were converted to color...

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C'mon, you knew the "blind beggar" was Fu, right?

Saturday:

An Epilogue that ties everything together, plus an interesting point...

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