SHANG-CHI "MASTER of KUNG FU"

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
21

I actually used to read the Master of Kung Fu comics back in the '70s. He had a female love interest, an agent oddly named Leiko Wu, I believe. The early issues in the series were the best. The artwork was excellent, esp. by Paul Galacy.

But I agree with mickey about the whole Fu Manchu thing. There was the race thing and all which was considered acceptable at the time, but would be a step back for Asians in cinema in the West. If they could scrap the whole Fu Manchu, Black Jack Tarr, Nayland Smith(?) aspect of the story, it would be good.

NOT Keanu Reeves, though. There’s gotta be somebody way more qualified to play Shang-Chi than that. Though I think Keanu could look a lot like Sub-Mariner if he had a flat-top haircut and Spock ears. I’d much rather see Donnie Yen star as Shang-Chi. Plus his moves and his physique would more resemble the comic (Shang-Chi was often drawn in imitation of BL). Maggie Q might be a good Leiko Wu.

22

frickin Iron Fist!

yeah mofos!

23

[QUOTE=Jimbo;960736]I actually used to read the Master of Kung Fu comics back in the '70s. He had a female love interest, an agent oddly named Leiko Wu, I believe. The early issues in the series were the best. The artwork was excellent, esp. by Paul Galacy.

But I agree with mickey about the whole Fu Manchu thing. There was the race thing and all which was considered acceptable at the time, but would be a step back for Asians in cinema in the West. If they could scrap the whole Fu Manchu, Black Jack Tarr, Nayland Smith(?) aspect of the story, it would be good.

NOT Keanu Reeves, though. There’s gotta be somebody way more qualified to play Shang-Chi than that. Though I think Keanu could look a lot like Sub-Mariner if he had a flat-top haircut and Spock ears. I’d much rather see Donnie Yen star as Shang-Chi. Plus his moves and his physique would more resemble the comic (Shang-Chi was often drawn in imitation of BL). Maggie Q might be a good Leiko Wu.[/QUOTE]

I preferred Mike Zeck’s work to be honest, his fighting was more “honest”.
I agree, Donnie would make a most excellent Shang Chi.

24

[QUOTE=David Jamieson;960759]frickin Iron Fist!

yeah mofos!

[/QUOTE]

I finished the “Immortal Iron fist” saga and loved it, though it was a tad too long.

25

[QUOTE=Design Sifu;960689]Simple Solution . . . Heroes for Hire with Tyrese Gibson as Luke Cage…

As for Keanu’s Kung Fu… last I heard he was going to be flexing it as the lead to the live action COWBOY BEBOP movie.[/QUOTE]

i hope your joking about tyrese gibson…

terry crews would be a better pick a way better pick.

26

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;960763]I finished the “Immortal Iron fist” saga and loved it, though it was a tad too long.[/QUOTE]

It ain’t over yet. Immortal Iron Fist is on hiatus. Pick up Immortal Weapons. The first issue is a good one about Fat Cobra.

27

[QUOTE=Zenshiite;960991]It ain’t over yet. Immortal Iron Fist is on hiatus. Pick up Immortal Weapons. The first issue is a good one about Fat Cobra.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I am all burnt out on comics, LOL !
Maybe when it gets to Tigers Beautiful daughter :wink:

28

The new Shang Chi

Some reviews

Short And Sweet Review For New Shang-Chi Master Of Kung Fu One Shot
by Brad Curran

It’s awesome. Everyone should buy it, but especially Greg Hatcher, because it is pandering to him pretty heavily. But everyone should (hopefully) enjoy the lead story, by Jonathan Hickman and Kody Chamberlin, where Shang-Chi and Deadpool bond over hot dogs and something awesome happens frequently (at least every other panel; I’ll have to re-read to make sure).

I hope you can overlook my past indiscretions and find it in your heart to give this one a shot, if not because of me, than in spite of me, because it really will improve your life. Or just follow the King’s advice when it comes to things you might not totally understand but still desperately need in your life.

Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #1 Review
The master of kung fu returns in an homage to his classic series.
by Jesse Schedeen

September 30, 2009 - Marvel and black-and-white comics don’t necessarily get along these days, but they used to be good buddies a few decades ago. Characters like Shang-Chi and Blade thrived in the cheap, moody real of black-and-white. Apparently some of the current crew at Marvel have fond memories of those days, because Shang-Chi is back and thriving in a new blac-and-white adventure. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, but whatever expectations I had were blown away.

If you’re not familiar with Shang-Chi, he’s the other martial artist superhero in the Marvel Universe. He doesn’t have Iron Fist’s fancy iron fist or his yellow booties, but he does have an intriguing back story and Bruce Lee-style charm. The various stories in this special run the gamut from campy road adventures to traditional martial arts brawls. The only real uniting factor is the color scheme, or lack thereof.

I was admittedly concerned upon seeing Deadpool sharing cover space with Shang-Chi. Did this issue really need to resort to such shameless cross-promotion? Luckily, Deadpool’s role in the opening story is very well done. Actually, those curious how Jonathan Hickman wold handle the Merc With a Mouth can rely on this issue for evidence. Hickman’s story is utterly ridiculous in concept, execution, and even title. In short, Shang-Chi and Deadpool are competing in a cross-country motorcycle death race against the likes of a team of luchador wrestlers and a duo known as the Hitler Twins. This story is so very, very goofy, and I loved every panel of it. The quirky, independent sensibility that sometimes comes up lacking in Hickman’s Marvel work is on full display here. Even Kody Chamberlin’s exaggerated watercolors evoke Hickman’s past Image work. By the final page of this odd tale I already felt like my money was well spent.

The following two tales are somewhat more traditional in execution. Mike Benson and Tom Coker team for a cinematic kung fu brawl. Essentially, this is the sort of noir story Coker should have turned in when he drew Daredevil Noir. Far from appearing static or posed, Coker’s figures dance and fight like an old movie unfolding on the page. Benson’s script is enjoyable, if not terribly creative. I did appreciate the way all the dialogue appeared in traditional Chinese script with English subtitles below. It was a clever way of achieving that foreign movie feel.

Charlie Huston and Enrique Romero offer what is easily the most traditional Shang-Chi story. This tale alone looks as if it could easily have been lifted from one of the old magazines. It comes up lacking in creativity, and Romero’s art doesn’t really stand out when compared to the others, but it still makes for a nice counterpoint to the other, more modern stories in the issue.

The final segment is an illustrated prose piece written by Robin Furth and drawn by Paul Gulacy. As with her back-matter material in the Dark Tower books, Furth does an excellent job diving into the nuts and bolts of our hero and exploring what makes him and his world tick. Gulacy’s art is sparing, but mostly effective.

With 48 pages of story and no ads (apart from a single fake one), Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #1 is one of those rare books that fully justifies its $4 price tag. I would have liked to see some level of contribution from classic Shang-Chi writers, but that’s a minor complaint. Easily the most pleasant surprise of the week, I find myself wondering what could be done with a more long-term Shang-Chi project in the future. With the right creative team behind him, this hero could experience a resurgence every bit as big as Iron Fist’s.

29

Hmmmm, interesting…

30

Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu

SPIDER-ISLAND’s Shang-Chi Mini ‘All About Kung Fu Action’
By Albert Ching, Newsarama Staff Writer
posted: 06 June 2011 02:22 pm ET

This year’s Free Comic Book Day issue of Amazing Spider-Man gave Shang-Chi an important role to play in the Spider-Man corner of the Marvel Universe using his “Master of Kung Fu” status to teach Spidey some serious skills, in order to compensate for the title character’s recent loss of his Spider-Sense.

Shang-Chi is taking the next step in August by starring in Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, a three-issue miniseries tying in to the summer’s Spider-Man event. Writer Antony Johnston and artist Sebastián Fiumara are the creative team for the series, which also includes prominent roles for Iron Fist and The Bride of Nine Spiders.

Newsarama caught up with Johnston over email to chat about Shang-Chi’s place in Spider-Man’s world, reuniting with Fiumara, the writer’s affinity for the wuxia genre, and some hints about his upcoming work outside of superheroes.

Newsarama: Antony, the last time we talked, it was about Shadowland: Blood on the Streets, and now you’re taking on another lesser-known, street-level Marvel hero in Shang-Chi. Yet given the character’s recent momentum from appearing in Secret Avengers and now becoming a part of the Spider-Man corner of the Marvel Universe, he may not be “lesser-known” for long. Do you see a possibility of Shang-Chi becoming a breakout Marvel star, much in the way that, say, Moon Knight has elevated in stature lately?

Antony Johnston: Its a possibility, sure. I dont think theres anything preventing any particular character from breaking out, especially at the moment its more a question of them being elevated to a higher status through the attention of a high-profile creator, or an editorial decision.

Whether thats on the cards for Shang-Chi, I dont know, but Id love to see it. Hes a great character, with a rich history and loads of potential.
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Nrama: That said, though he is a cult favorite, Shang-Chi as a starring character has traditionally had a hard time catching on with audiences as a whole over the years. What do you think might have kept Shang-Chi from taking off in the past, and are there any lessons to be learned in how you’re approaching this project?

Johnston: All Im doing is trying to tell the best story I can with a great character. Im not here to deconstruct Shang-Chi, or go all post-modern on him.

As for having a hard time catching on, I disagree. This is a character whose original headline series ran for 125 issues. Just let that sink in a while, you know? These days, if a series makes it to issue #10 its a raging success.

Shangs problem is that, in most peoples minds, hes intrinsically tied to the 70s kung fu craze. And theres no way of getting round that its why he was created, after all. But its just a perception we need to get people over. Like I said, all it would take is a concerted push from somewhere. Remember when Deadpool was a one-joke character with no future?

Nrama: The big hook of Spider-Island is that all of Manhattan is getting super-powers including Shang-Chi. Since he’s one of Marvel’s most prominent unpowered superheroes, what kind of opportunity is it to get to write him with powers (at least temporarily)?

Johnston: Its fun, it changes some of the things you can do with him and his martial arts. Make no mistake, this book is all about kung fu action. But the events of Spider-Island mean we can now do kung fu with people sticking to walls and jumping eighty feet in the air, like a classic wuxia movie. Brilliant.

Shangs spider-powers arent just about extra-cool kung fu moves, though. They have an important part to play in the actual plot, too.

Nrama: This year’s Amazing Spider-Man Free Comic Book Day issue established Shang-Chi’s place within the Spidey side of the MU, and this miniseries further cements that status. Why do you think Shang-Chi is a good fit with the world of Spider-Man?

Johnston: Spider-Mans just more down to earth than many other heroes, and despite all his philosophical Chi musings, so is Shang-Chi. I think they see good qualities reflected in each other. Bravery, honesty, the will to stand up for whats right, no matter the cost despite the fact that neither of them has godlike powers, or can regenerate, or whatever.

Ive said it many times what makes characters interesting to me is how susceptible they are to threats. Theres a class difference with superheroes; you can either take a bullet to the head and survive, or you cant. Both Spidey and Shang are firmly in the cant category.

Nrama: Speaking of members of the New Avengers Iron Fist is also in this series. How big of a role does he play? The Bride of Nine Spiders is also in the series, which is interesting, since the Immortal Iron Fist series was a natural tonal match for Shang-Chi. (And that series helped raise the profile of Iron Fist, like how Shang-Chi might be headed for a similar bump.)

Johnston: Iron Fist and The Bride of Nine Spiders are both major players in this story, youll be seeing plenty of them. I was a huge fan of the Immortal Iron Fist series, so Im very happy to be writing them here.

I agree theyre a good fit with Shang-Chi, it surprises me we havent seen them working together more already. Maybe thatll change…

Nrama: For this series, you’re reuniting with artist Sebastián Fiumara, who you worked with several years ago on Alan Moore’s Hypothetical Lizard. How has his art evolved since then? And why do the two of you seem drawn to stories with animals in the title?

Johnston: Our next book will be Squirrel Girl.

Sebas come on leaps and bounds since we did Lizard, and frankly, he was no slouch back then. Hes just a great artist, a clear but imaginative storyteller, and his character designs are great. I love working with him.

Nrama: Outside of Shang-Chi, there isn’t too vast of a history of kung fu in comic books, but there is certainly one in film any particular titles that may have inspired you in the crafting of this series?

Johnston: Im a fan of wuxia in general, so straight off Ill watch anything directed by Tsui Hark, or with Yuen Woo-ping choreographing. Donnie Yens made some great movies in that vein, as has Jet Li (and theyre great opposite one another in Once Upon a Time in China II) but be warned, theyve also made some pretty bad stuff which is only worth watching for the fights, like the Legend series.

And then theres all the other Golden Harvest releases, and Chow Yun Fats occasional wuxia roles, the 70s Bruce Lee classics… the point is, theres no one particular movie that served as inspiration for this story. Its just a general love of the martial arts genre, especially wuxia. And if anyone reading this wants to get into it, theres plenty of stuff out there to choose from.

Nrama: Finally, I just wanted to ask if you’re working on anything else you’d like to talk about I think people familiar with solely your Marvel work may only know you from street-level crime books like Daredevil and Shadowland: Blood on the Streets, but your work first caught my attention with Three Days in Europe, which was pretty far removed from all that.

Johnston: Unfortunately, I cant talk about the majority of things Im working on right now. Another series for Marvel, a couple of videogames, and some graphic novels, are all ongoing at the moment, but Im not allowed to discuss them yet.

If someone who liked my DD work wants to see what else I get up to, theyre probably in for a shock. Most of my work is very far removed from superheroes, like Wasteland (post-apocalypse), the Dead Space games (horror) or even the Alex Rider graphic novels (teen spy).

Even the one thing I can talk about, The Coldest City is different again a Cold War espionage graphic novel by me and Sam Hart, due out next year through Oni Press.

But its all very “me,” so of course Id encourage readers to check all those books out! Theres more info about all my work on my website, antonyjohnston.com.

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu…now where have I heard that before? :rolleyes:

31

Not sure if I am a fan of Shang having super powers…
I think that the whole Shang Chi story, set in a modern time, would be very cool.

32

That Deadly Hands of Kung Fu cover brings back memories…I had probably every issue of that big B&W mag. The Shang-Chi stories in Deadly Hands fashioned him into a wandering modern-day Kwai Chang Caine, as opposed to the regular comic series. The first time Spiderman and Shang-Chi appeared together was in a special Spiderman issue back around the mid-1970s.

Why would they give everyone superpowers? Doesn’t that kind of cancel out any advantage of having them?

I always preferred Shang-Chi over Iron Fist. Except for the Fu Manchu connection.

33

[QUOTE=Jimbo;1107657]That Deadly Hands of Kung Fu cover brings back memories…I had probably every issue of that big B&W mag. The Shang-Chi stories in Deadly Hands fashioned him into a wandering modern-day Kwai Chang Caine, as opposed to the regular comic series. The first time Spiderman and Shang-Chi appeared together was in a special Spiderman issue back around the mid-1970s.

Why would they give everyone superpowers? Doesn’t that kind of cancel out any advantage of having them?

I always preferred Shang-Chi over Iron Fist. Except for the Fu Manchu connection.[/QUOTE]

Which B&W series is that?

34

The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu. It was one of the larger comic mags that were all in B&W. Marvel had other B&W mags too, like The Savage Sword of Conan, Cracked (a Mad Magazine knockoff), Vampire Tales, etc., etc. Deadly Hands contained different stories, including Shang-Chi, Sons of the Tiger/The White Tiger, and others.

35

[QUOTE=Jimbo;1108013]The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu. It was one of the larger comic mags that were all in B&W. Marvel had other B&W mags too, like The Savage Sword of Conan, Cracked (a Mad Magazine knockoff), Vampire Tales, etc., etc. Deadly Hands contained different stories, including Shang-Chi, Sons of the Tiger/The White Tiger, and others.[/QUOTE]

It was an older one then? 80’s ?

36

Deadly Hands ran from approximately 1974 to '76 (I think) or '77 at the latest. I stopped collecting Marvels around '81 or so, and by then Deadly Hands was long-gone.

37

Just dropped

Anyone pick it up yet?

Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1
by Ryan K. Lindsay, Reviewer |


Story by
Antony Johnston
Art by
Sebastian Fiumara, John Lucas
Colors by
Dan Brown
Letters by
Joe Sabino
Cover by
Sebastian Fiumara
Publisher
Marvel Comics

Cover Price
$2.99 (USD)
Release Date
Aug 31st, 2011

Sat, September 3rd, 2011 at 8:18PM (PDT)

This is a Shang-Chi comic, make no mistake about it. Though it might be tied to the Spider-Island event stemming from Marvel’s flagship character, this is an independently styled comic in almost every respect. Antony Johnston has touted this mini as something that completely stands alone and, as a reviewer who is not reading Spider-Island, I can attest to this autonomous vibe. This book is just a wacky kung fu mystery, and a **** good one at that.

Shang-Chi is not the most popular nor relevant character in the Marvel stable. A kung fu exploitation character who barely made it into the 80s, many fans state their love and yet still won’t vote with their wallets for a book headlining this master of the deadly arts. Maybe that’s because not all of the books featuring Shang-Chi have been any good. If that’s been holding you back then prepare to invest $2.99 this week because Johnston delivers one of the most enjoyable and believable Shang-Chi depictions ever. The captioned narrative doesn’t try to ape any sort of pulp noir or gritty comics; we are simply given access into Shang-Chi’s mind and the results are fantastic. This voice over catches people up on the basics of this character, it shows his connection to the main premise of the event tale, and then it takes this story forward in leaps and bounds. Shang-Chi finally reads like a real man and shows how he can carry an entire mini on his own back.

The heart of this tale isn’t Spider-Island-centric. It uses that premise to springboard into a darker mystery set within the parameters of New York. The motivations behind the Bride of Nine Spiders and her interaction with Iron Fist aren’t clear, but they make for great action set pieces. Johnston applies plenty of kung fu moves to his script. While it is a method stolen from the Matt Fraction/Ed Brubaker/David Aja run on “The Immortal Iron Fist,” it is very effectively used here. Johnston doesn’t try to go for the snarky cool moves of the previous title and instead delivers some very classically mystical sounding noun groups.

The art team of Sebastian Fiumara and John Lucas are astounding in these pages. There’s a kinetic rawness that feels like it would be more at home within an old “Deadly Hands of Kung Fu” anthology than gracing the pages of a Marvel event tie in, and that’s exactly why this works. The fighting pages are raw enough to hurt and clear enough to marvel at. Coupled with the sublime colors of Dan Brown, each impact of a foot to the face melts off the page with toxic glee. It is delightful to see Marvel experiment with allowing this sort of art in one of their books. It is a complete win to see the art then be such a success on all levels; small panels excel as well as one of the most glorious and powerful fight scene double page spreads in a long time.

For those with a gap in their heart for the great kung fu days of comics, this book is exactly what you need. The fights are worth the price of admission alone, but then Johnston weaves the hint of a story behind it that will have you coming back for more in 30 days. There’s murderous kung fu afoot and Immortal Weapons versus just one man (now with Spider powers) is going to make for one hell of a brawl. The mystical arts are back and they’re being told better than they have been in a long time.

38

Its on my to do list, but just keep forgetting to do it, LOL !

39

Been meaning to mention this.

Shang Chi makes a strong 1 issue come-back in the pages of Secret Avengers. Check out issue #18

well written by Warren Ellis
and beautifully drawn by the amazing David Aja.

It’s a self contained story which places Master of Kung Fu Shang-Chi along side the original Captain America and his team of Black Ops Avengers.

40

Haunted by Deadly Hands…

Shang-Chi Strikes in Marvel’s New DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU Series
by Chris Arrant, Newsarama ContributorDate: 11 February 2014 Time: 09:13 AM ET 551 151Reddit59Submit0


Deadly Hands of Kung Fu
CREDIT: Marvel Comics

Bruce Lee meets Jason Bourne.

In a world of superhuman, supernatural characters and cosmic enemies, one of the most dangerous men in the Marvel Universe is someone without any of those powers. Good thing Shang-Chi’s on our side.

This summer, Marvel will once again unleash Deadly Hands of Kung Fu as a four-issue series centered on the martial arts hero Shang-Chi as he follows a bloody trail of murder and mystery after the death of a former lover who worked for England’s MI-6. Shang-Chi has had a heightened profile in Marvel as of late, being recruited into Avengers in 2013 and fighting on the front lines in the summer event series Infinity. Shang-Chi is the key player in this month’s Avengers World, but in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu he’s going solo to avenge the death of a friend.

Writer Mike Benson is a long-time fan of Shang-Chi, the 1970s Deadly Hands of Kung Fu series and the larger kung fu genre in comics and films, and working on the Master of Kung Fu is something he’s been vying for since writing him in 2009 for the Marvel anthology Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu. After a brief hiatus from comics to focus on his film work like Entourage and several new series for HBO, Benson is back to bring Shang-Chi back into focus and for this four-issue story he’s partnering with Malaysian artist Tan Eng Huat. The 2002 Russ Manning award-winner has spent the past year drawing X-Men Legacy, but this new Deadly Hands of Kung Fu series offers the artist a change to return to his roots in Hong Kong action comics and do the type of series he’s never done before.

Newsarama: What can you tell us about this new Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu miniseries?

Mike Benson: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu is going to be a combination of the old 70’s title, which really was heavy on Bruce Lee, David Carradine and all those great Sunday afternoon Shaw Brother films mixed with a heavy helping of the Bourne films. That’s really the tone more than anything. The story’s jumping off point starts when someone from Shang-Chi’s past which he was close with was murdered. When Shang0Chi learns of her death, he is appropriately devastated and goes to the United Kingdom to pay his last respects. It is here that he gets drawn into a much larger scenario.

Tan Eng Huat: It’s always appealing to see ordinary people overcoming obstacles greater than normal.

Nrama: So who is Shang-Chi up against to get revenge and justice?

Benson: Shang-Chi does not go to the UK for revenge. He goes to pay his respects to someone he had strong feelings toward. However the people who killed this person expect Shang to react exactly in that way and so they actually fuel his fire even further. I wanted to really mix it up. Shang-Chi will go up against a few of his old classic enemies and a few new ones. Again, I’d rather not get too specific but one old baddie who will bare his head is Razor Fist. I wanted to populate Shang-Chi’s world with both smaller and larger characters from his past. We will see the Sons of the Tiger and the Daughters of the Dragon at different points throughout the miniseries with their own agendas.

Nrama: Sounds like it’s an informal reunion of the 1970s Deadly Hands of Kung Fu series and not just Shang-Chi. Can we look for any others from that great pulpy series to rear their head as well?

Benson: Yep, as I stated above, we will see a bunch of them. I collected Deadly Hands of Kung Fu as I did Master of Kung Fu. I’d marvel at the artwork. I always loved reading the mini stories about seemingly regular people who didn’t posses super =powers but just had an incredible skill set. That’s why I loved Bruce Lee films growing up so much. Aside from being the coolest guy to walk the planet, he was just a man who was a highly skilled martial artist but could be killed at any time. I would get the same type of rush from the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazine.


Cover to Avengers World #3
CREDIT: Marvel Comics

Nrama: Shang-Chi has recently been appearing in the main Avengers books, even playing a role in Infinity. How would you describe his role at present in the Marvel universe?

Benson: I’d have to say as the cool, calm, collected kung fu butt kicker with a meditative, thoughtful side. Not too long ago, Ed Brubaker did a bang up job of Shang-Chi in Secret Avengers with an arc called: “Eyes of the Dragon.” I thought he really he really raised the bar.

Nrama: Mike, you’ve been away from comics on a regular basis since Deadpool Pulp ended in 2011. What were you doing in that absence, and what brought you back?

Benson: I’ve been away but I’ve never really been gone. Comics are something I truly love and when I heard about Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu I pitched on it a couple of times and one of my pitches seemed to resonate with my editor Jake Thomas and Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso and when I heard I got the gig I was super excited. This is a dream job for me.

Nrama: What about you, Tan? What brought you to do this series?

Huat: In my many years of doing all sort of superhero characters and their superpowers, I’ve never come across a character like Shang-Chi. Simply said, I’ve never done anything kung fu related. [laughs] So the chance to do that made me very excited.

Nrama: You live in Malaysia, but I’m sure like Benson you had easy access to kung fu movies. How would you describe your awareness of the genre?

Huat: I grew up reading along of comics from Hong Kong, which are mostly martial arts types comics. And before I worked on American comics I worked as an assistant for a Hong Kong artist named ??Zho Sheng, so hopefully that will help. I love the intense line work and the fluidity of movement, so I will try to apply that into the story and character itself.


Cover to Avengers World #3
CREDIT: Marvel Comics

Nrama: And its’ not like you haven’t worked with Shang-Chi in the past. Back in 2009 you wrote the excellent short story “Once Upon a Time In Wan Chai” for the one-shot Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu. What’s drawn you to this character not just once but now twice?

Benson: Like many kids I practiced martial arts (Kyokushinkai Karate) for 6 years and watched a ton of martial arts films. I have a lot of respect for anyone who practices any form of martial arts. So what draws me to Shang-Chi is probably some type of wish fulfillment. To be able to carry yourself with that type of inner peace is something I’ve always aspired.

Nrama: That earlier story was very evocative of 1970s kung-fu movie – is that a feel you’re going for here as well?

Benson: The 70’s are a very special time. I was just a kid but looking back, all my favorite films are from that era, both in American and Asian cinema. I love so much from that time period, music, style, dress, so to answer your question there will be for sure a 70’s influence.
Alas…the 70s…:rolleyes: