(I originally read these comics in mid/late June 2016)
I was eager to read some 'Master of Kung Fu', my first Omnibus having not long arrived, but won't jump into the series until I have it complete in front of me. So, I decided to read the few Shang-Chi stories Doug Moench has written since the conclusion of his initial run. I also decided to throw in the couple of stories he's latterly done with Moon Knight, the character he co-created.
The first Shang-Chi story sees the son of Fu Manchu enjoying retirement but being pressed into action again by MI6 to save his former lover, Leiko Wu, she having been kidnapped by a hook-handed arms dealer, and being poisoned in the process. For the uninitiated, Bruce Lee meets Bond is an apt description of the tone. This 64-page tale is spread across the first eight issues of 'Marvel Comics Presents', an anthology comic. I just read the Shang-Chi story.
The 'Bleeding Black' one-shot collects a story originally intended for serialisation in MCP. Still suffering from being poisoned, Shang sets out on a quest to defeat a usurper to his father's throne and to save his own skin by securing possession of Fu Manchu's elixir of eternal life.
The Moon Knight Special, from 1992 and co-starring Shang, is slight and jokey and not worth dwelling on. The Moon Knight limited series from 1998 is good though, and pits MK against all his most prominent foes in a plot orchestrated by Morpheus to cause a meeting of U.N. diplomats to spark World War 3. It must have been a sales success, because Moench followed it up with a second limited series in 1999, subtitled 'High Strangeness' (though mis-labelled 'High Strangers' on the covers). This one plops MK into a CIA conspiracy against an Aleister Crowley-alike who made a pact with aliens in return for possession of advanced mind control technology. Tommy Lee Edwards and Mark Texeira are the artists, respectively, and Edwards' blocky artwork with deep blacks is especially suited.
The last Shang-Chi story by Moench to date sees the resurrection of Fu Manchu (though never referred to as such for trademark reasons) and his plan to harness lightning into a weapon more deadly than 2,000 atom bombs. His errant son is again pressed into action to defeat him. It was published under Marvel's MAX imprint, and so includes swearing, but would have been just as enjoyable without it. Moench's frequent artistic partner Paul Gulacy also takes advantage of the new freedom by drawing a parade of sexy, scantily-clad females.
Master of Kung Fu (2002) # 1-6 are collected in:
Softcover:
