Shang-Chi
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Shang-Chi (Template:Zh-cpl) is a Marvel Comics character, often called the "Master of Kung Fu". He has no special superpowers, but he exhibits extraordinary skills in the martial arts.
Shang-Chi first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 (December 1973; SME #1-14 were reprints of older Marvel superhero stories). Shang-Chi appeared again in issue #16, and in issue #17 (April 1974, the title was renamed to The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu. Amidst the martial arts craze of the United States in the 1970s, the title would prove to be very popular and continue on until issue #125 (June 1983).
Shang-Chi was raised by his father Fu Manchu to be the ultimate lackey for the would-be world conqueror. However, his first mission, which was to kill his father's old archenemy, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, ended with him learning the true evil nature of his father. Disillusioned, Shang-Chi swore eternal opposition to his father's ambitions and fought him as an agent of British intelligence.
The title, originally created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, was an early success that grew even more with the coming of writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy, who collaborated for the first time on #22. There critically acclaimed run went on (with short gaps) until #53 when Gulacy was replaced by artist Jim Craig.
Moench continued on the title for a long tenure, though the title did not again receive the same level of acclaim as the Gulacy period until the arrival of artist Gene Day in #100 (1981). However despite critical success sales started to lag, and the title began to be published bi-monthly. Day left the title with #120, with Moench following after #122, and the title was cancelled three issues later.
Shang-Chi had two more short series: the Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black graphic novel (1990) and the MAX miniseries Master of Kung Fu: Hellfire Apocalypse (2002). The character also had several stories in the anthology series Marvel Comics Presents (including one by Moench and Gulacy that ran in the series' first eight issues in 1988), and co-starred in the Moon Knight Special (1992).
Although based on a licensed property, Shang-Chi is a Marvel property and has been firmly established as a part of the Marvel Universe with guest appearances in numerous other titles, such as Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Knights and X-Men.