There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week we are taking a look at the adventures of a man desperately trying to balance being a hero and keep his family “Shang-Chi” by Gene Luen Yang and Dike Ruan. After taking over his father’s evil organization, Shang-Chi has to find a way to balance two incredibly different worlds while making some new enemies from old friends. If you like martial arts action, family drama, and friends turned enemies; then this is the book for you! Join us as we show you why you should be checking out the exciting new adventures of Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu.
Who is this by?
Plenty of people make this excellent reboot of “Shang-Chi” possible. “Shang-Chi” is Gene Luen Yang’s (“Superman Smashes the Klan,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Dragon Hoops”) first significant work at Marvel, and he has quickly made Shang-Chi an excellent readdition to the Marvel lineup. After his superb miniseries in 2020, Yang is having a great time pushing the character in new directions as he tries to balance his role as hero, good family member, and supreme leader.
Dike Ruan (“Spider-Verse,” “Something is Killing the Children”) joins Yang on “Shang-Chi” and brings an exciting and fluid choreography to the series. As the story progresses and we see Shang-Chi take on the various heroes of the Marvel Universe, Ruan does an excellent job of making each fight feel unique and highlighting different members of the Five Weapon Society. Plus, Ruan does an excellent job creating some exciting psychedelic and mystical art as Shang-Chi and his family delve deeper into the Five Weapons Society and the alternate universes of the Marvel Universe.
What’s it all about?
After taking over the Five Weapons Society and reuniting with his various brothers and sisters, Shang-Chi finds himself in a precarious position. While Shang-Chi is trying to reform his father’s organization and brothers and sisters, it’s easier said than done. It also doesn’t help that his actions have some of his super friends questioning his loyalty. “Shang-Chi,” is a sprawling adventure putting him at odds with Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, as he attempts to learn the truth about his family’s past and make the world a little safer from the shadows.
As Shang-Chi’s position as a hero continues to be questioned by some of Marvel’s heaviest hitters and struggles to keep his family in line, threats are beginning to manifest from the shadows. It’s somewhere between political intrigue drama and a family sitcom, an adventure that spans not only the globe but other dimensions. But most importantly, “Shang-Chi” is a lot of fun.
What makes it so great?
“Shang-Chi” continues Gene Luen Yang’s excellent work in the superhero genre. Yang has this ability to balance tones and genres in a way that feels fresh and unique. While the central problem of ‘Shang-Chi vs. The Marvel Universe’ is the title character losing control of his family and his standing in the superhero community, many of the issues have a lighthearted and fun tone. This is thanks to Yang’s excellent supporting cast of Shang-Chi’s brothers and sisters. There is some “fish out of water” in how they interact with their world. There’s just something delightful about seeing them squabble about the use of force or the best way to infiltrate a gala. And this works both ways as well! While Shang-Chi tries to convince his siblings to abandon their evil ways, they help him with the etiquette of supervillain auctions. Any time the siblings are together, Yang’s dialogue shines. There is something funny and sweet about all of these interactions, but Yang also knows how to balance this with intense moments when Shang-Chi and his siblings don’t see eye to eye. Yang knows precisely when to execute difficult moments, adding to the brewing tension of the series, which helps make The Five Weapons Society fights against other heroes that much more impactful.
Continued belowThere is a level of “missed communications” between Shang-Chi and the various heroes he fights in ‘Shang-Chi vs. The Marvel Universe’ that sometimes can be frustrating, but Yang finds a way to make it effective. Each issue ends with some degree of misunderstanding, but Yang is clear that the pressure cooker of these fights is indeed leading to something big. It’s also a plus that these conflicts are exciting and creative. Yang and Ruan complement one another well, finding unique ways to have a living weapon fight people with extraordinary skills or suits or armor. Plus, Yang and Ruan find a way to make all of these conflicts in “Shang-Chi” pay off in incredibly interesting ways. As Shang-Chi is getting backed into a corner, as the threats from the shadows begin to make themselves more apparent, it’s exciting to see just how the consequences of his actions are beginning to manifest. He was trying to do too much and now seems to be over his head.
Dike Ruan also adds to the fun of Yang’s storytelling by adding some incredibly slick style to the Five Weapons Society. The art of each issue feels unique, which helps match the different tones of the issues. One particular highlight is where Shang-Chi and Brother Saber infiltrate an auction and fight Captain America. Ruan can seamlessly transition from the glitz and glamor of a supervillain auction to a pulse-pounding action sequence. As the series progresses, “Shang-Chi” also begins to explore elements of mystical worlds and psychedelic other dimensions, all of which Ruan gives its distinct feel. The art of “Shang-Chi” is vibrant and exciting, and the action is fluid and easy to follow.
In general, Yang and Ruan have made “Shang-Chi” an excellent series that balances an intriguing mystery with plenty of family drama and antics. Yang and Ruan have given Shang-Chi a complex and exciting place in the Marvel universe. As the dust clears from betraying friends and family, it will be excited to see what happens next.
How can you read it?
“Shang-Chi” is published monthly by Marvel Comics, and the 8th issue will be hitting the racks this week at your local comic shop or on Marvel Unlimited or Comixology. The first five issues are collected in ‘Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe,’ available online or at your local comic shop if you want to catch up on the action.
