Shang-Chi, Vol. 3: Família de Origem

Shang-Chi by Gene Luen Yang

by Gene Luen Yang, Dike Ruan, Marcus To

Shang-Chi recentemente tomou as rédeas da organização de seu pai, a Sociedade das Cinco Armas. Seus integrantes por décadas vinham manipulando, matando e roubando para conquistarem seus objetivos, e têm sido difícil para o herói mudar o rumo das coisas. Os pecados de seu pai, em todos os sentidos, parecem continuar pesando sobre suas costas – e fazem com que saiam das sombras os mais inesperados e perigosos inimigos.

Shang-Chi se vê envolvido num intricado e mortal drama familiar, lidando com o ressurgimento de pessoas há muito perdidas e cheias de segredos, antagonizando seus próprios irmãos… Será possível que ele construa um futuro no qual acredita ou seu sangue e passado vão para sempre se colocar em seu caminho?

Reúne Shang-Chi (2021) #7 a 12 e material de Marvel’s Voices: Identity (2022) #1. Capa cartonada com 144 páginas.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Ebooks

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second Books, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist. His other works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), Superman from DC Comics (with various artists), and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series from Dark Horse Comics (with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. His most recent books are Dragon Hoops from First Second Books and Superman Smashes the Klan from DC Comics.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book stinks. But only in the literal sense . . . of scents. I don't know what it is outgassing, but as I walked and read it outside I thought some chemical spill must be coming to me on the wind because I was swamped in a sour, pickled reek the whole time. It was only when I got home, and opened the book again for my review that I realized the book was the source. I've never read a book that smelled so bad! Anyone else getting fumes from their copies?

But putting that aside, I at least enjoyed the story that was also between the covers. Shang-Chi continues to deal with family issues as the book steers itself closer to the events of the recent movie. I'd prefer Shang-Chi without all the fantasy elements, but Gene Luen Yang is handling those elements well enough that it is not a turn-off.

Apparently, the current series has been canceled and the book is being relaunched with a new #1 for the third time in like two years. I'll keep my eye out for it.

FOR REFERENCE:

Originally published in magazine form as Shang-Chi (2021) #7-12 and one short story from Marvel's Voices: Identity (2021) #1.

Contents:
• Shang-Chi #7 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Dike Ruan, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho, cover art
• Shang-Chi #8 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Dike Ruan, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho, cover art
• Shang-Chi #9 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Marcus To, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho, cover art
• Shang-Chi #10 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Marcus To, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho, cover art
• Shang-Chi #11 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Marcus To, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho, cover art
• Shang-Chi #12 / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Marcus To, artist; Leinil Francis Yu with Romulo Fajardo Jr., cover art
• Marvel's Voices: Identity (2021) #1: "What Is vs. What If" / Gene Luen Yang, writer; Marcus To, artist; Jim Cheung and Romulo Fajardo Jr., cover art
• Variant Cover Gallery / Rian Gonzales, Rahzzah, Ron Lim, Stephen Mooney, Dike Ruan, Inhyuk Lee, artists

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume of Shang-Chi tries to have its cake and eat it too, as Gene Luen Yang continues the story of Shang-Chi's family while also bringing in some suspicious MCU continuity as well. The result is a bit of a hodge podge of both sides, to both of their detriment.

Yang gets points for not just jettisoning his entire story in favour of the MCU stuff; there's really no point, as it's been shown many times that MCU/comic synergy has little to no effect on sales. But it's hard not to point at Shang-Chi's mother coming from another dimension, and the addition of the Ten Rings (not the Mandarin's, which are elsewhere) as anything but an attempt to do just that, even if they do appear in a somewhat organic way given everything that Yang's done before.

Dike Ruan bids adieu to the title with the two issue Family Of Origin flashback story, before Marcus To steps in as the series regular artist for the final four. To's always been a favourite of mine, and he brings that same energy and polish to this book as all of his others. While Ruan was a decent fit, I do think To's better.

An attempt is made to bring Shang-Chi closer to his MCU counterpart, for better or worse, and while it's semi-successful, it does seem a tad unnecessary. While the book doesn't suffer too much, I'm hoping this transitional period doesn't continue into the relaunch.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my faverite book of the Shang-Chi series so far. It does a very good job of bridging the gap between the comics and the movie in my opinion. It is also the most action pack book of the series so far.

Shang finally learns his family secrets, just in time for the hidden manipulator and the traitors or the Five Weapon Society to attack. Can Shang ever step out of his father's shadow and re-create the Society in his own vision.

A good action packed book, but I would prefer more Kung Fu action than the more mystical approach the books have been going. The What Is Vs the What If, was my favourite story of the whole book. Though this is the end of the series, they say not the end. Let's see. The book finishes with a thumbnail variant cover gallery of issues 11, and full page variants of issue 12.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Man, they were really pulling elements from the movie into this volume. So Shang-Chi’s grandfather on his mother’s side, never like Shang’s father. He has vowed to take out all his kids and imprison his mother. So we have Shang-Chi and the rest of the Five Weapons Society standing tall together to take him on. There were some really cool fights and the artwork was top notch throughout. The story ended up being descent watching them gather up the two missing members and getting down to the brawl. Looking forward to the next volume.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another satisfying entry in Gene Luen Yang's Shang-Chi run, though Family of Origin is a bit too obviously presented as "Shang-Chi world-building." Specifically, world-building to catch Shang-Chi up to his stature in the Marvel cinematic universe. Expect to travel to Ta Lo, meet some wild creatures, and uncover the power of the ten rings.

All of this wrapped around a contrived villain (Shang-Chi's grandfather, Chieftain Xin) - he's mad because Shang-Chi's father stole his mother away. Which naturally means Xin wants to murder everyone in Zheng Zu's bloodline, as well as his own daughter. Villains gotta villain, I guess, but some nuance would have been nice.

Family of Origin struggles a bit juggling the backstory and world-building with the high action. It's overall a decent time, though, and leaves Shang-Chi seemingly at the beginning of a grand journey. Hopefully Yang can work in some fresher material now that's he set the stage.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty middle-of-the-road stuff, which is shocking to write about an arc that features interdimensional travel and transforming via blood magic infused masks. But, ultimately, it's still just all about...

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comic Shang-Chi takes a step towards the movie Shang-Chi...
Highlights:
- Ever since Shang-Chi's mom Jiang Li was rescued, she has been living in the "Fist House" of the Five Weapons Society with him. Since there is relative peace, she takes time to tell him a story of his origin. - - - - Dad Zheng Zu ends up in Ta Lo where she lived. She helps nurse him back to health and they fall in love. She leaves Ta Lo to be with him and they raise kids. When her father, Chieftain Xin shows up, he fights with Zheng Zu and Jiang Li falls into a dark dimension in the chaos. ---- That's why Shang-Chi didn't have a mom growing up.
- Xin comes out of Ta Lo, once again wanting to bring his daughter home. He is the leader of the Qilin Riders (a beast looking a little like a Foo Dog) and will stop at nothing. Luckily, she has Shang and his siblings (they even have gotten Takeshi out of jail to help) to protect her.
- Going to Ta Lo, Shang-Chi encounters the Jade Emperor (the original Emperor who now rules in Ta Lo instead of here) and eventually, with help from the spirit of his father Zheng Zu, obtains the Ten Rings, which is the spiritual weapon that belongs with the Fist anyways.
- By the end, Xin is defeated, Jiang Li is in charge in Ta Lo, and the Five Weapons Society is in the process of turning their reputation towards the good.

A good connecting Volume for new readers, while also keeping previous readers entertained.
Strong recommend.
Looking forward to what is coming next.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este é o terceiro volume de Shang-Chi, escrito pelo autor sino-americano Gene Luen Yang e que atualizou tanto os apesctos, como as origens e propósitos do personagem. Embora existam fãs do Mestre do Kung-Fu raiz, acredito que as mudanças em Chi vieram para melhor. O personagem original era chato e tinha um ranço racista enorme. Esta edição aproxima mais o personagem das modificações feitas para ele no seu filme do MCU. Aqui são incorporadas suas origens familiares, incluindo o fato de seu pai não ser mais Fu Manchu e sim outro chefão do crime chinês. Já sua mãe vem de uma dimensão paralela, vinda de uma casta que serve ao mitológico Imperador de Jade. E é dele que Chi acaba incorporando os dez anéis no fim desta trama. As histórias são muito cativantes e é legal ler Chi como um personagem quase que inteiramente novo e que é feito para as novas gerações e mais que isso, para o mercado chinês. São aquele tipo de histórias que Yang sabe muito bem fazer como fez com o Super-Man Chinês, que envolvem o leitor no seu unverso e nos seus personagens. E, na minha opinião, tramas ainda melhores que o filme do MCU.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what...'the people' want?

I'm on the fence with this title. It was a pretty strong title on its own. Characterizations were unique. Storytelling was sound. Then, someone waved the latest MCU movie poster at Yang and pointed out how things would be 'so much easier' if they aligned the comic book character with his cinema counterpart. What we end up with is a mashup of, what feels like, one storyline getting diverted into another. At least the flow was well maintained. There's no abrupt retcon to get everything movie friendly.

We do get to the end of the series pretty abruptly. I'm not sure if that's because they have plans or the series got the red light early on and larger storylines had to be scrapped.

All in all, the first 3 TPB's of this Shang-Chi reboot have been a great update to the character. He's gone beyond being a one dimensional martial artist, to a leader and supported by a family and group of friends.

Bonus: RIP Five Weapon Society ..may you all have long off panel lives
Bonus Bonus: Snot Launcher aka Spider-Man ...best nickname ever

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably the strongest volume of the most recent Shang-Chi runs. It borrows and leans in to the more MCU aspects of the character and is all the better for it.
The writer does a better job of focusing on an overarching narrative than the previous volume. The ‘monster of the week’ approach is turned in to a more focused method of story telling. Shang-Chi having to fight for his family/ and fight his actual family was good stuff.
Giving him the Ten Rings by the end really worked.

3/5.

[Markus Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um volume do ~novo Mestre do Kung Fu. Essa história aproxima ele do que foi feito no MCU, inclusive incluindo os dez anéis aqui. É diferente do que foi feito, porque não envolve o Mandarim ou os dez anéis dele, mas sim o que já havia sendo feito no título escrito pelo Yang. Aqui ele descobre a origem da sua mãe e como ela se envolveu com seu pai, e acaba tendo que lutar com seu avô, chefe de um clã místico extra dimensional. É uma história divertida, com muita ação, que você consegue ler numa sentada, de tão envolvente. Acho que é uma característica da escrita do Yang, já que é tão divertido quanto o título que ele fez com o Super-Man chinês. Os desenhos não comprometem e conseguem mostrar o dinamismo necessário pra uma série que é basicamente luta. Já estou ansioso pra ler o próximo volume.

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last installment (as far as I know) of this Shang-Chi comics written by Gene Luen Yang and I absolutely loved it!

We do get some parallels to what happened in the MCU, which was definitely interesting and a great anchor point for someone new to the comics (like myself). I loved the overarching themes of family and duty. What must one do to change the multi-generational patterns of making bad choices while also maintaining those family bonds?

I enjoyed the arcs of not just Shang-Chi but of all his siblings. Each of them do get enough time on the page to see how their characters have evolved in response to Shang-Chi's actions as well as their own internal evolution.

I'd definitely read more by Gene Luen Yang, both for Shang-Chi and other works of his.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family drama with martial arts…how can I say no. Also I fee like an attempt in comics to align the comic version to the movie version…which maybe we don’t need.

[Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Прочитав другу арку Шан-Чі і загалом вийшло досить непогано. Сюжет цієї арки розповідає про те як дід Шан-Чі намагається винищити своїх внуків оскільки дуже сильно ненавидить чоловіка своєї доньки. Найбільше мені сподобалися 7 та 8 номери в яких нам розповіли про те як зустрілися батьки Шана. Мені взагалі подобається, як Янг тут працює з родиною динамікою і мені цікаво спостерігати за персонажами, єдине до чого можу причепитися так це коли в перших номерах арки був байт з тим, що сестра Шана зрадила його і примкнула до лиходіїв. А от друга половина арки нехай і теж мені сподобалася мала трішки більше мінусів серед яких поява привида батька нашого героя та сумнівна підв'язка під MCU (через яку серію і перезапускають). Підводячи підсумки скажу, що можу порадити прочитати другу арку і, що вона вийшла набагато кращою за дуже погану першу. Ну, а тепер чекаємо на новий том.

[Rick Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I've enjoyed the new lore concepts introduced by Gene Luen Yang and Dike Ruan for their new Shang-Chi series, the increased emphasis on synergy with the cinematic counterpart is pretty grating and devalues their previous work building up the Five Weapons Society mythos. This reads like a forcible transition of the comics line to coalescence with the film brand, and I fail to see why any of this is necessary. The characterization work of the new characters in the Shang-Chi comics has been pretty solid, and while these issues have been more exposition heavy than other contemporary Marvel titles, Yang does a decent job keeping the story moving at a fairly brisk pace. Perhaps it's my own nostalgia for the Moench/Gulacy/Day era of the Master of Kung Fu comics that is getting in the way here, but some retention of the classic martial arts genre is something I feel like is missing here. Overall, I'm sure this series has its fans, but I really haven't been feeling this run as it continues to lumber on.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume is continues the series’ mission to drag the comic book Shang-Chi kicking and screaming into something that more closely resembles the movie version. The retcon of his mother was only the start. Now the mystical realm of Ta Lo and the Ten Rings are fully incorporated. Shang-Chi also has psionic abilities now. The comic has become a full blown fantasy series and it’s a bit of a shame since the roots were always in the more grounded realm of classic martial arts movies.

It’s fitting that the final story in this collection is a short from the Marvel Voices: Identity comic. In it, Shang-Chi has to fight and destroy a shadow of himself, one that takes the form of his classic look from his original series. It’s symbolic of this new modern version of the character killing the original and leaving him behind.

[Jimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gene Luen Yang and Dike Ruan , Marcus To, Triona Farrell, Erick Archiniega and Sunny Gho do a fantastic job with Shang Chi #3 Family of Origin.

Big fan of Shang Chi and Gene Luen Yang takes him into a place that he should have been after his initial run in the 70's/80's, but he put on a back burner and barely given his due.

Don't get me wrong, he was a great edition to Hereos for Hire and the Avengers, but he was always in the background barely visible. These books have lifted him up and made him into the hero he was always meant to be, and part of a family, a community that he was not included in -- even in the MCU.

Love this series. I hope it doesn't end for a long time.

[No_One · Rating 4 out of 5]

This run has a good amount of heart, solid family drama, good action, light hearted dialogue and again the themes of family which is really the through-line here make it stand out. First six issues were light but the second half was much better. A good villain thinks he’s in the right and Xin was really trying to get rid of a man he thought was evil (Zheng Zu, Shang’s pops). It all works and comes together, in the last two issues especially. I will say, Shang’s acquisition of the ten rings could have been set up better. Yang could have set it up as early as the first issue.

[Kevin O'Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Origin story of the ten rings weapon he has. Stolen from the jade emperor while trying to defend his siblings in the five weapons society from their grandfather who wants to wipe them out to end Shang-chi's father's legacy.

Talks about his mother and her mental abilities and delves a bit further into his father's cult.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 3 is able to take the subtle momentum from the previous volumes to have a pay-off that feels personal, but comes across just shy as being as altogether transformative as one would hope given the caliber of the author and the time dedicated in the series to lead into this specific moment.

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

sad to see dike ruan left in the middle of this one... not a bad of status quo change though.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The person behind Shang-Chi's betrayals is revealed and it's not great. There's a strong impetus to bring the comic inline with the movie so the book becomes all about Ta Lo and set up for a new Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings comic, the third Shang-Chi relaunch in two years. Way to make your comics completely inaccessible, Marvel. They are all written by the same guy, no reason to relaunch except to bring in that new #1 money.

Marcus To takes over the art after issue 8 and I think while Dike Ruan did a good job, Marcus To is better and more experienced at this point.

[theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

esme and shi-hua <3

[bindu · Rating 3 out of 5]

way cooler than the movie!

[Lisandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,6 estrelas

[Qamar Farhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I really like this story line of Shang chi. Plus the art style and colors are really good. And I hope to have more to read soon 🫣🫡

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun weapons, magic items and abilities. Working with family can be challenging especially if they want to kill you.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot better than the previous. Something is happening every issue. Art is still good, but characters aren't very expressive.

[Vladimír · Rating 4 out of 5]

Príbeh pokračuje, rodinná história a vzťahy sa komplikujú a celková atmosféra nadobúda o niečo mystickejšiu a magickejšiu atmosféru. Spoznávame totiž krajinu Ta Lo a nebezpečenstvá, ktoré z nej na Shang-Chiho a jeho rodinu prichádzajú. Stále to funguje a stále ma baví spoznávať detaily a súvislosti zo sveta tohto hrdinu. Cieľ cesty je jasný - Ten Rings.