Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection, Vol. 2: Fight Without Pity

Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection #2

by Doug Moench (Writer), Paul Gulacy (Illustrator)

MASTER OF KUNG FU easily ranks as one of the most iconic series in Marvel history. Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy's blend of kung fu action and globetrotting espionage reached beyond the already high standard for the title and pushed to new horizons of action and adventure! The thriller, "Crystal Connection"; the debuts of the whip-cracking Pavane, the savage Razor-Fist and the lovely Leiko Wu; the showdown on Mordillo's Island; the cinematic Hong Kong fi ght with the Cat; the tense intrigue of "Oriental Expediters"; the mystery of MI-6's mole; and the sweeping scale of "The Return of Fu Manchu." Each adventure will have you on the edge of your seat, so don't hold back. Enter the world of Shang-Chi!

COLLECTING: MASTER OF KUNG FU (1974) 29-53 & ANNUAL 1

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Espionage

504 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2019

About the author

Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright. I first discovered Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, back the early 1970s (yep, I’m aging myself, get over it) and I have to admit I was not immediately captivated with him. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy his adventures. But it wasn’t until after I’d also discovered and fallen in love with both James Bond (The Man with the Golden Gun) and Bruce Lee (The Big Boss & Enter the Dragon) that I really grokked Shang-Chi. By then Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy had well established the character and even though I’d been reading the comics, I felt like I’d been missing something. So I went back and read them again, and then again and again. And now in this beautiful edition. Yes, I’ve lost track of how often I’ve read the comics included in this collection, but it’s worth it. Yes, there is something more than a bit racist about Fu Manchu, and the whole yellow peril thing, but Moench and Gulacy weren’t presenting this as a stereotype. They presented these stories as Cold War and espionage thrillers. The protagonist just happened to be of Chinese descent and the son of the most Bond-esque villain this side of tRump imaginable. This volume includes some of the best work that Moench and Gulacy did on the title. And it features not only Shang-Chi and Fu Manchu, but the return of Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston & Nayland Smith. And the introductions of amputee martial artist Razorfist, femme fatale Pavane, love interest and Emma Peel inspired Leiko Wu, and one of Shang-Chi’s greatest adversaries Shen Kuei aka The Cat. Also return appearances by Rufus T. Hackstabber, Tiger Claw, a posthumous appearance of Midnight, Shang-Chi’s adopted brother and, of course, the return of Fah Lo Suee. This volume even includes Shang-Chi’s first meeting with Daniel Rand, the Immortal Iron Fist. But the real gem in this volume is the inclusion of the epic eleven (or is it twelve) part story dealing with an apparent final confrontation between Nayland Smith, Fu Manchu and Our beloved Master of Kung Fu (which certainly inspired some of the events of the film Moonraker). This is the golden age of Shang-Chi. This is Moench and Gulacy at the top of their creative collaboration. What comes later is good, without a doubt, but this ... this is IT!

[Greg Trosclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read this before. I own close to 50000 comic books and never collected Master of Kung Fu. I wish I had as this volume is primarily comprised of two favorites of mine, Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy. They have teamed up to tell other stories that I have loved like Six From Sirius. Early Gulacy artwork reminds me a lot of Jim Steranko art. It is quite unique. I also like that they kind of cast their characters as though they were casting a film. The stories in this volume are very solid. It does show its age with a lot of the dialogue specifically from the character Black Jack Tarr but I am glad that Marvel did not try to clean up the dialogue but left it as it was originally written. These stories also use the characters form Sax Rohmer's Fu-Manchu books. They carry many of the stereotypes that Rohmer contained in his books. The stories are very much James Bond meets Kung Fu and they are very successful. I am excited about the movie Marvel is doing now before, not so much. Worth checking out.

[Michael Emond · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't often I am taken by surprise by a classic comic but this is a series I have never read before and for a 70's comic it blew me away. The writing of Moench is top notch and the art of Gulacy is a revelation. I don't think I have seen Paul Gulacy's art before but he is amazing NOT just as a 1970's comic book artist (most weren't that great back then) but his style stands the test of time and would work in today's more "realistic" comic art market. Doug Moench has always been a solid writer - his work on Batman comes to mind - and in these pages you really get a feel for his love of the spy genre. Yes - this was a title that came about because of the 70's kung fu craze but, like Iron Fist, its stories elevate it away from just being a rehash of the tropes.
I knew of Shang Chi (the main character from this series) but - other than the movie being on the Marvel slate - he was lost in the history of comics. Probably because some found his Asian stereotype a bit offensive (TBH he is portrayed as the most noble character) but mainly because he was the son of Fu Manchu (a very offensive stereotype) who was the intellectual property of Sax Rohmer. In fact, one of the reasons I got this collection is because the rumour is this is a one time print deal and once these are out of print they are gone for good - I doubt that, with the movie coming out, but I could be wrong. So I went into reading this with ZERO knowledge of the character and having seen no other writer write for him so I had no preconceived notions of him. These stories were 100% fun but easily the best ones are when Gulacy illustrates them - when some of the other artists do the chores the stories verge on the stupid (a story about a circus full of weird animal/monsters is horrid).
What's great is Moench rounds out the cast with a bunch of great characters - there is even one (Clive Reston) who is the great Nephew of Sherlock Holmes and the son of James Bond (this is never directly stated but it is heavily implied). I even like the fact Shang Chi is a pacifist and only reluctantly agrees to work on these MI6 missions. I will say his reluctance does get a little irritating near the end but I still like the idea Chi is multi-dimensional although incredibly taciturn.
In the end - I was so impressed how much fun these little spy stories were - it was like a James Bond movie with better characters and a quiet kung fu Bond. :)

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best start work and I love the stories! Brings back so many childhood memories.

[Josh Bungs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise book of the year.
Loved this

[Stephen Passalacqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

One damn good series.

it has always been one of my favorite comics since it's inception. I must have read all the kung fu series.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not perfect there are a couple of dud stories (e.g. the last one).

Shang-Chi is nothing like the MCU version. I prefer this version. More stoic, stone faced and determined. In this story expect something more akin to James Bond or British spy stories of the 60s and 70s (e.g. the Avengers). There are certainly villains that wouldn't feel out of place battling 007.

Outside of a story with Iron Fist (one of the weaker ones) there is no connective tissue with the rest of the Marvel universe - and it is the better for it.

I had a sense of nostalgia reading this. Not because I had read them before but because of the style of story. You couldn't get a comic like this now. Each issue/story was chock full of characterisation, plot and action. And they built up over time creating an engaging and epic story - the 6-part conclusion of the battle with Fu Manchu was absolutely enhanced by what had come before. The support characters were critical in this. They don't exist, or perhaps as ciphers, in modern deconstructed comics which spend so much time on the main character and having big splashy action spreads that they get sidelined.

I really like Paul Gulacy's artwork. Suits the story perfectly. I am sure the character of Lardner was based on Marlon Brando.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 4 out of 5]

By this point in the series, Master of Kung Fu had fully evolved into a mixute of martial arts action, pulp villainy, science fiction and espionage. Shang-Chi and Black Jack Tarr were now regularly accompanied by MI6 agents Leiko Wu (who is also Shang's love interest) and Clive Reston (implied to be James Bond's son and Sherlock Holmes' grand-nephew). Stories are usually multi-part epics, with this particular volume ending in a long tale that culminates on a space station, with Shang and Reston rushing to stop Fu Manchu from blowing the moon out of orbit. Events leading up that moment including ambushes, assassinations, double agents, betrayals, and civil war between Fu's minions and the minions of his equally evil daughter. It's all great stuff, putting the protagonists through the ringer both physically and emotionally. And its all highlighted by great art work and great fight scenes.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opposite of shrinkflation.

I have been reading a lot of "fun sized" comics of 20 pages that sell for 4 bucks. Amazing how much you could get for a quarter in the good old days. This marvel epic is actually free in order to boost sales of Shang chi and the ten rings. This epic includes ideas drawn from Ian Fleming, sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sax rohmer and a strong selection of the mighty marvel bullpen. The supervillains include razorfist and the insidious Dr Fu Manchu. Dr Fu Manchu, the very mention of his name is enough to make the politically correct lose control over their every sphincter. How many half naked Asian cuties does this series contain. Shang chi takes off his shirt in every fight,even at the North pole! What a hero is Shang chi, always filled with self righteous angst, even more than spiderman! The evil plot could work?

[Marie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I grew up watching David Caradine as Caine, the main character in the television show, Kung Fu. This series of comic books took that character and put him from the Old West to the 1970's, complete with the disco inspired fashions and hair styles. It was also enjoyable to have characters from other books appear as characters in this comic strip. The art was fantastic and I enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot. Trusted alies become traitors and traitors become alies, or did they? I enjoyed it and I would recommend it highly!

[Matt Sautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd read this in preparation of the upcoming Shiang-Chi movie. I was shocked to discover how problematic these comics are. I expected some missteps but the colorists' decision to consistently color Shiang-Chi a vibrant yellow and to have nearly all of MI6 refer to him almost exclusively by the pejorative "Chinaman" made reading this volume difficult at times. There are some amazingly illustrated stories scattered throughout here but that does not prevent this work from feeling dated.

[A.A. Rubin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the writing. The stories moved, were interesting, and true to genre. A pet peeve of mine as a martial artist is when martial arts moves are drawn incorrectly, and there’s too much of that in the book—mostly either kicks where the plant leg isn’t right or limbs that bend in ways that humans can’t—and that subtracts a star for me. Also, be aware that the it is very much a book of it’s time, and I took another star for the stereotypes that didn’t age well.

[Milan Konjevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgija je cudo.... obozavam ovaj strip, potpuno. Izlazio je u Eks almanahu kad sam bio dete, neredovno, cesto bez reda, ali je uprkos svemu ostavio bas veliki trag u mom zivotu. Ne umem objektivno da procenim da li je dobar ili los, a i nije me briga. Obozavam Sang Chija, majstora kung fua, Leiko Vu, Fu Mancua, Ser Nejlanda Smita, Restona... ma sve njih. OBOZAVAM.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure, but think i like it better when they focus on the international man of mystery angle over the monster fighting in this collection.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume had some great moments, but lost its steam towards the end. It did get very 'Moonraker' in parts, but I just love this character.

[Chris W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kung Fu Moonraker. Emulates the worst Bond movie and the quality suffers from some of the insane goofiness

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure I'd like this, I'd heard good things so thought I'd give it a go. What a fantastic run of comics, drama, action, amazing art, amazing writing. Nuff said.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains the award winning Moench-Gulacy spy classic from issues #44-51. Great cast of characters.

[Troy-David Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume represents a high-mark in an always excellent series.
Doug Moench’s plots and scripts are wonderfully composed and the Paul Gulacy artwork is simply beautiful.
The two-issue introduction of Shen Kuei, from which this volume takes it’s name, is one of the beat stories in this title’s history.
It begins well, picks up a breakneck pace, has brilliant character driven moments, and brings it all to a shattering climax.
Truly excellent work from the creative team.