‘Shang-Chi #1’ Review Feels like the Start of Your Favorite Martial Arts Film

Writer: Gene Luen Yang / Artist: Dike Ruan / Marvel Comics Shang-Chi is about to be a big name in the next couple of years. With the MCU prepping his big screen debut, it’s only fitting that Marvel Comics gets the ball rolling on a new series. Here we are with Shang-Chi #1, an issue that doesn’t necessarily sell new readers on the character of Shang-Chi or who he is but feels like it opens up a part of the Marvel Universe that we don’t get to see a lot. It’s a whole new world to explore and an exciting one if Writer Gene Luen Yang has anything to say about it. I’m going to be honest. I don’t really know too much about Shang-Chi. I’d imagine that a lot of people, even some long-time comic fans, might be in the same position. That’s why I’m excited about this new series. It gives us a fresh slate to get to know the character and why he’s such a big deal. Now, like I’ve mentioned earlier, we don’t get to know much about what makes Shang-Chi so special. In fact, a lot of this issue feels like we are being introduced to a character we should already know. From what I’ve gathered, he can fight really well, his life isn’t normal, he’s made a lot of enemies, and has some deep-rooted family issues.

It’s actually the stuff surrounding Shang-Chi and his background in this opening issue of his series that makes it so interesting. From the beginning, we dive deep into Shang-Chi’s world and the coming conflict that he’s about to face. It’s a mythic tale, where magic and martial arts mix…