Warning! Spoilers for Marvel Voices: Identity #1 below
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Shang-Chi's relationship with his father is quite complicated. In a new preview for the Shang-Chi-led story in the upcoming Marvel Voices: Identity #1 anthology, the Marvel hero admits that when he defied his father and fought alongside the Avengers against him was the moment that ultimately defined his life.
Marvel Voices: Identity #1 is a new anthology spotlighting Asian heroes and creators in the Marvel Universe. The first issue of the comic will feature some incredible creative minds doing short stories on Asian heroes. Among the stories in the comic, Greg Pak, Creees Lee, and Brian Reber will write a new Jimmy Woo story called "Jimmy Woo 1959," Alyssa Wong, Whilce Portacio, and Jay David Ramos will team up for a new Wave story called "Personal Heroes," while Maurene Goo, Lynne Yoshii, and Sebastian Cheng are tackling the Silk-led story, "New York State of Mind." Gene Luen Yang, Marcus To, and Sunny Gho are set to write "What Is Vs. What If," a new story which will take a deeper dive into Shang-Chi his role in the Marvel Universe.
In the first lettered look at the Shang-Chi short story, the Marvel hero is asked what defines his life. Shang-Chi answers with defying his father Zheng Zu and allying with Earth's Mightiest Heroes to stop him. Shang-Chi also says that taking over the Five Weapons Society after his death and turning it into something good instead of a force of evil was important, as he wanted to show he's everything Zheng Zu was not. Check out the one-page preview below.
Shang-Chi has always had a complicated history with his father in the comics - but not necessarily for reasons within his stories. Originally, Zheng Zu was named Fu Manchu, who was as racist a stereotype of Asian culture as Marvel's ever published. Kevin Feige went out of his way to reveal Fu Manchu won't be a part of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, admitting he's not a character Marvel owns, nor would they ever want to own him. In the movie, Shang-Chi's father is changed to Wenwu, AKA the Mandarin.
Shang-Chi getting more of the spotlight in the comics and MCU is a welcome sight. He's an iconic character who brings something new and fresh to the comics. By defying his father and trying to turn the Five Weapons Society into a positive force in the Marvel Universe, Shang-Chi has further cemented himself as not only a cool character but one whose morals and actions ultimately define him. Marvel Voices: Identity #1 is in comic book stores on Wednesday.