Shang-Chi
Textless cover ofShang-Chi#1 (September 2020), byJim CheungandLaura Martin
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Special Marvel Edition#15 (December 1973)
Created by	Steve Englehart Jim Starlin
In-story information
Full name	Zheng Shang-Chi
Team affiliations	Avengers Avengers Emergency Response Squad Agents of Atlas Five Weapons Society MI-6 Marvel Knights Heroes for Hire Secret Avengers Thunderbolts
Partnerships	Clive Reston Black Jack Tarr Leiko Wu Iron Fist Lin Lie
Notable aliases	Master of Kung Fu Brother Hand Commander Hand Deadly Hand Gamemaster
Abilities	Master martial artist Mastery ofchi Psionic abilities Abilities via theTen Rings: Superhuman strength, speed, durability and stamina Flight Projectile attacks and chain generation Mystical energy generation, manipulation and projection Portal creation Teleportation

Zheng Shang-Chi,^{[a][b]also known as theMaster of Kung FuandBrother Hand, is asuperheroappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics. The character was created by writerSteve Englehartand artistJim Starlin, debuting inSpecial Marvel Edition#15 (December 1973) in theBronze Age of Comic Books, and starring in his own solo title until 1983. Described as the greatest martial artist alive, Shang-Chi has been trained since birth to be the ultimate fighter with a specialization in various unarmed and weaponry-basedwushustyles, including the use of thegùn,nunchaku, andjian. Shang-Chi later assumes leadership of theFive Weapons Societyand acquires theTen Ringsweapons.}

Shang-Chi was spun off from novelistSax Rohmers licensed property as the unknown son of fictional villainDr. Fu Manchu. In later editions, his connection to Dr. Fu Manchu was underplayed after Marvel lost the comic book rights to the latters character; to get around this problem, the publisher eventually renamed Shang-Chis father Zheng Zu.

Shang-Chimade his live-action debut in theMarvel Cinematic UniversefilmShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(2021), where he is portrayed bySimu Liu.

In the early 1970s, writerSteve Englehartand artistJim StarlinapproachedDC Comicsto adapt the television seriesKung Fuinto a comic book, as DCs parent company,Warner Communications, owned the rights to the series. DC Comics, however, was not interested in their pitch, believing the shows and themartial artsgenre popularity would fade quickly. The duo then approachedMarvel Comicswith the idea to create akung fu-focused original comic. Editor-in-chiefRoy Thomasagreed, but only if they would include theSax Rohmers pulp villainDr. Fu Manchu, as Marvel had previously acquired the comic book rights to the character, and made their protagonist half-white. Englehart and Starlin agreed.^{[1][2]They developed Shang-Chi, a master of kung fu, who was introduced as a previously unknown son of Dr. Fu Manchu.[3][4]Though an original character himself, many of Shang-Chis supporting characters (most notably Dr. Fu Manchu,Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Dr. James Petrie andFah Lo Suee) were Rohmer creations. Starlin left the series after #17 (replaced by Paul Gulacy) and Englehart after #19 (replaced byDoug Moench). No characters from theKung Futelevision series were officially included in the comic series, though in the #19 issue the character Lu Sun bore such a strong resemblance toKwai Chang Cainethat to avoid copyright issues, the character was given a mustache throughout the issue.[5][6]With artistPaul Gulacy, Shang-Chis visual appearance was modeled after that ofBruce Lee.[7]}

According to Englehart, his name was influenced by his study of theI-Ching,^{[8]composed of升 (shēng), meaning "ascending", andchi, meaning vital energy.[9]}

Shang-Chi first appeared inSpecial Marvel Edition#15 (December 1973).^{[10]He appeared again in issue #16, and with issue #17 (April 1974) the publication was retitledThe Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Amidst the martial arts craze in the United States in the 1970s, the book became very popular, surviving until issue #125 (June 1983), a solid run that included fourGiant-Sizeissues and oneAnnual.Special Collectors Edition#1 (1975) cover-titled as "Savage Fists of Kung Fu" reprinted stories fromThe Deadly Hands of Kung Fu#1–2;The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Special#1; andSpecial Marvel Edition#15.[11]The character did several crossovers with other Marvel martial artists, including theWhite Tiger,Iron Fistand theDaughters of the Dragon(Colleen WingandMisty Knight). He appeared regularly inThe Deadly Hands of Kung Fu.}