Dark Encounters

MASTER OF KUNG FU — Issue no. 67, May 1978

Chance Shirley

Jan 04, 2023

Book: Master of Kung Fu

Issue No.: 67

Published: May 9, 1978

Title: “Dark Encounters”

Cover Price: 35¢

As I mentioned when I wrote about the previous issue, there is a lot going on in this book. And there are a lot of characters. To name a few...

Shang-Chi, the titular kung fu master
Leiko Wu, MI-6 agent and (I think) Shang-Chi’s love interest
Shen Kuei, freelance agent of the communist Chinese
Juliette, a singer, smuggler (I think), and another love interest for Shang-Chi
Clive and Melissa, two more MI-6 agents
Kogar, the main (I think) bad guy, and he has an eye patch and a mechanical hand
Black Jack Blue, a good guy who has infiltrated Kogar’s gang

And there are more characters! But I think this list covers most of the ones relevant to the story at this point.

I was kind of complaining about there being so many plot points and characters when I wrote about the previous issue of Master of Kung Fu, but now that I am mostly up to speed, I’m digging this story. One of my favorite things about comics from this era is their sprawling, soap opera nature, and this story is really delivering on that. Plus there is plenty of action, because this is a martial arts book after all.

Panel from this issue showing Leiko Wu discovering Kogar's massive secret base. There are futuristic-looking buildings and a lagoon inside a massive cave. A monorail system connects the buildings. Leiko Wu thinks, "... I've just found Kogar's secret base. Not a bad set-up for a pirate... but what do I do now? Maybe that large structure across the lagoon -- seems like the most likely place to find some clues. Can't swim across -- they'd spot me for sure... so that leaves the monorail system."

The McGuffin of this story is a set of secret plans being smuggled in crates of drugs. In this issue we find out the plans are for a neutron bomb, which is perfect for 1978 and still pretty scary today.

We also get to see Kogar’s secret base — it’s a huge base (it has its own monorail system!) in a huge cave hidden behind a waterfall. It’s quite a lair — I think it’d impress most James Bond villains. The story ends at said base, with several of the characters converging there, setting up what should be an exciting finale for next issue.

Next time — The Hulk! Angel! Iceman! All drawn by John Byrne!

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