Final Combats

MASTER OF KUNG FU — Issue No. 68, June 1978

Book: Master of Kung Fu

Issue No.: 68

Published: June 27, 1978

Title: “Final Combats”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Digital scan

This issue of Master of Kung Fu wraps up a storyline that has been going on since before I started reading the book. And, honestly, I’m still not sure I have a total grip on who all of the characters are and what their motivations are — there are a lot of characters here! That said, the vibe for this storyline has been James-Bond-as-1970s-martial-arts-hero, and I have enjoyed that quite a bit.

The MacGuffin for this story is a set of blueprints for a nuclear bomb that’s been broken up into microdots and hidden in a large shipment of hashish bricks. In a fun twist, Shang-Chi, star of this book, doesn’t even find out the true nature of the hashish shipment till the end of the story. And then he immediately blows up the boat transporting the hashish/microdots.

While he’s at it, Shang-Chi blows up the awesome city-sized secret lair of bad guy Kogar (he’s got a top-knot, eyepatch, and mechanical hand) with the help of former enemy Shen-Kuei, AKA the Cat. Apparently Shang-Chi and Shen-Kuei were enemies because the latter believed the former killed his brother? But Shen-Kuei figures out in this issue that wasn’t the case.

One bit of melodrama that isn’t resolved is the love triangle between Shang-Chi, nightclub singer/smuggler Juliette, and MI-6 agent Leiko Wu. At the story’s end, Shang-Chi leaves with Juliette, and Leiko is upset, believing she’s lost Shang-Chi for good. But Shang-Chi’s attitude toward Juliette is noncommittal at best.

Next time — I’ll be back Tuesday with Captain Marvel and Drax the Destroyer!