Saturday, May 23, 2009

Saturday Super Smack-Down: The Thing vs. Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu

Salutations, slobber-knocker supporters! Today's bout is a wild one, beginning with yet another of those famed Marvel super-hero "I-thought-you-were-the-bad-guy-because-I've-never-seen-you-before" free for alls from Marvel Two-In-One #29 (April 1977), this one by Marv Wolfman and Ron Wilson. Picture this: Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu is taking a lonely walk through the streets of London, England; Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing, idol o'millions is also strolling those same streets with his best gal, Alicia Masters on his way to visit a pal. When Ben and Alicia arrive at the friend's house, Alicia slips in something--which turns out to be blood--which, naturally makes her scream in horror. Shang Chi hears the scream and...


I didn't even hear the bell ring, did you?

But I bet bashful Benjy's hearin' 'em! Of course, kung fu isn't the best style of fighting when you're caught in a bear-hug that could crush a Chrysler...


THING-FU!


Uh oh, looks like the Idol O'Millions is flipping for Shang Chi...(Insert "groan" here.)


...so when all else fails, and if you've got super-strength, you can always throw furniture at your opponent.


Incoming!!


And the winnah isssss....ah, shucks, there ain't a winner, since Shang Chi has reasoned that he and the Thing shouldn't be fighting after all. This bout is "called" on account of intelligence.


(Side note, just 'cause--Shang's "inner narration" must've been popular with the Marvel Heroes, 'cause that's how just about all of their books are "narrated" today. Just sayin'...)
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 23, 2009 at 3:14 AM

    That was kind of funky! Yeah, Shang's reasoning had nothing whatsoever to do that he was way outclassed by somebody made of rocks. I loved Two-in-One! Wait, that came out wrong, but I'll leave it like that 'cause you know what I mean, don't you?
    WM

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  2. Josh ReynoldsMay 23, 2009 at 4:58 AM

    And then two issues later, Alicia was turned into a giant spider. Good times.

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  3. AnonymousMay 23, 2009 at 2:00 PM

    I love that comic! I sold my collection at one point which included that comic. I eventually found it in a quarter bin recently and it was as fun a read now as it was 20 years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chris NyeMay 26, 2009 at 11:29 AM

    The Kung Fu craze was another fun aspect of 70s comics......I never delved completely into it but did check out Shang Chi every once in awhile, and it was fun to see the world of Master of Kung Fu cross over with superheroes.

    Another enjoyable comic was Giant Size Spider-Man no. 2, which featured Spidey teaming with Shang Chi.....

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