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You are here: Home / Featured / Shang-Chi (Master of Kung Fu) Reading Order!

Shang-Chi (Master of Kung Fu) Reading Order!

May 1, 2019 by Dave 3 Comments

Shang-Chi is an unlikely Marvel success story, born from an unholy alliance of 1970’s Kung Fu craze and Marvel’s fallback plans to utilize the public domain character Fu Manchu. The end result is a surprisingly contemplative action showcase, where Shang-Chi, the son of Fu Manchu, goes on a journey to become a heroic master of martial arts.

While the 70’s comics are the clearest Shang-Chi focus in all of Marvel – Master of Kung Fu alone runs for 125 issues – the character has had various supporting roles throughout the shared universe since that time. From working with the Avengers and Heroes for Hire to training Spider-Man how to actually fight, Shang-Chi is increasingly integrated into the fabric of Marvel Comics.

Below you’ll find a complete guide to the comic book stories of Shang-Chi, including the Comic Book Herald logo next to personal favorites, or recommended starting places.

Related Reading Orders:

Iron Fist

My Marvelous Year – the 70’s

SHang-Chi is great at nunchuks

Shang-Chi Origins & Kung Fu Comics!

comic book herald blog logoShang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 1

Collects: Special Marvel Edition #15-16, Master Of Kung Fu (1974) #17-37, Giant-Size Master Of Kung Fu #1-4, Giant-Size Spider-Man #2, & Iron Man Annual #4

Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection: Weapon of the Soul

Collects: Special Marvel Edition #15-16, Master Of Kung Fu (1974) #17-28,Giant-Size Master Of Kung Fu #1-4, Giant-Size Spider-Man #2 & Iron Man Annual #4

Note here that the first Master of Kung Fu epic collection overlaps significantly with the first Master of Kung Fu omnibus edition. You don’t need both.

Amazing Spider-Man Marvel GIT comics collection

I’d recommend reading the issues in the following order:

  • Special Marvel Edition #15-16
  • Master Of Kung Fu (1974) #17 to #21
  • Giant-Size Spider-Man #2
  • Giant-Size Master Of Kung Fu #1
  • Master of Kung Fu #22
  • Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #2
  • Master of Kung Fu #22 to #25
  • Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #3
  • Master of Kung Fu #26 to #28
  • Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #4
  • Master of Kung Fu #29 to #37

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Omnibus Vol. 1

Collects: Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu (1974) 1-18; Special (1974) 1

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu is the black-and-white magazine that runs somewhat parallel to Master of Kung Fu, touching on all sorts of 70’s karate culture. In terms of publication dates, you could definitely try to fit these issues into the Master of Kung Fu chronology, although I’d argue that’s not really necessary.

Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 2

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu Annual (1976) 1, Master Of Kung Fu (1974) 38-70

Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection: Fight Without Pity

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu (1974) 29-53 & Annual 1

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Omnibus Vol. 2

Collects: Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu (1974) 19-33; Bizarre Adventures (1981) 25

Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 3

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu (1974) 71-101; What If (1977) 16

Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 4

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu (1974) 102-125; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 1-8; Master Of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black (1990) 1

Hickman written Shang-Chi comic with Deadpool on motorcycles

Shang-Chi in the 2000’s – Max and Heroes for Hire!

Shang-Chi: The Hellfire Apocalypse

Collects: Marvel Max Shang-Chi #1 To #6

Civil War: Heroes For Hire

Collects: Heroes For Hire #1-5

Heroes For Hire Vol. 2: Ahead of the Curve

Collects: Heroes For Hire #6-10

Heroes For Hire Volume 3: World War Hulk

Collects: Heroes For Hire #11-15

comic book herald blog logoShang-Chi & Deadpool

Collects: Shang-Chi: Master Of Kung Fu (2009) #1

In the opening story written by Jonathan Hickman, Shang-Chi and Deadpool race in a deadly motorcycle race, and share hot dogs.

Shang-Chi fights in the pages of the Hickman Avengers run

Shang-Chi, Avenger

Spider-Island Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu

Collects: Spider-Island: Deadly Hands Of Kung-Fu #1 To #3

Secret Avengers Vol. 2: Eyes of the Dragon 

Collects: Secret Avengers #6-12

comic book herald blog logoSecret Avengers: Run the Mission, Don’t Get Seen, Save the World

Collects: Secret Avengers 16-21

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Out of the Past

Collects: Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu 1-4; Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu (1974) 1 (B Story), 32-33

Avengers World: The Complete Collection

Collects: Avengers World 1-21, Avengers (2012) 34.1-34.2, Material From All-New Marvel Now! Point One

comic book herald blog logoMaster of Kung Fu: Battleworld (Secret Wars)

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu 1-4, 5 Ronin 2

Marvel Amazing Spider-Man GIT digital comics collection

A part of the larger, excellent Secret Wars (2015) crossover event.

Shang-Chi fights beside Danny Rand, the Iron Fist

Shang-Chi, Supporting Master of Kung Fu

The Totally Awesome Hulk Vol. 3: Big Apple Showdown

Collects: Totally Awesome Hulk #13-18

Iron Fist Vol. 2: Sabertooth – Round 2

Collects: Iron Fist 6-7, 72-76

Issues 6 & 7 include an Iron Fist and Shang-Chi team-up!

Marvel Legacy Master of Kung Fu

Collects: Master Of Kung Fu (2017) #126

Domino Vol. 1: Killer Instinct

Collects: Domino 1-5

War of Realms: New Agents of Atlas

Collects: New Agents of Atlas #1 to #4

Part of the larger War of the Realms reading order.

Latest Additions:

Agents of Atlas

Collects: Agents of Atlas (2019) #1 to #5

Sword Master by Greg Pak Vol. 1: War of the Ancients

Collects: Sword Master (2019) #1 to #6

Shang-Chi by Greg Luen Yang Vol. 1: Brothers & Sisters

Collects: Shang-Chi (2020) #1 to #5

King in Black: Atlantis Attacks

Collects: Atlantis Attacks (2020) #1 to #5

Check out CBH’s full King in Black Reading Order!

The Legend of Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi by Yang and Ruan Vol. 2: Shang-Chi vs. The Marvel Universe

Collects: Shang-Chi (2021) #1 to #6

Shang-Chi by Yang and Ruan Vol. 3: Family of Origin

Collects: Shang-Chi (2021) #7 to #12, Marvel’s Voices: Identity (2021) #1 (Shang-Chi story)

Shang-Chi & The Ten Rings

Collects: Shang-Chi & The Ten Rings #1 to #6, Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings #1

Filed Under: Featured, Marvel Characters Tagged With: master of kung fu, shang-chi

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About Dave

Dave is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Comic Book Herald, and also the Boss of assigning himself fancy titles. He's a long-time comic book fan, and can be seen most evenings in Batman pajama pants. Contact Dave @comicbookherald on Twitter or via email at dave@comicbookherald.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John says

    March 24, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    After that was 517-519 with Black Widow and then 520-521 with Hannibal King – then the series was mercifully canceled due to low sales.

    Reply
  2. John says

    March 24, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    One thing I don’t see here is Journey Into Mystery #514, 515, 516 three part story from 1996. After Thor ended at #502 they switched the title back to Journey into Mystery and ran a title story called The Lost Gods from #503-513. Then for some reason there were these three issues with Shang-Chi.

    Reply
  3. Arthur says

    May 2, 2019 at 3:54 am

    Awesome stuff, thanks, you cover everything, where most websites don’t, I’m grew up a hardcore DC fan, but in the past few years, I’ve really enjoyed Marvel’s stories.

    Reply

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