Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will introduce Marvel's first Asian superhero. Here's what you need to know about the Master of Kung Fu.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will introduce Marvel's first Asian superhero. Here's what you need to know about the Master of Kung Fu.




Home SR Originals Who Is Shang-Chi? Marvel's New Asian Superhero Explained
Who Is Shang-Chi? Marvel's New Asian Superhero Explained
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will introduce Marvel's first Asian superhero. Here's what you need to know about the Master of Kung Fu.


Marvel Shang-Chi Movie Comic Character Explained
In 2021, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will become Marvel's first movie with an Asian protagonist. The film, which will pit Shang-Chi against the Mandarin, will also serve as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big-screen foray into the kung fu genre.

It was reported near the end of 2018 that Marvel was fast-tracking a movie about Shang-Chi, a lesser-known character and one of Marvel's two biggest martial arts heroes -- the other being Iron Fist. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Marvel Studios confirmed its slate of movies for 2020-2021, which consists of Black Widow, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder. Destin Daniel Cretton is set to direct Shang-Chi, with David Callaham penning the script. It was revealed at Comic-Con that Chinese-Canadian actor Simu Liu will play the titular character.


As the Master of Kung Fu, Shang-Chi has no need of super powers. Like Captain America, Shang-Chi is recognized for his ability to hold his own against insurmountable odds without the benefit of superhuman strength, flight, or other powers. Shang-Chi is even capable of defeating super-powered opponents, such as Wolverine. While it is true that at one time Marvel briefly gave Shang-Chi abilities similar to Multiple Man's, Shang-Chi is typically portrayed as a character who relies solely on his skills as a martial artist.

True to his title of Master of Kung Fu, Shang-Chi employs various different forms of Chinese martial arts and combines them all into his fighting style. Additionally, he's proficient with a number of weapons. Though Shang-Chi is normally seen using hand-to-hand combat, he also makes use of nunchucks, spears, and swords.

As someone who has meditated and practiced kung fu daily for decades, Shang-Chi has carefully honed his concentration skills, which is one of the things that makes him such an accomplished fighter. Shang-Chi effortlessly analyzes both his opponents and his surroundings while in the midst of combat, which enables him to look for weaknesses in his enemies as well as advantages he can exploit.