controversial antagonist was replaced with a figure whose origin wasn't encased with a legacy of East Asian prejudices and hate. Shang-Chi's rebooted father, Zheng-Zu was no less evil or power hungry. Even more, he still wasn't a character for children as the leader of the Five Weapons Society was a gangster who had his hands in some very adult criminal activities such as gun running, human trafficking, and drugs.
Of course with the live action Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel wanted to produce a kid friendly graphic novel to introduce the characters to a broader audience. To do this, creator Victoria Ying set the story during Shang-Chi's childhood. Yes, Shang-Chi's father is still a heartless criminal leader who rewards loyalty over issuing parental love. Only now he's more of a passive character in which the young hero lives in the shadow of his father's approval.
Ying makes another wise move by having the story focus more on the mythology of Shang-Chi's world as opposed to the dark criminal elements. In this book, Shang-Chi is on a quest to find a magical orchard that fruits could heal the boy's ailing father. In the midst of Shang-Chi's journey, he meets a mysterious hooded man who claims to be Shang-Chi's brother and the protector of other offspring who have been deemed unworthy of inheriting Zheng-Zu's criminal enterprise.
This graphic novel is a decent prequel to 2021's Shang-Chi motion picture. It opens Shang-Chi's eyes to his father's dark nature while also authenticating the myths of ancient China into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story also shows how you can love someone even when they are imperfect, even when that nature is extremely vile.
Cruel parents seems to be a universal theme. Snow White, Cinderella, even The Simpsons show that parents are people too. And that means flaws. It's a complicated process to love someone who is supposed to love you back and yet sometimes in return mothers and fathers aren't capable of such kindness. Thus if this story opens up questions about parental abuse or neglect, it's my hope that parents and guardians are willing and equipped to address such complicated inquiries. Though I think the recommended age of 8-12 might be a bit too immature. 10-14 might be more appropriate.
A read that potentially could open many doors. Not just to some complex family ethics, but also to Chinese culture. The artwork is highly indicative of modern and classic Oriental styles. Plus, young readers are introduced to new characters that have entertained millions of Chinese children for millennia. If you are going to show Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to your family, this book could act as a good introduction to many of the characters as well as be a great follow up to a reader interested in learning the rest of the story.
I really thought this book was older than its 2023 publication date. It might have been due to come out when the movie did but was delayed due to COVID. But a 2 year hiatus? The book has a preview for a Ms. Marvel graphic novel I read and reviewed a long time ago. So maybe it was due to come out in 2021. Not sure. But it shouldn't interfere with the enjoyment of this book.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
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