Kung Fu Kraziness

[jaeldubyoo]

Back in the 1973 Marvel introduced Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu in Special Marvel Edition #15, featuring art by Jim Starlin. This was the start of the martial arts madness in the Marvel universe. Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu went on to star in his own series Starting with #17.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/scan0011.jpg

[fulltimer56]

I always liked them books!! The stories were pretty good but the art was different from book to book it seems!! I don't know right off hand but how many artists worked on it?

Linda

[jaeldubyoo]

In 1974, Marvel intoduces Iron Fist in Marvel Premiere #15 (seems like #15 is the number for introducing Kung Fu characters) with art by Gil Kane. After #25, Iron Fist spins off into his own series.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/mp15.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

I always liked them books!! The stories were pretty good but the art was different from book to book it seems!! I don't know right off hand but how many artists worked on it?

Linda

Starlin did the first three and Paul Gulacy did most of them up through the 50's. I consider Gulacy THE artist for MOKF. You can see how heavily influenced he was by Steranko.

[fulltimer56]

I don't know who it was but I didn't like the artist that did the work in the last few issues.

Do you happen to know who it was?

Linda

[jaeldubyoo]

Dang! This belongs under Bronze Age.

Hey, Hoss. How about a little help moving this to Bronze Age.

[jaeldubyoo]

DC jumped on the Kung Fu bandwagon in 1975 with Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter. Of course, Karate Kid predates Richard Dragon but as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and before the Kung Fu craze in the 70's.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/scan0008.jpg

[StlComics]

Starlin did the first three and Paul Gulacy did most of them up through the 50's. I consider Gulacy THE artist for MOKF. You can see how heavily influenced he was by Steranko.

You can have a gander at all of Gulacy's covers at our gallery by clicking right here: http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/categories.php?cat_id=158

I'm particularly proud of that gallery as we had Gulacy's blessing (thanks to Alex Ness) to do it. #banana1#

[StlComics]

DC jumped on the Kung Fu bandwagon in 1975 with Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter. Of course, Karate Kid predates Richard Dragon but as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and before the Kung Fu craze in the 70's.

Richard Dragon has also just recently popped up in DC's 52 series. He's back... :D

[jaeldubyoo]

You can have a gander at all of Gulacy's covers at our gallery by clicking right here: http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/categories.php?cat_id=158

I'm particularly proud of that gallery as we had Gulacy's blessing (thanks to Alex Ness) to do it. #banana1#

That's a great gallery! I've always felt Gualcy was one of the most under-appreciated artist. I'll be posting some of his covers and interior art as I have most of the ones he did for MOKF.

[jaeldubyoo]

Two issues after his debut in Special Marvel Edition #15, Shang-Chi begins in his own comic title with Master of Kung Fu #17. In this issue Black Jack Tarr is introduced. He's Nayland Smith's aide-de-camp. I never liked the character. Especially his use of the word "chinaman" when addressing Shang-Chi. The term is as offensive to the Chinese as the "n" word is to an Afro-American. I wonder if Marvel is more PC these days?


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/scan0001.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Master of Kung Fu #18 marks the debut of Paul Gulacy as a regular penciller for the title. But I am disappointed in inking of Al Milgrom. I preferred it when Gulacy, Dan Adkins, Jack Abel, Pablo Marcos or anybody else inked Gulacy's pencilling. Milgrom had a way of washing out much of the detail. You could barely make out who the artist is. Also, while Gulacy was the penciller for a lot of issues, he only drew a few of the covers. He didn't do a cover until #51.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/mokf18.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

In #19, Shang-Chi meets up with Man-Thing. Makes you wonder where Shang-Chi fits in the Marvel Universe. Most of his adventures seem to be in a separate universe, yet he occasionally shows up in books like Marvel Team-up #84.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/mokf19.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

On the other hand, Iron Fist is firmly established in the Marvel Universe. Iron Fist continues after his debut in Marvel Premiere #15 through #25. This issue features John Byrne, who becomes the regular penciller. Iron Fist moves on to his own title the next month.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/scan0012.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Continuing from Marvel Premiere #25, it's Iron Fist versus Iron Man in Iron Fist #1.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/scan0007.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Although the series was short-lived, there are two noteworthy issues. Here's one, #14, featuring the first appearance of Sabretooth.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/bronze/ironfist14.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

The other noteworthy issue is #15, which feaures an early Byrne rendering of the X-Men. As you know, Byrne went on to become one of the most acclaimed comic artists on the X-Men.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/kungfu/if15.jpg

[rowand]

I've always felt Gualcy was one of the most under-appreciated artist.

YES

In MOKFu 50 or so, Paul Gulacy drew a scene where a Pacific Rim bad guy is machine gunned that I still remember as the storyboard of a movie in my mind. He did fantastic things with perspectives making the drawn page realer than real. I couldn't care less if he followed Steranko or Eisner or a 5 year old crayon artist as he drew GOOD.

[StlComics]

I've always felt Gualcy was one of the most under-appreciated artist.

I agree completely. As I was putting that gallery together, it didn't make me think of the characters he has done, but of all the ones he hasn't done.

[jaeldubyoo]

Sweet Christmas! Iron Fist meets Luke Cage in Powerman #48. Art by John Byrne. This story takes place right after Iron Fist fights the X-Men in Iron Fist #15.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5152/pm48za1.th.jpg (http://img211.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pm48za1.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

The story continues in #49, where Iron Fist and Cage clear up their misunderstanding (why does it seem like whenever superheroes meet they fight because of a misunderstanding?).

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7668/pm49fg2.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pm49fg2.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Now that Cage and Rand come to an understanding they become a team in #50. This continues until #125, the last issue where Iron Fist dies. Does anyone stay dead in the comic world?

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8861/pm50na0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pm50na0.jpg)