Shang-Chi comics writer Gene Luen Yang tells CBR why the titular hero clashes with Tony Stark/Iron Man in the upcoming Shang-Chi #5.
Gene Luen Yang, writer of Marvel’s latest Shang-Chi comic series, recently revealed why it was important for the titular hero to face off with Iron Man in the upcoming issue, Shang-Chi #5.
“Iron Man is a real big deal now. He’s the foundation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Yang told CBR. “I think even beyond that he actually has this dynamic built into his character that we also want to play within Shang-Chi.”
Yang added that the main theme of his series is Shang-Chi’s ongoing struggle between light and dark, good and evil, noting, “He wants to be good, but he’s also kind of afraid that his family legacy is going to push him towards evil at some point.”
The writer further teased that Shang-Chi and Tony Stark have that in common, explaining that the man behind the Iron Man suit “started off as this billionaire weapons manufacturer who was selfish.”
“Ultimately, he became good, but throughout his history, he’s fought all these personal demons,” Yang continued. “He fights substance abuse and selfish tendencies. So I think Shang-Chi and Iron Man offer a good contrast to each other. Personality-wise they’re diametrically opposed, but what they struggle with is very, very similar.”
Yang also pointed out that both Stark and Shang-Chi are connected to the world of spies, noting, “Shang-Chi has often been played almost as a Chinese James Bond. Iron Man definitely has those espionage elements as well.”
While actor Simu Liu recently made his debut as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it’s unlikely that he will come face-to-face with Iron Man in a future MCU film, as Robert Downey Jr.’s Stark died in Avengers: Endgame. That being said, the idea of the Multiverse variants was introduced in Loki, and will reportedly play a major role in both Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will be released in the coming months as part of Phase 4 of the MCU.
Written by Gene Luen Yang with art by Dike Ruan, colors by Triona Farrell, and letters by Travis Lanham and Joe Caramagna, Shang-Chi #4 hits comic stands on Sept. 8, while Shang-Chi #5 will drop in October.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has received critical acclaim for its action sequences and villain, Leung’s Wenwu. The film is in theaters now.
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