Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shang-Chi #1
In Marvel Comics' new Avengers. In this new series, Shang-Chi is still getting used to leading his father's organization, and while he's trying to turn it into a force for good, there's still a lot of work to be done before that can fully happen. Likewise, this new issue sees Shang-Chi's first team-up with a Marvel hero since taken on his new responsibilities, and Spider-Man soon discovers Shang-Chi's new destiny. However, it might not be one that the web-slinger or other heroes will be able to .
In Shang-Chi #1 from writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Dike Ruan, Shang-Chi (also known as Brother Hand) is working with Sister Dagger, his little sister. While they're trying to take down a Triad drug ring, they're soon met by Spider-Man who offers his help. However, Shang-Chi asks his sister to dial back on calling him "Brother Hand" and "Supreme Commander," seemingly concerned about how Spider-Man would react if he learned that he has taken over his father's criminal organization. Likewise, once they do find the drug ring, he's worried that Spider-Man will find something that links its activities to him and the Five Weapons.
Sure enough, Sister Dagger eventually grows sick of Shang-Chi being ashamed of his destiny and family, and he's forced to confess the truth to Spider-Man. Furthermore, he calls in agents of the Five Weapons to claim the drugs, materials, and equipment they have found in the drug ring's hideout, taking it all so it couldn't be used against him or his network of warriors. However, Spider-Man is certainly surprised and confused as to where Shang-Chi's loyalties lie as a result.
It certainly seems as though Shang-Chi has made his choice in this first issue, deciding to stick by his family and his new responsibilities leading the Five Weapons. However, this may come at the expense of alienating himself from his former allies like Spider-Man and other Avengers. The ghost of Shang-Chi's father did warn him in the prior Shang-Chi miniseries from Gene Luen Yang that taking his throne would make the new Supreme Commander just like him given enough time.
Is this the first sign that Shang-Chi is toeing the line of darkness? The cover image for the second issue does see him fighting Captain America, so it seems as though this first issue is only the beginning of his tensions with the the rest of Marvel's heroes. While in the previous miniseries Shang-Chi wanted to pretend that his life was as it always had been, he eventually accepted his destiny. Now, it seems as though he has chosen to embrace it for better or worse. Hopefully, Shang-Chi will be able to resist the potential darkness and make good on his commitment to forge the Five Weapons into something good before the Avengers decide to take him down.
