Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Image via Marvel Studios

Simu Liu won’t sign “offensive” ‘Master of Kung Fu’ comics at upcoming convention appearance

Simu Liu will not sign old 'Shang-Chi' comics with racist elements in his upcoming convention appearances.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrived under something of a cloud last year. Industry insiders were predicting a disappointing box office, social media was full of naysayers, and there was an awkwardness about the stereotype of an Asian hero being a martial arts guy. Then people actually saw the movie and everyone realized it was brilliant.

Recommended Videos

Simu Liu and Awkwafina had incredible on-screen chemistry, with Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh bringing heavyweight performances. Shang-Chi ended up a big hit, a sequel was soon confirmed, and almost everyone agreed that Marvel neatly side-stepped lazy stereotypes. But that doesn’t mean the issue has gone away for good.

Liu will appear at this June’s Awesome Con along with Shang-Chi co-stars Meng’er Zhang, and Florian Munteanu. You can already book a photo op with them, though a note on the page says:

Simu Liu will not sign any Master of Kung Fu comics or other comics deemed offensive.

The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu made the character a Marvel icon in the mid-70s, with the company riding the wave of the martial arts craze. Many key stories featuring the character appeared in that comic over the next few years, with the title being periodically resurrected ever since.

Even so, the original comics feature racist caricature Fu Manchu as Shang-Chi’s father. This was wisely ditched for the MCU version, with Shang-Chi screenwriter Dave Callaham describing him as “irrelevant” and saying:

“No one had to think about whether we wanted to include Fu Manchu. It was obvious.”

All of which means it’s hardly surprising that Liu doesn’t want to sit there all day signing comics featuring racist caricatures that the movie went out of its way to avoid. That may lead to some disappointed comic collectors hoping to increase the value of their back issues, but Liu absolutely has the right to stipulate this condition.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is available to stream on Disney Plus.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of David James
David James
I'm a writer/editor who's been at the site since 2015. Love writing about video games and will crawl over broken glass to write about anything related to Hideo Kojima. But am happy to write about anything and everything, so long as it's interesting!