SHANG-CHI Star Simu Liu Will Not Sign MASTER OF KUNG FU Comic Books At Future Convention Appearances

SHANG-CHI Star Simu Liu Will Not Sign MASTER OF KUNG FU Comic Books At Future Convention Appearances

A listing for an upcoming convention appearance reveals that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu has declined to sign comic books featuring the words "Master of Kung Fu." Check it out!

News
By JoshWilding - Mar 28, 2022 05:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Shang-Chi
Source: Awesome Con

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings managed to eliminate the negative stereotypes that have plagued the character since his introduction in the pages of Special Marvel Edition #15 in 1973. That included making a number of significant changes to "The Mandarin," while Marvel Studios also quickly moved on from the idea of Shang-Chi being a "Master of Kung Fu."

Of course, that title adorns many of the hero's comic books, and is considered an offensive and outdated term for an actor of Asian descent who knows martial arts. 

Actor Simu Liu, who brought Shang-Chi to life in the 2021 movie, will be making an appearance at Awesome Con this June. However, a note on the website explains that the actor "will not sign any Master of Kung Fu comics or other comics deemed offensive. All autographs from Simu will be signed in English only."

This is likely to disappoint some fans. After all, Shang-Chi's first comic book appearance has "Master of Kung Fu" plastered right across the cover, but Liu's feelings are easy enough to understand. There's a lot of offensive imagery and wording on comics featuring the hero's early appearances, while it seems some have asked Liu to sign their items in Chinese - a pretty ignorant request when you stop and think about it. 

Marvel Studios is currently developing a Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel and an untitled Disney+ spinoff, though neither has a release date as of right now. 

You'll be able to meet Liu when he appears at Awesome Con in Washington, DC this June. 
 

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dracula
dracula - 3/28/2022, 5:34 AM
Well then not much to sign. not like shang chi has a long history of solo comics.

Don't get why anyone would want to devalue an original comic by having an actor who had nothing to do with the character's creation sign it.

Would understand a recent comic, but really if you have an original comic from a character's creator, get the writers and artist to sign them if they are still alive. if not, then leave it unsigned.

Although kind of an a-hole thing to do. asking people to pay over $100 and you might not even sign it if they bring the wrong thing.
LandGrizzle
LandGrizzle - 3/28/2022, 5:35 AM
@dracula - just Hollywood doing Hollywood things.
Pssst
Pssst - 3/28/2022, 5:44 AM
@dracula - I mean, I think autographs are dumb anyway so who cares. But at the same time I get that he would want to have the choice of what to sign. Some people may feel that signing your name on something means you stand by it, and if he really feels those comics are offensive it's his right not to.

I don't think it would be such a bad thing anyway, those comics are a product of that time and if someone wants Simu to sign one it's obviously not in bad faith, but it is his right to politely decline.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 3/28/2022, 5:48 AM
@Pssst - if he's had a carreer now it's due to the "product of that time".

Anyone saying this really is just lazy to read the old comics. Shang-Chi is the guy that kicked Spider-Man in the ass, without super powers.

Simu Liu was probably waiting a Barbie story for Shang or something.
convoyBot
convoyBot - 3/28/2022, 5:50 AM
@dracula - Re your last para, literally the article is about Simu leaving a disclaimer on what he will not sign.
Pssst
Pssst - 3/28/2022, 6:07 AM
@MadThanos - I'm just saying that because I'm aware that people criticize it because it supposedly perpetuates Asian stereotypes and whatnot, which would not be surprising to me. It was the 70's after all, that's what I am saying. And yeah, I haven't read the comics myself and they are probably not that bad, but if Feige made a point of deviating from them because they were stereotypical there was probably a reason. And saying something is "a product of its time" is like the most harmless and objective thing to say about something anyway. Those comics would not be the same if they came out today, that's why they changed many things in the movie. If those changes were necessary or not is a whole different argument, but we do live in a very different social context than the 70's.

Also, if he has a career it's because he a good actor. Sure, he wouldn't be as successful, but he wouldn't be living under a bridge or anything.
ptick
ptick - 3/28/2022, 6:15 AM
@convoyBot - Right. He doesn't want to sign certain things and will only sign in English. Regardless of why, he is giving people advanced notice in order to try to avoid disappointing them.
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/28/2022, 6:28 AM
@dracula - depends on person for lee Mary wether wonderful woman you don’t pay her sign book until after she checks it out I didn’t know but after I payed she said she will only sign certain books of cat woman she will not sign them if catwoman looks like sexual object which I’m some comics I have with catwoman in she does go in underwear and skimpy outfits I see her point didn’t know that then some may give you money back, or replace book with signed photo
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/28/2022, 6:30 AM
@Pssst - I’m not big autographs my self get photo taken with them is more priceless and most people get there autographs sell online
Drace24
Drace24 - 3/28/2022, 6:41 AM
@dracula - Bit of a diva thing to do, honestly.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 3/28/2022, 7:44 AM
@Pssst - actually Feige deviated from that for a simple reason:

Shang-Chi originally has no super powers and then wouldn't make sense the "crazy CGI in the third act" they were teasing. In my opinion, Shang-Chi was perfect in 2/3 of the movie but that third act was in dissonance with the rest of it.

Of course, it's my opinion, but I don't think Feige is a big fan of street level heroes like Barton, Natasha or the old school Shang-Chi because this means less juice from the Marvel Studios formula.

What Snyder did in the warehouse fight in Batman V Superman and what Reeves did on The Batman just proves you can make a super hero movie without super powers.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/28/2022, 8:52 AM
@dracula - I think the best part is that this guy, who kept saying he wanted to "represent", will only sign in ENGLISH.
GirshwinDavies
GirshwinDavies - 3/28/2022, 8:56 AM
@dracula - right
Pssst
Pssst - 3/28/2022, 9:05 AM
@MadThanos - I've definitely seen both Feige and Simu talking about early Shang-Chi comics as being problematic and wanting to do something more respectful. Again, I haven't read those so I'm not making that argument myself, I'm only saying that's the reasoning behind Simu rejecting to sign them. I don't think Feige being allergic to non-superpowered heroes is a factor and that's speculation on your part, but who knows, maybe some of the changes were because of that. That's not what they were saying while promoting the movie or in behind the scenes featurettes.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/28/2022, 9:20 AM
@dracula - not like shang chi has a long history of solo comics.

The Master of Kung Fu series lasted over 100 issues.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 3/28/2022, 9:21 AM
@Pssst - definitely, Fu Manchu was the biggest stereotype possible. Some things here and there needed to be changed and that was exactly what Marvel did.

However, that whole dragon and fantasy stuff was also a stereotype and wasn't originally in the CB origin story. There's some stuff more recent but nothing is really good and the proof is that the character remains unpopular.
dracula
dracula - 3/28/2022, 11:43 AM
@soberchimera - i mean outside of that, which this guy refuses to sign
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 3/28/2022, 11:00 PM
@dracula - I dunno. There are some comic books that can be signed by the actor(s) that are stunning. Such as this one, signed by Bill Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and George Takei.

dracula
dracula - 3/28/2022, 11:09 PM
@GeneralZod - Something based on a tv show, yeah I can see getting actors for that
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 3/28/2022, 5:55 AM
At the risk of sounding ignorant, or offensive (though that's not my intent), why would the title of "master of kung fu" be considered racist?
Pssst
Pssst - 3/28/2022, 6:11 AM
@roboticJohnson - As I understand it's not the title that's offensive, but some of the aspects of the characterization of Shang-Chi and particularly his father. But I haven't read the original comics anyway, so there's probably someone around here who can explain it better.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 3/28/2022, 6:35 AM
@roboticJohnson - I was wondering that too. Kung Fu is the name of the Martial Art. Shang Chi is a master of it. He's a Master of Kung Fu. Anyone that "gits gud" at Kung Fu can be a master of it. I'm not sure why that would be removed. All I can think of is that maybe he doesn't only use Kung Fu in the movie? Maybe he has other martial arts styles mixed in there, so its not technically Kung Fu? And Marvel removing that from the title just makes the comics fall more in line with the movie?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 3/28/2022, 6:38 AM
@Pssst - The article makes it sound like Master of Kung Fu is one of those offensive parts.


"while Marvel Studios also quickly moved on from the idea of Shang-Chi being a "Master of Kung Fu."

"Of course, that title adorns many of the hero's comic books, and is understandably considered an offensive and outdated term for an actor of Asian descent who knows martial arts."

Marvel also removed it from their covers and titles. I'm not sure why. Anyone who masters Kung Fu is a Master of Kung Fu lol. There's nothing racist about that. It's the name of an actual Martial Art. Shang Chi uses Kung Fu.

The only thing I can think of is if in the movie he isn't doing Kung Fu. I don't know enough about the style to know that or not. But if he isn't using Kung Fu in the movie then maybe they are just simply removing that from the title moving forward?
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/28/2022, 9:40 AM
@roboticJohnson - I don't think the title is the issue here (I could be wrong here), I think it's because those early comics feature Fu Manchu.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 3/28/2022, 11:07 PM
@Pssst - I've read the original comics from the 70s. They're imperfect, but at the end of the day, they honor Asian martial arts and they make Shang Chi, the character, a virtuous protagonist and total badass. Liu is a bit of a snowflake that needs to chillax a bit.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 3/28/2022, 6:45 AM
Great. Another thin line to walk. “I’m a martial artist, not a king fu master”

“And tell us to close the pages”
He should’ve demanded Shang chi keep the English first name. Bruce, Jackie, Jet, Donnie, Tony, Shawn!
“Security!!!”
Drace24
Drace24 - 3/28/2022, 7:02 AM
Why can't we just accept the reality that social norms change over time and make our peace with it? Otherwise we are just doomed to keep having these culture wars over and over forever.
Supercat6376
Supercat6376 - 3/28/2022, 8:16 AM
@Drace24 - not all changes are good ones . Sometimes twisting yourself into a pretzel to keep up with ever changing social norms is wrong or unnecessary.
PapaSpank54
PapaSpank54 - 3/28/2022, 7:16 AM
It's a fair debate, but I think overall the Shang-Chi books aren't as offensive as say, some of the early Tales of Suspense Iron Man stories which featured MANY genuinely offensive Asian stereotypes. Not every issue of Masters of Kung-Fu features Fu Manchu iirc, but at the end of the day I'm not Asian, and nobody's asking me to sign the things, so it's not for me to say.
BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 3/28/2022, 7:26 AM
I got this nasty feeling fame is going to his head.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 3/28/2022, 7:38 AM
@BobGarlen - weren’t there problems on that Canadian show he was on? Like racism or somethin? Maybe he’s jaded. Like a jade lion
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 3/28/2022, 10:49 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - Will you sign my comic book, it's called "TheWalkingCuban - Master of Wordplay"
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 3/28/2022, 11:00 AM
@UncleHarm1 - I won’t sign but I will slap
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 3/28/2022, 11:19 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - As long as you do it in Chinese
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 3/28/2022, 11:24 AM
@UncleHarm1 -
RitoRevolto
RitoRevolto - 3/28/2022, 7:40 PM
@BobGarlen - Because he doesn't want to sign a comic book? Omg his head has gotten SOOO big. Weirdo.
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