Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 3 (The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus) Hardcover – 16 Mar. 2017

While Paul Gulacy's artwork is truly unsurpassed in the earlier volumes of this series, the truth is that the thirty-one issues presented here are not hindered by fill-ins and rotating artists.Artist Mike Zeck provides a continuity which the series sorely lacked in the past and Gene Day's detailed inks only enhance that.The "What If?" issue reprinted here seems very out-of-place, but that's a minor quibble. Kudos for including all Letters Pages..Proud to be the owner of this collection and already looking forward to the fourth and final part in October 2017...

Just superb collection, especially when Day was added to Zeck's artwork.

Excellent

I bought into this series for nostalgia, as I dipped in and out as a young kid. But I have to say, that having reached the 100th issue (this third volume collecting 71-101 & What If? 16) you can pretty much see the writing’s on the wall for the series' future. Not because it’s bad - it isn’t, but because it’s very much of its time, that being the chop-sockey seventies craze.There's no doubt that the series lost more than 50% in presentation after losing Gulacy, an artist more wedded to the character’s look and the book’s style than Steranko was to Fury. But Moench is a capable writer and it’s to his credit that he kept this series afloat, with Zeck and others well past one hundred issues. But it was obviously running out of steam, as the character of Shang-Chi is inescapably defined by the threat his father, Fu-Manchu poses. And it has to be said, that ultimately Chi’s character remained underdeveloped when removed from this defining context.This isn’t helped by his dad either, who is by far the most interesting character. But like most marvel villains Fu just refuses to stay dead. And whereas other characters benefitted from popping up across titles in different scenarios from time to time, this series is almost entirely self-contained, making it all feel closeted and repetitious. Jack Kirby suffered the same problem with his Eternals series, with characters that co-existed in the marvel universe but whose stories were told in isolation. Even a shot-in-the-arm guest appearance by the Hulk, disappointingly revealed to be a doppleganger couldn’t save the series - and this was just 19 issues out! I'm not for one minute suggesting that the inevitable Spidey guest appearance was needed, but just that it seemed to reach the end of the story to be told.But it's enjoyable nonetheless, and there's never a feeling that it's anything less than highly valued. I’ll probably buy the fourth and final volume as it’s great to have the entire run sitting on the shelf. But past nostalgia and completism, or for anyone less than a curious fan, there isn’t quite enough to recommend this unreservedly.