Master of Kung Fu #20
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeMaster of Kung Fu #20 marks the pivotal moment when Marvel converted the series from a bimonthly to a monthly title — a direct editorial response to the book's rapid sales success amid the early-1970s martial-arts craze. It also serves as the transitional bridge between founding writer Steve Englehart's run and the long Doug Moench era that would define the series for the next decade, with Moench scripting the issue's second half (pages 15–32) in what amounts to his debut on the title. The issue introduced the Florida-based crimelord Demmy Marston and the supernaturally sustained samurai Korain — the latter's death by his own overuse of Fu Manchu's elixir vitae being an early example of the Sax Rohmer-flavored dark fantasy that would become a signature of the Moench run. As the first full issue to feature Paul Gulacy as regular penciller after his debut in #18, it also locked in the cinematic visual style — heavily influenced by Jim Steranko — that critics and historians have consistently cited as central to the series' artistic identity.
In "Weapon of the Soul," Shang-Chi faces a deadly new threat when small-time criminal Demmy Marston hires Korain the samurai, a former ally of Fu Manchu, to capture him. The battle tests Shang-Chi’s skills and resolve as Korain’s body collapses under the strain of Fu Manchu’s elixir, and tragedy strikes when Marston’s girlfriend Diana is fatally wounded by Korain’s blade. Written by Gerry Conway and Doug Moench, with dynamic art by Paul Gulacy and inks by Al Milgrom, this 1974 issue delivers intense martial arts action and emotional weight, all framed by a striking cover by Gil Kane and John Romita, with inks by Frank Giacoia and John Romita.
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The issue was produced during a notable editorial handoff: founding writer Steve Englehart ended his run with #19, and Marvel needed a bridge script before Moench took full control. Gerry Conway — already one of Marvel's busiest writers, known for co-creating the Punisher and scripting the death of Gwen Stacy — was brought in to script the first half (pages 1–14), while Moench wrote the concluding half (pages 15–32), making the issue a rare split-script collaboration in the Bronze Age Marvel style. Paul Gulacy penciled throughout, with Al Milgrom on inks and George Roussos on colors; the cover was penciled by Gil Kane with Frank Giacoia inks, and John Romita made alterations — including redrawing the samurai figure — before publication. The unaltered Kane cover was simultaneously published in Marvel UK's The Avengers #41 (June 1974), providing a documented production window.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Cover-dated September 1974 (released June 18, 1974); published by Marvel Comics under the title 'The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu.'
- This is the first issue published on a monthly schedule — the series had been bimonthly up through #19; the switch to monthly frequency reflects Marvel's confidence in the book's commercial momentum.
- The script is split between two writers: Gerry Conway scripted pages 1–14 ('Weapon of the Soul'), and Doug Moench scripted pages 15–32 ('Poison of the Soul') — marking Moench's debut on the series he would anchor through its final issue (#125).
- Art team: Paul Gulacy (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), George Roussos (colors), Dave Hunt (letters). Cover penciled by Gil Kane with Frank Giacoia inks; John Romita redrew the samurai figure on the cover before the U.S. printing.
- First appearances in this issue: crime boss Demmy Marston, his enforcer Bufford Jones, the aging samurai Korain (who dies this issue), and Korain's associate Diana (who also dies this issue).
- Korain's death — caused by his body's inability to sustain Fu Manchu's elixir vitae — is an early example of the supernatural-horror dimension woven into the series' espionage framework.
- The issue was reprinted in Master of Kung Fu #53 (later in the same original run).
- The story is also collected in the Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection Vol. 1: Weapon of the Soul (Marvel, 2018), which gathers Special Marvel Edition #15–16 and Master of Kung Fu #17–28 alongside related Giant-Size issues.
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Reprints
Reprinted in The Avengers #41 (1974), Meester der Kung Fu #3 (1975), Master of Kung Fu #53 (1977), Eclipso #66 (1979), Thor #1 (1983), Mästaren på karate #4/1993 (1993), Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu Omnibus #1 (2016), Master of Kung Fu Epic Collection #1 (2018), Kung-Fu #8, Mästaren på karate #4/1974, Μάστερ Κούνγκ Φου [Master of Kung Fu] #8, Shang-Chi Maestro del Kung Fu #6
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