Master of Kung Fu #61
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeMaster of Kung Fu #61 (cover-dated February 1978) is the opening chapter of the 'China Seas' story arc — a seven-part saga that became one of the most ambitious multi-issue narratives Doug Moench constructed for the title, drawing conscious inspiration from Milton Caniff's classic newspaper strip Terry and the Pirates. The issue doubles as the first appearance of the assassin Skull-Crusher (Chao Sima), a recurring antagonist whose chain-and-iron-sphere weaponry and morally ambiguous arc across 1978 gave the series some of its most propulsive action sequences. Coming immediately after the landmark Gulacy era ended at #51, the issue also marks Moench's commitment to sustaining a serialized, soap-operatic cast dynamic — Leiko's attempt to rekindle things with Clive only to find him with Melissa, and a letter from Juliette that pivots the entire plot toward Hong Kong — at a moment when the martial-arts genre was fading and the book needed to prove it was more than a trend vehicle.
"Glass Orchids" in Master of Kung Fu #61 (1978) brings a delightfully absurd twist to the series’ usual martial arts focus, as a family of space-traveling hillbillies—dubbed the Ding-a-Lings—launch an unexpected invasion of Asgard. With John Buscema’s dynamic pencils and Sal Buscema’s inks bringing the clash to life, and Joe Sinnott’s crisp inking adding depth, the battle between Thor and the intergalactic oddballs takes a surprisingly sweet turn when Sif intervenes with a bag of Hostess Fruit Pies. The cover by Jim Craig and Frank Chiaramonte captures the chaotic charm of the moment, making this a standout issue for fans of offbeat Marvel adventures.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
By late 1977, Master of Kung Fu was navigating a difficult transition: Paul Gulacy, whose Steranko-influenced cinematic art had defined the book's visual identity through issue #50, had departed under deadline pressure, and Jim Craig had taken over penciling duties. Editor Archie Goodwin, who had shepherded the title through much of its acclaimed mid-period, oversaw this issue, with Craig inked by John Tartaglione, colored by Phil Rachelson, and lettered by Peter Iro. Moench, already juggling multiple Marvel assignments, channeled his love of classic adventure comics and contemporary pop culture — fan forums and collector commentaries note the Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album references woven into this period of the run — into the 'China Seas' arc as a way to give the Jim Craig era its own defining epic.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Skull-Crusher (real name: Chao Sima), a Hong Kong-based martial-arts assassin armed with a long iron-ball bola chain, dispatched by the Cat (Shen Kuei) and his partner Kogar to eliminate Shang-Chi in London before he could investigate their smuggling operation.
- The issue is the opening installment of the seven-part 'China Seas' saga (issues #61–69 approximately), which Doug Moench modeled in part on Milton Caniff's newspaper strip Terry and the Pirates.
- Story title: 'Glass Orchids'; cover tagline: 'Savage is the Skull Crusher!' Cover-dated February 1978; released November 8, 1977.
- Creative team: Writer Doug Moench, penciler Jim Craig, inker John Tartaglione, colorist Phil Rachelson, letterer Peter Iro, editor Archie Goodwin.
- Melissa Greville appears in the issue recovering in hospital from injuries sustained as far back as issue #51, and her relationship with Clive Reston — a surprise to Leiko Wu — becomes a key emotional pivot point for the arc.
- The plot engine is a letter Shang-Chi receives from Juliette, forwarded to him care of MI5, that draws him away from London to Hong Kong and into conflict with Shen Kuei (the Cat), directly calling back the events of issues #38–39.
- The issue has two reprints, appearing in collected Master of Kung Fu trade editions; the 'China Seas' arc as a whole was later included in Marvel's omnibus and trade paperback reprint program for the Shang-Chi series.
- At the time of this issue's publication, Master of Kung Fu was the sole remaining Marvel title featuring a non-superpowered martial-arts protagonist, its companion magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu having already ended.
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↩ Reprints [Marvel Hostess Ads] #22 (1978)
Reprinted in Eclipso #80 (1982), Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu Omnibus #2 (2016), Shang-Chi Maestro del Kung Fu #51
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