Issue(s): Special Marvel Edition #16
Cover Date: Feb 74
Title: "Midnight brings dark death!"
Credits:
Steve Englehart - Script
Steve Englehart & Jim Starlin - Plot
Jim Starlin - Penciler
Al Milgrom - Inker

Review/plot:
As with issue #15, according the UHBMCC, Steve Englehart says that Jim Starlin should get a co-plot credit for this issue (he is only listed as "artist" in the credits).

Shang-Chi engages in a death-duel with his adopted brother Midnight, aka M'Nai, who was raised from childhood by Fu Manchu after MI-6 destroyed his African village trying to foil one of Manchu's plots. Shang-Chi and Midnight were like brothers.

Despite their closeness, Chi is forced to close off a part of himself to fight his brother and friend due to Manchu's orders that Midnight kill Shang Chi.

Midnight is killed during the fight. No capes!

Shang-Chi is currently living in Central Park. He gets into a fight with a multi-racial gang. Say what you want about gang culture; in the Marvel Universe at least, you can't deny they are equal opportunity employers.

There's nothing terribly wrong with this issue, but it doesn't live up to its potential in a few ways. Firstly, under different creators, Shang-Chi will go far beyond stereotypical kung fu fights and plots about honor and duty. Second, Starlin's art here is fine, but not mind-blowing the way his cosmic storylines will allow him to be, and not really even as innovative as last issue. The direction of the title seems to flounder a bit here, and if it wasn't for the posthumous popularity of Midnight this would seem like a really pointless issue and big misstep for the second issue of a series. Things will improve, however.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - first appearance and death of Midnight, who posthumously became a popular reoccurring character in the 70s, and eventually reappears in the Silver Surfer's comic many years later.

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

"Master of Kung Fu" was originally announced as just plain "Fu Manchu".

Weird thing #1) They created such a complex and significant backstory for M'nai just to kill him off in the same issue.
Weird thing #2) Midnight's origin is kind of parallel to Loki's.
Weird thing #3) An African raised by an Asian dresses like an old-fashioned American pulp hero, in a fedora, no less.
Weird thing #4) For some reason I imagine Shang Chi and M'nai as children in bunk beds, with Shang Chi yelling "Show me the M'nai!" and M'nai telling him to shut up.