Comics vs Movies: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The Ten Rings

Speaking of the Mandarian’s ten rings, the comic book versions are very different as well. For starters, they’re not ten iron rings worn on the wrists like the ones used in the Hung Ga style of Shaolin Kung Fu. Rather, they’re ten jeweled rings worn on the fingers and thumbs. Moreover, the rings don’t work in concert together, but have their own individual super power. They also have their own names, which are:

• Remaker – Has to power to alter and rearrange matter on the atomic level.
• Influence – Shoots shockwaves and concussive force blasts. This also appears to be the main ability that the MCU version of the ten rings allow Wenwu to do in the movie. And they’re projected from the ring, not from the rings propelling themselves.
• Spin – Creates whirlwinds and miniature tornados, and also allows the Mandarin to fly.
• Spectral – Shoots a disintegration ray.
• Nightbringer – Creates an area of complete and total darkness.
• Diamonic – Manipulates the electromagnetic spectrum and gravity.
• Incandescence – Also for pyrokinesis, and shoots fire and flame.
• Lightning – Pretty self-explanatory, as it shoots lightning bolts. In the film, the rings do crackle with electrical energy, but mostly whenever Wenwu uses them like whips.
• The Liar – Gives the wearer telepathic powers, including mind control and casting illusions.
• Zero – Shoots ice beams and freezes people.

The rings do not grant immortality to the wearer. They are, however, extraterrestrial in origin as hinted in the movie’s mid-credits scene. More specifically, each ring contains the soul of a Makluan, which is what also gives the ring its power. What are Makluans, you might ask? They’re gigantic dragons from outer space! As a matter of fact, they are the dragons from various stories and legends throughout the world in the comics… most of them, anyway. They can also take the form of humans if they wish to be more indiscreet.

So why is it such a big deal that the rings are sending off some sort of signal into space? Well, if the Marvel Cinematic Universe stays true to the comics, this could be a precursor to introduce Marvel’s first major pre-superhero monster from their Timely Comics days: the Makluan dragon known as Fing Fan Foom. Then again, I suppose Marvel Studios can have the rings be signaling some other cosmic alien being like Galactus or The Beyonder or some such.

Razor-Fist

Yes, Razor-Fist in the comics was a recurring enemy of Shang-Chi’s. However, he was never employed by Fu Manchu, the Mandarin, or Master Khan, but by a British heroin dealer named Carlton Velcro. In addition, Razor-Fist had both of his hands chopped off and replaced with retractable swords. And finally, there were three different individuals who went by the name Razor-Fist.

The first Razor-Fist appeared in The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu #29 and lasted for only two more issues after being accidentally shot to death by Velcro’s own men. The second and third versions of Razor-Fist were a pair of identical twins who took turns pretending to be the same person. As each brother lost a hand in the very same car accident, they then had their remaining hand surgically removed and replaced with another retractable sword in order to complete the deception. As if this couldn’t get more ridiculous or ironic, one of the brothers ended up getting killed… after being accidentally shot to death by Velcro.

The surviving brother went on to have a somewhat longer career as a minor super-villain, battling various other heroes, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Elektra, Captain America, and Bucky until he was also shot to death – not accidentally, but on purpose – by Deadpool.