Marvel’s All-New All-Different Red Wolf #1, out today, has faced more scrutiny than most books slated for the publisher’s line-wide relaunch.  Written by Nathan Edmondson and drawn by Dalibor Talajic, the book was criticized upon announcement due to the titular character’s design as seen in an All-New All-Different promotional image.  In addition, following Marvel’s announcement of Edmondson […]

Marvel already teased the fact that Native American character Red Wolf was on his way to get his own comic book, but today the first images and creative teams have been announced via Mashable. Nathan Edmondson (Black Widow) is writing the brand new series that features covers, design and consulting from Jeffrey Veregge, a Native American artist who recently contributed covers to G.I. Joe from IDW. Dalibor Talajić, recent artist from Secret Wars spin-off comic Master of Kung Fu is drawing the interiors. Jake Thomas will be editing the brand new series starting with Red Wolf #1 -- the first new solo title for the character in several decades. Red Wolf recently spun out of Marvel’s Secret Wars title 1872, an oddball tale that took place in the past. The hero was also in the All-New, All-Different Marvel teaser as seen below, which has allowed for fringe character in the Marvel Universe to remain relevant and receive their own quirky comic books. The series will take place in the American Southwest.

MASTER OF KUNG FU is one of the lost masterpieces of the Bronze Age. Written by Doug Moench and pencilled most by Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck and Gene Day, it was philosophical exciting, full of love, loss and danger, weird, very much of its time (1974-1981) and yet timeless. Despite the memorable work on the title, it cannot be reprinted because the main character, Shang Chi, was supposed to be the son of Fu Manchu, the pulp villain created by Sax Rohmer, and owned by the Rohmer estate. Supporting charactaer Denis Nayland Smith and Fah Lo Suee from the books were also in the comics. So unless an agreement with the Fu Manchu owners is made, the comics can only be seen in scans and my own treasured, coupon clipped back issues. Shang Chi has come back a few times—most recently early last year, but shorn of his nefarious paternal connections.

But Shang Chi IS Coming back, as is the title Master of Kung Fu…as part of Secret Wars Battleworld, Shang Chi is back and he has a whole new origin—which is Iron Fist’s but…who is counting. Also, he’s now…an X-man? Haden Blackman and Dalibor Talajic are the creative team, and Francesco Francavilla does the covers.

Can one man defeat an entire empire? Find out this May, as fists fly on the surface of BATTLEWORLD and a victor will be crowned in MASTER OF KUNG-FU #1, a new 4-issue limited series launching during Secret Wars! Fan-favorite creators Haden Blackman (Elektra) and Dalibor Talajic (Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe) team to take you inside the mystical land of K’un Lun for a series of brutal trials by combat!

 Welcome to K’un Lun, a land where the study of martial arts reigns supreme. In a world where everyone is a master of their craft, what becomes of the drunken, drop-out failure? Shang-Chi was the most prized student at the most prestigious of K’un Lun’s many martial arts schools. Now he’s a washed up has-been living on the streets.

Cast out and forsaken by society, Shang-Chi will join other outcasts like him in a bid to dethrone the harsh and evil Emperor Zu. One problem – Zu is Shang-Chi’s father! Things are going to get messy.

“I’m really looking forward to portraying Shang-Chi in ways that we haven’t seen before,” says Haden Blackman in an interview with Marvel.com. “He begins the story very down and out, an exile and an outcast himself, which was very fun to write. I’m also hopeful that the interactions with some of the supporting cast will show us different sides of Shang-Chi, who finds himself a reluctant mentor.”

This May, can one beaten-down man become a MASTER? As Secret Wars begins, step in to the arena and prepare to find out in MASTER OF KUNG-FU #1!

MASTER OF KUNG-FU #1

Written by HADEN BLACKMAN
Art by DALIBOR TALAJIC
Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

Coming May 2015!

By Steve Morris

Following on from past killing sprees perpetrated by The Punisher and Wolverine comes a new miniseries from Marvel’s burgeoning ‘…kills the Marvel Universe’ genocide franchise, Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe. Written by Cullen Bunn and drawn by Dalibor Talajic, this four-issue mini will see every character you love and cherish be hacked into pieces, presumably during a disconnected narrative ramble from the crazy protagonist about American Things like football and barbeque and… oh, I don’t know, The B—– In Apartment 23. That’s a thing, right?

With this in mind, things are looking more and more promising for the growing “Hepzibah Army” who have come to dominate the internet over the past few days, mobilising in their thousands to celebrate Cyclops’ bloodthirsty stepmother as she slices up Avengers and shoots Luke Cage with magic space guns. Seeing Wolverine, Punisher and now Deadpool all carve a bloody vengeance through the Marvel Universe,  it’s steadily becoming clear that Marvel are running out of genocide-friendly characters, paving the way for a four issue Hepzibah mini sometime next year. Clearly this is the case.

But let’s focus on this mini for the time being. Starting in Auguest with the Avengers, then moving onto the X-Men, and finally ending up with a Deadpool Vs Punisher matchup, the series will be focused less on the fun, cuddly, jokey Deadpool of late and more on the part where he’s a merciless serial killer and should be put in prison. This will be dark story brings fans a welcome return to the lost art of snuff comics, which we’ve all been deprived of ever since the last series of X-Force ended. In interviews Bunn has been careful not to give too much away about what happens… but handily the four covers give everything away, so we can discuss things in detail. Poor Cyclops!