![]() ![]() It does not help matters that the real Mandarin and Shang-Chi's father is portrayed by Hong Kong actor Tony Leung or that the actor playing Shang-Chi, Simu Liu, is Canadian. The fact that Shang-Chi's greatest enemy is his father is another cliché trope often applied to Chinese characters in Western literature that is considered distasteful in modern China.Īdditionally, the fact that the Mandarin replaces Zheng Zhu in Shang-Chi is considered as problematic as using Fu Manchu, given the character's equally racist origins and status as a reductive stereotype. Nevertheless, the character has still drawn criticism for being a stereotype, being entirely defined by his mastery of martial arts, which are often presented as the default superpower of Asian characters in general and Chinese characters in particular. In recent years, Marvel Comics has done much to redeem Shang-Chi and his problematic past, with a retcon making him the son of the sorcerer Zheng Zhu, and the upcoming movie replacing Shang-Chi's father due to racism and controversy. ![]() The character has largely disappeared from popular culture in the modern age, except as a reference to how wholly stereotypical the original Fu Manchu novels were. Fu Manchu was introduced into Marvel Comics alongside Shang-Chi, after the company acquired the rights to adapt the character from the Sax Rohmer estate. Easily the most infamous of the so-called "yellow peril" villains whose stories presented Asians as inhuman creatures that were predisposed to criminal activity, Dr. The primary reason Chinese audiences take issue with the character of Shang-Chi stems from his original backstory, which established him as the rebellious son of the criminal mastermind Dr. Why There's A Backlash To Shang-Chi In China This means that Chinese audiences may avoid the fall 2021 movie, even if their government allows it to be released in China. There are many who would argue that the character's origins taint him in a way that no amount of revision can salvage. While Marvel Studios has claimed the Shang-Chi movie was made with the foremost respect for Chinese culture, some are skeptical. Related: Shang-Chi's Theater-Only Release Is Hypocritical After Disney's ScarJo Response Nevertheless, many still see Shang-Chi as a symbol of the American exploitation of Chinese culture. Thankfully, later stories made the character less stereotypical and the artwork improved considerably. The early Shang-Chi comics were based around the worst clichés of the genre and the artwork depicted its main character with bright gold skin. ![]() The character of Shang-Chi first appeared in 1973 and was created to capitalize upon the growing popularity of martial arts movies in the United States. Other problems are tied to other upcoming Marvel Studios movie productions and comments by creators that are viewed unfavorably by the Chinese government. Some of these problems relate to the history of the character and his ties to racist stereotypes about Chinese people in Western culture. Marvel Studios is facing multiple issues in securing a release date for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in China. ![]()
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