Graphic Novel Review: Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality
With the introduction of Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel’s most popular Asian superhero is getting a ton of new content. Scholastic’s Graphic imprint has released a new graphic novel focusing on Shang-Chi’s preteen years. Read on for a review of Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality.
Publisher provided a ARC for review, however all thoughts and opinions our own. This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission for items purchased.
In Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality, Shang-Chi and his sister Chi-Hua live in the Five Weapons Society under the tutelage of their harsh father Zheng-Zu. Like most children, they want to impress their father so when Shang-Chi overhears his father discussing an ancient scroll that may help him get his powers back. Shang-Chi sneaks outside the palace to find the Peaches of Immortality to give to his father.
Shang-Chi finds that the outside world is nothing like what he’s experienced before. People are dressed strangely and many children live on the streets without parents. Shang-chi meets a boy his age named Lu who agrees to help him find the Peaches of Immortality. Lu leads Shang-Chi to Uncle Rat, a hybrid man/rodent who has his eyes set on revenge against Zheng-Zu. Lu and Shang-Chi team up to try to defeat Uncle Rat but can they without the use of the Peaches of immorality or magic?
Author Victoria Ying has created a book that is a great gateway into Shang-Chi mythology. It shows his complicated relationship with his father and his closeness to his little sister, who can often be bratty but what sibling isn’t? Shang-Chi and the Lu pairing makes sense in that Chang-Chi would need a guide in the modern world, and what better than a boy with vulnerabilities like himself?
My one criticism is that the final battle is a bit hard to follow within the panels. The boys throw a monkey head at a super-sized Uncle Rat and I couldn’t figure out if the throw knocked out Uncle Rat or the monkey’s bite since the next panel has the monkey seemingly biting Uncle Rat. Still, I enjoyed how the action was shown through Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality and the vibrant color work that you can see around the palace and within the orchard where the magical peaches can be found.
Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality is a quick graphic novel read and is a solid entry in the Graphix Marvel novel series which has given us gems about Miles Morales and Wakanda’s Princess Shuri.
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