REVIEW: The Number of Death in Shang-Chi #4
In Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe #4: Family vs. Family by Gene Luen Yang, Dike Ruan, Tríona Farrell, Travis Lanham, and Joe Caramagna, with a main cover by Leinil Francis Yu and Sunny Gho, we get to see the Five Weapons Society travel to another dimension (hmm… that sounds familiar, doesn’t it)!
Shang-Chi #4. Photo: Marvel Comics
Less Than Fantastic Four
In this issue, Shang-Chi and his siblings must travel to another dimension in order to determine whether or not the recurring dreams he has been having – which show him a vision of his sister in their childhood home, but trapped in the Negative Zone – are accurate.
The Negative Zone in Shang-Chi #4. Photo: Marvel Comics
Naturally, he turns to the Fantastic Four, which is perfect because this is issue four. However, the number four is unlucky in Chinese culture, and means death! This theme comes up again and again over the course of the fourth issue, which as a fan of numerology, I appreciated.
Photo: Marvel Comics
In fact, there is numerology at play in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well, so it’s perfect that the numerology theme carried over into the comic series too! While four may be bad luck, eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture… and when we see Wenwu (Tony Leung)’s helicopter, the number on the side is “W-W888.” Now that’s lucky!
Photo: Marvel Studios
Visually, this issue is a treat, as the Negative Zone is a very interesting looking environment.
The Negative Zone. Photo: Marvel Comics
And as is expected, this issue ends with a cliffhanger that will propel us into the fifth issue of this series… one that will feature Iron Man, a character with whom Shang-Chi has been set up to be at odds (an event that happened back in Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe #2)!
Photo: Marvel Comics
Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe #4
Did you get a chance to pick up Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe #4? What did you think of this issue, and are you excited to see Shang-Chi fight against Iron Man in the next issue?
We’re waiting to hear from you, Marvel Blog True Believers! Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section.
