Shang-Chi Only Respects One X-Men Hero… & It’s Not Who Fans Expect

While some may think Shang-Chi only holds the highest regard for those who have also dedicated their lives to mastering the disciplines of martial arts in Marvel Comics, the Master of Kung Fu proves that isn’t necessarily the case as he respects one unexpected X-Men hero more than any other.

In X-Men #62 by Scott Lobdell, Ben Raab, and Carlos Pacheco, the X-Men are on a mission to find the cure for a deadly mutant-killing virus known as the Legacy Virus. Their journey leads them to a fortress used as the former control center for Shang-Chi’s father’s criminal operation, where they unexpectedly encounter Shang-Chi himself. Upon their initial meeting, Shang-Chi and Wolverine break out into a ferocious battle that ends with Wolverine actually beating Shang-Chi in hand-to-hand combat, not just because of Wolverine’s sheer brutality, but because of his own refined martial arts skills.

While the fact that Wolverine was able to best Shang-Chi in combat, something not many Marvel characters can say they’ve done, that wasn’t enough to earn Shang-Chi’s utmost respect, at least not when compared with another X-Men hero. In X-Men #63, Shang-Chi and the X-Men have decided to join forces to retrieve the potential cure for the Legacy Virus from the criminal enterprise that took over his father’s operation. During their mission, Shang-Chi and the X-Men had to fight off hordes of ninjas, including technologically enhanced cyber-ninjas. Through it all, even when on the brink of utter defeat, the one person who ensured their victory against the most dire of odds was also the one X-Man Shang-Chi respects more than the rest: Cyclops.

In this issue, Shang-Chi comments to himself that he believes Cyclops possesses the bearings of a warrior born, a natural leader who is seemingly without effort guides his fellow mutants on their path to victory. Shang-Chi also says that if Cyclops were to fall in their battle against the cyber-ninjas, then he and the other X-Men members would assuredly fail in their mission.

Despite Wolverine being the one who beat him in combat, and therefore the most likely recipient of Shang-Chi’s highest regard, it is Cyclops who receives this honor above all the rest. The reason is not because he is necessarily a gifted fighter, but because he has a warrior’s spirit and proves himself to be a great and selfless leader who will do whatever it takes for his teammates despite whatever personal sacrifice may be required. Shang-Chi only respects one X-Men hero above all the rest, and while it may not be the one fans would expect, it is an X-Men hero who is worthy of every bit of Shang-Chi’s praise and admiration.

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