LU SUN
Real Name: Lu Sun
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Wanderer, amateur philosopher
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Man-Thing (Ted Sallis), Shang-Chi
Enemies: Dahar, Jekin
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile, including Florida, USA
First Appearance: Master of Kung Fu I#19 (August, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: Lu Sun was an exceptional martial artist.
Height: 5'11" (by
approximation)
Weight: 140 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History: (Master of Kung Fu I#19 (fb) - BTS) - Lu
Sun was a wanderer, apparently journeying around the globe. At some
point, he heard of the swamp creature called the Man-Thing and that
"whatever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing's touch."
(Master of Kung Fu I#19) - Lu Sun was traveling through the Florida Everglades when he beheld an unusual sight: the martial artist Shang-Chi, his body trapped inside the muck-encrusted form of the Man-Thing. Shang had been unsuccessful at pulling himself out of the Man-Thing but Lu Sun had a better idea: grabbing Shang's ankles, which were sticking out of the Man-Thing's back, he pulled Shang's entire body through the Man-Thing's. Setting Shang down, Lu Sun turned back and looked to see if the Man-Thing was well. He introduced himself to Shang and explained that, as Shang was in no danger, he was more curious about the welfare of the "more unusual being." Shang explained that he had been poisoned and attacked the Man-Thing while in a state of delirium. Lu Sun offered to help him further and led him through the swamp, the Man-Thing following after them at a slow pace.
Lu Sun and Shang-Chi came to a stop and Lu Sun asked Shang about the two men pursuing him - Dahar and Jekin, two Dacoits. Shang explained that he was the son of Fu Manchu and wondered how his father could have lied to him about his identity and now seek his death. Lu Sun opined that "A man who is not at peace within himself will not be at peace with anything else." Shang explained that he wanted to battle his father's evil but Lu Sun felt revenge was a "destroyer of men" and was more concerned that Shang's vendetta against his father would damage his soul.
Just as Lu Sun was saying "violence breeds violence," Dahar and Jekin caught up to Shang-Chi and fired two arrows at Lu Sun, both striking his left leg. Shang-Chi fought the two men and the Man-Thing stepped in to defend Shang. Lu Sun tried to warn Dahar and Jekin not to touch the Man-Thing but they didn't listen and the Man-Thing burned them both to death. With the fight over, Shang bandaged Lu Sun's wounds and asked if he would fight Fu Manchu. Lu Sun answered, "Would you, Shang-Chi?" Shang left Lu Sun in the swamp as he pondered his words.
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart, Paul Gulacy and Al Milgrom.
When the television series Kung Fu arrived in 1972, many in the Marvel Bullpen - including Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin - were big fans of the series and pressured Roy Thomas to obtain the license so they could create an adaptation. Unfortunately, Thomas revealed to them that because Kung Fu was produced by Warner Bros. Television Studios and Warner owned DC Comics, it was unlikely they could make such an arrangement. Instead, Thomas encouraged Englehart and Starlin to create their own Master of Kung Fu -- Shang-Chi. Thomas also encouraged them to use Sax Rohmer's creation Fu Manchu as the hero's father, which they were less enthused about. Starlin drew only three Shang-Chi stories before departing. Master of Kung Fu I#19 was Englehart's fifth and final issue (Doug Moench began his phenomenal creative run in the following issue). Appropriately, as a send-off, Englehart had Shang-Chi encounter a distaff version of Kwai Chang Caine, the protagonist of Kung Fu.
But, for one last time, Marvel interfered
with Englehart's wishes. Paul Gulacy was excellent at capturing
likenesses - a little too good, they thought! Lu Sun's face was given a
mustache prior to publication in order to make him look less like actor
David Carradine. I understand that the British version of this story
omitted the mustache -- if you have a scan, we would be interested in
sharing Gulacy's original depiction of Lu Sun.
I
can confirm this was indeed the case, as illustrated by the image to
the right - Loki
But after Master of Kung Fu I#19, Marvel never interfered with Steve Englehart's writing ever again. <- sarcasm
This profile was completed 7/20/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Sun Lu should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Master of Kung Fu I#19, page 18, panel 6 (main)
Master of Kung Fu I#19, page 10, panel 2 (headshot)
The Avengers starring Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu#36, p7,
pan1/publicity still of David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine (comparison
headshots)
Appearances:
Master of Kung Fu I#19 (August, 1974) - Steve Englehart (writer), Paul
Gulacy (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
First posted: 09/24/2021
Last updated: 09/23/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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check out the real thing!
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