—Shang-ChiI am calm in a raging sea. I am tradition, that buttresses the future. I have changed in a new environment. I have adapted. I look back at who I was, and understand who I have become.
Appearing in "Wake the Dragon"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- A.I.M.
- Dr. Mathias Deeds
- Doug (First appearance)
- Travis (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed members
- Chimera (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed ninjas
- The Circle (Mentioned)
- Denga Bautista (First appearance; dies)
- Symkarian Separatists
- Andrei Ardelean (First appearance; dies)
- Moldovian Black Faction
- David Pacic (First appearance; dies)
- Jonathon Pacic (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Synopsis for "Wake the Dragon"
Having learned that AIM plans to sell their latest bio-weapon in Macau, the Avengers go undercover to a casino there to infiltrate AIM and secure the weapon. They are told to keep a low profile but Shang-Chi ends up in a battle with an armored ninja called Chimera, who has arrived for the bidding. He battles fiercely, but ultimately realizes he is outnumbered, and pulls his weapon, and energized pair of nunchucks, and takes the battle to Chimera.
Four hours earlier, the team gathers intel and plans their infiltration. Natasha wants to abduct their target and torture him but is overruled. Later in the casino, Carol makes contact with the target, Mathias Deeds, who recognizes her as an Avenger. He cheats to beat her at cards but also says he is not here to sell, but to buy. They part company with mutual threats.
Sam and Roberto are made as well and confronted by AIM agents in tuxedos, but the two Avengers convince them to postpone their battle to the next day, and just have a good time tonight. They too confirm they are in town to buy, and even agree to switch sides and work for the Avengers as double agents.
Elsewhere, Jessica Drew and Natasha are seducing several of the wealthy buyers, who are all internationally wanted criminals. Natasha grows impatient and shoots them all dead.
The Avengers fly onto their plane, believing they gained no information. But Shang-Chi is already aboard with the helmet that belonged to Chimera. He says the biological weapon was an army of assassins, and that AIM is planning for a war.
Solicit Synopsis
“WAKE THE DRAGON”
• As Shang-Chi battles an ancient enemy, the Avengers hang out in Hong Kong’s swankiest casino.
• Captain Marvel, Black Widow and Spider-Woman find out it doesn’t pay to gamble in the spy business.
• Cannonball and Sunspot play craps with a bunch of AIM Agents. AND WIN!Trivia
- The idea behind this issue's cover was to reimagine the Avengers other than Shang-Chi in Asian-inspired versions of their costumes. Spider-Woman is inspired by Sailor Moon, Black Widow is inspired by Masamune Shirow (namely Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell), Captain Marvel is inspired by samurai clothing, Cannonball is inspired by Power Rangers, and Sunspot is inspired by ninja clothing.[1]
- All of these reimaginings take inspiration from Japanese media and archetypes, whereas Shang-Chi is Chinese and this issue takes place in Hong Kong. Cover artist Dustin Weaver has acknowledged this issue, explaining that the one-week deadline for penciling the cover for this and the following issue prevented him from putting more effort into finding creative solutions to make the cover more multicultural, or at least more Chinese-influenced. He additionally worked on the assumption that this issue could have taken place in Kobe, Japan, which was an established location in the series as one of the Origin Bomb landing sites, since he didn't know the plot of the issue beforehand.[1]
See Also
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Weaver, Dustin (14 February 2013) Dustin Weaver: Entry 167: Avengers Covers #11 and #12 Blogger. Retrieved on 31 January 2020.