Shen Kuei (Earth-616)

Cat
Name	Shen Kuei
Current Alias	Cat
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	His own network of operatives, consultant for Roxxon International Research, Chinese government Formerly Wild Pack, Heroes for Hire
Relatives	Siblings: Unnamed brother (deceased) Children: Unnamed son
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	5′9″ (1.75 m)
Weight	155 lbs (70.31 kg)
Eyes	Irises: Blue
Hair	Black
Unusual Features	Black tattoo of a cat on chest
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Human
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Hong Kong
Personal Information
Identity	Known to Authorities
Citizenship	Chinese
Occupation	Freelance espionage operative, consultant for Roxxon
Base of Operations	Hong Kong
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy
First	Master of Kung Fu #38 (December, 1975)
First	Master of Kung Fu #38 (December, 1975)

History

Shen Kuei was an infamous criminal underworld martial artist who worked as a spy based in Hong Kong, first for communist China, later as a freelancer. His martial skill and grace earned him the nickname of Cat. He eventually became acquainted with a British agent named Juliette who fell in love with him. When Sir Denis Smith asked Shang-Chi to investigate Cat, Juliette, and some documents that had been stolen from British intelligence. Juliette gave Shang-Chi info on the documents, but refused to tell him Kuei's whereabouts. However, Cat saw the two, and thought she betrayed him.

After Shang-Chi recovered and discarded the documents, Cat and Shang-Chi fought, each amazed at each other's skill. In grief over watching the two fight to the death, Juliette stabbed herself to stop their quarrel. Shocked, Kuei expected Shang to kill him, but he did not.

Kuei continued to work for the People's Republic of China and with Kogar, trying to find plans for a neutron bomb. Juliette left him telling him he was working with evil people The mercenary Pavane became Kuei's new lover, and Juliette also met a new man, Skull-Crusher. Juliette and Skull-Crusher worked with Kogar, but were tricked into leaving explosives at the Jade Peacock. Kuei's brother worked at the nightclub and was killed.

Cat confronted Kogar, but was surprised to see Shang-Chi there. Shang had infiltrated the group to find the bomb plans, but the two battled once more. After confirming that Kogar was responsible for his brother's death, Cat worked with Shang to stop the villain.

Now refusing to work for any government, Cat learned of a sunken German ship with plans for a particle beam weapon. He felt that he should destroy it before other agents could attempt to recover the items. There, he encountered Leiko Wu, Shang-Chi's former lover. The two destroyed items on the ship and had a brief affair. However, they admitted that each still loved their former partners. Shang-Chi and Juliette showed up, causing another battle, until Wu and Juliette threatened to shoot each other. The ship was destroyed, and each couple left.

Cable hired The Cat first as one of several parties tasked with collecting specific future-tech components taken from Graymalkin. This brought him into conflict with Deadpool, who greatly admired Kuei but was hired to do the same job. They chased each other until the X-Men took the component that they were fighting over from both of them. Kuei later revealed that he had allowed the component to be taken but kept one for himself that he handed over when it was needed. Cable hired The Cat again to accept a job working for Black Box to bring him a device that would eliminate the problems he had stemming from his cyberpathy. He then turned on Gareb in order to help Cable and destroyed Gareb's clone army.

While on one of his jobs, Cat was summoned by the Most Revered Game Administrators to the Meritorious Striving Pagoda to participate in the Game of Rings and was given one of the Ten Rings. Cat saved Shang-Chi from being eliminated by Zaran the Weapons Master and helped him defeat Zaran. Although Shang-Chi was declared the winner, Shang-Chi gave Zaran's Ring to Shen Kuei out of gratitude. After four players were eliminated, Shang-Chi and Shen Kuei were allowed to advance to the Pagoda's White Floor. The two agreed to partner up until they were the last two players remaining in the tournament. The two made their way to the White Floor, which resembled an icy landscape covered in snow. The two were attacked by Leiko, who had been possessed by a Spawn of the Desolation Wyrm but when Leiko began resisting the Wyrmspawn's influence the spawn forced her to flee. Shen Kuei and Shang-Chi made their way to Administrators' campfire, where the two revealed themselves as Jinzha and Muzha and explained the origins of the Ten Rings. The Wyrmspawn attacked the two again, but with Shang-Chi's help, Leiko was able to force the spawn out of her body, which Shang-Chi destroyed with his two Rings; Leiko subsequently withdrew from the tournament and left her Ring for Shang-Chi. Despite Shang-Chi being named the victor, Shen Kuei betrayed him and stole Leiko's Ring just as the two were allowed to advance to the final level.

As Shen Kuei and Shang-Chi fought on the Red Floor, a surviving piece of the Wyrm attempted to posses Shen Kuei but Shang-Chi was able to use his Rings to grab it while Shen Keui used his to cut it into more pieces. Despite possessing more Rings, Shen Kuei was overpowered by Shang-Chi, who offered Shen Kuei an honorable way out of the tournament. Infuriated, Shen impulsively consumed a piece of the Wyrm but he immediately regretted it and pleaded with Shang to free him as the Wyrm possessed him and transformed him into a gargantuan monster. As the two throttled each other with their Rings, Red Cannon incapacitated Shen Kuei and destroyed the Wyrm. Arguing that Shen Keui would continue to steal the Ten Rings, Red Cannon prepared to kill him but was prevented so by Shang-Chi. After Red Cannon withdrew from the tournament, Shang-Chi pleaded with the Administrators to heal Shen Kuei. When why he would save his opponent over taking his Rings, Shang-Chi explained that he refused to compromise his principles. Impressed that Shang-Chi would save his opponent instead of taking his Rings, the brothers healed Shen Kuei before sending him home. Shen Kuei warned that his gratitude would last a week before he would come for Shang-Chi, who appreciated the gesture.

Attributes

Power Grid

Abilities

Shen Kuei is an excellent hand to hand combatant who rivals Shang Chi in skill. According to Shang Chi, neither he nor Shang know which is the better martial artist. The Cat has also shown enough skill to defeat Iron Fist in single combat at least once.

Shen Kuei can manipulate his chi (qi) for various purposes, including raising his body temperature.

Notes

• It is mentioned in Shen Kuei's debut that his name and Shang-Chi's name are pronounced the same way.
• Shen Kuei is immune to the powers of Black Mamba as he is 'already living his greatest fantasy'

See Also

• 37 appearance(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)
• 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)
• 1 minor appearance(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)
• 1 mention(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)
• 3 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)
• 12 image(s) of Shen Kuei (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Shen Kuei on Marvel.com
• http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/c/cat.htm