DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG-FU #1 is the master of setting the stage for what's to come. Benson gives us the bare basics of the narrative, briefly reminds us that yes, Shang-Chi's currently an Avenger and a beast in unarmed combat, and ends it all on a note that promises more excitement is right around the corner. It gets the job done and establishes everything in a fast-paced and enjoyable manner. Read Full Review

Overall, 'Deadly Hands of Kung Fu' #1 was an enjoyable first issue. It hit all the targets necessary for an introductory issue and it left me wanting more. And most importantly, it took a very engaging and badass character and put him front and center. I look forward to following Shang Chi on this adventure and I hope more people from his past like Danny Rand or Misty Knight make appearances in this series before it wraps up. Read Full Review

If you're a fan of Shang-Chi, this is a great continuation of his story. If you haven't been a fan, there is a lot of reading to catch up on, but you're still able to pick this up and work your way through it. Did I mention it's fast-paced. A fun read that you should check out, if for nothing else than to enjoy the action scenes. Read Full Review

Again, the art is the real sticking point. It's not so much that tan Eng Huat lacks the storytelling ability and choreography necessary for a good martial arts romp. Its that his figure work is wildly inconsistent. At times our the figures will be rendered fairly realistically and in great detail, but at others they become wildly distorted caricatures. Given Huat's past Marvel work, there's little reason to expect the problem to improve over time. Read Full Review

Unfortunately this first issue didn't grab me. Hopefully this book can turn it around quickly as Shang-Chi has proven that he can hold a series on his own in the past. Mike Benson needs to build the series on the core of the character and not rely on touchbacks to old stories that are not easily available to modern readers. The art needs to significantly improve if this is going to survive as an ongoing concern and not just be a throwaway 4 issue mini-series. Nothing here made me think that this is a “must read” comic. This does not live up to the high standards of the original series and unfortunately does not stand well on it's own either. Read Full Review

All in all, this issue feels like nothing special, though the creative team clearly has a handle on Shang-Chi's character, and I'm hoping that the remainder of the series really picks up the pace. Deadly Hands Of Kung-Fu #1 has a tough row to hoe, with a main character who can come across as maddeningly passive and a difficult to accept opening, as well as inconsistent noodly art, but still nails 3 out of 5 stars overall. The sequence at Leiko's funeral was unusually respectful for a comic book though, and any time we see the Sons of The Tiger is a good time for me… Read Full Review

Tarantino'sKill Billis the ultimate throwback to in-your-face, overly stylized, martial arts genre films in their heyday, replete with one-liners and Asian culture. Although unfair to compare anything to that, “Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1″never rises above basic mediocrity. It isn't terrible, but Shang-Chi deserves better. The ending promises a small improvement for next month, so it's still possible this series could turn intothe roundhouse kick it's struggling toachieve. Hard to give a recommendation, but desperate Kung Fu fans could pick it up if there's nothing else out there. Read Full Review

The rest of the story plays out as a straight visual narrative of somber duty and intrigue. It's not bad from a pure visual or a storytelling standpoint, but it wasn't an exciting or memorable note to begin Shang Chi's solo revival on. The issue teases a possible revival of Shang Chi's spiritual roots might be in store, but the series would have benefited from imbuing a little bit of that into the early goings. Benson could take this story to some great places if he quickly starts to incorporate the essential elements of the character. It would give Tan Eng Huat more to do, as well, which can only bring out the more exciting elements of his art. As of right now, this is a story told just as predictably as its by-the-numbers plot merits. Read Full Review

Deadly Hand of Kung Fu #1 wasn't a bad book by any means, it just wasn't the comic book I was expecting. Although I was looking for something that paid homage to those great and terrible kung-fu movies of my youth, what I got was just another Avenger's story, starring an Avenger that I don't really care that much about, doing things that only slightly resemble those weekend TV viewing pastimes on its subtle surface. At its core, Deadly Hands of Kung Fu is a karate book in name only, and is really just another comic book starring an uninteresting character. Read Full Review

DHOKF #1 is not a bad book; it's more of an average debut with a few good fight scenes sprinkled throughout. Read Full Review

I went in to this book hoping for some awesome kung fu action and real gritty genre fun. I was disappointed to get a confusingly drawn tale where the cliffhanger is Shang-Chi walking down a really clean alley. Getting this character away from the Avengers action is a smart idea but where he is taken doesn't feel particularly exciting. Here's hoping that this is a good place to build from for the rest of the book. Read Full Review

Shang-Chi has been slowly growing into a bigger player with his role in the Avengers recently, so he definitely deserves a chance at a solo series or mini. But if you want legitimate and interesting Shang-Chi action, stick with Avengers. This mini-series has nothing for you. Read Full Review

Maybe The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu will grow into a stronger book " as a mini-series, it should have significantly more focus, though the story as laid-out here isn't terribly exciting " but this was still a disappointing debut issue for a series based on one of Marvel's most underserved heroes. Read Full Review

My apologies to the creative team, who will hopefully go on to bigger and better things - but this one is a miss. Read Full Review

The Bottom Line:A clichd plotline that starts with the killing of a competent minority female hero, features grossly ineffective art, and ends with a shot of our Chinese hero looking more like the Midwestern Jamie Madrox– this is not a great comic. The covers for this miniseries look amazing, though. Read Full Review