This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog presents some of the 1970s crossover stories between Marvel’s Iron Fist and Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu.
THE DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU SPECIAL Vol 1 #1 (June 1974)
Title: The Master Plan of Fu Manchu
Villain: Fu Manchu
NOTE: This was back when Marvel Comics had licensed the rights to do comic book stories about Sax Rohmer’s iconic villain Fu Manchu and his pursuer Sir Denis Nayland-Smith. Marvel combined their Fu Manchu stories with the 1970s Kung Fu craze by having Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu be the son of Fu Manchu. He turned against his evil father.
Years later, when Marvel no longer had the rights to use the Fu Manchu character they retconned things so that Shang-Chi’s father was really Iron Man’s archenemy the Mandarin.
Synopsis: Storywise, this tale features three separate sections as Iron Fist, the Sons of the Tiger and Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu go up against Fu Manchu in three separate stages of his “master plan.”
Iron Fist is the hero of the opening chapter. He is walking the late-night streets of New York City when a cry for help prompts him to investigate an alleyway he was passing. He discovers a dying Chinese representative from the U.N. He escaped when Fu Manchu had his men abduct him and five other such Chinese representatives. The man dies from the wounds he suffered in his escape after telling Danny to save the others. Continue reading
DESTINATION INNER SPACE (1966) – In a true rarity Scott Brady got to be the less-than- hunky action lead in this film! THE Sheree North and The Green Hornet‘s Wende Wagner were along for the ride in this flick that plays like an episode from Jon Pertwee’s Doctor Who era recast with Americans.
THE SUN ADVANCE – The CONNECTICUT SUN played host to the INDIANA FEVER in this game. 
HEADMASTER (1970) – Andy Griffith had left the streets of Mayberry behind him to take on a new leading role in this short-lived comedy-drama. Griffith played Andy Thompson, Headmaster of the Concord School, a top-tier private academy in California. 
The star had expressed his pleasure at getting to play an urbane academic rather than a country bumpkin for once. Headmaster was shooting for the same appeal boasted by Room 222, another half-hour series that mixed high school comedy with drama. 
ACES WILD – The LAS VEGAS ACES took the court against the visiting SEATTLE STORM. 
THE FALLEN RACE (1892) – Written by Austyn Granville. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “How come nobody ever combined science fiction, H. Rider Haggard-style Lost Race tales AND kangaroo-human hybrids” then THIS is the story for you.
LYNX VS MERCURY: GAME ONE – The MINNESOTA LYNX faced the visiting PHOENIX MERCURY in this game. 
Here at Balladeer’s Blog people who can make me laugh are my favorite kind of people! YT reviewer Snarky Jay, as she calls herself, is entertaining, engaging and hilarious with her reviews. 
TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS visited the division’s 3rd ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Crusaders grabbed a quick 21-0 1st Quarter lead and kept up the pressure after the break, ultimately winning by a score of 35-17. 
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – Staying in D3 for a moment, the 22nd ranked SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS traveled to take on the country’s number 8 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The Blue Jays held a 13-10 edge at the Half, but were shut out from there. The Sea Gulls put up 10 points in the 3rd Quarter and 21 in the 4th for a 41-13 smackdown.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER NINE – Up in the NAIA the 20th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be Sea Gulls) hosted the number 9 team in the land – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. By Halftime Southern Oregon was on top 21-6, and after the break they squeezed out a bit more separation from the Yotes for a 45-27 Upset victory. 
CAPTAIN BRITAIN Vol 1 #37 (June 22nd, 1977) 
The event is crashed by a new supervillain called the Highwayman, who rides a high-tech motorcycle which uses laser cannons and other weaponry. The villain also wears a monocle that shoots energy blasts and wields a battle chain. 
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