Simu Liu is going to make a very powerful addition to the Avengers if a new trailer for Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings is anything to go by. While much of the MCU's Phase 4 slate is comprised of sequels starring familiar faces, plenty of new blood is being added to the franchise also. One such superhero is Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu. The son of legendary crime lord The Mandarin, Shang-Chi has been trained to peak human conditioning, is an expert in martial arts, and possesses mastery of chi, which seemingly allows him to bend elements. As impressive as these skills might be, however, they're powers anyone can learn with training and practice.
Consequently, some MCU fans have questioned how useful Shang-Chi will be to the Avengers when Marvel's inevitable next crossover arrives. Black Widow and Hawkeye have already shown that superpowers aren't a prerequisite for joining, but both had to prove themselves worthy to fight alongside Avengers behemoths Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Doctor Strange. With Shang-Chi relying primarily on his fists to do business, have the Avengers got another Hawkeye on their hands? Thankfully, no.
Shang-Chi's latest trailer shows the clearest progression yet between Simu Liu's character at the beginning of the film, and during the (presumably) final battle against his father. The montage shows Shang-Chi fighting Razor Fist on a San Francisco bus, and while he's clearly an impressive combatant at this point, he's hardly Avenger-worthy. Indeed, an Avenger shouldn't be having any trouble whatsoever dealing with a character called "Razor Fist," even with a runaway bus to worry about. The bus sequence has featured prominently in Shang-Chi's marketing, and is the main reason some are concerned about his long-term MCU potential. But the San Francisco sequences are very likely taken from Shang-Chi's first act, when Simu Liu's Marvel newcomer is still enjoying a quiet life as a valet.
Promo material has been far less generous in showing Shang-Chi at the end of his origin story, but the latest trailer gives some idea of how awesome his strength will be by that stage. One stunning shot reveals Shang-Chi wielding five of the fabled Ten Rings, which apparently lets the warrior fly through the air and execute a humanly-impossible superhero landing, creating a ripple of golden energy as he arrives. The camera then shifts to reveal Simu Liu surrounded by the quintet of rings, all floating around him ominously. Now the Avengers are paying attention. Shang-Chi will evidently undergo a drastic power-up during his first movie - like Captain America, Doctor Strange and Ant-Man before him.
By the closing credits, Shang-Chi could be even more formidable than he is during the Mandarin battle, perhaps wielding all of the titular rings. And if he can manage that superhero landing with just 5, imagine the character's fighting potential after he claims all 10. Trailers have previously shown Mandarin using his fancy bracelets to throw energy blasts, and if son manages to dethrone father, that's a sure sign Shang-Chi will exceed his old man's mastery of the weapon. Chi blasts may be just the beginning.
Compared to other Avengers, Shang-Chi actually finds himself in the enviable position of being both naturally powerful and possessing a legendary weapon. Steve Rogers famously questioned who Tony Stark was without his suit and, sure enough, technology is the sole source of Iron Man's battle prowess. The same goes for Ant-Man, Falcon and War Machine. Conversely, the natural powers that belong to Scarlet Witch, Hulk and Captain America come with their own drawbacks. Shang-Chi is like Spider-Man or Thor, employing the best of both worlds. The Ten Rings grant him awesome inhuman abilities, but without then, he's still one of the planet's most dangerous men. Fans can rest assured then - if Simu Liu joins the Avengers after Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings, Earth's mightiest heroes are getting a very worthy signing.
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