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How did the creators reboot the original comic book series to counter these stereotypes? Why was it important for the creative team that the updated character of Shang-Chi be “relatable - even funny”?ĥ. What were some of the Hollywood stereotypes and preconceptions about Asians that the creators of Shang-Chi hoped to dispel?Ĥ. Ito, was it “one of Marvel’s most racially problematic”?ģ. How was the Marvel Comic series “The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu,” first published in 1974, “a product of its time”? Why, according to Mr. Why was Shang-Chi a surprising choice of character to join the pantheon of Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America, according to the article? Why did this help give the film’s creators a lot of freedom in crafting the main character?Ģ. Read the article and then answer the following questions:ġ. Then, share your list with a partner: What similarities and differences do you find? Together, discuss what impact you think these stereotypes might have on viewers. You might start with the sentence stem “Superheroes usually …” Consider the main characters’ looks, personalities, origin stories and story lines, as well as their sidekicks and the settings in which the stories take place. Take a few minutes to make a list of common superhero stereotypes you have read in comic books or seen in movies. Warm-Upĭo you think superhero comics and movies do a good job of portraying a diversity of communities - whether by race, gender, class, sexuality or other identities? Or do you think they often end up featuring the same types of characters and the same types of stories? In Going Further activities, we invite you to share your own experiences seeing - or not seeing - yourself in superhero stories and consider how we might knock down other stereotypes in the comic universe. In this lesson, you will learn more about the newest Marvel hit and how its creators set out to conquer Hollywood stereotypes about Asians. The film set the record for Labor Day openings, with $94.4 million, and has to date earned more than $365 million worldwide.
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“Known property or not,” writes Robert Ito, “the movie is a cause for celebration: It’s Marvel’s first and only superhero film starring an Asian lead, with an Asian American director and writer, and based on a character who was actually Asian in the original comic.”

In September, Marvel released “ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” based on a little-known comic series from the 1970s. Featured Article: “ How Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Knocked Down Stereotypes ” by Robert Ito
