Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality

Gr 3-7–Ying provides an insightful look into the formative years of the Marvel superhero, Shang-Chi. The titular hero is only 12 when he and his little sister, Shi-Hua, explore the secrets of his father’s (the warlord Zheng Zu) palace. With Shiu-Hua’s aid, Shang-Chi leaves the palace by night in search of a magical peach he heard about in legend. Shang-Chi hopes to impress his father by presenting him with the peaches, but the world beyond the palace walls is far stranger than he could have imagined. He meets fantastical characters from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, such as Monkey and Guan Yin, along with previously unknown brothers and sisters cast from his father’s home, and dangerous villains who want the magic peaches for themselves. Along the way, Shang-Chi learns the value of teamwork and gains self-confidence from within, instead of from his father’s approval. The fully Asian cast and scenery of this graphic novel are beautifully drawn with vibrant colors and strong linework.