Leiko Wu
Script error: No such module "Draft topics".
Script error: No such module "AfC topic".
| Leiko Wu | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Master of Kung Fu #33 (July 1975) |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Leiko Wu |
| Team affiliations | |
| Partnerships | |
| Abilities |
|
Search Leiko Wu on Amazon.
Leiko Wu is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, created by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, first appeared in Master of Kung Fu #33 (July 1975). Modeled after the classic femme fatales of the James Bond films, Leiko is a supporting character and sometime love interest of Shang-Chi, whom she worked with during their time with MI-6.[1]
Publication history[edit]
Leiko Wu made her debut in Master of Kung Fu #33, by writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy.
Fictional character biography[edit]
Leiko Wu is a Chinese-British MI-6 agent. Upon joining, she entered a romantic relationship with Clive Reston, but she left him for Simon Bretnor, who later became the villain Mordillo.[2] She soon joined back up with Reston along with his new allies Black Jack Tarr and Shang-Chi, the latter of whom she developed feelings for. Together, they defeated Mordillo.[3] She continued to go on several missions with Shang-Chi and Reston which would usually cause awkward tension among them.[4] Wu would also help Shang-Chi defeat his father, Fu Manchu, on a couple of occasions.[5][6][7]
Sometime after her relationship with Shang-Chi ended, Leiko is murdered by Razor Fist while working undercover in the triads for MI-6. Leiko's murder prompts Shang-Chi to return to London, where he reunites with Tarr and his former enemy Skull Crusher, who alleges that Leiko planned to defect MI-6 for him. When Razor Fist's employer is revealed to be White Dragon, Skull-Crusher's rival triad clan leader, Shang-Chi and Skull-Crusher arrive at White Dragon's estate, but are captured by Shang-Chi's brother Midnight Sun, White Dragon's master. Midnight Sun decapitates White Dragon and Skull-Crusher for the Mao Shan Pai ritual, which requires the heads of the triad leaders. Instead of granting him the powers that the ritual would grant him, the spell instead resurrects Leiko due to Skull-Crusher secretly making her the leader of his clan before her death. Leiko uses her newfound powers to main Razor Fist and summons the spirits of the dead triad leaders to drag Midnight Sun back to their realm. Shang-Chi is unable to bring his former lover back to her normal self and she flees when Tarr arrives at the estate with backup. Leiko is later seen taking a photo that Shang-Chi leaves behind at her grave of the two of them.[8]
Leiko eventually resumes her duties with MI-6. When MI-6 discovers that Zheng Zu's (Fu Manchu's real identity) organization is active again, Leiko visits Shang-Chi at his new residence in San Francisco to warn him, only for the two to be attacked by unknown assailants. The two are rescued by Shang-Chi's previously unknown half-siblings, Brother Sabre and Sister Dagger, who reveal that Shang-Chi has been chosen by Zheng Zu's spirit as the new Supreme Commander of the Five Weapons Society, the true name of their father's organization. Sabre and Dagger request Shang-Chi's help in overthrowing Sister Hammer, the illegitimate leader of the Society and his long-lost full sister, Shi-Hua, who sent the assassins to kill her brother in order to consolidate her rule.[9] Leiko flies Shang-Chi back to London, where the House of the Deadly Staff and Sister Hammer are located. Despite Leiko's offer to help, Shang-Chi insists on confronting his sister alone.[10] Leiko provides Shang-Chi with information via phone call regarding a map leading to his uncle Zheng Yi's grave and attempts to prevent an MI5-led raid on the House of the Deadly Staff; the leading officer ignores her warnings and leads an assault, only for him and his forces to be massacred by Shi-Hua and her henchmen.[11] When Shi-Hua and her jiangshi army attack London, Lekio and MI-6 help defend the city with Shang-Chi and his siblings. After the army is defeated and Shi-Hua is subdued, Leiko attempts to shoot her in the head, but the bullet is caught by Shang-Chi, who allows his sister to flee.[12]
While Shang-Chi is still in London, Leiko approaches him on behalf of MI-6 and asks him to steal the mystical Equinox Blade from the British Museum before it could be auctioned off due to the danger the sword poses. Leiko guides Shang-Chi via earpiece through the museum's security systems, but he encounters Lady Deathstrike,[13] who had just stolen the blade and used its power to steal the souls of the museum's guards. After a prolonged struggle and with Leiko's help, Shang-Chi knocks Deathstrike out of a window and destroys the blade, freeing the souls it consumed to return to its victims. For his trouble, Leiko treats Shang-Chi to gelato.[14]
Leiko and Shang-Chi spend holiday together in Seoul, where they witness several gas bombs detonate across the city, turning victims into trees. After helping Shang-Chi and White Fox rescue civilians from a gas explosion, Leiko receives a broadcast of similar explosions happening in major cities worldwide. The three track the origin of one of the diffusors to an A.I.M. laboratory in London, where they encounter scientist Jessa Chen, who claims she and other scientists are being forced against their will to create the bioweapon, named the Gelsemium Molecule. Leiko takes Chen to safety while Shang-Chi and White Fox fight A.I.M. guards. While they are alone, Chen reveals herself as Doctor Gelsemium, the true mastermind behind the Gelsemium Molecule and uses her tree-like physiology to restrain Leiko before exposing her to a Molecule sample. Gelsemium takes Leiko to another laboratory in the Pacific Northwest, where Leiko begins transforming into a tree. Shang-Chi and White Fox find Leiko through her tracker and fight Gelsemium. Leiko is able to free herself and uses her own tree physiology to free Gelsemium's test subjects and fight her. After Gelsemium is defeated, Leiko is cured with an antidote which later supplied to Gelsemium's victims around the world.[15]
Powers and abilities[edit]
As an MI-6 secret agent, Leiko Wu is highly proficient in martial arts, espionage, and firearms. After she was resurrected by dark magic, Leiko briefly gained supernatural abilities, including enhanced physical attributes and spellcasting.[16]
Other versions[edit]
Leiko Wu exists in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. She is hired by Shang-Chi's father to hire other people to bring him back to China alive, and develops an interest in Shang-Chi after he stops some men who stole her bags.[17]
References[edit]
- ↑ Francisco, Eric (July 22, 2019). "Who is Shang-Chi? Marvel's Asian Superhero is More Than a Kung Fu Master". Inverse. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu #34
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu #33-35
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu #39
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu #48
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu #89
- ↑ Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #6
- ↑ Deadly Hands of Kung Fu vol. 2 #1-4
- ↑ Shang-Chi vol 1. #1
- ↑ Shang-Chi vol 1. #2
- ↑ Shang-Chi vol 1. #3-4
- ↑ Shang-Chi vol 1. #5
- ↑ "A Formidable Fighter Battles for His Soul in 'The Legend of Shang-Chi' #1". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
- ↑ Legend of Shang-Chi # 1
- ↑ Shang-Chi Infinity Comic # 1-4
- ↑ Deadly Hands of Kung Fu vol. 2 #4
- ↑ Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #15-16
External links[edit]
This article "Leiko Wu" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Leiko Wu. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
