Publishers / Marvel / Special Marvel Edition (1971) / #15
15December 1973
$0.20

Special Marvel Edition #15

Marvel · December 1973 · on sale 1973-09-04

First appearance: Shang-ChiFirst appearance: Zheng ZuFirst appearance: Denis Nayland Smith
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Special Marvel Edition (Marvel, 1971 series)
Issue
#15
Publication date
December 1973
Key date
1973-12-00
On-sale date
1973-09-04
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.20
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Shang-Chi - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Zheng Zu - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Denis Nayland Smith - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Fu Manchu - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Doctor Petrie - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Tak - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Gemini; inks: Gemini; letters: Gaspar SaladinoShang-Chi First, Zheng Zu First, Fu Manchu First, Tak First
1Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu!comic story19script: Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin; pencils: Jim Starlin; inks: Al Milgrom; colors: Englehart; letters: Gaspar Saladino, Tom OrzechowskiDoctor Petrie First, Shang-Chi First, Denis Nayland Smith First, Zheng Zu First, Fu Manchu First, Tak First
2-letters page0.5script: Roy T., Steve Englehart
3-promo (ad from the publisher)0.5pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Mike Esposito
4Monumental Memorandums of Mice and Marveldom!in-house column1letters: typeset

Plus 1 page of advertisements and other matter across 1 sequence, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #21974On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #1415 of 16#16 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q111988433 (Denis Nayland Smith), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q50426346 (Tak), first-appearance property (CC0)

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