MCU: 7 Characters Shang-Chi Should Team Up With, Based On The Comics
Shang-Chi made his debut in the comics in the 1970s during the Kung Fu craze in Hollywood. He made his own solo appearances and then transitioned into cameo roles in a variety of different teams including the Protectors and the Marvel Knights. These appearances in the comics helpfully supply plenty of ideas for team-ups in future MCU projects.
Team ups provide a fun chance to not only see the relationship dynamics between fan-favorite heroes but also provide a chance to see how their powers complement each other in combat.
There is a lot of speculation about where Hawkeye will show up next in the MCU. Hawkeye and Shang-Chi are not directly linked in the comics, however, Vision appoints Hawkeye as the leader of the West Coast Avengers in Avengers vol. 1 #243. Shang-Chi grew up in San Francisco so it could potentially make sense for Shang-Chi to join this team in the future.
Hawkeye could serve as a super-hero mentor for Shang-Chi and Katy, similar to the role he played in helping Kate Bishop in Hawkeye. Katy needs to keep working on her archery skills after all and Hawkeye would be the best person to learn from.
Speaking of the West Coast Avengers, Daredevil relocated from Hells Kitchen to San Francisco in the Daredevil comics in the 2010s. If the West Coast Avengers are brought into the MCU, Daredevil and Shang-Chi could meet up that way.
Another option is for Shang-Chi to join Daredevil's Marvel Knights like he did in the comics in Marvel Knights #1. The Marvel Knights are based out of New York City which is the last place we see Shang-Chi and Katy when they meet with Wong at the Sanctum Sanctorum. Daredevil also squares off against Kingpin in the comics and his appearance in Hawkeye also makes this likely. With Daredevil's appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans are now expecting him to reappear in a significant way in upcoming projects.
Shang-Chi appears in Secret Avengers #10-18 as a temporary member of the black ops superhero team under the leadership of Steve Rogers. The team helps Shang-Chi fight against his father as well as taking down other crime lords.
Although Steve Roger's Captain America is no longer part of the MCU, Sam Wilson may take over to form the Secret Avengers in the future. In the comics, Sam Wilson as the Falcon has a brief rivalry with Shang-Chi so that could also be in the works. Shang-Chi on a dragon against Sam Wilson could certainly be an epic fight.
War Machine was another member of the Secret Avengers, and there are plenty of War Machine stories fans would like to see in the MCU. Although War Machine and Shang-Chi could appear on the next Avengers roster together, there are theories that they may be brought together sooner in the upcoming Armor Wars.
Rhodey faced the Ten Rings in the original Iron Man film and it would make sense that they would show up again in the upcoming Disney+ series. It would be fun to get a cameo from Shang-Chi and give him a chance to face his sister as the new leader of the organization. Shang-Chi and Rhodey would make good teammates as both are pretty level-headed.
Iron Fist, AKA Danny Rand, and Shang-Chi first met in the comics in Master of Kung Fu Annual #1. Rand enlisted Shang-Chi's help to track down his longtime friend, Colleen Wing. The two share many similarities in origin stories and fighting styles leading to mutual respect and a strong friendship.
The MCU has not officially introduced Iron Fist. However, the appearance of Daredevil and Kingpin from the Netflix series in recent MCU releases hints that he may show up in the near future. Iron Fist has a great comic book past that would make a solid addition to the Shang-Chi sequel.
In the comics, Jimmy Woo and Shang-Chi team up in two superhero teams including the Protectors, a group of Asian-American heroes, from Totally Awesome Hulk and the New Agents of Atlas from The War of the Realms.
The MCU's Jimmy Woo and Shang-Chi could make up the next great crime-solving duo. Stephen Ford shared on Twitter that he wanted to see, "An entire Disney+ series with Jimmy Woo just working weird cases in the MCU. Like a fun x-files." Simu Lee then retweeted the comment, saying that he would love to be a part of the show. This is a genre that hasn't been explored yet in the MCU but would make an exceptional addition to the Disney+ library.
Peter Parker is one of Shang-Chi's best friends in the comics. The two first meet in Giant Spider-Man #2 when Shang-Chi's father tricks them into fighting each other. They realize what is happening, become allies, and tackle Shang Chi's father together. Later Shang-Chi trains Spider-Man in martial arts when he loses his spidey sense in the Amazing Spider-Man #695 during the events of Spider Island.
A friendship between the MCU's Peter Parker and Shang-Chi makes a lot of sense. They are within a similar age range and have similar fighting skills. It could be fun to see Spider-Man with superhero friends that are his own age and to see how they react to Spider-Man's brilliant plans (and his sheer luck).