For a brief time, Shang-Chi gained Spider-Man’s powers — and proved how dangerous someone as skilled as he can be with those abilities.
Shang-Chi is one of the Marvel Universe’s most impressive fighters. Despite lacking the overt super powers or amazing abilities of many of his fellow heroes, he’s proven again and again to be capable of standing among the most powerful warriors in the world.
In one of Marvel’s strangest crossover events, Shang-Chi briefly gained spider-powers of his own like Spider-Man, and although he quickly lost them he was able to prove just how additionally deadly he can be with them.
Spider-Island was a 2011 crossover that saw a large portion of New York City exposed to the experiments of the Jackal — resulting in them developing spider-powers of their own. One of the many people exposed to the chemical was Shang-Chi. Spider-Man and Shang-Chi had actually already become closer, with the Martial Arts Master serving as Peter’s mentor and trainer following the brief loss of his Spider-Sense. Shang-Chi’s full role in the conflict was detailed in Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu by Antony Johnston and Sebastian Fiumara. Shang-Chi is among the many heroes who intervene when riots break out across New York City, utilizing his newfound spider-powers to help.
He’s also beset by dreams of the Immortal Weapons being targeted and cocooned in webs. Shang-Chi ends up trying to help Iron Fist during the spreading riots and is subsequently also targeted when the Bride of Nine Spiders — one of the Immortal Weapons herself — is revealed to be responsible for the attacks. But with the help of Silver Sable, Shang-Chi is able to uncover the Bride of Nine Spiders’ location. It turns out she’s been bringing the Immortal Weapons to the monstrous half-spider mystical force, Ai Apaec. Ai Apaec was able to take control of the Bride of Nine Spiders at the behest of the Spider Queen (the ultimate villain and mastermind behind Spider-Island) after helping her spread the spider-powers across New York City.
Forced to bring him souls to consume, the remaining piece of the Bride of Nine Spiders’ heroic true self forced her to only bring Immortal Weapons, knowing he would not be able to consume them. While Iron Fist tends to his allies, Shang-Chi — now with the added mutation of four additional arms — goes up against the villain. Shang-Chi’s fighting style is incredibly complemented by the addition of multiple new arms, allowing him to stand up against Ai Apaec on his own. But Shang-Chi’s mutation is escalated by the Queen’s plans, and Iron Fist is forced to use his healing ability to strip the spider infection from Shang-Chi — costing him his newfound powers but restoring his freedom from the Bride.
Shang-Chi continues to prove himself even without his powers, defeating Ai Apaec by collapsing the building around them and later joining the Immortal Weapons as they enter the final battles of Spider-Island.Of all the heroes in the Marvel Universe, Shang-Chi is perhaps the most potentially powerful and dangerous with the addition of spider-powers. Coupled with enhanced speed, immense strength, and a spider-sense, Shang-Chi’s extensive Martial Arts skills would all combine to easily make him the most dangerous fighter in the Marvel Universe — even before he gained four additional arms. Although he didn’t have them for long, Shang-Chi made good use of his abilities and proved how additionally dangerous he could be with just that little extra boost.
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