MEDDLING IN THE AFFAIRS OF DRAGONS
For months, fans have been told not to expect Fin Fang Foom in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Despite all the dragon references and teases in the first trailer, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu seemingly debunked the theories, citing Fin Fang Foom’s name as a little too stereotypical for a film that intends to defy Asian movie stereotypes. Then came this week’s newest trailer.
There are Easter eggs galore in the latest footage. Besides a cage fight between Abomination, who has not been seen since the dawn of the MCU in 2008’s Incredible Hulk, and Doctor Strange’s Wong, there is a clear view of a dragon. Could it be that Fin Fang Foom will appear in Shang-Chi after all, possibly under a different name? It certainly has collectors and speculators on the hunt for Foom keys.
A DRAGON BY ANY OTHER NAME...
A case can be made for the dragon in the trailer, named “the Great Protector,” actually being Fin Fang Foom or at least a version of the character.
In the comics, Foom is part of a shapeshifting alien race called the Makluans. Foom takes the form of a dragon when he comes to Earth, bringing the power of the Mandarin’s Ten Rings with him in the process. Considering there is a proper, magical Mandarin and a dragon in Shan-Chi, it lends to the speculation that, indeed, Fin Fang Foom will appear in the film, but likely under a different name.
On that note, let’s take a look at the current market for the shapeshifting space dragon’s key issues before the inflation takes full effect.
STRANGE TALES #89
For several years, Marvel seemingly didn’t know what to do with Fin Fang Foom. After he debuted in 1961’s Strange Tales #89, he would not make his true second appearance until 1974. During that 13-year hiatus, Marvel would reprint his debut story twice - first in 1966 with Fantasy Masterpieces #2 then in Where Monsters Dwell #21 from 1973.
Just this week, lower grades of ST #89 have been hitting record highs. On June 23, a 3.5 sold for a record $2,500. Up to this year, it had never before cracked $1k. The same day, a 3.0 set a new record after a copy earned $2,025, which is more than double the $775 record high established last year.
ASTONISHING TALES #23
Over a decade after his first appearance, Foom would return to Marvel Comics in the Bronze Age to combat IT!, the Living Colossus. IT! Came about during Marvel’s return to monster comics in the ‘70s after the Comics Code Authority relaxed its guidelines enough for Marvel to incorporate more horror elements. Who better to fight the Living Colossus than Marvel’s very own version of Godzilla, Fin Fang Foom?
Stan Lee really got his money’s worth out of Strange Tales #89. For the third time, Marvel partially reprinted Foom’s origin in this issue. Before he was reinstated into the Marvel Universe decades later, the company reprinted his origin for the fourth time in 1990’s Marvel Masterworks.
Understandably, this second appearance of Foom does not compete with the values for his premiere comic. The good part is that Astonishing Tales #23 is vastly cheaper for space dragon fans. Even at a graded 9.8, the record high is only $300, and the only copy sold this year went for $180. If you are looking for a piece of the action, this is your comic.
DRAGONS, DRAGONS, AND MORE DRAGONS
There are so many questions and theories springing out of that brief tease from the Shang-Chi trailer. If it’s not Foom, could the Great Protector be Iron Fist’s dragon, Shao-Lau? Is it Mr. Lao from Agents of Atlas? In any event, the fun part is trying to decipher the clues before the movie premieres.
