Yellow Claw
Encyclopedia
The Yellow Claw is a fictional comic book
supervillain
in comic books published by Marvel Comics
. Created by writer Al Feldstein
and artist Joe Maneely
, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 (Oct. 1956), published by Atlas Comics
, the 1950s predecessor of Marvel.
named for him ran only four issues (Oct. 1956 – April 1957), it featured work by such notable artists as Joe Maneely
, Jack Kirby
, and John Severin
, and introduced characters later integrated into Marvel Comics
continuity. The series chronicled the adventures of a Chinese-American FBI agent, Jimmy Woo
, and his battles against a "yellow peril
" Communist mandarin
, known only as the Yellow Claw. The title character was a Fu Manchu
manqué (indeed, Fu Manchu author Sax Rohmer
had a novel titled The Yellow Claw
) whose grandniece, Suwan, was in love with Woo.
Kirby took over as writer
-artist
with issue #2 — inking
his own pencil art
there and in the following issue, representing two of the very rare occasions on which he did so. Well regarded for its relatively mature storyline and in particular for Maneely's atmospheric art, the series nevertheless failed to find an audience. Its influence was felt during the 1960s Silver Age
of comics, however, as writer-artist Jim Steranko
brought the Yellow Claw into Marvel Comics
continuity, beginning with the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
" feature in Strange Tales
#160 (Sept. 1967), which introduced a robot version of the character; the actual Yellow Claw resurfaced later. Woo was reintroduced that same issue, eventually joining the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D.
in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 (July 1968).
. Like Fu Manchu, he is both a genius in biochemistry and a brilliant scientist and inventor in many fields, in addition to being an expert in mysticism, alchemy
, and the martial arts
. The Yellow Claw has formulated elixirs that have prolonged his life span, enabling him to retain his physical vitality. Following his Nick Fury appearances, artists have depicted him with an unusual, jaundice
d-looking, yellowish skin tone, possibly as a result of his life-extension chemical.
The Yellow Claw has dedicated himself to achieving world domination and supplanting Western civilization
. He controls a worldwide criminal organization, along with a staff of research scientists and engineers. In 1942, the Yellow Claw encountered Lady Lotus
in New York's Chinatown. In the 1950s, he forged a pact with Communist Chinese leaders including General Sung whereby the Claw would seek to conquer the West for China. In fact, this was simply a ruse, and he intended to conquer the world for himself.
The Yellow Claw was aided by his second-in-command, the Nazi
war criminal Karl von Horstbaden, alias Fritz von Voltzmann. However, the Claw was continually foiled by FBI agent Jimmy Woo
and betrayed by his sole living relative, his grandniece Suwan, whom he could not bring himself to kill.
The Yellow Claw sent troops to invade Liberty Island and activate his Id paralyzer, but was foiled by Nick Fury
and Captain America
. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.
battled robots of Yellow Claw and his cohorts. Eventually, the Yellow Claw left the United States, placing the meddlesome Suwan in suspended animation
. After severing ties with the People's Republic of China, the Claw fused Suwan's spirit with that of the conquest-minded ancient Egyptian
princess Fanle-tamen. During a subsequent battle with Nick Fury, Captain America
, the Falcon
, and S.H.I.E.L.D.
, however, the Claw was betrayed by the vengeful Suwan; he transferred the spirit of Fan-le-tamen to himself, which caused Suwan to crumble into dust, and he escaped. The Yellow Claw later took part in the Black Lama
's contest of super-villains, in which he defeated and apparently killed rival Chinese supervillain
the Mandarin
. He also battled the superhero
Iron Man
, but then abandoned the Black Lama's contest and escaped. He then made an attempt to destroy New York City using a tidal wave, but was foiled by Nova
, Nick Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. He then planned to father sons by various genetically superior women, then sterilize mankind and rule the world, but this plot was foiled by the superhero team the Avengers
. The Yellow Claw then attempted to destroy New York City, but was foiled by Captain America, Frog-Man
, Spider-Man
, the Human Torch
, Angel, Beast
, and Iceman
. The Yellow Claw later recruited the second Madame Hydra as his new heir. He battled Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., but witnessed the defeat of Madame Hydra's forces, and was responsible for the reunion of Fury and Dum Dum Dugan
.
as part of an elaborate, potentially world-destroying game between Doom and another of his robotic creations, the Prime Mover
. The "Suwan" and "Voltzmann" accompanying this Yellow Claw were also robot impostors.
In the later Strange Tales, it is unclear if this Yellow Claw is a robot (e.g., when he attempts to destroy the United Nations
).
. In issue #4 (Jan. 2007), he claims that the phrase "Yellow Claw" is actually a mis-transliteration of the Chinese characters, and that his title is actually "Golden Claw".
In issue #6, he revealed his true name to be Plan Chu, khan
of a secret Mongol dynasty, who had chosen Jimmy Woo to be his heir. All his schemes to "conquer the world" had the secondary purpose of giving Woo an Asian menace to fight against and establish his credentials as a true American hero. However, the plan did not succeed, as Jimmy was simply promoted to a bureaucratic desk job. Dispirited, the Claw established the Atlas Foundation.
After revealing the truth to Woo — who accepted the role of khan in order to turn the Atlas Foundation and secret Mongol dynasty into a force for good — Plan Chu, like all the previous khans, allowed himself to be eaten by Mr. Lao, a powerful immortal dragon, ensuring there could not be two khans.
The Yellow Claw is an extraordinary genius with extensive knowledge in various sciences, particularly biochemistry and genetics. He is also proficient in robotics, and has considerable knowledge of black magical lore. He is a master of Chinese martial arts, and is an expert hand-to-hand combatant.
The Yellow Claw wears body armor and has access to various weapons, as needed. He has access to specialized technology, including an Id paralyzer that creates slaves subject to his telepathic control, and a mind-amplification helmet that harnesses the psychic energies of his mind-slaves as destructive force. He also has access to gigantic and hideously mutated creatures of his own design, created by biologists in his employ.
Some of the stories from the Yellow Claw series have been reprinted in other publications.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
in comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. Created by writer Al Feldstein
Al Feldstein
Albert B. Feldstein is an American writer, editor, and artist, best known for his work at EC Comics and, from 1956 to 1985, as the editor of the satirical magazine Mad. Since retiring from Mad, Feldstein has concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife...
and artist Joe Maneely
Joe Maneely
Joseph "Joe" Maneely is an American comic book artist best known for his work at Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics, where he co-created the Marvel characters the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo.An exquisite draftsman whose delicate yet solid, fine-line...
, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 (Oct. 1956), published by Atlas Comics
Atlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, the 1950s predecessor of Marvel.
Publication history
While the short-lived espionage seriesSpy fiction
Spy fiction, literature concerning the forms of espionage, was a sub-genre derived from the novel during the nineteenth century, which then evolved into a discrete genre before the First World War , when governments established modern intelligence agencies in the early twentieth century...
named for him ran only four issues (Oct. 1956 – April 1957), it featured work by such notable artists as Joe Maneely
Joe Maneely
Joseph "Joe" Maneely is an American comic book artist best known for his work at Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics, where he co-created the Marvel characters the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo.An exquisite draftsman whose delicate yet solid, fine-line...
, Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, and John Severin
John Severin
John Powers Severin is an American comic book artist noted for his distinctive work with EC Comics, primarily on the war comics Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat; for Marvel Comics, primarily on its war and Western comics; and for the satiric magazine Cracked...
, and introduced characters later integrated into Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
continuity. The series chronicled the adventures of a Chinese-American FBI agent, Jimmy Woo
Jimmy Woo
Jimmy Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book universe. Created by EC Comics great Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 Jimmy Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book...
, and his battles against a "yellow peril
Yellow Peril
Yellow Peril was a colour metaphor for race that originated in the late nineteenth century with immigration of Chinese laborers to various Western countries, notably the United States, and later associated with the Japanese during the mid 20th century, due to Japanese military expansion.The term...
" Communist mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
, known only as the Yellow Claw. The title character was a Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu
Dr. Fu Manchu is a fictional character introduced in a series of novels by British author Sax Rohmer during the first half of the 20th century...
manqué (indeed, Fu Manchu author Sax Rohmer
Sax Rohmer
Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward , better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr...
had a novel titled The Yellow Claw
The Yellow Claw
The Yellow Claw is a 1915 crime novel by Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward, known better under his pseudonym, Sax Rohmer.The story features Gaston Max, a Parisian criminal investigator and mastery of disguise, and his battle with Mr. King, a master criminal similar to Rohmer's earlier Fu Manchu character....
) whose grandniece, Suwan, was in love with Woo.
Kirby took over as writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
-artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
with issue #2 — inking
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
his own pencil art
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
there and in the following issue, representing two of the very rare occasions on which he did so. Well regarded for its relatively mature storyline and in particular for Maneely's atmospheric art, the series nevertheless failed to find an audience. Its influence was felt during the 1960s Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
of comics, however, as writer-artist Jim Steranko
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko is an American graphic artist, comic book writer-artist-historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator....
brought the Yellow Claw into Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
continuity, beginning with the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
" feature in Strange Tales
Strange Tales
Strange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the...
#160 (Sept. 1967), which introduced a robot version of the character; the actual Yellow Claw resurfaced later. Woo was reintroduced that same issue, eventually joining the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 (July 1968).
Fictional character biography
The Yellow Claw was born over 150 years ago somewhere in mainland ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Like Fu Manchu, he is both a genius in biochemistry and a brilliant scientist and inventor in many fields, in addition to being an expert in mysticism, alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, and the martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. The Yellow Claw has formulated elixirs that have prolonged his life span, enabling him to retain his physical vitality. Following his Nick Fury appearances, artists have depicted him with an unusual, jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
d-looking, yellowish skin tone, possibly as a result of his life-extension chemical.
The Yellow Claw has dedicated himself to achieving world domination and supplanting Western civilization
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
. He controls a worldwide criminal organization, along with a staff of research scientists and engineers. In 1942, the Yellow Claw encountered Lady Lotus
Lady Lotus
Lady Lotus is a fictional character from Marvel Comics. She first appeared in Invaders #37 .-Fictional character biography:...
in New York's Chinatown. In the 1950s, he forged a pact with Communist Chinese leaders including General Sung whereby the Claw would seek to conquer the West for China. In fact, this was simply a ruse, and he intended to conquer the world for himself.
The Yellow Claw was aided by his second-in-command, the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
war criminal Karl von Horstbaden, alias Fritz von Voltzmann. However, the Claw was continually foiled by FBI agent Jimmy Woo
Jimmy Woo
Jimmy Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book universe. Created by EC Comics great Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 Jimmy Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book...
and betrayed by his sole living relative, his grandniece Suwan, whom he could not bring himself to kill.
The Yellow Claw sent troops to invade Liberty Island and activate his Id paralyzer, but was foiled by Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
and Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
battled robots of Yellow Claw and his cohorts. Eventually, the Yellow Claw left the United States, placing the meddlesome Suwan in suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
. After severing ties with the People's Republic of China, the Claw fused Suwan's spirit with that of the conquest-minded ancient Egyptian
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
princess Fanle-tamen. During a subsequent battle with Nick Fury, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, the Falcon
Falcon (comics)
The Falcon is a fictional comic book superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics.Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, and introduced in Captain America #117 , the character is mainstream comics' first African-American superhero...
, and S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
, however, the Claw was betrayed by the vengeful Suwan; he transferred the spirit of Fan-le-tamen to himself, which caused Suwan to crumble into dust, and he escaped. The Yellow Claw later took part in the Black Lama
Black Lama
Black Lama is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Black Lama first appeared in Iron Man #53 , and was created by Mike Friedrich, George Tuska, and Jim Starlin....
's contest of super-villains, in which he defeated and apparently killed rival Chinese supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
the Mandarin
Mandarin (comics)
The Mandarin is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain and the archenemy of Iron Man.In 2009, Mandarin was ranked as IGN's 81st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.-Publication history:...
. He also battled the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, but then abandoned the Black Lama's contest and escaped. He then made an attempt to destroy New York City using a tidal wave, but was foiled by Nova
Nova (comics)
Nova is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Upon becoming a member of the galaxy's Nova Corps , the youth gained enhanced strength, flight, injury resistance, and a specialized uniform with life support.In May 2011, Nova placed 98th on IGN's Top 100 Comic...
, Nick Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. He then planned to father sons by various genetically superior women, then sterilize mankind and rule the world, but this plot was foiled by the superhero team the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
. The Yellow Claw then attempted to destroy New York City, but was foiled by Captain America, Frog-Man
Frog-Man
Frog-Man is a minor comedic superhero created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Kerry Gammill for Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in Marvel Team-Up #121.- Fictional character biography :...
, Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, the Human Torch
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
, Angel, Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
, and Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
. The Yellow Claw later recruited the second Madame Hydra as his new heir. He battled Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., but witnessed the defeat of Madame Hydra's forces, and was responsible for the reunion of Fury and Dum Dum Dugan
Dum Dum Dugan
Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan is a fictional character in the . He is an officer of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is one of the most experienced members of Nick Fury's team, known for his marksmanship with rifles and for his impressive physique...
.
Robot Yellow Claw
In the Yellow Claw stories in Strange Tales, Marvel super-spy Nick Fury fought a being whom he believed to be the Yellow Claw. However, this was actually just a robot created by Doctor DoomDoctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
as part of an elaborate, potentially world-destroying game between Doom and another of his robotic creations, the Prime Mover
Prime Mover (comics)
Prime Mover is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.The Prime Mover is a robot employed by Doctor Doom; Doom may or may not have created the robot...
. The "Suwan" and "Voltzmann" accompanying this Yellow Claw were also robot impostors.
In the later Strange Tales, it is unclear if this Yellow Claw is a robot (e.g., when he attempts to destroy the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
).
Agents of Atlas
The Yellow Claw appears as a character in the 2006–2007 Marvel series Agents of AtlasAgents of Atlas
Agents of Atlas is a fictional superhero team in comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is composed of characters originally appearing in unrelated stories published in the 1950s by Marvel's predecessor company, Atlas Comics....
. In issue #4 (Jan. 2007), he claims that the phrase "Yellow Claw" is actually a mis-transliteration of the Chinese characters, and that his title is actually "Golden Claw".
In issue #6, he revealed his true name to be Plan Chu, khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
of a secret Mongol dynasty, who had chosen Jimmy Woo to be his heir. All his schemes to "conquer the world" had the secondary purpose of giving Woo an Asian menace to fight against and establish his credentials as a true American hero. However, the plan did not succeed, as Jimmy was simply promoted to a bureaucratic desk job. Dispirited, the Claw established the Atlas Foundation.
After revealing the truth to Woo — who accepted the role of khan in order to turn the Atlas Foundation and secret Mongol dynasty into a force for good — Plan Chu, like all the previous khans, allowed himself to be eaten by Mr. Lao, a powerful immortal dragon, ensuring there could not be two khans.
Powers and abilities
Through manipulation of the forces of magic, the Yellow Claw is able to create certain effects, including reanimating the dead. He also has the ability to psychically influence the sensory perceptions of others, enabling him to cast extremely realistic illusions. As a result of ingesting chemical elixirs, he has extended his life span; the Yellow Claw's extended life-span is dependent on the continued efficacy of his life-prolonging elixirs.The Yellow Claw is an extraordinary genius with extensive knowledge in various sciences, particularly biochemistry and genetics. He is also proficient in robotics, and has considerable knowledge of black magical lore. He is a master of Chinese martial arts, and is an expert hand-to-hand combatant.
The Yellow Claw wears body armor and has access to various weapons, as needed. He has access to specialized technology, including an Id paralyzer that creates slaves subject to his telepathic control, and a mind-amplification helmet that harnesses the psychic energies of his mind-slaves as destructive force. He also has access to gigantic and hideously mutated creatures of his own design, created by biologists in his employ.
Other versions
In an alternate universe, in the late 1950s, the Yellow Claw recruited a team of superhuman minions and abducted president Dwight D. Eisenhower. He battled and was defeated by the 1950s "Avengers" team.Yellow Claw reprints
- Yellow Claw #1
- "The Coming of the Yellow Claw" - Reprinted in Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1 (Sept. 1974)
- "The Yellow Claw Strikes", "Trap for Jimmy Woo" - Reprinted in Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #2 (Dec. 1974)
- Yellow Claw #2
- "The Trap" - Reprinted in Marvel PremiereMarvel PremiereMarvel Premiere is an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It ran for 61 issues from April 1972 to August 1981....
#1 (May 1972; character of Phil Kane revised as Nick FuryNick FuryColonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
) and Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #3 (March 1975) - "Concentrate on Chaos" - Reprinted in Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #3 (March 1975)
- "The Mystery of Cabin 361", "Temujai the Golden Goliath" - Reprinted in Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #4 (June 1975)
- "The Trap" - Reprinted in Marvel Premiere
- Yellow Claw #3
- "The Microscopic Army" - Reprinted in The Golden Age of Marvel Comics (1997, ISBN 0-7851-0564-6)
- "UFO, the Lighting Man" - Reprinted in Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby, Vol. 1 (2004, hardcover, ISBN 0-7851-1574-9)
- Yellow Claw #4
- One or more stories reprinted in Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby, Vol. 2 (2006, hardcover, ISBN 0-7851-2094-7)
External links
- Yellow Claw at Marvel.com
- The Yellow Claw at Don Markstein's ToonopediaDon Markstein's ToonopediaDon Markstein's Toonopedia was a web encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation. Don D...
. Archived November 3, 2011 - Marvel Directory: Yellow Claw
- Yellow Claw at Atlas Tales
- Yellow Claw at the Grand Comics Database