When it comes to acrobatic, quippy superheroes in red costumes, the modern Marvelite thinks of one of two heroes: Spider-Man or Shang-Chi. Each man has a coterie of supervillains, a unique fighting style, and a lengthy history in the Marvel Universe making them crucial to to comics history.
Of course, fans have long debated which of these two agile Avengers would win in a winner-takes-all style brawl. Would Spidey's wall-crawling and web-fluid win the day? Or would the Master of Kung Fu land the perfect battle-ending blow on the Webhead? Examining the histories, abilities, and greatest feats of each character, there is a clear answer available for astute readers.
8 Spider-Man's Powers: Web-Slinging, Wall-Crawling, Strength
Though there are plenty of fantastic Spider-Men, it's reasonable to assume a baseline Earth 616 Peter Parker for this brawl. Parker's powers are many, ranging from the ability to cling to any surface to the super-strong, super-sticky webs he shoots from his wrists. Parker's spider-bite also gave him enhanced durability and agility, superhuman strength, and the 'spider-sense' that protects him from harm.
Parker's two greatest assets in this battle are his super strength and his spider-sense. Spidey's strength is proportionate to a spider's, and he's able to lift and throw objects that weigh several tons, while his spider-sense gives him the supernatural ability to sense and avoid danger from almost any source.
7 Shang-Chi's Powers: Master of Kung Fu
Just like with Spider-Man, this discussion revolves around a standard version of Shang-Chi, with no Phoenix Force or God of Blades powers in play. Nevertheless, the Master of Kung Fu's abilities are by no means insignificant. Shang-Chi is one of the deadliest fighters in the Marvel Universe.
Shang-Chi's martial arts techniques are so advanced they grant him abilities usually considered impossible for baseline humans without some kind of supernatural or technological aid. He can manipulate his chi to ignore pain and enhance his durabilty and strength. In addition to traditional weapons mastery, Shang-Chi's use of the Ten Rings allows him to fly and control the Rings telekinetically.
6 Spider-Man's Training: With Great Power...
Spider-Man's journey began when Uncle Ben was murdered as a result of his inaction. Since then, Spidey has continually sought to be a better hero and man. For his first major stint as a hero, Spidey primarily worked alone, learning to utilize his abilities through trial and error.
As his career continued, Spidey teamed up more frequently with other heroes, regularly training and working with Daredevil and the Fantastic Four. Spidey also later joined the Avengers and even served as a member of the Xavier Institute, furthering his training with heroes like Captain America, Wolverine, and the spider-powered Ezekiel.
5 Shang-Chi's Training: The Student Becomes The Master
Unlike Spider-Man, Shang-Chi has trained to be a fighter since his birth. As the son of criminal overlord Zheng Zu, Shang-Chi was raised so that fighting and tactics are second nature to him. Even after striking out away from his evil father after his first assignment, Shang-Chi has remained a master combatant.
As an independent crime fighter, Shang-Chi continued to utilize his martial arts skills, training and battling alongside heroes like Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Black Panther. However, nearly all these heroes have recognized Shang-Chi as a powerful melee fighter. Shang-Chi has even trained many of these heroes on occasion, including Spider-Man.
4 Spider-Man's Feats: Amazing, Spectacular, Sensational
Spider-Man is without a doubt Marvel's most popular hero, meaning he has had the opportunity to show off his skills in nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe. He's not only stood up to his regular rogue's gallery of mutated animal-people, savage alien symbiotes, and tech-wielding scientists. Spidey has shattered metal, survived deadly lightning strikes, and battled a super-vampire for twelve hours.
Two of Spider-Man's greatest feats were accomplished in his fights against the early-'80s Claremont X-Men. In writer Jim Shooter and artist Mike Zeck's Secret Wars #3, Spider-Man single-handedly beat Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Rogue, a collection of powerhouse characters often considered some of comics' most powerful heroes.
3 Shang-Chi's Feats: The Deadly Hands
Like Spider-Man, Shang-Chi boasts a collection of feats that can impress even the most jaded comic book reader. Shang-Chi, too, can take apart metal and cement with his bare hands. He can also run fast enough to catch up to a train, deflect Iron Man's repulsor rays, and survive hits that have knocked him through multiple walls.
Shang-Chi's mastery of combat has allowed him to beat or stalemate impressive opponents, like Captain America, Wolverine, Ares, and the Thing. When empowered with the Ten-Fists Sword, Shang-Chi was even able to beat Thor in a hand-to-hand fight.
2 BONUS: Spider-Man And Shang-Chi In The MCU
In addition to being comic book classics, both Spider-Man and Shang-Chi are both celebrated characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Spidey's movies and Shang-Chi's were critical and commercial successes where the heroes fought against overwhelming odds to save their respective days.
Though Spidey has a longer tenure in the MCU, Shang-Chi's single showing is more impressive than his arachnid counterpart's. Spider-Man has fought alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but even he has needed help against characters like Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus. Shang-Chi, however, has proven in his short time on screen that he can fight off armies, best his mystical father, and even kill extra-dimensional demon dragons.
1 And The Winner Is...
Examining Spider-Man's and Shang-Chi's histories helps assess their powers, training, feats, and their MCU adaptations. Each hero is more powerful than is readily apparent, almost godlike in their displays of strength, speed, endurance, and power. Ultimately, though, the winner of a battle between the two would be Spider-Man.
Though Shang-Chi's training is more extensive, even to the point where he helped Spider-Man develop his own martial art, Spidey's sheer speed and mobility combined with his record of defeating opponents who are out of his league give him the edge. While any creator could write a worthwhile story where either hero is the victor, the facts show Spidey as the strongest contender in this fight.