Mandarin (Marvel)

“	To know that you are superior-- in mind, in body, in spirit. That is everything! To know that power is your birthright-- to know what untold thousands exist on this world for no reason but to serve you-- to channel their powers through your empire, be it of land or of business-- channeling it upward to fuel you, to fuel your glory!	„
	~ The Mandarin.

“	An attack!? Don't disappoint me by thinking small, Mr. Stane! I just declared war!	„
	~ Mandarin to Obadiah Stane.

The Mandarin is one of the main antagonists of the Marvel Universe, specifically serving as the main antagonist of the Iron Man franchise and a major antagonist in The Avengers franchise.

Formerly a poor vagrant and criminal raised in poverty, he would eventually come across ten mystical rings (later revealed to be technology from the Makluan race) and take their power as his own. With his new abilities, he would reinvent himself as an aristocratic criminal mastermind seeking to expand his empire and conquer the world. He is notable for his role in Tony Stark/Iron Man's creation, having orchestrated the kidnapping that would lead to him creating his first set of armor, and for causing multiple other pivotal moments in the hero's life.

He is the primary arch-nemesis of Iron Man and an enemy of several other heroes, including War Machine, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, Deadpool, Black Panther, Shang-Chi, and the Avengers.

Biography[]

The Mandarin's history is shrouded is mystery. He claims that he was the son of a British mother and a wealthy Chinese nobleman, both of whom died shortly after his birth. He was raised by a cruel aunt who taught him to hate the world as much as she did. Later, the Communist Chinese government seized their remaining assets, after years invested in the Mandarin's scientific and combat training had left them penniless.

Soon after his aunt's death, the man who would become the Mandarin walked the countryside, earning himself a reputation built on arrogance and cruelty. During an expedition in a hidden valley, he found an alien space ship and the remains of what appeared to be a dragon.

Through an alien journal, the man learned that the skeleton he saw was the pilot of the ship, who was killed by frightened villagers. He also learned the ship was powered by tiny rings, each one with a different power harnessed in their gems.

By studying and exploiting the advanced technology found inside of the ship, and stealing the rings, the man renamed himself the Mandarin; building one of the most powerful empires in the world. He then embarks on a long series of attempts of world domination.

Iron Man and Mandarin first clashed when Mandarin orchestrated the sabotage of missiles belonging to Stark Industries, and after Shellhead defeated him in combat, the Mandarin swore to kill Iron Man, and has been his most persistent nemesis in the years that followed.

In other media[]

Films[]

The Invincible Iron Man[]

Main article: Mandarin (The Invincible Iron Man)

The Mandarin is the main antagonist of the 2007 animated superhero movie The Invincible Iron Man.

This version was once the first ruler of China around 1000 BC and built a city where his dynasty estrablished their reign there. However, he was a cruel leader and wanted to be immortal, in order for him to continue his rule. He made his people build a temple within the city for him to maintain his rule. Although, he was unsure if it was enough, so he made a pact with the Deities of Death to make him powerful and immortal. However, it cost the life of his people. The Deities of Death gave him the Demon Elementals to help him destroy his empire and take the people's souls. His temple became a funeral for the people's body. The Deities of Death gave him five rings that gave him unlimited power and eternal life.

He was voiced by Fred Tatasciore, who also voiced Poseidon in God of War, Teetsi in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Major Force in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Witch Doctor in LEGO Hero Factory, 8 in 9, Tony Alpert in Battlefield: Hardline, Cerberus in Scoob!, Gahri in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, and CLU 2 in TRON: Uprising and TRON: Evolution.

Marvel Cinematic Universe[]

Main article: Mandarin (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

The Mandarin is a major antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being an overarching antagonist of both the Iron Man film trilogy and the One-Shot short film All Hail The King, and the main antagonist of the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. A variant of him served as the deuteragonist of the Season 2 episode, What If... Hela found the Ten Rings? of What If...?.

This version is an ancient warlord who wields mystical rings that grant him a wide assortment of powers. He is also the supreme founder of his terrorist organization, the Ten Rings, as well as the father of both Xu Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing - conceived by their mother and Xu Wenwu's late wife Ying Li. Unlike other incarnations, Mandarin never once encountered Tony Stark/Iron Man in this continuity.

He was portrayed by Tony Leung Chiu-wai in his Hollywood debut. In What If...? he was voiced by Feodor Chin.

Television[]

Marvel Animated Universe[]

The Mandarin is the main antagonist of Iron Man: The Animated Series.

This version is Arnold "Arno" Brock, an archaeologist who encountered a buried alien spaceship and forged the gems inside it into rings to harness their powers. After battling Iron Man throughout the first season, Mandarin loses his rings and spends most of the second season traveling the world to reclaim them. He eventually succeeds, but is defeated by Iron Man and rendered amnesiac before mountain bandits kill him and obtain his rings.

He was voiced by Ed Gilbert in the first season and Robert Ito in the second.

Iron Man Armored Adventures[]

Main article: Mandarin (Iron Man: Armored Adventures)

The Mandarin is the main antagonist of the animated series Iron Man: Armored Adventures.

This version is incredibly different compared to other versions of the character. At first The Mandarin was an old man inside the armor Xin "Shin" Zhang. His stepson, named Gene Kahn, kidnapped him and became the Mandarin. Gene "befriended" Tony and used him and his friends to help him find the 5 Makulan Rings (He didn't know that there were 10 rings at the time). At the season finale, the real Mandarin broke free and kidnapped Tony, Gene, and Pepper. Gene's stepfather used them solve the final challenge. Mandarin had less of a roll in Season 2, it's revealed that Gene does have Tony's father. Gene used Howard to help find the remaining rings.

Both Kahn and Zhang were voiced by Vincent Tong.

Video Games[]

Mandarin appears as the third and last boss in stage 3 of the 1991 arcade game Captain America and the Avengers.
Mandarin appears as a boss in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by James Sie. In the game, he was originally a member of the Masters of Evil until he rebelled against Doctor Doom and left the group. Loki impersonates him in Atlantis, causing the heroes to be sent to his Palace to find out the plans of the Masters; he is guarded by Grey Gargoyle, Dragon Man and various versions of Ultimo, along with stone samurai warriors.
Mandarin is featured in the Iron Man-themed table in Marvel Pinball.
Mandarin is featured in Marvel: Avengers Alliance. He is mentioned a lot in the normal missions. In the 9th Spec Ops mission, Mandarin makes contact with Iron Man at the end of the 9th Spec Ops mission where he had sent Eric Savin to act as his proxy.

Powers and Abilities[]

The Mandarin possesses the ability to channel chi into superhuman physical abilities such as going without food or water for years at a time, superhuman strength, and superhumanly powerful martial arts strikes.

Each of the Mandarin's ten rings has a different name and power:

Incandescence - Left Index Finger - Flame throwing
Influence - Right Index Finger - Energy projection
Lightning - Left Middle Finger - Lightning blasts
Spin - Right Middle Finger - Air manipulation
The Liar - Left Ring Finger - Psionic Energy amplification
Spectral - Right Ring Finger - Matter Disintegration
Zero - Left Small Finger - Ice formation
Nightbringer - Right Small Finger - Black Light manipulation
Daimonic - Left Thumb - White Light manipulation
Remakes - Right Thumb - Matter Manipulation

Relationships[]

Alllies[]

Enemies[]

Avengers
Iron Man (archenemy)
Captain America
Hulk
Thor
Black Widow
Hawkeye
War Machine

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

The Mandarin was created by the late Stan Lee and the late Don Heck.
Ranked "81st-greatest comic book villain of all time" by IGN in 2009.
To date, the Mandarin's true name has never been revealed, although he has used several aliases, including Tem Borjigin, Gene Kahn, Zhang Fong, among others.

Navigation[]

Villains

Movies
The Invincible Iron Man: Mandarin | The Elementals | Deities of Death (Dormammu, Hela, Mephisto & Pluto)
Iron Man: Iron Monger | Ten Rings (Raza Hamidmi Al-Wazar, Abu Bakaar, Ahmed & Omar) | William Ginter Riva
Iron Man 2: Whiplash | Hammer Industries (Justin Hammer, Jack & Hammer Drones) | Ten Rings (Ten Rings Agent) | Senator Stern | Anton Vanko
Iron Man: Rise of Technovore: Technovore | Ezekiel Stane | Obadiah Stane | Black Widow | Punisher
Iron Man 3: A.I.M. (Aldrich Killian, Eric Savin, Trevor Slattery, Ellen Brandt, Sweat Shop Agent, Ponytail Express, Maya Hansen & Extremis Soldiers) | Vice President Rodriguez
Heroes United: Iron Man and Hulk: Zzzax | Abomination | HYDRA
Heroes United: Iron Man and Captain America: HYDRA (Red Skull & Taskmaster)
All Hail the King: Trevor Slattery | Herman | Ten Rings (Jackson Norriss & The Mandarin) | White Power Dave | Justin Hammer

See Also
War Machine Villains

Villains
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Heroes United: Iron Man and Captain America: HYDRA (Red Skull & Taskmaster)
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Villains

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The Hand (Kirigi, Typhoid Mary & Tattoo)

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Ten Rings (Mandarin, Death Dealer, Razor Fist & Gao Lei) | Abomination | Trevor Slattery | Soul Eaters (Dweller-In-Darkness)

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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Bestman Salvage (Vulture, Tinkerer, Shocker #1, Shocker #2 & Randy Vale) | Mac Gargan | Aaron Davis
Spider-Man: Far From Home: Mysterio's Crew (Mysterio, William Ginter Riva, Victoria Snow, Gutes Guterman, Janice Lincoln, & Doug, Shanice) | Elementals (Molten Man, Hydro-Man, Sandman, Cyclone & Elemental Fusion) | Skrulls (Talos) | Obadiah Stane
Spider-Man: No Way Home: Earth-96283 (Green Goblin, Sandman & Doctor Octopus (His Tentacles)) | Earth-120703 (Electro & Lizard) | Sadie Deever | Venom | Mysterio

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Daredevil: Born Again: Kingpin

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