Shen Kuei

Shen Kuei is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, also known as "The Cat".

Publication history
Cat first appeared in Master of Kung Fu #38-39 (March–April 1976), and was created by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy.

The character subsequently appears in Master of Kung Fu #62-63 (March–April 1978), #65-68 (June–September 1978), #103-105 (August–October 1981), Marvel Comics Presents #4-7 (October–November 1988), Spider-Man #81 (June 1997), Heroes for Hire #10-11 (April–May 1998), #18-19 (December 1998-January 1999), Wolverine #167 (October 2001), and Cable & Deadpool #7-8 (November–December 2004), #10 (February 2005), and #21-23 (December 2005-February 2006).

Cat received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #1.

Fictional character biography
Shen Kuei is a freelance espionage operative, probably originally from Hong Kong. He has been both enemy and ally of Shang-Chi. He is a master thief whose skill in martial arts equals Shang-Chi's. The meaning of the character's name is both similar and opposite to Shang Chi's name. He is a sort of mirror image, a 'good bad guy' in opposition to Shang Chi's 'bad good guy'. While they share mutual respect, the two always find themselves in opposition.

Shang-Chi is sent to Hong Kong, ostensibly to retrieve some stolen documents from a martial arts agent for the other side—Shen Kuei, a.k.a. The Cat. The Cat's lover, Juliette, is a British double agent, and Shang Chi's bosses worry her cover has been compromised and she is in danger. Shang Chi arrives and finds Juliette has truly fallen in love with the Cat, and has no intention of returning to England. Shang Chi is willing to concede to her wishes - so long as he can retrieve the documents - only to have the Cat discover them together, and assume that Juliette has betrayed him, leading Shang-Chi and Cat to fight each other.

Cat was hired by Silver Sable to join her Wild Pack. Their mission came into conflict with the Heroes for Hire. The Cat faced off with Iron Fist, hoping to prove himself superior to the hero in martial arts. The two fought to a virtual standstill. Until the Heroes for Hire were ordered to retreat.

He has appeared in Cable & Deadpool working as a merc for Cable. He has also defeated Deadpool, who looks at him as a Rock God among mercs and has also referred to him as "The Keith Moon of spy trade" and "The Justin Timberlake of the Cherry Pop Club".

He has a tattoo of a cat across his chest.

Powers and abilities
Shen Kuei has no superhuman powers. However, he possesses the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and builds who engages in intensive regular exercise. An extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant, Shen Kuei is one of the greatest living masters of the Oriental martial arts, whose skill rivals that of Shang-Chi.