The mask of Fu Manchu

The character of Fu Manchu is synonymous with the idea of the evil, inscrutable, Chinese villain. The name itself has even found a place in the American verbal lexicon. The character was invented by British author Sax Rohmer in a series of novels that first saw publication in 1913. He was the manifestation of western fears of “oriental” invasion. Since his inception in 1913 Fu Manchu has appeared in all forms of media including radio, television, film, and comics. He has been portrayed by actors such as Christopher Lee and Nicholas Cage.