The Mandarin's origin as being raised by an extreme misanthrope aunt to be her soldier/curse upon the world does not need serious updating. It was Roman Sionis and X-23 combined long before either existed. At most, it needs modern clothing retconned in.
THIS is what needs to be expanded on Books of Doom style with The Mandarin: an extreme misanthrope aunt squanders every bit of his inheritance training him to be her soldier/curse upon the world.
The Mandarin is a half-British individual raised by an individual extreme misanthrope aunt to be her soldier and her curse upon the world. He is NOT China-incarnate, and any suggestions to upgrade him that take him being China-incarnate as axiomatic are nonsensical.
