Silver Samurai

Summary

Silver Samurai is the name of two different supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, both acquaintances of Wolverine.

Silver Samurai
Keniucho Harada as Silver Samurai as seen in New Avengers #12 (December 2005).
Art by David Finch.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceKenuichio Harada
Daredevil #111 (July 1974)[1][2]
Shingen Yashida
Wolverine #1 (Sept. 1982)
Created bySteve Gerber
Bob Brown
In-story information
Alter egoKenuichio Harada
Shingen "Shin" Harada
AbilitiesMaster samurai and martial artist
Teleportation ring
Wears a lightweight steel alloy body armor
Extensive knowledge of criminal organizations
Carries katana, shuriken and other weapons
Ability to generate a tachyon field

The character has appeared in several X-Men-related animated series and video games before making its live-action debut in the 2013 film The Wolverine.

Fictional character biography edit

Kenuichio Harada edit

Kenuichio Harada is the original Silver Samurai.[3] The character first appeared in Daredevil #111 (July 1974), and was created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Bob Brown.[4] A Japanese mutant who uses his powers to charge his katana and wears a samurai-style armor made of a silvery metal, he is the illegitimate son of Lord Shingen, the half-brother of Mariko Yashida, a cousin of Sunfire and Sunpyre, and a nemesis of Wolverine. While he spent most of his existence as a villain, he eventually reformed into a more heroic figure.

Shin Harada edit

Shingen "Shin" Harada, otherwise known as the second Silver Samurai, is Kenuichio Harada's son and named after Lord Shingen, his grandfather. He had been committing larceny with Amiko Kobayashi.[5]

Shin later worked with Mystique to track down newly awakened mutants to join a cause. He was later recruited by Kade Killgore to be a teacher at the Hellfire Club's Hellfire Academy where he worked as a designer.[6][7]

Silver Samurai later appeared as a member of Mystique's fourth incarnation of the Brotherhood of Mutants.[8] During Magneto's fight with the Brotherhood of Mutants on Madripoor, Magneto controlled Silver Samurai into wounding Mystique.[9]

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel", Shingen Harada represented the Yashida Corporation when he attended a meeting at the Universal Bank with Tiberius Stone of Alchemax, Wilson Fisk of Fisk Industries, Sebastian Shaw of Shaw Industries, Darren Cross of Cross Technological Enterprises, Zeke Stane of Stane International, Frr'dox of Shi'ar Solutions Consolidated, and Wilhelmina Kensington of Kilgore Arms where they discussed with Dario Agger about Roxxon Energy Corporation's plans to exploit the Ten Realms of Asgard. When the true motive of the meeting was revealed, Harada attacked Dario and they almost fought, interrupted by the arrival of Exterminatrix of the Midas Foundation, resulting in Dario getting knocked out when declaring herself a new member of their assembly.[10] He then went to an underwater station in the Southern Ocean, where he attacked the employees until encountering Thor who defeated him by smacking him repeatedly with Mjolnir. He then escaped and joined Exterminatrix in an aerial battle against soldiers attempting to rescue Dario. They later entered Roxxon Corporation HQ, where they encountered the B.E.R.S.E.R.K.E.R.S., a group of Hulk-like superhumans. While the Mindless Ones fought the B.E.R.S.E.R.K.E.R.S., Silver Samurai and Exterminatrix went to Dario's vault, attempting to take the money until Agent Solomon arrived, forcing Exterminatrix to fight the woman while Silver Samurai opened the vault. When the vault was opened, Dario transformed into Minotaur and knocked out Silver Samurai. Then, the floating island the building was located on fell down due to the activation of the Agger Imperative. While S.H.I.E.L.D. evacuated the building, Thor destroyed the island. The villains were later arrested and taken into custody.[11]

Silver Samurai approached Old Man Logan wanting to ally in stopping the Hand's Regenix operation. He agreed in exchange that Mariko doesn't get killed and that Touku and Asami's child is taken care of. When Logan and Silver Samurai attack the Hand's Regenix operations, Silver Samurai fought Gorgon while Logan fought the Hand Ninjas to confront Mariko. After Gorgon got away, Silver Samurai injected nanites into Mariko to break the Hand's control. Afterwards, Logan and Mariko sent Silver Samurai to destroy the Regenix shipments in Madripoor.[12]

Reception edit

  • In 2020, CBR.com ranked Silver Samurai 1st in their "Marvel Comics: Ranking Every Member Of Big Hero 6 From Weakest To Most Powerful" list.[13]

In other media edit

Television edit

Film edit

 
Silver Samurai fighting Logan in The Wolverine.

Variations of the Silver Samurai appears in The Wolverine (2013).[15] The first is the Yashida clan's traditional samurai attire which is donned by Shingen Yashida (portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada).[16] The second is a giant, robotic suit made of adamantium operated by former soldier/billionaire Ichirō Yashida (portrayed by Haruhiko Yamanouchi (older self),[15] and Ken Yamamura (younger self)).[17]

Video games edit

References edit

  1. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 316–317. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  2. ^ Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006). The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9780780809772.
  3. ^ Daredevil #111. Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 330. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  5. ^ Wolverine vol. 4 #300. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ Wolverine and the X-Men #20. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Wolverine and the X-Men #31. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ All-New X-Men #9. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ The Uncanny X-Men vol. 3 #16. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #8. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #9–11. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Old Man Logan #33. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Avina, Anthony (2020-01-26). "Marvel Comics: Ranking Every Member Of Big Hero 6 From Weakest To Most Powerful". CBR. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  14. ^ a b "Silver Samurai Voice - X-Men franchise | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. December 19, 2019. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  15. ^ a b "SDCC: Hugh Jackman Confirms The Wolverine Villain". ComingSoon.net. 2011-07-21. Archived from the original on 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  16. ^ Hoare, James (12 July 2013). "THE WOLVERINE'S HIROYUKI SANADA ON SHINGEN AND SAMURAI". Movies. SciFiNow UK. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  17. ^ Trumbore, Dave. "WOLVERINE Adds Japanese Actors". Collider. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  18. ^ Miller, Greg (2013-07-20). "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Characters and Cast Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 2016-02-17.