Kenuichio Harada debuted in Daredevil #111 (July 1974), created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Bob Brown.[3] He appeared in the 1972 Marvel Team-Up series,[4] and in the 2021 Marvel's Voices: Identity one-shot.[5]
Fictional character biography
Kenuichio Harada is the illegitimate son of Shingen Yashida. A Japanesemutant who uses his powers to charge his katana, his samurai-style armor made of a silvery metal led to the Silver Samurai moniker.
At some point during Hydra's attack on Japan, he killed police officer Kioshi Keishicho which led to Amatsu-Mikaboshi giving Koishi a deal that involved him turning Kioshi into the Ebon Samurai.[11]
Harada and Viper attempted a theft of cavourite crystal and battled the New Mutants.[12] They battled the X-Men and Yukio.[13] He attempted to possess the Black Blade and battled Wolverine, Lindsay McCabe and O'Donnell. He rescued Wolverine and Jessica Drew from cultists.[14]
The Silver Samurai once helped Wolverine destroy "Doombringer"[clarification needed][volume&issueneeded], and later helped Logan rescue Amiko and Yukio from their kidnappers.[16] During his time as a hero, the Silver Samurai became the leader of the first Japanese superhero team Big Hero 6.[17]
The Silver Samurai was brainwashed by Blindspot into forgetting his time as a hero, believing his redemption was just a result of Professor X's brainwashing.[volume&issueneeded] As a result, he returned to his previous criminal activities.[volume&issueneeded] Harada was operating as the chief security officer for the Prime Minister of Japan.[18]
The Silver Samurai was abducted, incarcerated in the Raft prison in America without trial, and official records stated he was dead. He was freed by Madame Hydra and the Hand who transported him back to Japan. They wanted him to lead the Hand and unite the Japanese criminal underworld, hoping he could take on shadowy figures controlling both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. that Madame Hydra was reluctant to name. Harada wasn't interested in a war and helped the Avengers defeat them. Afterward, he decided to try to earn his good name back by serving the people of Japan once again.[19]
Silver Samurai is one of the few mutants that retained their superhuman powers after M-Day. Wolverine made way to Japan in search of Harada and engaged him in battle. Wolverine's memories were recovered due to the events of House of M and asked Silver Samurai questions about the past during the course of their fight. Silver Samurai was able to run Wolverine through with one of his swords. Immediately afterward, Wolverine's claws severed Harada's hand at the wrist. When last seen, Silver Samurai was kneeling on the floor cradling the bloody stump where his hand once was.[20]
After the Skrullinvasion, Viper left the Silver Samurai to rejoin Hydra. Viper later came with a new version of Madame Hydra to negotiate support to be given to Typhon (Hydra's production front) from the Yashidas. They took a mysterious box; the Yashidas claimed that those who opened the box never lived to see another day.[21] Some time later, warriors of Leviathan attacked the Silver Samurai to make him divulge the box's location.[22]
While defending his home from the Red Right Hand, the Silver Samurai was mortally wounded. With his last bit of power, he made his way to his half-sister's grave.[23] He later appeared in Hell blaming Wolverine for the recent deaths of people and was beheaded by Marduk Kurios's Soulcutter after speaking.[24]
The original Silver Samurai was revealed to be the father of Shingen "Shin" Harada.[25]
Silver Samurai was resurrected in Krakoa by the Five and became responsible for officiating combat at the Arena in the Quarry.[26]
Powers and abilities
Kenuichio Harada is a mutant with the ability to generate a tachyon field which he generally focuses through his katana.[27] He commonly uses his power on his sword, enabling it to cut through nearly anything, except substances as hard as adamantium.[28] When working with the Viper, Kenuichio possessed a teleportation ring, which allowed him to teleport from one location to another, granting him great mobility and stealth. As a self-styled samurai, he is a master of kenjutsu and other martial arts. Kenuichio specialized in edged weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and military tactics. He usually wears a suit of lightweight steel alloy body armor, modeled after traditional samurai armor, but made of modern protective materials. He carries a katana (long sword), shuriken (throwing stars), and other weaponry. Keniuchio has extensive knowledge of the operations of criminal organizations due to his shady past, which he used in the service of his government to combat such organizations. He is an expert in the history and customs of the samurai class (Bushido).
Reception
Tim Webber of Comic Book Resources named Silver Samurai one of Wolverine's most iconic villains.[29] Silver Samurai was the winner of a popularity contest held by Marvel Comics in 2023, which served to determine who would be a new character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.[30]
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
In the "Age of Apocalypse" story, published in 2005 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Age of Apocalypse storyline, the Silver Samurai was a key member of the X-Men. He wore no helmet and had a red upside down Omega symbol tattooed on his forehead. He was one of the team's more visible members, rash yet strong. It was revealed that the Silver Samurai and Wolverine met each other in Japan, some time before Logan rescued Mariko from thugs. He was aware of the existence of Psylocke, a rare telepath, but how the Silver Samurai was convinced to join Magneto's X-Men in the first place was not explained.[31] He was much later reported by the Age of Apocalypse version of William Stryker to have been killed in action while defending the last human stronghold from the forces of the now crazed Age of Apocalypse version of Wolverine.[volume&issueneeded]
Exiles
In Exiles #83 (August 2006), another alternate version of the Silver Samurai was revealed. Originating from Earth-172, the Silver Samurai appeared to have a nice relationship between Mariko Yashida and that Earth's Wolverine who was a briefly seen member of the reality-hopping counterpart team of the Exiles called Weapon X. Wolverine had vanished out of their sight for months to join the said team, and was later killed in action and returned by the Exiles to his home world. The Silver Samurai and Mariko of that alternate world still don't fully know what happened to their version of Wolverine, but honored the man's death with a proper funeral by burning Logan's ashes via cremation.[volume&issueneeded]
House of M
In the House of M, Kenuicho Harada was a powerful businessman and secretly the head of Clan Yashida, a powerful crime family. His daughter Mariko Harada was kidnapped by Madame Hydra who wanted to blackmail Harada into revealing his illegal businesses.[32]
Marvel Noir
In the Marvel Noir universe, Lieutenant Kenuichio Harada appeared as a Japanese policeman in the "X-Men Noir" sequel titled "Mark of Cain".[33]
During the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline, Maker remade Earth-6160 into his own image. Silver Samurai is shown to wear full samurai armor and is a member of the Harada-Yoshida Alliance, a consolidated union of three clans ruling over Hi No Kuni, a power bloc which includes Japan's territories. Alongside the Alliance's "Sun Emperor" and Viper, he attends an international event in The City at Latveria, as part of the Maker's Council.[35]
While attending a gathering following the death of Obadiah Stane, it is mentioned in a discussion between Howard Stark and Emmanuel da Costa that Silver Samurai prevented Howard from interacting with Sun Emperor by showing his blade. Emmanuel explains to Howard that the Emperor does not speak when his mask is on and has Viper as an intermediary.[36] The Alliance's members are among the leaders that meet after The City closes up with the Maker, Kang, and Howard Stark still inside as they make plans to divide up the North American Union among themselves.[37]
What If?
In the What If story "What If Wolverine Had Married Mariko", Kenuichio Harada united with Mariko and Wolverine in their struggle against the Kingpin who had taken control of the Yakuza and engaged in a turf war with the Shingen clan for control. At that time, the Silver Samurai was secretly working for the Kingpin, and upon their final encounter, he assassinated Mariko, whereupon Wolverine killed him in retaliation.[38]
In other media
Television
Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "The Lotus and the Steel",[39] voiced by Denis Akiyama.[40] This version is a gang leader who uses thugs to terrorize villages for tributes to him. Wolverine encounters him while gathering timber and is warned not to interfere, but Jubilee helps the villagers stand their ground while Wolverine defeats Silver Samurai in single combat.
Silver Samurai makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men '97 multi-part episode "Tolerance Is Extinction".[41]
Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai appears in the Wolverine and the X-Men episode "Code of Conduct",[42] voiced by Keone Young.[40] This version is Mariko Yashida's power-hungry husband and a member of the Yakuza who previously fought Wolverine over Mariko and was defeated by him. In the present, Harada seeks a rematch with Wolverine to redeem himself of the defeat and become the Yakuza's head. Following an unsanctioned attack on Wolverine and the X-Men however, Harada's leader calls for a duel between Wolverine and Harada without their mutant abilities per samurai code. The following night, the duel takes place, with Harada taunting Wolverine with the claim that the former only married Mariko to keep her away from him. Despite this, Wolverine defeats Harada once more. Angered, Harada attempts to cheat by using his powers, but is knocked out by the attending members of the Yakuza, who forfeits the duel on his behalf and take him away. Mariko later tells Wolverine that Harada will be driven out from the Yakuza in shame and that he will never be admitted again.
Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai appears in Hit-Monkey,[44] voiced by Noshir Dalal.[45] This version is conceited and known as Japan's biggest hero.
Film
Kenuichio Harada appears in The Wolverine, portrayed by Will Yun Lee.[46] This version is a human archer, the leader of the Black Ninja Clan, which is sworn to protect the Yashida Clan, a former lover of Mariko Yashida's, and is not stated to be connected to Shingen Yashida. When the Yakuza attack Ichiro Yashida's apparent funeral to kidnap Mariko, Harada protects her, though he later leads the Black Ninja Clan in kidnapping Mariko for the mutant Viper and Ichiro. While fighting Logan, Harada realizes the error of his ways and attempts to stop Ichiro, only to be killed by him.
Video games
Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai appears as a playable character in X-Men: Children of the Atom,[47] voiced by Yasushi Ikeda.[40] This version wields giant shurikens and possesses the ability to empower his katana with elemental properties instead of his comics' abilities.
Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai appears as a boss in X-Men: The Official Game, voiced by Keone Young.[40] This version is the head of HYDRA and the mentor of Lady Deathstrike. Additionally, he and HYDRA collaborated with William Stryker on Master Mold and the Sentinels years before Weapon X would do so. Following Stryker's death, HYDRA is sent to remove all Sentinel equipment and files while Jason Stryker activates Master Mold. Wolverine infiltrates HYDRA's headquarters and duels Silver Samurai for information on how to stop Master Mold and the Sentinels before eventually emerging victorious.
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References
↑ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp.316–317. ISBN0-8160-1356-X.
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