| Mariko Yashida | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Uncanny X-Men #118 (Feb. 1979) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont (writer) John Byrne (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Yashida clan Hand |
| Partnerships | Wolverine (lover/girlfriend) |
| Notable aliases | Scarlet Samurai |
Mariko Yashida is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character has been depicted asWolverine's romantic interest.
She was portrayed byTao Okamoto in the 2013 filmThe Wolverine.
Created byChris Claremont andJohn Byrne, the character first appeared inUncanny X-Men #118 (February 1979).[1] In an interview published inBack Issue! magazine #4, Byrne claimed that Mariko was based on Lady Toda Mariko, a character in the 1975 novelShōgun: "I had just readShogun, which Chris had not read at that point. I just absolutely wanted to steal that character, just shamelessly steal the character. And as you probably know, she was created to die.”
Mariko Yashida is the daughter ofShingen Yashida, the half-sister ofKenuichio Harada, and cousin ofSunfire andSunpyre and the aunt ofShingen Harada.
Mariko first encounters theX-Men when they return from a sojourn in theSavage Land and are asked to help stop the terroristMoses Magnum in Japan. She encountersWolverine in a private moment, which developed into a mutual attraction.[2][3]
Some time later, Mariko is married by Shingen toyakuza gang leader Noburu-Hideki to solidify her father's connections to the Japanese underworld, and is subjected to domestic abuse by her husband. After realizing her father's intentions, Mariko plans to kill him and then commitseppuku in recompense. Logan, learning the truth about this manipulation and inspired by a personal epiphany about humanity, kills Shingen himself.[4] Upon her father's death, Mariko becomes head (Oyabun) of theyakuza crime family Clan Yashida.
Mariko becomes engaged to Wolverine, but their wedding is halted by the supervillainMastermind, who uses a mind control device to change Mariko's mind.[5] When the control is lifted, Wolverine and Mariko resume their romantic relationship after a period of separation, but have not reconsidered marriage.
Mariko is later poisoned withtetrodotoxin from ablowfish by the assassin Reiko in the employ of her rivalMatsu'o Tsurayaba.[6] She asks Wolverine to kill her to avoid a painful death and preserve her honor. Wolverine kills her and vowed to avenge Mariko by severing parts of Matsu'o's body every year on the anniversary of her death.
Old Man Logan, a future version of Wolverine, faces off against theHand during their Regenix operation, facing their latest member called theScarlet Samurai. Logan later discovers that Scarlet Samurai is Mariko, who has been resurrected by the Hand to serve as their weapon. With help from his past self, Logan uses nanites to free Mariko from the Hand's control.[7]
An alternate universe version of Mariko Yashida appears inAge of Apocalypse. This version is a former lover of Wolverine and a member of the Human High Council, a group of humans who opposeApocalypse's rule.
An alternate universe version of Mariko Yashida appears as the protagonist of the miniseriesDemon Days and its sequel,Demon Wars. This version is the daughter of anoni and the sister of Ogin, a composite character with elements ofSilver Samurai andOgun, who seeks revenge on her for mysterious reasons.
An alternate universe version of Mariko Yashida from Earth-2109 appears in the seriesExiles. This version is a member of the X-Men and the eponymousExiles who possesses similar powers to her relativesSunfire andSunpyre and uses the codename of the former. Additionally, Mariko is openlyhomosexual and was in a relationship with one reality's version of Spider-Woman (Mary Jane Watson). Mariko is later killed in battle after sacrificing herself to save a group of civilians fromMimic's attack.[8]
Sunfire's open homosexuality has attracted some interest aftercoming out inExiles #11.[9] Her death has also garnered some attention. Perry Moore includes her as an example of the poor treatment of gay superheroes, paralleling the earlier trope ofwomen in refrigerators.[10]
Judd Winick states he has been accused of pursuing a broader social agenda, despite only writing a few stories with socially-relevant themes, as he explains in an interview withComic Book Resources:[11]
I've done a smattering of stories that are socially relevant and I'm considered the soap-box guy. I've done one story arc inGreen Lantern featuring a gay character who was a survivor of a hate crime. Sunfire was gay inExiles. And there's other stuff sort of there that people like to hang their hat on, saying I'm just this big commie out there pushing an agenda. It's only a handful of stories.
In theWhat If story "If Wolverine Had Married Mariko", Wolverine and Mariko's marriage is not hindered byMastermind, and Wolverine becomes head of the Shingen clan. During a conflict with the yakuza, Mariko is assassinated by the Silver Samurai, leaving Wolverine to return to the X-Men.[12]
An alternate universe version of Mariko Yashida appears inWolverine Noir. This version is a businesswoman who immigrated to the United States to expand her father's business.[13]
An alternate universe version of Mariko Yashida appears inWolverineMAX. This version is a member of the Yashida clan during the early 1900s who broke up with Logan after he killed her father.[14]
Mariko Yashida appears inThe Wolverine,[16] portrayed byTao Okamoto. This version isIchirō Yashida's granddaughter,Shingen Yashida's daughter,Yukio's foster sister andLogan's love interest. At her grandfather's funeral, she is kidnapped by theyakuza crime syndicate but saved by Logan. As they hide in Yashida's house, they start to fall for each other. Mariko is kidnapped and taken to Yashida Corporation's headquarters, where it is revealed that her father ordered the yakuza to kidnap and ultimately assassinate her because Ichirō had left the family empire to her instead of Shingen. After escaping, Mariko becomes the Yashida Corporation's CEO and says goodbye to Logan, hoping to see him again.
Mariko Yashida is a supporting character in the 2023X-Men Resistance version ofZombicide.[17]
