| Kenuichio Harada Silver Samurai | |
|---|---|
.webp) Kenuichio Harada / Silver Samurai fightingWolverine. Textless variant cover ofPowers of X #1 (July 2019). Art by Mike Huddleston. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Daredevil #111 (July 1974) |
| Created by | Steve Gerber Bob Brown |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kenuichio Harada |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | Legion Accursed Clan Yashida Big Hero 6 Hydra |
| Partnerships | Black Spectre Mandrill Viper |
| Notable aliases | Silver Samurai Silver Shogun |
| Abilities |
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Kenuichio Harada is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerSteve Gerber and artistBob Brown, the characterfirst appeared inDaredevil #111 (July 1974).[1] Harada, known under thecodenameSilver Samurai, is the son of Japanesecrime lordShingen Yashida, head of the influential Clan Yashida.[2] Trained in the traditional disciplines of the samurai, he possesses themutant ability to generate energy from within his body and channel it through inanimate objects.[3] He commonly wields a katana infused with this energy via atachyon field, allowing it to cut through nearly any material. Throughout his history, Harada has faced several heroes, including Daredevil, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and most notably, Wolverine.[4]
Since his original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, includingvideo games,animatedtelevision series, and merchandise. The character made his live-action debut in theX-Men film seriesThe Wolverine (2013), portrayed byWill Yun Lee.
Kenuichio Harada debuted inDaredevil #111 (July 1974), created by writerSteve Gerber and artistBob Brown.[5] He subsequently appeared in several Marvel comic books, includingMarvel Team-Up (1972),[6]Marvel's Voices: Identity (2021),[7] andUltimate Spider-Man: Incursion (2025).[8]
Kenuichio Harada is the illegitimate son ofShingen Yashida. AJapanesemutant who uses his powers to charge hiskatana, hissamurai-style armor made of a silvery metal led to the Silver Samurai moniker.
He became a professional criminal and appeared to clash withDaredevil when he was hired byMandrill andBlack Spectre.[9]
Harada was the bodyguard for the international terroristViper, and was an occasionalmercenary. While working for Viper, he foughtSpider-Man andBlack Widow.[10] After recovering Viper's teleportation ring, he fought Spider-Man again on the set ofSaturday Night Live whenStan Lee appeared as a host and encountered the original (2nd season)Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time-Players.[11] He joined Viper andBoomerang in fighting Spider-Man,Nick Fury,Shang-Chi, and Black Widow on the originalS.H.I.E.L.D.helicarrier.[12] Harada and Viper attempted to kidnap Michael Kramer and fought the originalSpider-Woman.[13]
At some point during Hydra's attack on Japan, he killed police officer Kioshi Keishicho, which led toAmatsu-Mikaboshi giving Koishi a deal that involved him turning Kioshi into theEbon Samurai.[14]
Harada and Viper attempted a theft of cavourite crystal and battled theNew Mutants.[15] They battled theX-Men andYukio.[16] He attempted to possess the Black Blade and battledWolverine, Lindsay McCabe andO'Donnell. He rescued Wolverine and Jessica Drew from cultists.[17]
He became theOyabun (leader) of Clan Yashida after his half-sisterMariko Yashida died.[18] He attempted to pay off his clan's debts to theYakuza and restore its honor.[volume & issue needed] Though once one of Wolverine's greatest enemies, Wolverine entrusted him with the care ofAmiko Kobayashi.[volume & issue needed]
The Silver Samurai once helped Wolverine destroy "Doombringer"[clarification needed][volume & issue needed], and later helped Logan rescue Amiko and Yukio from their kidnappers.[19] During his time as a hero, the Silver Samurai became the leader of the first Japanesesuperhero teamBig Hero 6.[20]
The Silver Samurai wasbrainwashed byBlindspot into forgetting his time as a hero, believing his redemption was just a result ofProfessor X's brainwashing.[volume & issue needed] As a result, he returned to his previous criminal activities.[volume & issue needed] Harada was operating as the chief security officer for the Prime Minister of Japan.[21]
The Silver Samurai was abducted, incarcerated in theRaft prison in America without trial, and official records stated he was dead. He was freed by Madame Hydra and theHand 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 was not interested in a war and helped theAvengers defeat them. Afterward, he decided to try to earn his good name back by serving the people of Japan once again.[22]
Silver Samurai is one of the few mutants that retained their superhuman powers afterM-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.[23]
After theSkrullinvasion, Viper left the Silver Samurai to rejoin Hydra. Viper later came with a new version ofMadame 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.[24] Some time later, warriors ofLeviathan attacked the Silver Samurai to make him divulge the box's location.[25]
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.[26] He later appeared inHell blaming Wolverine for the recent deaths of people and was beheaded byMarduk Kurios's Soulcutter after speaking.[27]
The original Silver Samurai was revealed to be the father of Shingen "Shin" Harada.[28]
Silver Samurai was resurrected inKrakoa by the Five and became responsible for officiating combat at the Arena in the Quarry.[29]
Kenuichio Harada is amutant with the ability to generate atachyon field which he generally focuses through his katana.[30] He commonly uses his power on his sword, enabling it to cut through nearly anything, except substances as hard asadamantium.[31] When working with theViper, Kenuichio possessed ateleportation 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 ofkenjutsu and other martial arts. Kenuichio specialized in edged weapons, hand-to-hand combat, andmilitary 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).
George Marston ofGamesRadar+ commented that Silver Samurai is one of Wolverine's most visually striking enemies. As a mutant capable of channeling energy through his sword, Marston noted that Silver Samurai would be an ideal addition to a combat-heavy game, combining both striking visuals and engaging gameplay potential.[32] Tim Webber ofComic Book Resources named Silver Samurai one of Wolverine's most iconic villains.[33] 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 inMarvel Puzzle Quest.[34]
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 ofPsylocke, a rare telepath, but how the Silver Samurai was convinced to joinMagneto's X-Men in the first place was not explained.[35] He was much later reported by theAge of Apocalypse version ofWilliam Stryker to have been killed in action while defending the last human stronghold from the forces of the now crazedAge of Apocalypse version of Wolverine.[volume & issue needed]
InExiles #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 betweenMariko Yashida and that Earth's Wolverine who was a briefly seen member of the reality-hopping counterpart team of the Exiles calledWeapon 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 & issue needed]
In theHouse 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 byMadame Hydra who wanted to blackmail Harada into revealing his illegal businesses.[36]
In theMarvel Noir universe, Lieutenant Kenuichio Harada appeared as a Japanese policeman in the "X-Men Noir" sequel titled "Mark of Cain".[37]
InMarvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness #4, the Silver Samurai andSunfire are bitten and infected byQuicksilver. During theSilver Surfer's globe-spanning travels, they are seen attacking civilians.[38]
During the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline,Maker remadeEarth-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" andViper, he attends an international event in The City atLatveria, as part of theMaker's Council.[39]
While attending a gathering following the death ofObadiah Stane, it is mentioned in a discussion betweenHoward Stark andEmmanuel 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.[40] The Alliance's members are among the leaders who 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.[41]
WhileMiles Morales and his baby sisterBillie are displaced in Earth-6160, Emperor Sunfire dispatches Silver Samurai to obtain Billie as Maker's Council assumes that she might play a key in dealing with their enemies and freeing Maker. AsH.A.N.D. Agent 18929-93 is on his way to the extraction point after posing as a Wakandan servant, Silver Samurai impales 18929-93 with his sword and snatches Billie.[42]
In theWhat If story "What If Wolverine Had Married Mariko", Kenuichio Harada united with Mariko and Wolverine in their struggle against theKingpin 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.[43]
Kenuichio Harada appears inThe Wolverine, portrayed byWill Yun Lee.[52] This version is a human archer and the leader of the Black Ninja Clan, which is sworn to protect the Yashida Clan. He is depicted as a former lover of Mariko Yashida and is not stated to be related toShingen Yashida. During the Yakuza's attack onIchiro Yashida's apparent funeral, Harada protects Mariko, though he later leads the Black Ninja Clan in kidnapping her on behalf of the mutantViper and Ichiro. After realizing the error of his ways during a battle withLogan, Harada attempts to stop Ichiro but is ultimately killed by him.
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