Name

Aliases

Origins[]

Allegedly four billion years ago,^[3] at the time theElder Gods still roamed theEarth, theSickly Ones (possibly thespawn of the Elder Gods, pre-humanity, or something else entirely,^[4] including a cabal of cold-bloodedalien reptiles arrived onEarth in prehuman times),^[5] started their activism, worshiping theBeast and killing what lived. Under various forms, they carried on their mission:"Dishonor God by destroying what He's made". The Sickly Ones presented themselves as the"veterans of theOldest War".^[3] The Beast hungered to end humanity.^[6]

It is also possible that the Sickly Ones were a cabal of cold-bloodedalien reptiles arrived onEarth in prehuman times, planning to start a legacy of evil by planting a seed that would later gave birth to future evil empires, at the origin of the organization known asHydra, and participated in the corruption of the Eastern society of wise and clever men known as theBrotherhood of the Spear that came to be known as "The Beast" to their enemies, theBrotherhood of the Shield.^[7]

Early years[]

The operatives were directed bythe Five, an inner circle^[4] of the Sickly Ones' acolytes,^[8] while the Sickly Ones remained in a secret city shrouded by forest deep, in theValley of Mercy and Wrath ("where time and space seem to meet their whims")^[4] ofJapan, where they waited for almost four billion years for some chosen individual.^[9]

TheNail, an elite strike team active during theModern Age, allegedly operated for thousands of years.^[10]

Thousand years ago, theFist acted as a counter to the Hand.^[11] By theModern Age, it was considered an "eons-dead" cult by the Hand.^[12]

1st century[]

In 91 AD,Prince Yamato-Take defeatedKyushu rebels while wielding the sacred swordKusanagi-No-Tsuguri (also known as Grasscutter), that had been imbued with his warrior's soul. The Five coveted the sword, intending to use it to master all of Japan. Their forces (not yet the modern Hand) were defeated by theChaste, mystic warriors holding evil for centuries. Their conflict would go on, as a stalemate, for over two millennia.^[4]

Feudal times and origin of the modern Hand[]

Despite its multi-billion years long origin, the Hand had its formal organization in feudal Japan,^[3] with various sources providing contradictory accounts of the exact date.

10th century[]

Both the Hand and theSnakeroot Clan, affiliated ninja clans, were stated to have emerged sometimes in the 10th century, worshiping the Beast and learning to resurrect their fallen members asundead assassins^[13] (though it was also stated to be used for first time only in 1594).^[14] The Chaste was also stated to form only soon after that event.^[13] The Snakeroot were the Beast's cabal of the era.

In 934,^[15] the swordSakki was imbued with human brutality and was acquired by the Snakeroot Clan.^[4] The evil sword became their sacred relic, bringing back to life slain Snakeroot, though more cadaverous with each resurrection.^[8]

13th century[]

800 years ago, the Hand was allegedly a cadre of ninjas, thieves, and assassins formed to fight the oppressive system of feudal Japan, later falling to corruption and darkness^[16] when they were corrupted by theSnakeroot clan.^[17]

15th and 16th century: Japan's civil wars[]

Circa mid-15th century, Japan descended into a century of civil war. During that period, the immortal warriorBlack Axe participated in many of the battles and opposed the Hand.^[13]

Believing they could serve the Beast better, one faction of the Hand split as a separate cult, theTrue Believers, and relocated toKorea.^[13] They forged a blood feud with the Hand, which still endures in modern days.^[4]

The modern Hand was stated to be originated from the end of the 16th century,^[18] or at least to have seen resurgence^[13] and to have taken its recognizable form in Kyushu in 1588 underKagenobu Yoshioka.^[4] The story behind the formation of the modern Hand started in 1575, in Kyushu, with Kagenobu Yoshioka, who killed a foreigner threatening his mother. The blame went to her, and Kagenobu was taken in the custody ofSaburo Ishiyama who trained him in the ways of the Samuraï at theIshiyama School.^[19] A masterless Samuraï, Kagenobu served Japan, opposing corruption and injustice for three years. At his sensei's death, he returned to the School to lead it in 1588, offering a role of co-leader to his former rivalDaisuke Sasaki.

Learning that the Daimyos implemented regulations to the schools, Kagenobu decided to send messengers to other like-minded schools and form a secret society opposing the government:^[20] it was the the resurgence of the Hand.^[13] The inner circle of Kagenobu's organizations were formed of himself, Sasaki, and five others, so called "heathens and heretics", who could be the Five of legend of the Hand.^[4] In autumn 88, he attacked a foreigner ship in Kyushu, slaughtering the whole crew.^[20] The organization's symbol, a bloody handprint, soon struck terror into any Japanese dealing with foreigners.^[8]

Over the six following years, the Hand spread across the five isles of Japan, but splintered into multiple sects.^[4] As the group soon fell under the sway of the Snakeroot clan who corrupted the organization from within,^[8] some diverging from Yoshioka's objectives, acting as mercenaries or exploring occult secrets perhaps shared by the Sickly Ones,^[4] doing their bidding, and practicingblack magic,^[8] drawing them to worship the Beast.^[4]

In summer 1590, the Inner Circle of the Hand gathered at the Ishiyama School. Kagenoby later acceptedEliza Martinez, a half-breed Japanese girl, to join the school, usingher father to gather information but growing feeling for her.^[18] On autumn 1592, she was accepted among the Hand (and in Kagenobu's bed). Soon, the Hand grew so large that it became hard to control it: Communication between the sects broke off, Hand agents sellinh their skill as mercenaries and committing crimes against Japanese, spreading rumors or dissension. Eliza's lineage was revealed to some.

In 1594, Hand members tried to kill Eliza, seeing her as a disease infecting the Hand and corrupting Kagenobu. Kagenobu confronted Sasaki (who had called the Inner Circle to discuss the Hand without Kagenobu), killed his rival and soon confronted the Inner Circle.^[21] Despite killing many members, the duo was defeated, and ended their lives rather than be killed by their enemies. The remaining Inner Circle members then brought them back to life, using the resurrection ritual for the first time, as the Hand's deadly weapons,^[14] sacrificing low-ranking members to resurrect them. Upon those actions, the Hand firmly joined the Beast as a ninja assassin guild, both pursuing its dark agendas and serving as mercenaries to those who could afford their services.^[4]

19th century[]

In 1878, the last known Fist of the Beast, the Hand's High Slayer,Shinsuke, the "Dread Daimyo" ofKumamoto, committed seppuku.^[22]

Early 20th century[]

In the early 20th century, the Hand attempted to gain a foothold in the island nation ofMadripoor, but were opposed by adventurerSeraph, then, in 1932, by her protégéLogan (later known as Wolverine).^[4]

World War II[]

In 1941, the Hand broke an agreement withRomulus, wanting to form new alliances. It consequently contactedNaziBaron Strucker on Madripoor.^{[23][24][verification needed]} To gain the Hand's loyalty, Strucker captured young Soviet agentNatalia Romanova (in fact an agent of Romulus sent to kill theJonin of the Hand) and brought her to Madripoor, as a gift for the Hand, where they intended to turn her into a master assassin. The ceremony was interrupted by Wolverine (himself an agent of Romulus), along withCaptain America andIvan Petrovich, and killed the Jonin while Strucker escaped.^{[23][25][verification needed]}

Some time before 1943,^[26] the Nazi officer known as theRed Skull, observing the Reich's fall, set up a secret organization in Japan merging several underground criminal societies, including the Hand, with fugitive members of Nazi Germany andImperial Japan,^[27][28] and based in thePacific Ocean. The original leader of this organization was a Shinto Imperialist namedRyuji Hiraoka.^[29][30] Falling out of Hitler's favor, Strucker fled and joined this organization, renamed it Hydra,^[13] and killed the Supreme Leader, seizing control of the organization.^[29][27]

The newJonin of the Hand attempted to unify the two organizations, introducing the occult arts and the worship of the Beast inside Hydra, but Strucker, who knew that occultism had previously driven Hitler near to madness, broke ties with the Hand and opposed him. He won the battle, setting the stage for later Hand/Hydra interactions, keeping them separated for a time.^{[31][verification needed]}

1950s[]

In the late 1950s, the Hand recruited rejected Chaste studentDrake, who wished to destroy the Hand from within, but was eventually won over to its ways.^[4]

In 1957,satanist and fourth richest person in the worldElsbeth von Strucker married Baron Strucker and started funding Hydra,^[32] seemingly incorporating her own agenda about the Sickly Ones in the organization.^[9]

1961: The Wheel ofPieta[]

In 1961, the Hand's Grandmaster wasShoji Soma. He was invited by theBrotherhood of the Shield's GrandmasterLeonardo da Vinci, who organized several important people in espionage's world in a loose partnership known as theGreat Wheel of Zodiac. Led by Da Vinci himself asAries, the Wheel included Shoji Soma (Pisces), Hydra's Baron Strucker andDaniel Whitehall, Aka Kraken,Nick andJake Fury,Leviathan's foundersViktor Uvarov andVasili Dassiev,Thomas Davidson,Timothy Dugan,John Garrett, andCornelius van Lunt.

The Great Wheel accomplished several missions for Aries, including the discover by Shoji Soma, Vasili Dassiev, Dum-Dum Dugan and Kraken of aThe Brood power drive inEgypt, as well as other pieces of technology inZagros Mountains andFrance.^[33] In France, the Fury brothers and Thomas Davidson found theLeonardo da Vinci's original LMD, which made two moreLMDs ofJake Fury andThomas Davidson.^[34] However, Uvarov and Dassiev started operating behind the scenes using the alien technology, able to enhance one possibly above the result of theAmerican Super-Soldier program for Leviathan's own purposes, betraying the Great Wheel after having learned from Davidson how to activate Pieta's secret protocols. After a shooting, Strucker, Kraken, and Soma fled. As a consequence, the Wheel was de facto disbanded.

One month after the breaking of the Great Wheel, Strucker and Soma, bringing along Hand ninjas, attackedLeviathan, and Strucker used theSpear of Imhotep to stabViktor Uvarov. Soma also stole the power drive, causing the machine intending to boost up the Leviathan agents, and mutating them horribly.^[33] At some point afterwards, feeling that he was about to die, Shoji Soma came to theClan Yashida to open the box held in secret by the Yashida, older for the Yashida themselves and almost as old as Japan. The box was stated to be tied to a legacy of death and madness, and that none had lived to see open twice. The next day, Soma was killed by Magadan, looking for the power drive.^[34]

Modern times[]

Elektra originally belonged to theChaste. As a self-imposed test, she joined the Hand. When they forced her to assassinate her former mentor, she abandoned the Hand and the Chaste and became a freelance assassin. In that capacity she encounteredDaredevil, who once trained under the Chaste's leader,Stick, and helped both of them survive an attack by the Hand.^[35]

In an offensive against the Chaste, the Hand lost its best warrior,Kirigi. A later battle brought forth the Chaste's ultimate weapon, a ritual that literally drained the life from the Hand's attackers. Unable to contain so much energy, however, Stick andShaft also died.^{[citation needed]}

The Hand tried to prevent the reincarnation of Stick. The Chaste enlisted Daredevil once again, who traveled to Japan and helped to protect the infant who bore his sensei's spirit.^[36]

The Hand has also crossed swords withWolverine,Spider-Man, theAvengers, and theX-Men. More than anyone else (excepting Elektra), however, they have interacted withPsylocke.^[37]

Gorgon's Leadership[]

At some point, legendaryHydra agentKraken went (on his own) toKobe,Japan, and gave theGodkiller blade toTomi Shishido, aka the Gorgon, to help him achieve his destiny.^[38] Gorgon then went to the Hand and committed suicide (in order to be resurrected).^[9]

Gorgon became the High Priest of the Hand, their leader, and allied the Hand and theBrotherhood splinter group theDawn of the White Light (that he formerly led as well) with Hydra.^[39] Elsbeth von Strucker soon considered Gorgon as being the one awaited by theSickly Ones.^[9]

As Gorgon left to follow their goals in leading Hydra,"ushering in the end with infinite resources", the sickly masters of the Hand erected a resurrected "Elektra" as a queen to rule from the East. Elektra, along withWolverine, soon killed the masters and decimated the Hand's ranks.^[3] Wolverine later killed Gorgon.^[40]

Elektra led the Hand for some time but was killed and found out to be aSkrull, temporarily leaving the Hand without a warlord. One faction, led byLord Hirochi and his lieutenant,Lady Bullseye, aimed to make Daredevil their new leader, an offer the latter rejected, only to be told that "the Hand doesn't take no for an answer."^{[citation needed]}

They then instigated the return of theKingpin toNew York City, with the goal of offering him the leadership instead. However, this was preempted by Daredevil, who accepted their offer, on the condition that the Hand should not do business with the Kingpin or Lady Bullseye again. The three remaining ninja-lords accepted this arrangement through a twisted turning of events, a battle waged between Lady Bullseye, the Kingpin and Daredevil.^{[citation needed]}

Shadowland and Kingpin's Leadership[]

Proclaimed the winner, the Hand was then under the leadership of Daredevil. . In observance of their new master, the ninjas adorned themselves with Daredevil inspired regalia. WithNorman Osborn in control of law enforcement and the justice system, and criminals secretly doing their business with Osborn's blessing, Daredevil seeks to use the Hand to fight back Osborn's system of corruption and power. While initially serving the greater good, Daredevil, under the Beast's influence, had his followers employ increasingly draconian methods to ensure peace and quiet inHell's Kitchen.^{[citation needed]}

After the Beast was dispossessed from Daredevil, Kingpin took the leadership of the ninja group, with Lady Bullseye,Typhoid Mary,Montana, andHobgoblin as his henchmen. For some time Fisk used the Hand for his criminal purposes.^{[citation needed]}

Alliance with HYDRA[]

The Hand crowned Gorgon as their leader inMadripoor, as he woke "the Beast" (not the Demon), the dragon on whose head Madripoor rested.^[41] Gorgon was recruited by the newMadame Hydra into the new formation of theHydra's High Council, making a new alliance between Hydra and the Hand.^[42]

Gorgon subsequently left the Hand for the mutant nation ofKrakoa, becoming one of theGreat Captains. The Beast itself seems to have assumed direct leadership over the Hand.^[43]

Resurrecting the Hulk[]

After stealing the body ofBruce Banner, the Hand successfully resurrected him despite theAvengers Unity Division and Elektra trying to prevent it. The mindless, rage-fueled Hulk then went on a rampage inTokyo. Following a brief confrontation, the rampage of the Hulk was finally contained within a magical doorway ofDoctor Voodoo's creation, which allowed the sorcerer to enter Banner's soul and cleanse it from the Hand's corruption. Banner reverted to his human form and died in the process.^[44]

New Fist of the Beast and New Fist[]

Elektra found information on the Fist, an organization dedicated to oppose the Hand, and urgedDaredevil to join her in rebuilding it,^[11] which he eventually accepted^[45]

As the priests of the Hand looked for a new Fist of the Beast, a High Slayer, since the fall of the previous one, most looked towards dark masters of the martial arts. One however understood that it was inAmerica, a land with a remarkable propensity to violence, was where to look. Wanting to add thePunisher to their ranks, she slew the other members of her order who all rejected the idea of an American fulfilling the role of High Slayer, becoming theArchpriestess of the Hand, the last true disciple of her god.^[22] She first tested Castle by pitting him against a large group of Hand ninja. Castle successfully killed them and was offered a place among the Hand, but agreed to join only when the Hand revealed that they resurrected his wifeMaria as an incentive.^[46]

Assisted by the Archpriestess, Castle used the Hand to wage his war on criminals and wrongdoers, eliminating Hydra cells,^[46][22] killing theWarlord andHate-Monger, as well as wiping, looting and destroying facilities of theApostles of War, an arms-dealing group founded by the god of warAres to perputate war across the world. He also had them collect children abusers, rapists, and murderers who went free, and executed them himself.^[47]

Things changed when a group of Hand ninja that survived a fight with Ares and his Apostles of War had their families killed to strengthen them. When Castle learned of this by the Archpriestess, he killed her and then fled the Hand compound with his Maria, though the Hand didn't try to stop him. Punisher was forced to return when Maria started dying and learned from the resurrected Archpriestess that Maria's resurrection was incomplete and required constant treatment to keep her alive. Punisher chose to remain with the Hand to keep Maria alive but threatened to burn the compound to the ground if Maria died.^[48]

After Punisher tried and failed to kill Ares, Ares and the Apostles launched an attack on the Hand compound the Punisher used as his headquarters. The Hand and the Apostles engaged in a bloody battle that resulted in heavy losses on both sides. The fight ended when the Punisher killed Ares using enchanted bullets fired from a handgun. The Punisher then incinerated the surviving Apostles.^[49]

• The Foot Clan from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were originally based off the Hand.^[54]
• The Red Ninjas of Marvel Comics' G.I.Joe series were a toned-down pastiche of the Hand. Far less violence and without the occult.

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