Katana

KATANA

Real Name: Tatsu Yamashiro

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Bookstore proprietor

Group Affiliation: Outsiders II, Outsiders III

Known Relatives: Maseo Yamashiro (husband, deceased), Reiko Yamashir (son, deceased), Takeo Yamashiro (brother-in-law, deceased), Unnamed mother, Yuki Yamashiro (daughter, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California

First Appearance: Brave and the Bold I #200 (July, 1983)

Powers: Katana is a masterful fighter in both armed and unarmed combat, and she can be completely merciless when the need arises. Her favorite weapon is the Soultaker katana, but she always keeps a shortsword and a number of other weapons hidden on her person. An enemy slain by her katana has their soul absorbed into the blade, and Katana can communicate with them if she chooses. A complex ritual can release the imprisoned souls, and they will be compelled to serve the one who freed them. If a freed soul is dissipated it will no longer be under the Soultaker's influence. Katana is loyal without fault to her friends and a skilled healer when utilizing all-natural remedies.

History: Tatsu Ishizawa grew up in Japan, and when she was of marrying age she promised herself to Maseo Yamashiro. Maseo's younger brother Takeo had also fallen for Tatsu, and felt rejected when he was not chosen. Tatsu lived happily for a time, and gave birth to twins Yuki and Reiko. One day Takeo returned to her life, armed with the Soultaker, an ancient weapon forged by Muramasa, a sorcerer and swordsmith of the 14th century. Takeo killed Maseo and inadvertently set a fire that killed Tatsu's children. Tatsu stole the Soultaker and escaped. Knowing Takeo would seek her out she honed her combat skills and took the identity of Katana. Her first public appearance was in the European nation Markova, where she and several other superheroes put down an insurrection. These heroes banded together as the Outsiders II and set up residence in America.

Takeo took back the Soultaker and released the army of souls within the blade. He forced Katana to battle Maseo, but Maseo gladly allowed himself to be destroyed in order to be freed of the Soultaker's hold. Katana then slew Takeo, and his soul currently resides in her blade.

(Showcase '93 #9-11) - Katana investigated Kobra and his cover company Cortex International that was selling high-definition televisions made from radioactive components that would sap the will of all viewers at the Prague electronics fair. She saw mercs Deathstroke and Peacemaker, ho were also on Kobra's trail being attacked, and she rescued them. They pursued Kobra to his Japanese base, but were attacked by the brainwashed Dr. Light. Light presented her prisoners to Kobra, and he ordered her to execute them, but her moral code helped her shake off the brainwashing. The heroes defeated Kobra and blew up his headquarters, but Kobra escaped in a sub.

(Green Lantern III #81) - Coast City; Katana was among the heroes who attended a memorial service for Green Lantern Hal Jordan.

(Day of Judgment #1, 3-5) - Katana was called in as a JLA reservist when Asmodel / Spectre unleashed Hell on Earth, and she slew a number of demons wrecking havoc. Hall Jordan became the Spectre's new host and the demon army returned to Hell.

(JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice) - Moscow, Katana and the Outsiders battled citizens under the control of the Seven Deadly Sins. The Sins were defeated by the JLA and JSA, and their influence over the people of Moscow ended.

(Identity Crisis #1) - Katana and Black Lightning went out for dinner to discuss old times. They learned of Sue Dibny’s murder and attended her funeral.

(Identity Crisis #7) - Katana and Black Lightning had dinner and discussed their return to the superhero life.

(Superman / Batman #1, 3, 4) - President Luthor informed a number of heroes, including Katana that a kryptonite asteroid was on a collision course with Earth. Luthor told them Superman was at fault and sent them to place Superman in federal custody. Katana switched sides midway through a battle with Superman and Batman, and she cut off her former ally Major Force’s hands with her sword. Force couldn’t control the energy leaking from his wrists, and he would have exploded and destroyed Tokyo if Captain Atom didn’t absorb the energy into his own body. Katana told Batman and Superman about boy genius Toyman, who had a plan to stop the kryptonite meteor, but Hawkman and Captain Marvel blocked them from meeting the boy. Batman and Superman let the JSAers win so Power Girl and Katana could get Toyman on their side.

(Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1) - An army of Earth’s heroes, including Katana, appeared to take Superboy-Prime down during the Sinestro Corps invasion of Earth. The heroes focused on wrecking his armor, because after a year on Oa, and away from a yellow sun his Kryptonian body still wasn’t at full strength, and his armor collected sunlight. Superboy bragged that once the sun rose on Earth he’d be at full power. Superboy was battered by Wonder Girl and Wonder Woman, who blamed him for Superboy’s death, as well as Supergirl and Power Girl, who blamed him for the death of the Superman of Earth-2. As the fight went against him, Superboy broke down in tears. He tried to wipe them away, saying that it was impossible for boys to cry, and then whining that no one ever thanked him for sacrificing his Earth to save the multiverse. The battle lasted until dawn, and he flew into the sunrise. As he achieved full power he declared himself the one, true Superman. The Guardians arrived with Sodam Yat, the new Ion, and pitted him against Superboy-Prime.

(Batman & The Outsiders Special #1, Outsiders IV #15) - Katana visited Yuki and Reiko's graves, and traced the letters of her name of the grave next to theirs with her blood, a grave that would one day be hers. Alfred Pennyworth visited her to recruit her for the new Outsiders. Katana was drawn to the Outsiders old hq, where Metamorpho reformed. He's left part of his essence inside her body before he exploded, and her proximity to the rest of his remains allowed him to return. Alfred assembled the Outsiders and explained Batman's vision, that they all represented aspects of his personality, and that there would always be a 'Batman' outside Gotham. He required them to go off the grid, cutting off contact with everyone in their lives and becoming true Outsiders. They'd be a frontline group, constantly in the line-of-fire and constantly risking their lives. Black Lightning disliked the idea, and snapped at Katana, telling her the choice was easy when you had no one to lose. Alfred dismissed them to consider his offer, and Geo-Force brought Katana to the alley where he fought Deathstroke. He relived his encounter with Deathstroke, he asked Katana if she'd do anything to defeat someone trying to steal her soul. She said yes, because souls are all we have, and they kissed. They rejoined the Outsiders the next day, as did all of Alfred's other recruits. Alfred told them they'd be confronting the Outsiders greatest enemy, who'd been behind their conflicts with such former antagonists as Bad Samaritan, the Duke of Oil, and the Force of July, even though they'd never met face-to-face.

(Batman: Battle for the Cowl: Man-Bat #1) - Katana and the Outsiders helped deal with the chaos in Gotham, and found Man-Bat, who was desperately searching for his wife Francine. When they tried to detain him he hit them with a sonic scream and flew off. The Outsiders later cleaned up after a fight between Man-Bat and Dr. Phosphorus, who'd captured Francine. Alfred noted that Kirk Langstrom could now transform into Man-Bat without his serum, and this complicated matters.

Comments: Created by Jim Aparo & Mike W. Barr

Katana received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #12 and Who’s Who in the DC Universe #2.