The Ladies in a Runt's Life

A woman who had a life no-one would want, Reiko was never a lover of Logan, but she played a very significant part in his life during her short relationship with Logan.

The first time we saw Reiko, she was the property of a Yakuza hitman named Goro whom she despises. Her father had accumulated massive gambling debts and Goro had settled them, but in return, Reiko was his until his death. Which Reiko longed for even though she knew Goro had been told once that he could only be killed by a dead man. Her hopes were raised when Goro was hired by a druglord named Dai-Kumo to kill Tyger Tiger's bodyguard, Patch aka Logan.

Just how significantly did she affect Logan's life as we know it? Profoundly. First - she prevented Goro from killing Logan's friend/associate, Archie Corrigan. Next, while Logan was dealing with Goro and Dai-Kumo's other men, Reiko tried to pay Logan back for her freedom by killing Dai-Kumo himself. Unfortunately for her, Dai-Kumo worked for a Japanese man who ruled the Hand - Tsurayaba Matsuo, who was currently at war with Logan's beloved Mariko over her campaign to seperate Clan Yashida from all dishonorable interests to clear the way for her marriage to Logan. Matsuo had Reiko's corneas removed by laser surgery - only her obediance to his orders would get her eyesight back.

Despite it meaning that she would remain blind, when Reiko was sent to kill Jubilee, she again angered the Hand and spared her when she discovered Jubilee's connection to Logan. In attempting to flee Japan, Reiko was caught by an agent of Hydra - none other than Logan's old lover/former teammate Silver Fox. The end result was the last major change in Logan's life caused by Reiko. Ignorant of Logan's connection to Mariko and Clan Yashida, she accepted the task of assassinating Mariko for Matsuo to save her own life - an agreement which ironically led to her own death.

Archie: "Then it's lickety-split back to the airstrip to snag my trusty double-barrel twelve-gauge shotgun and -- " Goro: "-- I think not." Archie: "Lemme guess -- you're the Yakuza who keeps folks from slippin' out the back door? They grow 'em big where you come from, huh?" Goro: "The little man thinks he's amusing, Reiko-chan... he should be twice as amusing in two pieces!" Reiko: "Let him go, Goro. He is the pilot. Our boss may have uses for him." Goro: "Oh very well...." (Wolverine, V1, No. 31 - Late Septemeber 1990)

Reiko: "For a moment, I thought he was going to kill you, Goro..." Goro: "Only a blade wielded by a dead man can slay me. That was the last prophesy of the blind seer Mongaku just before I seperated his head from his body. Give me the camera, Reiko." Reiko: "Why did you...?" Goro: "Kill the seer? To seal the prophesy in blood... and to prevent retractions." (Wolverine, V1, No. 32 - October 1990)

Logan: "Reiko's umbrella sword. She was right behind me, watchin' out for my back. Hope she got away. Hope she finds a new life." (Wolverine, Vol. 1, No. 33 - November 1990)

Jubilee: "Uh, like -- what are you in for?" Reiko: "Murder." Jubilee: "Oh, that's -- interesting. Who did you... umm...?" Reiko: "Kill? A Yakuza chief. An evil oyabun named Dai-Kumo. I didn't know he was a pawn of the Hand... my rash action incurred a terrible obligation, which I must repay. I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. The blade is coated with blowfish toxin. The end will be swift--" Jubilee: "No way!!" (Wolverine, Vol. 1, No. 55 - June 1992)

Matsuo: "I see that Wolverine has been distracted from the main event with the poisoned blade--" Silver Fox: "Yes. I arranged for that." Matsuo: "Am I missing something? Won't they demand that the blade be tested on Reiko first?" Silver Fox: "Reiko has been gradually ingesting minutely larger doses of the toxin for years... she is quite immune!" (Wolverine, Vol. 1, No. 57 - Late July 1992)

Return to The Ladies

Return to Wolverine Main Page

Image(s) featured on this page were scanned specifically for use on this site using Marvel materials. Wolverine©, Logan©, The X-Men©, related character(s) and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used with permission. Copyright © 1974-2003 Marvel Characters Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit the official Marvel Site by following the link on the logo or go to http://www.marvel.com.

---