Marvel Age #2: Meet and Greet: Silver Samurai!

Today, we meet Kenuichio Harada, the Silver Samurai, and one-time head of clan Yashida. First introduced in Daredevil 111, cover date July 1974, by Steve Gerber and Bob Brown.

Harada (Silver Samurai, SS) is a mutant who can transfer energy into his weapon, usually his sword. He was first introduced as a mercenary working for Black Spectre and Mandrill in Daredevil 111, but it was revealed that he was repaying a debt of his father’s. While charged, SS’s sword can cut through nearly anything, and he tells you that as often as possible! Years ago I was collecting all of the Daredevil issues and 111 is one I could not seem to find. On a trip to Kansas City I stopped into Clint’s Comics, and while my wife waited in the car I picked up this issue.

After Daredevil, Silver Samurai was adopted by Chris Claremont and occasionally used throughout the titles he was writing. Marvel Team-Up sees his next few appearance. In MTU 57 SS is working for someone, and attempts to steal a statue. MTU 74, the classic Saturday Night Live issue, John Belushi acquires a teleportation ring that SS shows up to claim. MTU 83-85 we finally learn who SS is working for - the former Madame Hydra, now Viper! Then, over in Spider-Woman, a series that is way better than I expected it to be, Viper and SS again are up to stuff. None of these issues really have more specifics in relation to SS other than to show he is working for Viper, and extremely loyal to her.

Okay, so that’s the back story. In Marvel Age #2 we get solicits for both New Mutants #4 and Uncanny X-Men 172, both written by Claremont, and the titles overlap a lot in these early issues of NM.

In New Mutants 5-6 Silver Samurai finally enters the mutant world. This is the first time (that I noticed) SS is named. Viper and SS’s relationship is developed and we learn that she is planning to help him reclaim his family honor. Harada is the half-brother of Mariko Yashida, and the illegitimate son of their father.

In Uncanny X-Men 172-174 Wolverine kills old-man Yashida (he had it coming) and Mariko claims leadership of the family house, promising to cleanse it of the black market dishonor. Harada disagrees and believes he should be the leader, but backs down after being defeated by Wolverine, and is named second-in-command. FYI, Harada is also the cousin of Sunfire!

The next time we meet up with Silver Samurai is in Wolverine’s new ongoing solo title. In issues 2-3 SS helps Wolverine, Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) and her roommate Lindsay, as they are involved in the mixed up story of the Black Blade. SS helps free Wolverine of the possession of the Black Blade and claims it for himself, without it taking him over. This is the start of Logan and Harada’s respect-based relationship.

Next appearance, ridiculously if I am to add my opinion, is Wolverine 56-57, nearly four years later! Long story short, Mariko is killed by the Hand and Harada (it is assumed) takes leadership of the Yashida clan. There’s a ton more to this story, but in regards to Silver Samurai, he is just at the stronghold and helps defend against the Hand during the attack. Super quick appearance in Cable: Blood and Metal 2 confirms that Harada is now in charge of Clan Yashida. JRJR draws Silver Samurai and it is amazing!

Between here and the final entry Silver Samurai is used as a hero, villain, agent, assassin, criminal, noble lord, etc. based on what the writers wanted to use him for. Some gave a reason, others were oblivious to what he had done prior, he was unfortunately just used as a cool looking character in the background. The only consistent is that he was the leader of Clan Yashida. And he has a son, Shin Harada, named after his grandfather. He is also a mutant and takes the mantle of Silver Samurai as well, albeit more technologically based than his father. He also loses leadership of the clan for a time, and is thought dead by the hands of Elektra, but that didn’t stick.

X-Men 21-23. I’m going to be honest, I skipped this story because I am taking a break from a massive X-Men read-through and I didn’t want to spoil this before I get to it during my read-through. It involves Psylocke and the Hand, so we can probably make some assumptions. It’s a story I’m excited to get to, but based on what came before and after in regards to Silver Samurai, I’m assuming I can skip it without regret.

Big Hero 6 - yep, the comic that the Disney movie is based on! We see Silver Samurai in his next, and kind of last, major role. He leads the Japanese super team in the first incarnation. Obviously, the movie deviated quite a bit from this comic. Nothing major to report other than Harada is maintaining an above-the-law role.

Okay, we’re back to Wolverine’s ongoing series. No, not the same/original. No, not the next one either! We’re all the way up to Wolverine #1 from 2010. Each issue in this series has a short at the end featuring the assassination of a character connected to Wolverine. Silver Samurai is the first to go in a gorgeous story by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour. The Red Right Hand burns the Clan Yashida Stronghold down and slays Harada.

In the modern era, Harada was Krakoa-resurrected and serves as a games master of sorts.

Some editorial and What If speculation from me.

Wolverine issues 1-3 could have/should have been focused on Harada and his search for the Black Blade. Instead, we got extra Spider-Woman characters and a rough plot. I don't need a Silver Samurai mini series, but it would have been great to see more about his relationship with his father. I think a major mistake was to focus on Wolverine in his solo series instead of the support characters. Silver Samurai could have carried a strong story of parental assumptions, heir rights, half-sibling relationships, redefining yourself out of a crime family, etc.

I would love to see a series, Uncanny X-Men 174.1-174.4 about the Yashida family.

Oh, and Silver Samurai was the major villain in The Wolverine movie. Lots of people hate it, I liked it, except the Jean Grey stuff, which I never cared for.

Silver Samurai appeared in the following titles (very minor appearances removed):

Daredevil 111, Marvel Team-Up 57, 74, 83-85, Spider-Woman 42-43, New Mutants 5-6, Uncanny X-Men 172-174, Wolverine 2-3 and 56-57, Cable 2, X-Men 21-23, Big Hero 6, Elektra 3-4, and Wolverine 1 (2010).

*Sneak Peak - another adventure in Japan starts in an issue solicited in Marvel Age #2 - Daredevil #197 - the coming of Lady Deathstrike!