| Alias |
 |
|
Katana |
| Nick
Name |
| | |
| Civilian
ID |
| Tatsu Yamashiro |
| Occupation |
|
Adventurer
Bookstore Proprietor |
| Legal
Status |
| Citizen of the United
States with no criminal record. |
| Nation
or Planet of Origin |
| Los Angeles, California |
| Group
Affiliation |
|
Outsiders |
| Base
of Operations |
| Los Angeles, California |
| Height |
| 5' 2" |
| Weight |
| 95 lbs. |
| Eye
Color |
| Brown |
| Hair
Color |
| Black |
| Skin
Tone |
| Mongoloid |
| Known
Powers |
| Normal
human with above average
strength, stamina and agility for a woman of her age.
Unusually exceptional
hand-to-hand combatant skilled in swordsmanship and the martial arts.
Telepathic rapport with her mystical sword Soultaker. |
| Accessories |
| Soultaker: Ancient
mystic sword which absorbs the souls of those it kills. The souls
within Soultaker can communicate with its wielder and via a complex ritual
be called forth to take physical form. Various other
bladed weapons. |
| Common
Enemies |
| | |
| Regularly
Appearing |
|
Batman and the Outsiders
Outsiders Vol. 1 & 2 |
| First
Appearance |
|
Brave and the Bold #200
(July, 1983) |
| Creator |
Mike W. Barr
& Jim Aparo
|
| Origin |
| In the 14th Century, the
mad swordsman Muramasa forged two identical katana swords, one of which
called Soultaker possessed the ability to absorb the souls of its victims.
In modern times these weapons came into the possession of the Yakuza mobster
Takeo Yamashiro. Bitterly envious of his brother's
marriage to the beautiful Tatsu, Takeo Yamashiro influenced Soultaker to
kill his brother. In the ensuing attack Tatsu's husband and children
were all killed, their souls being absorbed into the blade. Vowing
revenge, Tatsu obtained Soultaker and developed her skills as a martial
artist to become the tragic hero Katana. |