Katana (DC Comics) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katana
Katana as depicted in The Other History of the DC Universe #3 (March 2021). Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils), Andrea Cucchi (inks), and Jose Vallarrubia (colors).
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983)
Created by	Mike W. Barr (writer) Jim Aparo (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Tatsu Yamashiro (山城 タツ)
Team affiliations	Suicide Squad Justice League Outsiders Birds of Prey Justice League United
Partnerships	Batman Black Lightning Geo-Force Cassandra Cain Halo Metamorpho The Signal
Abilities	Master swordswoman Master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant Soultaker Sword grants: Ability to capture the spirit of every being it kills and communicate with it, including that of her deceased relatives and husband

Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro (山城 タツ, Yamashiro Tatsu)) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. First appearing in 1983, Katana is a samurai warrior whose skill with a sword allows her to fight for justice as a superheroine. Her tragic backstory includes the death of her husband, Maseo, whose soul becomes trapped in her blade, the Soultaker. Katana has been part of various DC Comics superhero teams, including the Justice League and Birds of Prey, but is most commonly associated with the Outsiders, a team of heroes hand-picked by Batman to act as his personal black ops team, handling riskier missions.

In the 2010s, DC began to feature the character much more extensively in media adaptations of its comic books, including a recurring role in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold and a starring role in the series Beware the Batman. The character was portrayed by Rila Fukushima in the Arrowverse TV series Arrow and by Karen Fukuhara in the 2016 DC Extended Universe film Suicide Squad. Katana has also been featured in direct-to-video animated films and a number of DC Comics video games.

Publication history

Katana first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #200 (cover-dated July 1983) and was created by writer Mike W. Barr and artist Jim Aparo. She is frequently a member of "team" publications such as Batman and the Outsiders, Birds of Prey (during the New 52 era), or even Suicide Squad (during the DC Rebirth era).

In February 2013, Katana received her own series written by Ann Nocenti and with art by Alex Sanchez. This book is considered by DC as part of the "Fourth Wave" of New 52 titles. Katana lasted for ten issues. The final issue was released on December 11, 2013.

Powers, abilities, and weapons

Katana is a highly proficient hand-to-hand combatant and swordswoman, having studied martial arts as a child and later being trained by the samurai Tadashi. From her time with the Outsiders and Batman, she develops strong tactical skills.

Katana's Soultaker sword, along with its non-powered twin, is forged in the 14th century by Muramasa, whose swords are said to be cursed and make those who are evil commit evil acts. It sometimes takes the souls of those it kills, storing them inside the sword, where they can engage in limited communication with whoever wields it. These souls and spirits can be freely reborn/reincarnated by the means of a sacred ritual, under which they serve their summoner, even if it is against their will. Its cutting edge is sharp enough to rend the Dilustel skin of Captain Atom and Major Force. In The New 52, the Soultaker is established as being the 'Sword Totem' of the Outsiders, meaning like the other totems, it supposedly bestows immortality and enlightenment upon its wielder, although some like Green Arrow are skeptical of the literal truths of these statements.

In addition to the Soultaker, Katana often carries additional weaponry into battle.

Collected editions

Other versions

• In an alternate timeline set in the "Flashpoint" storyline, Katana joins the Amazons' Furies.

In other media

Television

Animation

Katana as she appears in the first season of Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

• A character inspired by Katana named Tsukuri appears in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Karen Maruyama. She appears as a member of Aresia's Injustice Gang in the former series and Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society in the latter.
• A teenage Katana appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced initially by Vyvan Pham and later by Kim Mai Guest. This version is a member of the Outsiders whose master Tadashi was killed by an evil samurai named Takeo. As a result, she rarely speaks in honor of his lessons in self-control.
• Katana appears in Beware the Batman, voiced by Sumalee Montano. This version is a CIA agent who infiltrated the League of Assassins under the codename Katana and faked her death to steal the Soultaker Sword from them. Through her godfather and friend of her father, Alfred Pennyworth, she becomes Bruce Wayne's bodyguard and partner in crime-fighting, and later a founding member of the Outsiders. According to producer Glen Murakami, she would have become the series' version of Nightwing if the series had been renewed for a second season.
• Katana makes non-speaking appearances in Young Justice: Outsiders, initially as a member of the Justice League before joining Batman, among other Leaguers, in resigning due to U.N. secretary general Lex Luthor's restrictions on the League's actions.
• Katana appears in the DC Super Hero Girls (2019) episode "#SoulSisters", voiced by Rina Hoshino. This version is initially a ruthless vigilante who uses the Soultaker sword to steal criminals' souls instead of capturing them. In her civilian identity, she enrolls in Metropolis High and befriends Diana Prince before fighting her and the Super Hero Girls, believing that they are evil for wanting to help supervillains. Upon learning each others' identities, Katana and Prince argue over their respective methods until the latter sacrifices her soul to defend an innocent. Realizing the error of her ways, Katana releases the souls she had taken and vows to pursue justice properly.
• Katana makes a non-speaking appearance in the Harley Quinn episode "Harlivy" as a member of the Suicide Squad.
• Katana will appear in Suicide Squad Isekai, voiced by Chika Anzai.

Live-action

• Tatsu and Maseo Yamashiro appears in The CW / Arrowverse series Arrow, portrayed by Rila Fukushima and Karl Yune respectively. This version of the couple have a son named Akio. In flashbacks depicted in the third season, she encountered Oliver Queen while he was working for Amanda Waller in Hong Kong. Initially distrusting him, Queen eventually gained Tatsu's trust after saving her and her family from China White, though he was unable to save Akio from the Alpha Omega virus. Due to this, Tatsu went into self-imposed seclusion while Maseo joined the League of Assassins. In the present, the Yamashiros save Queen following his fight with Ra's al Ghul before Tatsu joins him in stopping Ra's from releasing the Alpha Omega virus on Starling City. In the process, she battles Maseo in the hopes of convincing him to leave the League, but is forced to kill him. Afterwards, she returns to Japan, joins the Crescent Order, and is tasked with guarding the lotus elixir as of the fourth season episode "Unchained", though Nyssa al Ghul convinces Tatsu to let her use it to save Thea Queen's life. As of the eighth season episode "Welcome to Hong Kong", Tatsu reveals she was excommunicated from the Crescent Order for failing to protect the lotus elixir and learned of the Monitor while helping Queen prepare for an impending "Crisis".
• Tatsu's feudal Japan ancestor, Masako Yamashiro, appears in the Arrowverse spin-off series Legends of Tomorrow episode "Shogun", portrayed by Mei Melançon.

Film

• Katana makes a minor non-speaking appearance in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.
• An alternate universe version of Katana named Sai makes a non-speaking appearance in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths as a minor member of the Crime Syndicate.
• Katana appears in Suicide Squad, portrayed by Karen Fukuhara. This version is Rick Flag's bodyguard who seeks to avenge her husband's death.
• Katana appears in the DC Super Hero Girls spin-off films DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High, DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year, DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain, Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High, and DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis, voiced by Stephanie Sheh.
• Katana appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One.

Video games

• Katana appears as a playable DLC character in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.
• Katana appears as a playable DLC character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
• Katana appears as a playable character in Infinite Crisis, voiced by Kelly Hu.
• Katana appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Sumalee Montano.

Miscellaneous

• Katana appears in Smallville Season 11 as a member of the Outsiders.
• Katana appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2015), voiced by Stephanie Sheh. This version is a student at Super Hero High.
• Katana appears in the Injustice 2 prequel comic as a member of the Suicide Squad.

Images for kids

• 

  Katana's classic appearance

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  Katana from The Showcase: To The Hilt, in the cover of the comic book. Art by Lynne Yoshii, and Beth Sotelo

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  Katana as she appeared with the Outsiders in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Katana (personaje) para niños