Poison (Final Fight)#Designs

Poison's first appearance in Final Fight featured her and a palette swap character named Roxy as recurring minor enemies for the player to fight. Named after the band by an unnamed female employee at Capcom, she was designed by Akira Yasuda to contrast against the bigger characters in the game and move about randomly, and were originally intended to utilize backflips to flee.{{cite book |author=Capcom staff |title=Capcom Design Works: Early Days |year=2000 |publisher=Enterbrain |isbn=978-4-7577-0412-1 |page=197 |language=ja}}{{cite web |title=Final Fight Developer's Interview |accessdate=2023-05-07 |date=2019-02-08 |url=https://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/132673 |website=Capcom |archive-date=7 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507065206/https://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/132673 |url-status=live }} Described as a "cool and rebellious woman",{{cite book |title=Street Fighter X Tekken: Artworks |publisher=UDON Entertainment |date=September 2012 |pages=104–105 |isbn=978-1926778518}} Poison was conceived due to Yasuda's desire to introduce sexy female gang members to the game. To this end he referenced Western fashion magazines, specifically Jeanne Basone's appearance as "Hollywood" in professional wrestling magazine G.L.O.W.{{cite tweet |last=Yasuda |first=Akira |user=akiman7 |number=1174031772427800577 |title=これがファイナルファイトポイズンの元ネタでは無いかということを外人の人が見つけてくれた件だけど なんせ記憶が曖昧なのではっきりとそうですと云えないんだが こんな感じだったことは間違いない ありがとうございます〜 |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229212533/https://twitter.com/akiman7/status/1174031772427800577 |archivedate=2021-12-29}} Poison is shown to be a woman with long, rugged, pink hair. She wears a black cap, a choker, cutoff, blue jean-shorts, red high-heels, and a tanktop cut just below her breasts. In Final Fight Revenge and some artworks, her hair is shown to be purple instead.{{cite book |author=Capcom |title=Final Fight Revenge instruction manual |date=2000-03-30 |publisher=Capcom |author-link=Capcom}} She wears several armbands around her right arm and has chains and a pair of handcuffs suspended off her shorts, and is often depicted holding a riding crop. Final Fight Revenge features her also possessing a whip used in attacks, an element of her design brought back later with Street Fighter X Tekken.{{cite web |author=Walmsley, Michael |title=Final Fight Revenge characters |url=http://finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/revengecharacters.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215172607/http://finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/revengecharacters.html |archive-date=2007-12-15 |access-date=2009-06-01 |publisher=GameSpy}} Poison stands about 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall and has bust/waist/hip measurements of 35-25-35" (88-66-89 cm).

Poison was given a secondary outfit for Capcom Fighting All-Stars alongside her primary classic attire. Made of shiny, silvery material it consisted of boots that extended halfway up her thighs and a combined sleeveless shirt/short skirt with a plunging neckline. Gloves and a small hairband were also added, as well as a belt, with the handcuffs hanging off of it. Her arm straps were removed, though the strap around her neck remained.{{cite web |author=Walmsley, Michael |title=Capcom Fighting All Stars trivia (secondary outfit montage) |url=http://finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/cfatrivia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221093810/http://www.finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/cfatrivia.html |archive-date=2007-12-21 |access-date=2009-06-01 |publisher=GameSpy}} This design was originally created by Street Fighter III character designer Jun Ikawa as a possible outfit for her appearance in the series.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/streeetfighteriiivol194/page/n3/mode/2up |title=Street Fighter III - Fight for the Future: Conclusion Step/Master the Secret |volume=194 |publisher=Gamest |page=62 |date=1999 |language=Japanese |isbn=4881996274 |accessdate=2023-05-05}} It was included as her secondary outfit Street Fighter IV, changed to green with a matching military cap and long gloves.{{cite book |title=Ultra Street Fighter IV Bible |publisher=BradyGames |page=429 |date=August 2014 |isbn=978-0744015492}}

Though not appearing in Final Fight: Streetwise, the concept art section of the promotional comic for the game showcases an unused Poison redesign by Trent Kaniuga. The design features red hair, a red micro skirt showing a hint of underwear, a jacket, a button-up white shirt showing some of her abdomen, black high-heeled boots, a gold belt, and a wool cap.{{cite book |author=Capcom |title=Final Fight Streetwise promotional comic |date=2006-02-28 |publisher=Capcom |author-link=Capcom}} In August 2006, Kaniuga revealed three additional alternate designs on ConceptArt.org's internet forum; one being the classic look; another being a white button-up shirt with red pants, high-heels, and short hair; and the third keeping the high-heels and pants, but adding shades, returning her hair to full length and swapping the shirt for a jacket with deep cleavage. All four designs use the same color scheme, belt, and handcuffs.{{cite web |author=Kaniuga, Trent |date=2006-08-21 |title=Trent Kaniuga art dump from Maximo 3 and Final Fight Streetwise |url=http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75300 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214103146/http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75300 |archive-date=2008-02-14 |access-date=2009-06-16 |publisher=ConceptArt.Org.}} In a later video, Kaniuga stated he was concerned he had made her skirt too short, but laughingly noted "there wasn't too much resistance from the team on that though."{{cite AV media |title=Life as a CAPCOM concept artist- Art Tour Final Fight Streetwise |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5DDf44rRI |date=2015-12-12 |archivedate=27 August 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827052837/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5DDf44rRI&gl=US&hl=en |last=Kaniuga |first=Trent |accessdate=2023-08-27 |url-status=live }}

When designing her character model for Street Fighter x Tekken, production studio Dimps focused on her sexiness due to her long legs in her appearance and movement, while keeping her design close to the original, and a secondary outfit added modeled after the character "Unknown" from Tekken Tag Tournament to enhance her sex appeal. While the studio was quite pleased with the results, calling her the most glamorous character in the title, the Effects Designer for the game was "horribly embarrassed" whenever he had to check the character's visual effects frame by frame. For Street Fighter V, several redesigns were considered for the character, including a green flowing jacket with a exposed black bra held together by a ring, a red tailed jacket with zebra striped pants, and a black and pink dress with long gloves, stockings and a pink hat.{{cite web |url=https://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/132826?lang=en |title=Early Development Ideas: Poison |first=Takayuki |last=Nakayama |website=Capcom |accessdate=2023-07-03 |date=2019-08-26 |archive-date=3 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703060054/https://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/132826?lang=en |url-status=live }} Producer Takayuki Nakamura kept her final design close to the original but added multiple elements, giving her a full glove on her right arm, a stocking on her left leg, garters, and made her whip consistently visible. The whip in turn was intended to give her movements a more "flashy" and unique appearance, while her hair was shortened and frilled outward to better draw attention to the whip while also giving her a "clean, uncluttered look."

According to the book All About Capcom Head to Head Fighting Games and Final Fight director Akira Nishitani, the characters were originally planned to be cisgender women, but were changed to "newhalfs" (a Japanese slang term for trans women) after the game's release,{{cite book | author =Capcom | title =Final Fight CD, instruction manual | section =Character profiles | publisher =Capcom | date = 1993-05-23}}{{cite tweet |language=Japanese |last=Nishitani |first=Akira |user=nin_arika |number=487226629622480897 |title=家庭用のことはちょっとわかりません；； クレームが入ったのはもう出荷した後の話ですね。で、とある（海外の）婦人団体からそういった訴訟を受けそうである、という話を聞いたので、 －－－続きます |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726165524/https://twitter.com/nin_arika/status/487226629622480897 |archivedate=2015-07-26}} due to the suggestion that "hitting women was considered rude" in America and the concern that feminist groups would sue.{{cite journal |journal=Retro Gamer |page=52 |issue=37 |date=March 2007 |title=The Making of Final Fight |author=Staff}}{{cite book |title=ALL ABOUT カプコン対戦格闘ゲーム 1987-2000 (All About Capcom Head-To-Head Fighting Game 1987-2000) |page=339 |isbn=4-88554-676-1 |language=ja |last=スタジオベントスタッフ |author2=スタジオベントスタッフ |others=スタジオベントスタッフ |year=2000 |publisher=スタジオベントスタッフ}} However, concept artwork included in the 2005 compilation Capcom Classics Collection of the pair specifically uses the kana for 'newhalf' (ニューハーフ), contradicting the statement the change occurred post-release.{{cite video game| title = Capcom Classics Collection Vol. I| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom| level = Final Fight art gallery |date=2005-09-27}} In 2007 Nishitani stated that he supposed the character "could be male", but added it was up to the viewer to decide. He later clarified in a discussion on Twitter that in his personal view Poison was a woman.{{cite tweet |last=Nishitani |first=Akira |user=nin_arika |number=487230113902108672 |title=アメリカでは雨降れば弁護士儲かるといったようなことわざがあると聞きました。（雨で滑って転ぶからその訴訟で儲かる） で、公にどうこうってのは大人の事情があると思いますが、作者としての個人的感想は「女性です！」これでいいんじゃないですかね。|language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726170525/https://twitter.com/nin_arika/status/487230113902108672 |archivedate=2015-07-26}} Yasuda himself commented that as far as her gender, he considers her transgender in North American localizations, but cis in Japan.

A later appearance by Poison as a playable character in Final Fight Revenge, an American-produced 3D fighting game spinoff of Final Fight, portrayed the character in a highly feminine manner and had her romantically interested in Final Fight hero Cody. Commentary about her ending in the game in All About Capcom suggested that the character may have received sex reassignment surgery. The Final Fight-related character profiles featured in Capcom Classics Collection instead allude to her being a cross-dresser, while addressing Roxy as a "she" who dislikes Poison's cross-dressing.{{cite video game| title = Capcom Classics Collection Vol. I| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom| level = Final Fight biographies| quote = Roxy grew up in the same LA orphanage as Poison. She always looked up to Poison although she doesn't really dig the cross-dressing thing. |date=2005-09-27}}

Street Fighter IV{{'}}s producer Yoshinori Ono, when asked in an interview about Poison's gender, stated: "Let's set the record straight: In North America, Poison is officially a post-op transsexual woman. But in Japan, she simply tucks her business away to look female."{{cite magazine |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |date=January 2008 |title=The Big Comeback |page=68|issue=224|last=Leone|first=Matt}} He later emphasized it again when asked about what female characters could be included in the game Street Fighter IV, stating that it would be too confusing to include her due to the region-specific gender.{{cite web |url=http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/19310 |title=Street Fighter IV Producer interview |publisher=GameVideos |date=2008-06-06 |access-date=2009-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718013640/http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/19310 |archive-date=18 July 2012 }} However, in a 2011 interview with Electronic Gaming Monthly at the Tokyo Game Show, he stated that Capcom "doesn't have a stance technically", and while they wouldn't give an official answer, felt it was up to the viewer to decide. He added that his intent was to please all fans and that the mystery behind her gender was the core of the character. During the same interview, a Capcom representative further added that they worked closely with GLAAD, an organization concerned with the portrayal of LGBT people in media, to ensure "anything that might be offensive has been very tailored to not be" for Poison's portrayal in Street Fighter X Tekken.{{cite web |url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/egm-interviewyoshinori-ono/ |title=EGM Interview: Street Fighter X Tekken's Yoshinori Ono |author=Patterson, Eric L. |date=2011-10-10 |access-date=2014-02-02 |publisher=Electronic Gaming Monthly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104174455/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/egm-interviewyoshinori-ono/ |archive-date=2015-01-04}}

Introduced in the original Final Fight, Poison is an orphan from Los Angeles. She enjoys fighting and uses it as a means to stay in shape,{{cite video game| title = Capcom Classics Collection Vol. I |date=2005-09-27| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom| level = Final Fight biographies| quote = Poison grew up in a Los Angeles orphanage. Even though Poison is a guy he chooses to wear women's clothing. He, err, she even feels that fighting is the best way to stay in shape and maintain her looks.}} making use of her ties with the original Mad Gear Gang to keep herself out of prison.{{cite book |title =Final Fight Revenge, instruction manual | section =Poison character profile | publisher =Capcom | date =2000-05-30 | quote =Poison had been a Bad Girl, a really Bad Girl. And she did NOT want to spend any amount of time behind bars. But, what could she do to avoid that situation? She could always give up the Mad Gear and the life of crime that went with it. But, it was so much FUN! Playing cat and mouse with the cops, making them bow and scrape before her when they thought that they had "caught" her, only to be confronted with Damnd, Andore and the rest of the Gang. But lately, the gang haven't been showing up to help out... }} In Final Fight Revenge, her behavior was represented as womanly and sultry, ranging from flirtatious comments to pole dancing. She frames Cody for her assault crimes and gets him arrested by Edi. E, though she later visits him in jail having developed romantic feelings for him.{{cite video game|title=Final Fight Revenge |developer=Capcom |publisher=Capcom |date=2000-03-20 |platform=Sega Saturn |level=Poison ending |quote=Fearful of serving time, Poison and friends develop a plot to frame Cody for their crimes." / Poison: "He'll never love anyone but Jessica anyway. Unless... }} In the Street Fighter III series, she reappears working as a wrestling manager for her friend Hugo, who could not find a tag team partner due to his immense strength. From here their plots would focus on the two searching for a tag partner or starting their own wrestling association, echoed in their SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos appearance.SNK Playmore. SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos. SNK Playmore. Level/area: Pre-match dialogues between Hugo and opponents. Poison later appeared as a playable character alongside Hugo in Street Fighter X Tekken with similar goals,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-pu00L29Pk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/M-pu00L29Pk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Street Fighter xTekken SD ComicCon 2011 Gameplay Trailer|publisher=Capcom|date=2011-07-21|access-date=2011-07-21}}{{cbignore}} and in Ultra Street Fighter IV, in which she combined the concept with a rock band theme in her character ending.{{cite video game| title = Ultra Street Fighter IV| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom| level = Poison epilogue |access-date=2015-10-09 |date=2014-04-18}} In Street Fighter V, Poison returns to Metro City after Hugo and she have a falling-out, searching for a new partner she can make a star to little success. Ultimately, she and Hugo reconcile and become partners once again.{{cite video game| title = Street Fighter V| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom| level = Poison epilogue |access-date=2019-08-08 |date=2019-08-05}}

Poison was also planned to appear both in Capcom Fighting All-Stars and Final Fight Streetwise, though the first game was canceled and she was cut from the second. In Mighty Final Fight, a chibi parody of the character named "Poison Kiss" appears as a generic enemy, a corrupt cop and characterized as her younger sister.{{cite book |title=Mighty Final Fight, instruction manual | date=July 1993 |section=Character bios |author=Capcom |publisher=Capcom}} Poison has also appeared based on her role as Hugo's manager on cards for SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and the game's Nintendo DS sequel, as well as the related physical trading card game Versus TCG.{{cite video game |title=SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash |scene=Card Gallery |platform=NeoGeo Pocket Color|date=1999-11-21 |developer=SNK}}{{cite web |url=http://www.auction.co.jp/mem1/item/mem_itm_item.asp?LOT=206464 |title=VERSUS TCG SNK vs CAPCOM カードファイターズ マネージメント ac-043U |language=ja |publisher=Wanted Internet Group |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050119070352/http://www.auction.co.jp/mem1/item/mem_itm_item.asp?LOT=206464 |archive-date=2005-01-19 }} In other titles she makes stand-alone appearances, such as on cards for browser game Onimusha: Soul and GungHo Online Entertainment{{'}}s mobile game TEPPEN,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201308150029/ |language=Japanese |title=「鬼武者Soul」絢爛カプコンヒロインズが2週連続再配信！8月22日より「ファイナルファイト」も参戦 |date=2013-08-15 |accessdate=2023-05-26 |website=Gamer}}{{cite web |url=https://teppenthegame.com/en/cards/packs/2022/ocs/ |website=TEPPEN |title=Operation Cannon Spike |accessdate=2023-05-14 |archive-date=15 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515030451/https://teppenthegame.com/en/cards/packs/2022/ocs/ |url-status=live }} and as a selectable character in TOPJOY's roleplaying game Street Fighter: Duel, the latter of which also features an alternate version called "Street Poison" in a stylized police uniform.{{cite web |url=https://jieba.qq.com/cp/a20191010yuyue/index_pc.html |language=Chinese |accessdate=2023-05-14 |website=Street Fighter: Duel |title=《街霸：对决》手游预约站-腾讯游戏 |archive-date=16 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616002146/https://jieba.qq.com/cp/a20191010yuyue/index_pc.html |url-status=live }}

In the original Final Fight, Poison and Roxy both utilized standing and acrobatic flip-kicks to attack the player.{{cite video game| title = Capcom Classics Collection: Reloaded| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom|date=2006-10-24| level = Final Fight design artwork (in Japanese)}} As one of the fighters in Final Fight Revenge, her moveset was expanded heavily, and she was armed with a whip. The whip is used primarily in her Cat Claw and Thunder Whip attacks (which are comparable to Shoryuken/Shinryūken styled attacks, respectively), and can be used to steal a weapon from the opponent. Additionally, her handcuffs can be thrown as a horizontal projectile move to immobilize the opponent for a short time.

One particular Final Fight Revenge attack, Poison Kiss, has her blow a large heart-shaped kiss at the opponent that travels in a sine wave path. If it connects, a quick peep show of Poison in several erotic poses is displayed, and afterwards the opponent is shown stunned with hearts dancing over their head.{{cite book |title=ALL ABOUT カプコン対戦格闘ゲーム 1987-2000 (All About Capcom Head-To-Head Fighting Game 1987-2000) |page=264 |isbn=4-88554-676-1 |language=ja |last=スタジオベントスタッフ |author2=スタジオベントスタッフ |others=スタジオベントスタッフ |year=2000 |publisher=スタジオベントスタッフ}} Defeating an opponent with this attack results in Poison doing a pole dance for her win pose, with her whip serving as the pole.{{cite web |author=Kalata, Kurt |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/finalfight/finalfight2.htm |title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Final Fight - The Story of Poison |work=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=2010-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120010918/http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/finalfight/finalfight2.htm |archive-date=2007-11-20}} Though not playable in the beta test of Capcom Fighting All-Stars,{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/images/games/capcom-fighting-all-stars-arcade-489201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615003119/http://www.ign.com/images/games/capcom-fighting-all-stars-arcade-489201 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2012 |title=Capcom Fighting All-Stars Pictures|publisher=IGN |access-date=2015-09-03}} promotional material released by Capcom for the title show that this move would have been retained for her gameplay.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2002/09/19/capcom-fighting-all-stars-arcade-2002-09-19-1 |title=Trailer Part 1 for Capcom Fighting All Stars |date=19 September 2002 |publisher=IGN |access-date=2015-09-03 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925010933/http://www.ign.com/videos/2002/09/19/capcom-fighting-all-stars-arcade-2002-09-19-1 |url-status=live }} However, in Ultra Street Fighter IV, her Poison Kiss follows up with several slaps and a groin kick when it hits the opponent, similar to her Cross Art move from Street Fighter X Tekken.{{cite book |title=Ultra Street Fighter IV Bible |publisher=BradyGames |page=435 |date=August 2014 |isbn=978-0744015492}}

As for the Street Fighter series, starting from Street Fighter X Tekken, Poison has a unique moveset of her own that mixes agile pro wrestling techniques and her own streetfighting abilities. Poison's standard throws include a multi-hitting slap and a Frankensteiner, Aeolus Edge and Kissed By a Goddess which are the names of her Fireball and Shoryuken-like moves, and Whip of Love which is a multi-hitting whip attack and is done in a similar fashion to Fei Long's Rekkas. Her famous flip kick from the original Final Fight games appears as a special called Love Me Tender. After the flipping axe-kick, Poison can follow this move up with a reverse Frankensteiner (Poison-Rana). In addition, Poison's Super Art is called Love Storm, and starts with her charging a large version of Aeolus Edge. Once it hits, she flips into the air and lands with a hard hitting axe kick that stuns the opponent in a prone position. Afterwards, she repeatedly smacks the opponent with her horsewhip and delivers a final blow that knocks them into the air. Poison also retained her signature backflip from the original game.{{cite video game| title = Street Fighter X Tekken| developer = Capcom| publisher = Capcom|access-date=2015-10-11 |date=2012-03-06}}{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/poison-highlights-the-latest-character-reveal-for-stree-5823616 |title=Poison Highlights the Latest Character Reveal for Street Fighter X Tekken |last=Owen |first=Good |website=Kotaku |date=2011-07-21 |accessdate=2023-05-07 |archive-date=7 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507114625/https://kotaku.com/poison-highlights-the-latest-character-reveal-for-stree-5823616 |url-status=live }} For Street Fighter V, her gameplay was changed to emphasize a long-range moveset, with a key focus being to set her apart from similar characters in the game by incorporating her whip into combos and standing attacks.

When Final Fight was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, an American playtester working for Capcom reviewed the content during the localization process with one of the Japanese designers and objected to the protagonist hitting women. While Akira Yasuda pointed out that the characters had already been made into trans women, believing this to be an acceptable compromise, Poison and Roxy were replaced with regular male punks named "Billy" and "Sid" in the English localization despite his objections.{{cite book|title=Game Over|last=Sheff|first=David|author-link=David Sheff|isbn=0-9669617-0-6|publisher=Cyberactive Media Group Inc|year=1999|page=225|quote=With Capcom USA, Phillips's team edited some of the grislier games that came in from its Japanese parent company, although Capcom's own censors weeded out the most offensive touches...When a Capcom USA representative suggested that it was tasteless to have the game's hero beat up a woman, a Japanese designer responded that there were no women in the game. 'What about the blonde named Roxy?' the American asked. The designer responded, 'Oh, you mean the transvestite!' Roxy was given a haircut and new clothes.}} This change has been repeated with every English port to Nintendo consoles, including the Game Boy Advance version Final Fight One and the Wii's Virtual Console.{{cite web |author=Wolpaw, Erik |date=2001-10-11 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/finalfightone/review.html |title=Final Fight One for Game Boy Advance Review |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-date=16 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416081941/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/finalfightone/review.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|author=Navarro, Alex |date=2007-05-09 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/finalfight/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review |title=Final Fight for Wii Review |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010011126/http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/finalfight/review.html |archive-date=10 October 2007 |url-status=dead }} English versions of the Sega CD port censored the characters in a different manner, redrawing both of them with longer shirts and shorts and covering the under-cleavage shown when the characters were struck.

In print media, Poison is also featured frequently in UDON Entertainment's Street Fighter comic series, where according to Director of Publishing Matt Moylan she is considered transgender.{{cite tweet |last=Moylan |first=Matt |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530051738/https://twitter.com/LilFormers/status/1266425435606450177 |archivedate= 2020-05-30|user=LilFormers |number=1266425435606450177 |title=Poison is trans in the UDON comics. In the games it has changed over the years, but currently her status is officially a mystery.}} Introduced in the sixth issue of Street Fighter II Turbo, she appears at the qualifier for the world martial arts tournament, where the rules are changed and instead of just fighting each other they must locate one of several invites to the tournament before the building explodes.{{Cite comic | writer = Ken Sui-Chong| penciller = Jeffery "Chambra" Cruz| title = Street Fighter II Turbo|issue=6 |date = May 2009| publisher = UDON Entertainment}} After finding an invite, she is stopped by Cody who insults her by saying she isn't "much of a lady", causing her to fly into rage. She defeats him by handcuffing him to an elevator going up, but is defeated herself by another entrant before she can claim the invite.{{Cite comic | writer = Ken Sui-Chong| penciller = Jeffery "Chambra" Cruz| title = Street Fighter II Turbo|issue=7 |date = July 2009| publisher = UDON Entertainment}} In the second volume Super Street Fighter, a collection of short stories, she appears alongside Hugo preparing for a match against the wrestler Rainbow Mika. However, Hugo finds Mika "too pretty" and refuses to fight, causing Poison to take his place. Poison handcuffs Mika during the match, but is defeated when Mika instead somersaults butt-first into her midsection, knocking Poison unconscious.{{Cite comic | writer = Jim Zub| penciller = Rob Robaato Porter| title = Super Street Fighter|issue=2|pages=67-72 |date = March 2015| publisher = UDON Entertainment}} In Street Fighter Unlimited, both her and other members of Mad Gear are invited to Gill's fighting tournament, skeptical of his self-proclaimed god.{{Cite comic | writer = Ken Sui-Chong| penciller = Edwin Huang| title = Street Fighter Unlimited|issue = 7| date = June 2016| publisher = UDON Entertainment}} After Gill reveals himself to be a villain, she fights alongside the other participants to take him down.{{Cite comic | writer = Ken Sui-Chong| penciller = Joe Ng| title = Street Fighter Unlimited|issue = 11| date = October 2016| publisher = UDON Entertainment}}

In manga, Poison appears in the first volume of the Street Fighter III: Ryu Final manga by Masahiko Nakahira, encountering protagonist Ryu in Germany while he's in need of money for food. Proposing a three minute match against Hugo in front of a crowd to earn money, Ryu agrees, and after Poison encourages Hugo the two men fight. Hugo and Ryu knock each other out by the end of the match, and after they recover Poison splits the earnings and the pair bids Ryu farewell.{{cite book |title=Street Fighter III: Ryu Final |volume=1 |date=December 2007 |publisher=Udon Entertainment |isbn=978-1897376553 |last=Nakahira |first=Masahiko}} They later return in the second volume, with Poison overseeing Hugo's match against muay thai fighter Sagat.{{cite book |title=Street Fighter III: Ryu Final |volume=2 |date=April 2008 |publisher=Udon Entertainment |isbn=978-1897376546 |last=Nakahira |first=Masahiko}} She also briefly appears in issue 74.5 of the manga series Kengan Ashura, as one of the fighters representing the "Capcom Association" present to watch Ryu fight the protagonist Ohma Tokita.{{cite book |title=Kengan Ashura Vol.9 |isbn=9784091252340 |last=Yabako |first=Sandrovich |page=186 |date=2014-08-18 |publisher=Shogakukan |language=Japanese}} The event is later suggested to be a dream that Ohma had.{{cite book |title=Kengan Ashura Vol.10 |isbn=9784091254788 |last=Yabako |first=Sandrovich |page=200|date=2014-10-17 |publisher=Shogakukan |language=Japanese}}

File:Poison-4.png

Poison has been featured in various promotional Street Fighter related artworks,{{cite book |author=Capcom staff |title=Capcom Design Works: Early Days |year=2000 |publisher=Enterbrain |isbn=978-4-7577-0412-1 |pages=45, 158 |language=ja}} as early as Street Fighter II.{{cite book |author=Capcom Sound Team Alph Lyla |url=http://fightingstreet.com/folders/artworkfolder/artworkpages/sf_art_pages/sfii_art_pages/sfiiww_art_pages/sfiiww_bwart2.html |title=Capcom-004: Street Fighter II Complete File |publisher=Capcom |date=1992-11-15 |format=CD/booklet |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-date=23 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423091633/http://fightingstreet.com/folders/artworkfolder/artworkpages/sf_art_pages/sfii_art_pages/sfiiww_art_pages/sfiiww_bwart2.html |url-status=live }} Additionally she has been used as a cameo character three times in the Street Fighter Alpha series. In terms of merchandise, an immovable model was being made for the 2008 Capcom Girls Collection line of figurines by Mitsumasa Yoshizawa, using her Final Fight attire and at 1/6 height, standing nearly 11 inches tall.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/notag/final-fights-poison-brings-daisy-dukes-to-collector-shelves-298280.php | last = McWhertor | first = Michael | title=Short Shorts Watch: Final Fight's Poison Brings Daisy Dukes To Collector Shelves |publisher= Gawker|work=Kotaku |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104040147/http://kotaku.com/298280/final-fights-poison-brings-daisy-dukes-to-collector-shelves?tag=gamingnotag |archive-date=2012-01-04 |date=2007-09-10 |access-date=2007-10-10}} A similar model was released later on, identical to the previous figurine except with her giving a thumbs down gesture and darker colors.{{cite web |url=http://www.hobbyfan.com/product_info.php?products_id=4499 |title=Prepainted 1/7 Final Fight Poison - Reflect (Colored) Anime PVC, Figures, and Models |publisher=HobbyFan |access-date=2009-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204093542/http://www.hobbyfan.com/product_info.php?products_id=4499 |archive-date=4 December 2008 }} A version with blonde hair was later released as well.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209125841/http://www.animecornerstore.com/cagicobfipob.html |archive-date=9 December 2009 |title=Capcom Girls Collection Final Fight: Poison Black Version 1/7 Scale PVC Figure |url=http://www.animecornerstore.com/cagicobfipob.html |publisher=Robert's Anime Corner Store |access-date=2009-08-16 |url-status=dead }} In Capcom's press kit for the 2010 release of Final Fight: Double Impact, a pink hair spray was included in tribute to the character, with the text describing it as "For men, women, and everything in between."{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom-unity.com/mr2nique/blog/2010/04/09/final_fight:_double_impact_-_press_kit |title=Final Fight: Double Impact - Press Kit |publisher=Capcom |author=Staff |date=2010-04-09 |access-date=2010-12-11 |archive-date=15 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715201020/http://www.capcom-unity.com/mr2nique/blog/2010/04/09/final_fight:_double_impact_-_press_kit |url-status=live }} Capcom later featured her as one of the characters for their Capcom Girls 2011 calendar.{{cite web |url=http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/07/15/capcom_girls_calendar/ |title=Capcom Girls Get Their Own Calendar |date=2010-07-15 |access-date=2010-12-11 |publisher=Andriasang |author=Gantayat, Anoop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117071423/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/07/15/capcom_girls_calendar/ |archive-date=17 November 2010 }}

In February 1991, Gamest magazine named her one of the top fifty characters in video games of 1990, placing her twenty-sixth on their list.{{cite journal |journal=GAMEST |script-title=ja:ゲーメスト大賞 |issue=54 |language=ja |pages=10–16 |first=Zenji |last=Ishii |url=http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~dummy/gamest/magazine/gamest/v054.html |access-date=2009-06-01 |archive-date=18 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518192249/http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~dummy/gamest/magazine/gamest/v054.html |url-status=live }} Former Tips & Tricks executive editor Wataru Maruyama cited her design as an example of how an outfit is worn compared to its complexity can make a character memorable and stand out, stating "to use a phrase I don’t particularly like to use, she totally worked it."{{cite web |author=Maruyama, Wataru. |url=http://costumeget.blogspot.com/2006/02/simple-kind-of-wonderful.html |title=Simple kind of wonderful |publisher=Costume GET! |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024130223/http://costumeget.blogspot.com/2006/02/simple-kind-of-wonderful.html |archive-date=2007-10-24 |date=2006-02-27}} Prior to her appearance in Street Fighter x Tekken, GamesRadar named her one of twelve Street Fighter related characters they wished to see in the main series, arguing that her status should not be an issue against her inclusion and that the character deserved another stand-alone appearance of her own.{{cite web |publisher=Future Publishing |work=GamesRadar |access-date=2009-10-02 |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/12-fighters-wed-like-to-see-in-super-street-fighter-iv/a-2009100210244058060 |title=12 fighters we'd like to see in Super Street Fighter IV |author=Reparaz, Mikel |date=2009-10-02 |archive-date=16 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616051935/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/12-fighters-wed-like-to-see-in-super-street-fighter-iv/a-2009100210244058060 |url-status=live }} Complex complained about her portrayal, stating since Final Fight she was reinvisioned as "just a slutty girl whose main fighting technique borderlines on pimp slapping your opponent and shaking your breasts".{{cite web | url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/poison-final-fight-tekken-vs-street-fighter | title=The 15 Most Stereotypical Characters in Video Games | date=9 May 2012 | work=Complex | publisher=Complex Media | access-date=4 May 2014 | archive-date=17 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617204333/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/poison-final-fight-tekken-vs-street-fighter | url-status=live }} In contrast Joystiq named her their favorite character of the Final Fight series, stating that her "hypersexualized appearance and random flipping" made the character memorable, and that the controversy over her gender made the character even more so.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/that-girl-is-poison/ |title=That 'girl' is Poison |work=Joystiq |publisher=AOL |access-date=2010-12-11 |date=2007-12-12 |author=Fletcher, J. C. |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183951/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/that-girl-is-poison/ |url-status=live }} Maddy Myers in an article for Paste stated she felt a kinship for Poison despite her controversies, enjoying the domme aspects of the character and adding that detractors focusing on an male gaze emphasis "would be clutching their pearls past the breaking point to see how Ultra Street Fighter 4 lovingly lingers on Poison’s backside."{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/femme/femme-doms-of-videogames-bayonetta-doesnt-care-if |last=Myers |first=Maddy |date=2014-10-30 |accessdate=2023-07-07 |title=Femme Doms of Videogames: Bayonetta Doesn't Care If She's Not Your Kink |website=Paste |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162114/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/femme/femme-doms-of-videogames-bayonetta-doesnt-care-if |url-status=live }}

As the exact nature of Poison's status as gender-variant has been left deliberately ambiguous by Capcom, the topic has remained a popular subject for debate among fans and gaming media alike.{{cite web |author=McWhertor, Michael |date=2007-12-12 |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/capcom/final-fights-poison-the-final-word-on-gender-333130.php |title=Final Fight's Poison: The Final Word on Gender |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-date=19 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419180410/http://kotaku.com/gaming/capcom/final-fights-poison-the-final-word-on-gender-333130.php? |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Staff |date=2002-09-19 |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/371/371493p1.html |title=Capcom Fighting All-Stars Preview |publisher=IGN |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-date=14 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014121645/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/371/371493p1.html |url-status=live }} Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s Eric L. Patterson described her as being a significant character to the trans community, and a perfect example of how it is "so awkward when it comes to knowing how to deal with characters who aren't white, male, and heterosexual" in video games. Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek described Capcom's intended workaround to get past Nintendo censors as "pretty fucked up", though added praise for how she was presented since, stating "Capcom actually did right by not making that a punchline. Poison continued to show up in stuff, and they let her have an identity that stepped away from all of that."{{cite web |first=Gavin |last=Jasper |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/street-fighter-characters-ranked/ |date=2019-02-22 |title=Street Fighter Characters Ranked |website=Den of Geek |accessdate=2023-04-30 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407014634/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/street-fighter-characters-ranked/ |url-status=live }} GamesRadar in turn commented "Poison holds a distinction as one of gaming’s first trans characters, which began as a strange choice in localization but has become a part of the character that she wears with pride. If you take issue with it, that’s your problem, not hers. It's that kind of confidence that makes her so appealing."{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/30-best-capcom-characters/|title=The 30 best Capcom characters of the last 30 years|date=25 June 2013|work=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing|access-date=4 May 2014|archive-date=4 May 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140504115950/http://www.gamesradar.com/30-best-capcom-characters/|url-status=live}} In an article examining every Street Fighter character Paste acknowledged the controversy, but instead focused on her character, stating "Capcom might not be able to ever set the record on her story, but the only one that needs telling is that Poison is a powerful and compelling character in every appearance she's made."{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/ranking-every-street-fighter-character-part-3/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121122805/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/ranking-every-street-fighter-character-part-3/?p=2 |archivedate=2022-01-21 |date=2016-03-15 |title=Ranking Every Street Fighter Character Part 3 |accessdate=2023-05-07 |website=Paste |last2= Van Allen |first2=Eric |last1=Vazquez |first1= Suriel}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|}}

{{Street Fighter series}}

Category:Characters designed by Akira Yasuda

Category:Female characters in video games

Category:Fictional American people in video games

Category:Fictional characters from Los Angeles

Category:Fictional criminals in video games

Category:Fictional managers

Category:Fictional gang members

Category:Fictional transgender women

Category:Fictional whip fighters

Category:Final Fight characters

Category:Street Fighter characters

Category:Transgender characters in video games

Category:Video game characters introduced in 1989