Silver Samurai

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Silver Samurai

| image = 250px

| caption = Kenuichio Harada as Silver Samurai as seen in New Avengers #12 (December 2005).
Art by David Finch.

| real_name = Kenuichio Harada
Shingen "Shin" Harada

| species =

| debut = Kenuichio Harada
Daredevil #111 (July 1974){{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |authorlink=Jeff Rovin |title =The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |pages=316–317}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/316/mode/2up]{{cite book |last1=Misiroglu |first1=Gina Renée |last2=Eury |first2=Michael |title=The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood |date=2006 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=9780780809772 |url=https://archive.org/details/supervillainbook0000gina/page/324/mode/2up |language=en}}
Shingen Yashida
Wolverine #1 (Sept. 1982)

| creators = Steve Gerber
Bob Brown

| alliances =

| partners =

| aliases =

| powers = * Master samurai and martial artist

Teleportation ring
Wears a lightweight steel alloy body armor
Extensive knowledge of criminal organizations
Wields katana, shuriken and other weapons
Ability to generate a tachyon field

}}

Silver Samurai is the name of two different supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, both acquaintances of Wolverine.

The character has appeared in several X-Men-related animated series and video games before making its live-action debut in the 2013 film The Wolverine.

Fictional character biography

=Kenuichio Harada=

Kenuichio Harada is the original Silver Samurai.Daredevil #111. Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Daredevil #111 (July 1974), and was created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Bob Brown.{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=330}} A Japanese mutant who uses his powers to charge his katana and wears a samurai-style armor made of a silvery metal, he is the illegitimate son of Lord Shingen, the half-brother of Mariko Yashida, a cousin of Sunfire and Sunpyre, and a nemesis of Wolverine. While he spent most of his existence as a villain, he eventually reformed into a more heroic figure.

=Shin Harada=

Shingen "Shin" Harada, otherwise known as the second Silver Samurai, is Kenuichio Harada's son who is named after Lord Shingen. He had been committing larceny with Amiko Kobayashi.Wolverine vol. 4 #300. Marvel Comics. Shin later worked with Mystique to track down newly awakened mutants to join a cause. He was later recruited by Kade Killgore to be a teacher at the Hellfire Club's Hellfire Academy where he worked as a designer.Wolverine and the X-Men #20. Marvel Comics.Wolverine and the X-Men #31. Marvel Comics. Silver Samurai later appeared as a member of Mystique's fourth incarnation of the Brotherhood of Mutants.All-New X-Men #9. Marvel Comics. During Magneto's fight with the Brotherhood of Mutants on Madripoor, Magneto controlled Silver Samurai into wounding Mystique.The Uncanny X-Men vol. 3 #16. Marvel Comics.

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel", Shingen Harada represented the Yashida Corporation when he attended a meeting at the Universal Bank with Tiberius Stone of Alchemax, Wilson Fisk of Fisk Industries, Sebastian Shaw of Shaw Industries, Darren Cross of Cross Technological Enterprises, Zeke Stane of Stane International, Frr'dox of Shi'ar Solutions Consolidated, and Wilhelmina Kensington of Kilgore Arms where they discussed with Dario Agger about Roxxon Energy Corporation's plans to exploit the Ten Realms of Asgard. When the true motive of the meeting was revealed, Harada attacked Dario and they almost fought, interrupted by the arrival of Exterminatrix of the Midas Foundation, resulting in Dario getting knocked out when declaring herself a new member of their assembly.The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #8. Marvel Comics. He then went to an underwater station in the Southern Ocean, where he attacked the employees until encountering Thor who defeated him by smacking him repeatedly with Mjolnir. He then escaped and joined Exterminatrix in an aerial battle against soldiers attempting to rescue Dario. They later entered Roxxon Corporation HQ, where they encountered the B.E.R.S.E.R.K.E.R.S., a group of Hulk-like superhumans. While the Mindless Ones fought the B.E.R.S.E.R.K.E.R.S., Silver Samurai and Exterminatrix went to Dario's vault, attempting to take the money until Agent Solomon arrived, forcing Exterminatrix to fight the woman while Silver Samurai opened the vault. When the vault was opened, Dario transformed into Minotaur and knocked out Silver Samurai. Then, the floating island the building was located on fell down due to the activation of the Agger Imperative. While S.H.I.E.L.D. evacuated the building, Thor destroyed the island. The villains were later arrested and taken into custody.The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #9–11. Marvel Comics.

Silver Samurai approached Old Man Logan wanting to ally in stopping the Hand's Regenix operation. He agreed in exchange that Mariko doesn't get killed and that Touku and Asami's child is taken care of. When Logan and Silver Samurai attack the Hand's Regenix operations, Silver Samurai fought Gorgon while Logan fought the Hand Ninjas to confront Mariko. After Gorgon got away, Silver Samurai injected nanites into Mariko to break the Hand's control. Afterwards, Logan and Mariko sent Silver Samurai to destroy the Regenix shipments in Madripoor.Old Man Logan #33. Marvel Comics.

Reception

In 2020, CBR.com ranked Silver Samurai 1st in their "Marvel Comics: Ranking Every Member Of Big Hero 6 From Weakest To Most Powerful" list.{{Cite web |last=Avina |first=Anthony |date=2020-01-26 |title=Marvel Comics: Ranking Every Member Of Big Hero 6 From Weakest To Most Powerful |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-comics-ranked-big-hero-6-powerful/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}

In other media

=Television=

The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "The Lotus and the Steel", voiced by Denis Akiyama.{{cite web |date= |title=Silver Samurai Voices (X-Men) |url=https://behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/X-Men/Silver-Samurai/ |access-date=December 19, 2019 |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.}}
Silver Samurai makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men '97 three-part episode "Tolerance Is Extinction".{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Collier |date=May 2, 2024 |title=Each of Those Cameo Appearances in 'X-Men '97's Latest Episode, Explained |url=https://collider.com/x-men-97-episode-8-cameo-characters/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=Collider |language=en}}
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears in the Wolverine and the X-Men episode "Code of Conduct", voiced by Keone Young.
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, voiced by Takanori Nishikawa in Japanese and Andrew Kishino in English.
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears in Marvel's Hit-Monkey, voiced by Noshir Dalal.{{Cite web |last=Chaudhry |first=Anubhav |date=October 17, 2023 |title=Marvel's Hit-Monkey Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Hulu |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/1367681-marvels-hit-monkey-streaming-watch-stream-online-via-hulu |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=ComingSoon.net |language=en-US}}

=Film=

File:Silver Samurai VS Wolverine.png in The Wolverine.]]

Variations of the Silver Samurai appears in The Wolverine (2013).{{cite web |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=80099 |title=SDCC: Hugh Jackman Confirms The Wolverine Villain |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2011-07-21 |access-date=2016-02-18 |archive-date=2014-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105142320/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=80099 |url-status=dead }} The first is the Yashida clan's traditional samurai attire which is donned by Shingen Yashida (portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada).{{cite web|last=Hoare|first=James|title=THE WOLVERINE'S HIROYUKI SANADA ON SHINGEN AND SAMURAI|url=http://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/the-wolverines-hiroyuki-sanada-on-shingen-and-samurai-films/|work=Movies| date=12 July 2013 |publisher=SciFiNow UK|access-date=12 July 2013}} The second is a giant powered exoskeleton made of adamantium operated by former soldier/billionaire Ichirō Yashida (portrayed by Haruhiko Yamanouchi as an old man and Ken Yamamura as a young man).{{cite web |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |url=http://collider.com/wolverine-cast/178330/ |title=WOLVERINE Adds Japanese Actors |publisher=Collider |access-date=2016-02-17 |archive-date=2013-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103052425/http://collider.com/wolverine-cast/178330/ |url-status=dead }}

=Video games=

The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears as a playable character in X-Men: Children of the Atom, voiced by Yasushi Ikeda.
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, voiced again by Yasushi Ikeda.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears as a boss in X-Men: The Official Game, voiced by Keone Young.
The Kenuichio Harada incarnation of Silver Samurai appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Greg |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/20/lego-marvel-super-heroes-characters-and-cast-revealed |title=LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Characters and Cast Revealed |publisher=IGN |date=2013-07-20 |access-date=2016-02-17}} voiced by Andrew Kishino.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}