Kirigi (DC)

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Kirigi is a male comic character that features in DC Comics.

Contents

Biography

Origin

Kirigi was a master of ninjutsu living in the Paektu-San Mountains of North Korea. A young Bruce Wayne had sought Kirigi for instruction, gaining some of the skills he would use as Batman. In that story it was also revealed that Kirigi has taught ninjutsu to several members of Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins. After defeating these members of the League, Batman returned to Korea and confronted his old sensei, asking if he was upset that his teachings had been used to murder innocents. Unmoved by Batman's anger, Kirigi replied "For me to be upset would imply some moral judgement on my part. You know me better than that. After all, I did not question your motives when you came to me." (A lack of concern for what students do with their skills that is later seen in Catwoman's sensei, the Armless Master.)

Following nearly a year into his training, Master Kirigi told Bruce that he demonstrated exceptional intelligence and physique. However, he noted that Wayne's traumatic past had made him self-destructive. (Secret Origins of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes v1 #1)

It was later revealed in Suicide Squad that Kirigi had been one of the teachers of Ben Turner, the future Bronze Tiger. Turner approached Kirigi looking for help in controlling his thirst for violence. Kirigi, however, did not help Turner with this at all. Instead he saw in the young martial artist's natural skill a way to better himself. Turner eventually tired of this, and left, eventually finding the help he was looking for with the O-Sensei.

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Takibi Kirigi was a Japanese man who lived in his home country and taught martial arts. This was until one day when one of his students killed Japan's Minister of Justice leading to the authorities blaming Kirigi among other crimes linked to his schools graduates. As a result, he fled his home and came to settle on Paektu Mountain in North Korea where he established a dojang that took in students he trained in martial arts. Over time, he was said to had learn martial arts from all across the world. Eventually, he came to receive a benefactor where their arrangement was that Master Kirigi train the man's assassins and in exchange his dojang would be left alone to operate with impunity over the years. Kirigi came to accept and thus not only taught students seeking to learn martial arts but also assassins for his benefactor. (Batman: The Knight v1 #4)

One day, a young Bruce Wayne came upon the mountain after hearing of the martial arts master and wished to learn his ways. After the initial trial, Wayne was accepted into the dojang and came to learn martial arts but a year into his training the school received students from Kirigi's benefactor. This initially led to conflict with some of his students such as Wayne but the training continued until Kirigi began teaching killing techniques. In response, Wayne decided to end his training under Kirigi who allowed his student to depart after seeing he would not fully master the martial arts. (Batman: The Knight v1 #4)

Overview

Personality and attributes

It was shown that he held no view on how his teachings were used and did not consider the morality behind them. This led to him not questioning his students for their desire in learning his techniques. It was why he never withheld his teachings from either the young Bruce Wayne or the members of the League of Assassins. (Batman v1 #431) According to him, he was not there to judge anything but the techniques themselves as this was his art. (Batman: The Knight v1 #4)

Powers and abilities

Such was his skill that he was considered among the worlds greatest martial art masters. (Batman v1 #431) He was noted to had mastered all manner of fighting styles from across the world. Master Kirigi came to be well regarded as a Japanese master of martial arts and ninjutsu. (Batman: The Knight v1 #4)

One of his noted special moves was the vibrating palm technique that if used properly allowed a user to kill another with a single hand strike. It can be modified to allow the user to simply render another unconscious. (Batman v1 #431) This was a forbidden Chinese technique known as the Dim Mak where a strike when applied perfectly activated several pressure points that could cause cardiac arrest. (Batman: The Knight v1 #4)

Note

  • Kirigi was created by Christopher Priest and Jim Aparo where he made his first appearance in Batman v1 #431 (March, 1989).

In other media

Kirigi.

Video games

  • In Arkham Origins, the character made an appearance in the "Initiation" DLC where he was voiced by actor Kaiji Tang. He was a martial arts master who trained individuals in the arts of ninjitsu and was based at a monastery in the Paektu-San Mountains of North Korea. Among his best student was Lady Shiva and later trained the young Bruce Wayne when he sought to learn the skills to avenge his parent's death. He was impressed with the skills of Wayne but disappointed in his aversion to killing his foes.

Appearances

  • Batman v1: (1989)
  • Detective Comics v1:
  • Batman: The Knight v1: (2022)

External Links

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