Hand (Marvel)

Revision as of 15:06, 15 August 2017

The Hand in Daredevil v5 #3.

The Hand are an organization that feature in Marvel Comics.

History

The Hand in Daredevil v1 #309.

Their origins were traced to the year 1575 in Japan to a boy named Kagenobu Yoshioka who had lost his father who was a samurai and his mother had to resort to sexual relations in exchange for money. During this time, his mother was assaulted by a Portuguese merchant who intended to have his way with her but was kill by the young Kagenobu. To save her son, his mother claimed to the authorities that she had killed the foreigner leading to her being executed though the child Yoshioka was taken in by Sensei Saburo Ishiyama of the Ishiyama Sword School. Kagenobu would be at the school for ten years before departing as a ronin in order to see the rest of Japan. (Elektra: The Hand v1 #1) By 1597, his travels had led to him concluding that Japan had fallen under the corruption perpetrated by foreigners and weak leaders. Around this time, his former Sensei Saburo had died and asked Yoshioka to take charge of the school. Whilst there, Kagenobu envisioned the creation of the Hand with their emblem being modeled after his own that was from the bloodied handprint of his mother before she was taken away from him. He would compare the Hand as representing the five islands of Japan that would unify in order to cleanse the land of foreigners. (Elektra: The Hand v1 #2) His recruitment saw him bringing together his teachings and uniting them with five other rebel groups in the country with their hidden goal being the elimination of outsiders from Japan. (Elektra: The Hand v1 #3) Ultimately, the organization would take a life of its own when it turned against Kagenobu after he fell in love with the half-caste Eliza Martinez who was the child of a Japanese woman and a foreigner that Yoshioka had been training at the school. (Elektra: The Hand v1 #5)

At some point, a splinter faction emerged that became an offshoot of the Hand with these warriors taking the name of the True Believers. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #421) Another group that broke from the Hand formed a group called the Fist that wanted bigger and more organized plans that involved bringing down the United States. (Spider-Man 2099 v3 #17)

Junzo Muto of the Hand sought to force K'un-Lun to materialise in Tokyo where he intended to conquer it and use it as a platform to conquer the world. (Iron Fist & Wolverine: The Return of K’Un Lun v1 #1)

Matsu'o Tsurayaba sought to forge an alliance between the Hand and the empire of the Mandarin. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #256)

In an effort to re-organize the Japanese criminal underworld, the Hand sought a partnership with Clan Yashida to further their goals. (New Avengers v1 #12)

After the death of 'Elektra', it was discovered that she was actually a Skrull. With her death, factions erupted that began feuding with one another as the four ninja lords fought one another. (Daredevil v2 #112)

The Hand became tired in what they deemed petty power plays of Fisk and questioned his leadership. This led to the Arbiters reanimating an assassin to destroy the master with him attempting to destroy it to prove his worth. (Savage Wolverine v1 #6)

Attempting to reclaim their property, a number of their ninjas made their way to Chinatown where they struck at the Church of the Sheltered Hand as they targeted the crime boss Tenfingers. (Daredevil v5 #2)

Overview

Ronin vs. the Hand in New Avengers v1 #27.

Leadership of the Hand was held by an individual that held the position of Shogun. Beneath them were the Daimyo that operated as regional warlords. It was said that the five warlords operated as five fingers of the fist that made the Hand unstoppable. Thus, their support was crucial for a Shogun in operating the entire organization. (Daredevil v1 #505)

Killing and distrust were two elements that were a great part of the Hand. (Daredevil v2 #112)

The 4th Chamber were considered among the most loyal and fiercest of the Shinobi warriors of the Hand. (Wolverine: Japan's Most Wanted: Infinite Comic v1 #1) One group within their organization was known as the Underhand that consisted of ninjas that were undead beings. (Thunderbolt v1 #148) Half-dead warriors known as the Fist were beasts created through the infusion of evil mystical energies. They were described as corpse engines that were rarely created as it took a hundred Hand warriors to be sacrificed to the Beast to make a single Fist. (Daredevil v5 #5) Another group was the Nail that were five women chosen from old bloodlines for their fighting prowess and had killed for the Hand for thousands of years. (Shadowland: Daughters of the Shadow v1 #1)

At times when the Hand were discontent with their leader meant that they were able to invoke the ancient ritual of the Arbitration. During such times, Arbiters reanimated cadavers who were tasked with eliminating the ruler whose leadership was in question. If they succeeded in killing the reborn assassin then the leader proved that they were strong enough to continue leading the Hand. Failure meant death and the leader dying in disgrace. (Savage Wolverine v1 #6)

The Hand had knowledge of various mystical arts and magic. One among these was a spell scroll that could be used to control the Zugaikotsu warrior that was the name they gave to the Ghost Rider. However, there was a reason the Hand did not summon him as he did not like being used. (Shadowlands v1 #3) One item used by the Hand were masks that were actually demons in mask form. These entities were worshipped and anyone that wore the 'mask' willingly under the light of he full moon would manifest the demon. (Wolverine: First Class v1 #14)

Japan was held as being the traditional seat of power of the Hand. In Japan, they operated from a fortress called the Jigoku-Chu castle. (Daredevil v1 #505) They maintained a number of resurrection chambers that were used to revive their slain as undead warriors. (Jean Grey v1 #5)

Members

• Izo :
• Kirigi :
• Iron Monk :
• Kuroyama : a male assassin, he was called the Black Mountain. (Elektra v1 #14)
• Lady Bullseye :
• Akuma :
• Junzo Muto :
• Elektra :
• Matt Murdock :
• Hirochi :
• Makoto : large black haired male Daimyo that was in charge of Eurasia operations. (Daredevil v1 #505)
• Takashi : a grey haired male Daimyo that was in charge of Japan operations. (Daredevil v1 #505)
• Yutaka : a male Daimyo wearing a demon mask who was in charge of African operations. (Daredevil v1 #505)
• Bakuto : a young male Daimyo that wore a suit along with guns that was in charge of South American operations. (Daredevil v1 #505)
• Izanagi : former Daimyo of South America who was Bakuto's Sensei but was later killed by his student in secret who replaced him. (Daredevil v1 #505)
• Azumi Ozawa : female Japanese swordswoman who joined the Hand and formed the Nail. (Shadowland: Daughters of the Shadow v1 #1)

Notes

• The Hand were created by writer/artist Frank Miller where they made their first appearance in Daredevil v1 #174 (September 1981).
• In the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Daredevil 2004 v1 #1 (2004), the Hand received an entry in the handbook where it was said to be at least a millennium old ninja assassin guild. They were said to be guided by jonin masters that were under the leadership of the Five who worshipped the demon-god known as the Beast.

Alternate Versions

• In What If? Daredevil Vs. Elektra v1 #1 (2009), an alternate What If world was shown where Daredevil was killed rather than Elektra. The Hand were engaged in a long war against the Chaste where they successfully killed their foes. It was later responsible for taking the dead body of Matt Murdock where they resurrected him as their servant. The now evil Murdock became a warrior who called himself the Advocate where he later took over the organization leading to a confrontation with Elektra who had formed a new incarnation of the Chaste.
• In Daredevil: End of Days v1 (2012), the Church of the Hand appeared in an alternate future where Daredevil had died. Ben Urich went to them in order to find the meaning of Daredevil's last words 'Mapone'. However, this brought him under threat from Hand ninjas that pursued him until he was saved by a new Daredevil along with Punisher.

In other media

Television

The Hand in Netflix's Daredevil.

• In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Hand made a number of appearances in the shared continuity setting.
  • In Daredevil, the Hand (Japanese: Yaminote) were introduced as antagonists in the live-action Netflix television series where the presence was shown prior but they did not appear until the second season. They were named and backstory was mentioned in the episode "Guilty As Sin". It was said that centuries ago that a crime lord had discovered a treasure that revealed the secrets of immortality. With it in their hands, they killed their master and established a criminal organization that existed in the underworld that sought to rule the world. At one point, they murdered the inhabitants of a village with only a boy as the survivor who vowed revenge against the Hand. He then formed the Chaste to counter them and they waged a shadowy war against the Hand. Among the objectives of the Hand was the creation of a Black Sky but these attempts were thwarted by the Chaste. It was revealed that the Black Sky was the god of their prophecies that was expected to lead them to victory with this person being Elektra. In Hell's Kitchen, they were mistaken for the Yakuza and were one of the factions that Wilson Fisk courted in his rise as the Kingpin of crime.
  • In Iron Fist, the Hand appeared in he live-action Netflix television series where they were a secret society operating in the world. The inhabitants of K'un-Lun considered the Hand enemies and trained the Iron Fist as their weapon against it. However, they were considered a fable similar to Satan and his demons. It was revealed that their ability to resurrect people led to the individuals incapable of being killed as they simply returned back to life with each time them becoming more mentally unstable to the point that they killed those closest to them. In New York, they approached the dying Harold Meachum and offered to save him from his cancer by having him die whereupon they resurrected him. This was to keep him under their debt under the condition that he appeared dead to the world and if he broke this rule they threatened to kill his children. The Hand were said to had infested the Rand Corporation and were using it to achieve their hidden goals. They dispatched a warrior to confront the returned Danny Rand where they challenged him to the da jue zhan grand duel.

Films

• In Elektra, the Hand appeared as antagonists in the live-action movie. They were said to be an ancient force of evil that had existed in the war that fought for the Treasure. Its ninjas were clad in black which contrasted them from the Chaste who wore white. When killed, their bodies disappeared in bright green flames and smoke. Members of the Hand that failed in their duty were expected to kill themselves. By modern times, they were led by Master Roshi where among its members included his son Kirigi, Kinkou, Tattoo, Typhoid, and Stone. The Council of the Hand sought to acquire the Treasure that took the form of a young girl named Abby Miller. After the initial failure in getting the Treasure, Kirigi decided to take matters into his own hand and acquire it alongside his fellow elite ninjas.

Video games

• In Marvel Heroes, the Hand appeared as antagonists that battled the players characters. Their leader was Gorgon and Elektra was a master assassin working with them. They were in control of Madripoor until hostilities erupted with HYDRA as both factions sought to claim an ancient stone tablet.

Appearances

• Daredevil:
• Daredevil: Ninja:
• Thunderbolts:
• New Avengers v1':
• Secret Warriors v1:
• Savage Wolverine v1 #6: (2013)
• Avengers World v1:

External Link

• Marvel Wiki Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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