Kirigi (DC)
Kirigi is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Kirigi was a male human born in the modern age where he came to be a master of the deadly martial arts. At some point, he came to establish his home within the Paektu-San Mountains of North Korea where he had a monastery that was difficult to reach. It was known that he would take in any disciples that sought him out regardless of their motives and teach them the various killing techniques if they found the means to access the monastery. It was known that he also taught ninjutsu to members of the League of Assassins who used them in their various kills. It was around 10 years ago that a young Bruce Wayne came to learn of the legendary Kirigi. This saw him spending several days in search for the man where he combed through the mountain range before finding his monastery. (Batman v1 #431) 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)
Whilst at the home of Thaddeus Gladden, batman came to find the man had been murdered and the people responsible were the League of Assassins. The killers were still present at the scene where they ambushed him but the Dark Knight managed to take down most of them except for the leader. Their leader was noted for being a good fighter which necessitated Batman using a modified version of the vibrating palm strike taught to him by Master Kirigi. Normally, the technique was used to kill a person but Batman had rendered his attacker unconscious instead. However, the fight made him realise that the assassins had also been trained by his former teacher. Several days later, Batman returned to North Korea to meet with his old mentor to confront him about his role in the deaths perpetrated by his students. Kirigi though showed no moral blame as he simply taught his techniques and cared not for the motivation of his disciples. In fact, he questioned Batman that he never asked the reasons for Bruce reasons for learning martial arts to which Wayne responded that maybe Kirigi should have done so before departing the monastery. (Batman v1 #431)
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
Kirigi showed no moral judgements on his part as all he was cared about was teaching his deadly martial arts. He cared not for the motivation or the goals of his students. Thus, he bared no guilt if his disciples had killed even innocent people. (Batman v1 #431)
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)
He came to make his home at a monastery located in the Paektu-San Mountains in North Korea. The doors to the monastery had a particular set of knobs that had to be rotated in a certain pattern in order to open them. Sometimes, travellers would fail numerous attempts at opening the doors before finally succeeding and gaining entry into the building. (Batman v1 #431)
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
Video games
- In Arkham Origins, Kirigi appeared in the setting of the action video game where he was introduced in the "Initiation" DLC and 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. Before he becomes Batman, Bruce Wayne approaches his dojo in the mountains of North Korea and asks Kirigi to train him. Kirigi lets him train with him and his students for a while out of pity and later tests him to see if he is worthy. Depending on how the player operates Bruce Wayne during this performance, there are three different endings after Bruce Wayne defeats Lady Shiva. If the player completes the challenge map with less than nine medals, Kirigi states that Bruce is the best foreigner that he has trained, yet he does not say much. Kirigi then sends Bruce to find a bucket and broom to clean the latrines. If the player completes the challenge map with nine or more medals, Kirigi is impressed with Bruce's progress, yet states that he still has a lot to learn. For the time being, Kirigi then sends Bruce to find a rag to clean the floors. If the player completes the challenge map with all 15 medals, Kirigi states to Bruce that he is impressed and also states that he is rarely impressed. Upon telling Bruce that he has gained his dojo's respect and proven himself worthy, Kirigi states that he will be given the information that he seeks. Bruce is sent to the kitchen by Kirigi to prepare tea for him and all of Kirigi's students where there was much to discuss.
Appearances
- Batman v1: (1989)
- Detective Comics v1:
- Batman: The Knight v1: (2022)
External Links
This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.
