Created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Bob Brown, the character first appeared in Daredevil #111 (July 1974).
[2] The character has appeared in several X-Men-related animated series and video games, as well as Hit-Monkey, voiced by Noshir Dalal.
Kenuichio Harada debuted in Daredevil #111 (July 1974), created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Bob Brown.
A Japanese mutant who uses his powers to charge his katana, his samurai-style armor made of a silvery metal led to the Silver Samurai moniker.
[7] After recovering Viper's teleportation ring, he fought Spider-Man again on the set of Saturday Night Live when Stan Lee appeared as a host and encountered the original (2nd season) Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time-Players.
[volume & issue needed] Harada was operating as the chief security officer for the Prime Minister of Japan.
[18] The Silver Samurai was abducted, incarcerated in the Raft prison in America without trial, and official records stated he was dead.
They wanted him to lead the Hand and unite the Japanese criminal underworld, hoping he could take on shadowy figures controlling both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Wolverine's memories were recovered due to the events of House of M and asked Silver Samurai questions about the past during the course of their fight.
[23] He later appeared in Hell blaming Wolverine for the recent deaths of people and was beheaded by Marduk Kurios's Soulcutter after speaking.
Tim Webber of Comic Book Resources named Silver Samurai one of Wolverine's most iconic villains.
It was revealed that the Silver Samurai and Wolverine met each other in Japan, some time before Logan rescued Mariko from thugs.
He was aware of the existence of Psylocke, a rare telepath, but how the Silver Samurai was convinced to join Magneto's X-Men in the first place was not explained.
Originating from Earth-172, the Silver Samurai appeared to have a nice relationship between Mariko Yashida and that Earth's Wolverine who was a briefly seen member of the reality-hopping counterpart team of the Exiles called Weapon X. Wolverine had vanished out of their sight for months to join the said team, and was later killed in action and returned by the Exiles to his home world.
The Silver Samurai and Mariko of that alternate world still don't fully know what happened to their version of Wolverine, but honored the man's death with a proper funeral by burning Logan's ashes via cremation.
Alongside the Alliance's "Sun Emperor" and Viper, he attends an international event in The City at Latveria, as part of the Maker's Council.
[36] The Alliance's members are among the leaders that meet after The City closes up with the Maker, Kang, and Howard Stark still inside as they make plans to divide up the North American Union among themselves.
At that time, the Silver Samurai was secretly working for the Kingpin, and upon their final encounter, he assassinated Mariko, whereupon Wolverine killed him in retaliation.