Katana (comics)

Katana
Cover of Katana #1, textless variant. Art by David Finch.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983)
Created by	Mike W. Barr Jim Aparo
In-story information
Alter ego	Tatsu Yamashiro
Team affiliations	Outsiders Birds of Prey Justice League Suicide Squad
Abilities	Superb martial artist Fully trained samurai (onna bugeisha) warrior Soultaker sword grants: Ability to capture the soul of every being it kills and communicate with that soul, including that of her deceased husband

Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro) is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character made her feature film debut in the 2016 Suicide Squad film, portrayed by actress Karen Fukuhara.

Katana first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #200 (cover-dated July 1983) and was created by writer Mike W. Barr and artist Jim Aparo.

In February 2013, Katana received her own series written by Ann Nocenti and with art by Alex Sanchez. This book is considered by DC as part of the "Fourth Wave" of New 52 titles.Katana lasted for ten issues. The final issue was released on December 11, 2013.

Tatsu Yamashiro (山城 たつ^?) was an average Japanese girl, save for her proficiency in the martial arts, a trait encouraged by her parents. Two brothers—Maseo and Takeo Yamashiro—both proclaimed their love for her. While she liked both, she chose Maseo as her husband. Takeo "did not take this well" and refused to attend the couple's wedding. Maseo disowned his brother, who had joined the Yakuza and taken their mark of a large dragon tattoo across his chest. Tatsu and Maseo, mourning the deaths of Tatsu's parents, started a family of their own. Tatsu gave birth to twins, Yuki and Reiko. Meanwhile, Takeo rose through the Yakuza's ranks and indulged his "exotic tastes" for ancient weapons. He was presented with a pair of matching swords by General Karnz (later henchman to Baron Bedlam), one of which Takeo favored for its mystical properties.