Shi (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shi | |
 Shi |
|
| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Crusade Comics |
| First appearance | Razor Annual #1 (1993) |
| Created by | William Tucci |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Ana Ishikawa |
| Abilities | Skilled martial artist |
Shi is a fictional comic book character created by William Tucci for Crusade Comics. She first appeared in Razor Annual #1 (1993).
Contents |
[edit] Publication history
After her debut in Razor Annual Shi received her own series, Shi: The Way of the Warrior, which ran for 12 issues. The 12 issues were later collected into three trade paperbacks. The first series was followed by several limited mini-series: Shi: Senryaku (1995), Shi: Heaven and Earth (1997), and Shi: Akai (2001).
Shi has also appeared in several crossovers with characters from other publishers, including Lady Death, Daredevil, Vampirella and Cyblade. She is scheduled to appear in War of the Independents, a six-issue crossover mini-series featuring heroes from various publishers; it will be published by Arcana Studios.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Shi is a young woman named Ana Ishikawa. Her father Shiro is a Japanese warrior and her mother Catherine is an American Catholic missionary. After witnessing the death of her father and brother by the Yakuza, she swore revenge on the Yakuza and went out to become one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Ana was trained by her grandfather Yoshitora in the martial arts. In order to disguise herself, she painted her face white in order to resemble Tora No Shi ("Tiger of Death"), a legenday female warrior of medieval Japan. Ana herself gained the name "Shi" ("Death" in Japanese) for her ferocity and ruthlessness. Eventually, her conscience forced her to rein in her bloodthirstyness; once her parent's killer Masahiro was finally sent to prison, Shi renounced killing and became the manager of a New York art gallery. From time to time she still takes on her Shi persona to aid the innocent.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Shi was trained by her grandfather to be a "sohei", a warrior of feudal Japan. As such, she is a skilled martial artist and swordsperson.
[edit] Appearances in other media
A film based on the original "Way of the Warrior" storyline was scheduled to begin production in 2000. William Tucci wrote the script, and Tia Carrere was attached to film to play Shi. However, production was halted and the film was never completed. Tucci continues to work on a possible "Shi" film with producer Mimi Polk Gitlin; no production or release date has been set.
