Lady Deathstrike

Yuriko Oyama is the daughter of Kenji Oyama, a former Japanese kamikaze pilot during World War II whose face was horribly scarred in a failed suicide attack on an American battleship. Later becoming the head of Oyama Heavy Industries, Kenji had Yuriko and her two brothers privately tutored by Marcy Stryker, wife of an American soldier named William Stryker. Kenji felt much shamed by his failure decades earlier, and as a result he ultimately scarred the faces of his three children in a ritual design. Becoming the criminal scientist Lord Dark Wind, Kenji developed a means for bonding the virtually indestructible metal Adamantium to human bone, a procedure he hoped to use in creating an army of super-soldiers for Japan. However, his notes were stolen, and it took him years to rediscover the process.

Yuriko's father, Lord Dark Wind, invented Experiment X—the process of bonding adamantium to bone—which is what help to created Wolverine.

Fueled by revenge of the events surrounding the deaths of her family, she becomes Lady Deathstrike through extensive cybernetic enhancements. Her skeleton is infused with molecules of adamantium, thus transforming into a cyborg and rendering her physically unbreakable. She is distinguished by her ten 12-inch long adamantium claws which replace her fingers and give her the ability to slice through almost anything.

Movie Appearances

X2: X-Men United (2003)

Lady Deathstrike, portrayed by Kelly Hu, plays a significant role as a formidable antagonist. She serves as an assassin for Colonel William Stryker, showcasing her enhanced abilities and adamantium claws in battles against Wolverine. Her character is depicted as a mutant with a healing factor, but she ultimately meets her demise when Wolverine injects her with adamantium, leading to her death.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Lady Deathstrike is set to return in the upcoming film "Deadpool & Wolverine." This time, she will be portrayed by Jade Lai, taking over from Kelly Hu. Although her role is expected to be less prominent than in "X2," she remains a part of the ensemble of iconic X-Men characters being revived for this sequel.

Cameos in Other Media

While not a direct film appearance, Lady Deathstrike is referenced in "X-Men: Days of Future Past" through Sentinels that mimic her abilities. This indicates her ongoing influence within the X-Men cinematic universe, even if she does not appear directly in that film.

TV Appearances

X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)

Lady Deathstrike appears in the two-part episode "Out of the Past," where she is voiced by Jane Luk. In this adaptation, her character is depicted as having a romantic history with Wolverine before becoming a cyborg and joining the Reavers. The storyline explores her quest for vengeance against Wolverine, linking her backstory to her father's involvement in the adamantium bonding process used on Wolverine.

X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003)

Lady Deathstrike appears in the episode titled "Grim Reminder," where she is voiced by Jennifer Hale. In this series, she is portrayed as a member of the Weapon X program, further emphasizing her connection to Wolverine and her role as an antagonist.

Wolverine and the X-Men (2009)

Lady Deathstrike appears in this animated series, where she is again depicted as a member of the Weapon X program and a foe of Wolverine.

Notable Comic Appearances

One of the most recent comic book series that regularly featured Yuriko Oyama, also known as Lady Deathstrike, was the "Wolverines" series from 2015. Specifically, Lady Deathstrike appeared throughout the "Wolverines" series, which ran for 20 issues. She was featured in most issues of this series, with the exception of issue #3 and a couple of others.

Some other relatively recent appearances of Lady Deathstrike include:

"X-Men" #7-9 (2014): This story arc featured Lady Deathstrike with an upgraded Día de Muertos look in what was described as a "ghost in the machine" type storyline.
"Logan Legacy" #4 (2014): This issue was essentially a solo Lady Deathstrike story.
"Uncanny X-Force" #5.1 (2011): While not as recent, this issue featured a notable moment where Lady Deathstrike stabs Wolverine in the face.

Release Date	Issue(s)	Notes
1983	Daredevil #197	First appearance as Yuriko Oyama, seeking revenge for her father's death.
1986	Alpha Flight #33-34	First appearance as Lady Deathstrike after undergoing cybernetic enhancements, battles with the X-Men and Alpha Flight.
1986	Uncanny X-Men #205	Significant battle with Wolverine; her obsession with adamantium is highlighted.
1987	X-Men Annual #11	Teams up with the Reavers to take on the X-Men, continuing her vendetta against Wolverine.
1990	Wolverine #35-37	Key role in the "Blood and Claws" storyline, showcasing her ongoing vendetta against Wolverine.
1993	X-Men #25	Part of the "Fatal Attractions" storyline, where she fights the X-Men as part of the Acolytes.
1994	Wolverine #77	Confronts Wolverine after he loses his adamantium, emphasizing her deep obsession and vendetta.
2003-2004	Wolverine: The End #1-6	Appears in an alternate future storyline, remaining a thorn in Wolverine’s side even in his old age.
2007-2008	X-Men: Messiah Complex	Participates in the crossover event, aligning with other villains in pursuit of the mutant messiah.
2012	Wolverine #304	Major battle with Wolverine, marking another chapter in their long-running conflict.

Links

Video Game Appearances

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

• Marvel Heroes: Omega • Marvel Strike Force