Yuriko Oyama (Earth-616)
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.
Notable 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.{| class="wikitable sortable"
! 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. |}