Toshio Eto (Super Friends)

Samurai from Super Friends

Samurai (Toshio Eto) first appeared in in feudal Japan after the members of the Justice League were scattered throughout time. This version was an actual samurai named Toshio, giving him some connection to the name. During a battle with Steppenwolf, Toshio was granted elemental abilities by a young sorceress. He battled Superman and Doctor Light before realizing that the time-displaced heroes were his allies, and then worked together with them to defeat Steppenwolf. The two heroes then departed feudal Japan on friendly terms with Toshio.

First Appearance: Crisis on Infinite Earths #5 - Worlds in Limbo

Super Powers

The Samurai usually relied upon a spoken mantra in order to activate his powers.

• Aerokinesis: Kaze no yō ni Hayaku (風のように早く) — The most frequently used of Samurai's powers. All of Samurai's body (except sometimes his head) becomes a powerful tornadic wind that allows him to travel at superspeed and use his winds to pick up objects or blow them around. In later episodes of the series, he would frequently appear with only his lower body transformed into a tornado. The phrase translates to "swift as the wind" and may be a reference to one line of the Fūrinkazan, the battle standard used by the Sengoku period daimyō Takeda Shingen.

• Invisibility: Tōmei Ningen (透明人間) — This allows Samurai to turn invisible. The phrase translates to "transparent man/human".

• Pyrokinesis: Igo Moen (囲碁もえん) — Only used once or twice throughout the series (Journey Into Blackness), Samurai engulfs himself in flames. The first half of the phrase is not proper Japanese, but the second half can be read as "great fire/flame".

• Illusion Casting: Hi ga Moe (火が燃え) - Also used only twice. This allows Samurai to cast illusions in order to fool an enemy. Both times, he created the illusion of fire to frighten his captors.

Abilities

• Karate
• Electronics
• Swordsmanship

Weapons

• Power Sword

Toshio Eto

Appearances on Television

• The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977)
  • Volcano - first appearance
  • Attack of the Killer Bees

• Challenge of the SuperFriends (1978)
  • Wanted: The Superfriends
  • Invasion of the Fearians
  • The World's Deadliest Game
  • The Time Trap
  • Trial of the Superfriends
  • Monolith of Evil
  • The Giants of Doom
  • Secret Origins of the Superfriends
  • Revenge on Gorilla City
  • Swamp of the Living Dead
  • Conquerors of the Future
  • The Final Challenge
  • Fairy Tale of Doom
  • Doomsday
  • Superfriends: Rest in Peace

• 1980 Shorts
  • Journey Into Blackness
  • Termites from Venus

• 1981 Shorts
  • The Warlord's Amulet

• 1983 Shorts
  • Day of the Dinosaurs
  • Video Victims

• SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)
  • Reflections in Crime
  • The Curator
  • Uncle Mxyzptlk

• The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985)
  • The Seeds of Doom
  • The Fear
  • The Case of the Stolen Super Powers (Cameo on the TV screen)
  • The Death of Superman
  • Escape from Space City

Appearances in Comics

• Doomsday Clock Vol 1 7 (Prime Earth)
• Justice League of America 80-Page Giant Vol 2 1 (New Earth)

Appearances in Movies

The Lego Batman Movie At the 57th Anniversary Party of the Justice League, Samurai is dancing on stage when Flash asked Batman to take a picture (45:08). Also see him dancing on the bridge, and then in the Congo line in the background. That is his only appearance.

Samurai I & II (Different Backstory)

• JSA All-Stars Vol 1 7 (New Earth)
• Justice Society of America Vol 3 11 (I, New Earth)
• Justice League of America Vol 2 46 (II, New Earth)