Origins The story begins 800 years ago, in
feudal Japan. Seeking autonomy from the oppressive class system of the time, a few citizens fled into the mountainous regions of
Iga and Kōga. There they developed
ninjitsu, a stealthy
martial art perhaps inspired by
Sun Tzu's
The Art of War. Over a period of centuries, they refined their art in secluded camps. Students trained and practiced the art from birth, playing children's games designed to impart expertise in
unarmed combat,
swordplay,
weaponry,
camouflage, escape, and evasion. Ninjitsu was also designed to encourage spiritual growth by pushing oneself physically and mentally beyond normal human limits. The ninja were experts in
espionage and
assassination, and offered their specialized services to
samurai warlords and others who could afford them. Masters of every form of
subterfuge, the ninja were the most efficient and deadly warriors on the face of the Earth and became feared throughout Japan. Hearsay gave rise to the myth that ninja were the spawn of the
Tengu, and that their divinity gave them extraordinary abilities. These myths were likely spread by the ninja themselves. Nonetheless, it would seem that an ancient ninja clan known as the Snakeroot can and does trace their bloodline back to these demons. In 1588, Kagenobu Yoshioka became
sensei of the Ishiyama Sword School located in the Japanese village of Kyushua. Facing growing frustrations with the corrupt government that had been tainted by foreign influence, Yoshioka transformed the school into a training ground for samurais whose goal was to put power back in the hands of the Japanese people. Thus, the Hand was born. Just as a hand has five fingers, members of the inner circle of the Hand were leaders of organizations which each operated from one of Japan's five islands. Years later, the Hand turned its attention to the leaderless Chaste, once again attempting to destroy them, this time to prevent the Chaste's members from locating the new-born child that would bear Stick's
reincarnated soul. The Hand severely crippled Stick's soldiers, reducing their number to a handful of warriors. The few remaining Chaste traveled to New York, seeking the assistance of Daredevil. Reluctantly, the Man Without Fear aided his former mentor's disciples, returning with them to Japan. Once there, the Hand attacked the Chaste and Daredevil relentlessly. Fighting alongside Daredevil, the Chaste barely managed to escape and safeguard their master's reincarnated spirit. The Hand has also frequently fought with
Wolverine, and come into conflict with
superheroes such as
Spider-Man, the
Avengers, and the
X-Men. The Hand played a large role in the histories of
Betsy Braddock and
Kwannon, the two characters to use the Psylocke moniker. Elektra led the Hand for some time but when she was killed it was revealed that this Elektra was actually a
Skrull, temporarily leaving the Hand without a
warlord. One faction, led by Lord Hiroshi and his lieutenant
Lady Bullseye, has aimed to make Daredevil their new leader, an offer the latter rejected, only to be told that "the Hand doesn't take no for an answer." They then instigated the return of the
Kingpin to New York City, with the goal of offering him the leadership instead. Kingpin's first act in negotiations is to kill Hiroshi with his bare hands, to "thank him" for realizing he cannot escape his role as the Kingpin, and for murdering his girlfriend and her kids. However, the proceedings were interrupted by Daredevil, who accepted their offer, on the condition that the Hand should not do business with the Kingpin or Lady Bullseye again. The three remaining ninja-lords accepted this arrangement. During that time, the Hand gains
Black Tarantula and
White Tiger as members. The Hand plays a major part in the 2010 "
Shadowland" storyline where Daredevil uses the Hand as a force of justice. When
Bullseye attacks his fortress, Daredevil ends up killing him in the same manner as Bullseye did to Elektra. Most of the street-based superheroes (consisting of
Spider-Man,
Iron Fist,
Luke Cage,
Misty Knight,
Moon Knight,
Shang-Chi, and
Colleen Wing) try to reason with Daredevil only for Kingpin and Lady Bullseye to unleash
Ghost Rider upon Shadowland. Daredevil blames them for the diversion and has the Hand attack them. Following a fight with the street-based superheroes who escaped with
Punisher's help, Daredevil states that he will plan to resurrect Bullseye to serve him. He is then approached by Elektra, who apparently swears her allegiance to him. The street-based heroes are visited by Master Izo, who states that the Snakeroot Clan plan to make Daredevil a vessel for the Beast. Later Wing learns from Daredevil that her mother had led a female faction of the Hand called the "Nail". Wing eventually accepts Daredevil's offer to join the Nail. After Daredevil is possessed by the Beast, the heroes gather together to try to fight him themselves. Despite their efforts to interrupt Bullseye's resurrection ceremony, even a direct attack from
Wolverine fails to kill Daredevil. Although Iron Fist heals Daredevil of the 'infection' by using his chi punch to cure Daredevil's soul, Kingpin and Typhoid Mary take advantage of the chaos in the aftermath of the war to take command of the Hand for themselves. Following the 2016 "
Civil War II" storyline, the Hand allies with
Daniel Drumm's ghost. After the funeral of
Bruce Banner, the Hand steals his body for their own uses. The
Uncanny Avengers find where the Hand is performing their ritual and that they have already revived Banner, who appears before them as Hulk wearing samurai armor. During that time, it was revealed that the Beast of the Hand was in control of the Hulk. The Uncanny Avengers sever the Beast control as Hulk is killed once more. When
Old Man Logan faces off against the Hand, he faced their latest member called the Scarlet Samurai. Logan later discovered that Scarlet Samurai is
Mariko Yashida who was resurrected by the Hand to serve them. During the events of the 2022
Punisher series and
Daredevil by
Chip Zdarsky, Frank Castle has become the new leader of the Hand, with Matt Murdock and Elektra embarking to start the Fist, an origination meant to counter the Hand. ==Known members==