Shi (comics)

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 (Ana Ishikawa) is a fictional comic book character created by writer/illustrator William Tucci. Her origin story and biographic details are found in the various issues listed as footnote. She first appeared in Razor Annual #1 (1993) and has appeared in numerous books by various publishers ever since, most notably the publisher Crusade Comics. Shi is a young woman of mixed descent (Japanese and American). Japanese culture is deeply embedded in the storyline. The word shi literally translates to death (死) in Japanese, and Shi's signature weapon is the naginata.

The comic series often touches on spiritual issues, especially as they pertain to Shi's mixed background: a combination of Yamabushi warrior monk traditions and Christianity.

Fictional character biography

Ana's father, Shiro, was a Japanese warrior; her mother, Catherine, is an American Catholic missionary. As a child, Ana witnessed the brutal murder of her father and brother at the hands of Masahiro Arashi, an upstart Yakuza thug. Following this horrifying incident, Ana was consequently spirited away and raised by her grandfather, Yoshitora, amongst the sacred temples of Kyoto. Yoshitora secretly trained Ana in the ways of the sohei (warrior monks of feudal Japan), so that she could seek out Arashi and avenge the deaths of her father and brother.

Arashi wanted to impress the leaders of the Osaka crime syndicate and left a calling card with every murder he committed—a simple coin engraved with the kanji for death; shi. Whilst holding onto the coins left with the bodies of her father and brother, Ana developed a vengeful obsession, as she completely gave herself to shi, becoming the living embodiment of Death. Ana swore revenge on the Yakuza and set out to become one of the deadliest assassins in the world. In order to disguise herself, Ana painted her face white to resemble Tora No Shi (also known as Tiger of Death), a legendary female warrior of medieval Japan. Ana acquired the name Shi because of her ferocity and ruthlessness.

However, Ana was deeply affected by her mother's Catholic teachings; she soon faced a dilemma between her programmed mission of revenge and the Christian faith she secretly harbored. Once her parents' killer, Arashi, was sent to prison, Ana renounced killing and became the manager of an art gallery in New York. From time to time, she still takes on her Shi personality if necessary.

Even with the duality that rages in Ana's soul, she will not allow herself to succumb to the death demon that terrorizes her. In the end, it is Ana's faith and the ethereal visions of her sohei ancestors that shepherd her along the way of the warrior.

Powers and abilities

Ana was trained by her grandfather in the ways of the sohei. As such, she is a skilled martial artist and swordsperson, the naginata being her weapon of choice.

Merchandise

Through William Tucci's Crusade Fine Arts, Shi has been printed in four languages and has sold more than 4 million copies. There have been earnings of over 25 million dollars for prints, toys and other merchandise worldwide, and several international creative and printing awards have been accorded.

A series of limited edition 1/6 scale figures was released by Executive Replicas in 2017.

Return of the Warrior

Tucci is currently writing and illustrating the 48 page graphic novel Shi: Return of the Warrior, which sets Ana Ishikawa, now a single parent raising her teenage daughter Hotaru, in the present and twenty years removed from the events of her debut series The Way of the Warrior. It will be published by Crusade in November 2017.

Film adaptation

In 2017, the Shi motion picture was optioned by Producer Mimi Polk Gitlin.

Publications

References

Reviews

• Year of the Dragon #1, #2 and #3
• Poisoned Paradise #1 and #2

External links

• A short biography

• Avatar Press