Kato II

Kato II is the successor to the original Kato, the legendary martial-arts partner of the Green Hornet, introduced in Now Comics' 1989 revival of the franchise. Taking up the mantle, this new Kato continues the tradition of serving as the Hornet's skilled, trusted ally in fighting crime.

Stepping into a legacy role that carries enormous weight, Kato II emerged in 1989 — right at the dawn of Now Comics' acclaimed revival of the Green Hornet mythology — introduced by the creative team of Ron Fortier, Jeff Butler, and Jim Wisniewski in the second issue of that landmark series. Over a remarkable 21-year publishing span stretching into 2010, this character carved out a distinct identity across titles like The Green Hornet, Tales of the Green Hornet, and The Green Hornet: Solitary Sentinel, sharing the page with the likes of Britt Reid, the original Kato, and the Green Hornet himself — a rich constellation of legacy characters that speaks to just how deeply embedded Kato II became in this corner of comics. With 57 catalogued appearances and two recognized key issues to their name, this is a Copper/Modern Age figure who rewards the collector willing to dig into one of the era's most underappreciated publisher revivals — a character defined by continuity, consequence, and the weight of a famous name.