Tatsu Yamashiro

Tatsu Yamashiro is a Japanese martial artist and swordswoman who wields the mystical Soultaker sword, a blade said to trap the souls of those it kills. Driven by personal tragedy, she became the masked hero Katana and joined Batman's Outsiders.

Few characters introduced in the Bronze Age have shown the staying power of Tatsu Yamashiro, who made her debut in Comics Scene #10 in 1983, brought to life by Brian Pearce. Over more than four decades — stretching from 1983 all the way to 2026 — she has woven herself into the fabric of DC's universe, racking up 122 catalog appearances and six key issues that collectors have flagged as genuinely significant. Her home turf spans some of DC's most prestigious titles: Detective Comics, Outsiders, and even the charming Batman: Li'l Gotham, which tells you something about her remarkable range. Along the way she's shared pages with Bruce Wayne, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Clark Kent — the absolute upper tier of DC's pantheon — and that company alone speaks to just how deeply embedded she is in this universe.