Shinto’s tale is a strange one. Centuries ago, he was a samurai, one so mighty that legend says he was immortal. He did die, but scientists kept his brain alive for hundreds of years, hoping to place him in a body powerful enough to suit him. Captain Nippo hit upon a plan (or rather borrowed a plan from Dr. Frankenstein) and built a body from the honored dead – an arm here, a leg there. Once brought back to life, the towering Shinto was brought up-to-date on Captain Nippo’s version of history and sent off to fight Captain Courageous. When Captain Courageous defeated him and was willing to hold him for trial, Shinto realized that Nippo’s version of events and Americans was one-sided. Courageous lets him free, and the two go after Captain Nippo, who is trying to convince American-born Japanese soldiers to turn against America. Nippo stabs Shinto in the chest with his sword, the only weapon that can supposedly kill the immortal. Notes: The Japanese do not usually bury their dead; they cremate them. Shinto Samurai does not dress like a samurai, nor does he use any of the traditional samurai weaponry. Rather, he wore Chinese garb and used a weapon resembling either a Chinese dadao or a scimitar. The identity of the samurai whose brain was used to create Shinto is unknown. One possibility is that it is Miyamoto Musashi, the famous swordsman who literally wrote the book on martial arts, The Book of Five Rings. Mushashi’s body was in fact buried rather than cremated; whether or not it is currently in possession of its brain is unknown.
Alias Shinto Samurai |
Real Names/Alt Names Unrevealed |
Characteristics Hero, Martial Artist, Samurai, Undead, Immortal, World War II Era |
Creators/Key Contributors Unknown |
First Appearance Four Favorites #16 (1944) |
First Publisher Ace Magazines [CB+] [DCM] [GCD] |
Appearance List Four Favorites #16 |
Sample Read Four Favorites [DCM] [CB+] |
Description Shinto’s tale is a strange one. Centuries ago, he was a samurai, one so mighty that legend says he was immortal. He did die, but scientists kept his brain alive for hundreds of years, hoping to place him in a body powerful enough to suit him. Captain Nippo hit upon a plan (or rather borrowed a plan from Dr. Frankenstein) and built a body from the honored dead – an arm here, a leg there. Once brought back to life, the towering Shinto was brought up-to-date on Captain Nippo’s version of history and sent off to fight Captain Courageous. When Captain Courageous defeated him and was willing to hold him for trial, Shinto realized that Nippo’s version of events and Americans was one-sided. Courageous lets him free, and the two go after Captain Nippo, who is trying to convince American-born Japanese soldiers to turn against America. Nippo stabs Shinto in the chest with his sword, the only weapon that can supposedly kill the immortal. Notes: The Japanese do not usually bury their dead; they cremate them. Shinto Samurai does not dress like a samurai, nor does he use any of the traditional samurai weaponry. Rather, he wore Chinese garb and used a weapon resembling either a Chinese dadao or a scimitar. The identity of the samurai whose brain was used to create Shinto is unknown. One possibility is that it is Miyamoto Musashi, the famous swordsman who literally wrote the book on martial arts, The Book of Five Rings. Mushashi’s body was in fact buried rather than cremated; whether or not it is currently in possession of its brain is unknown. |
Source Shinto Samurai – Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki |