ASANO NITOBE	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson

PERSONAL DATA

Occupation: Martial artist
Citizenship: Japanese
Gender: Male
First Appearance: Detective Comics #439 (February-March 1974): "The Resurrection of Paul Kirk"
Creators: Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson

HISTORY

Japanese martial artist Asano Nitobe served as a bodyguard to the geneticist Doctor Oka as early as 1945, and fled Nagasaki shortly before it was struck by an atomic bomb. Oka and Asano both became part of the enclave known as the Council (I).

After Oka's death, Asano remained loyal to the Council and its leader Anatol Mykros, and eventually trained and befriended Manhunter Paul Kirk. When Kirk betrayed the Council, Asano was forced to duel his friend until learning that the Council had gone rogue and murdered Oka. Asano joined forces with Manhunter, Interpol agent Christine St. Clair, Kenyan weapons dealer Kolu Mbeya, and the Batman, in an attack on the power-mad Council. Following Kirk's death, Asano and Christine embarked on a worldwide quest to execute the Council's Manhunter clones.

Recently, they discovered that one clone had survived and joined the corporate hero team known as the Power Company. After a clash with the new Manhunter and a team-up with the Company, Asano and Christine decided to give the clone the benefit of doubt and let him live... for now. Asano Nitobe is a deadly martial artist, the last master of ninjitsu and, arguably, the last ninja. He has also trained the meta-human criminal Freeway. In battle, Asano adopts the traditional mask of his ninja clan.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Asano Nitobe in chronological order click here