YANA LI

Real Name: Yana Li

Identity/Class: Human (Chinese)

Occupation: Bookkeeper

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Betty Brant, Mister Negative

Enemies: Dragon Lords

Known Relatives: Martin Li (husband, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: An apartment in East Broadway, Manhattan, New York, USA; formerly Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China

First Appearance: Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#1 (August, 2009)

Powers/Abilities: Yana Li has excellent math skills and has worked for years as a bookkeeper.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'7")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 118 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:

(Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Yana was married to Martin Li, who owned a zipper factory in Fuzhou. As the couple grew frustrated by the restrictions placed on them by the government, they decided to immigrate to the US. Yana scored well in math so she applied to Empire State University, obtaining a student visa. When her visa ran out, she found work as a bookkeeper and remained in Manhattan, taking an apartment in East Broadway. Yana didn't like living in Manhattan, so she sent word to Martin that it wasn't worth coming and she'd be back in China soon. Unfortunately, Martin believed Yana had taken a lover in the US and so he came over as quickly as he could, using smugglers to get across the ocean. However, Martin died during the voyage.

(Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#3 (fb)) - Believing Martin had left a fortune behind, a gang called the Dragon Lords kidnapped Yana and began torturing her for the money. Suddenly, the superhuman Mister Negative burst in and killed the gang members, then set Yana free. Yana was grateful to him and Mister Negative offered her protection.

(Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#1) - Reporter Betty Brant came to interview Yana, wanting to know more about her husband.

(Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#2) - As a fight broke out between the forces of the Hood and Mister Negative in Chinatown, the lights went out in Yana's apartment. Carrying a candle, Yana took Betty into the building's laundry room to continue their conversation. When Betty asked what the connection between Martin and Mister Negative was, Yana blew out the candle and fled the building. Yana ran to Mister Negative, insisting she hadn't told anything to Betty.

(Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#3) - After Mister Negative had sent a mind-controlled Spider-Man to attack Betty, Yana offered to help Betty escape. Yana told Betty that the "Martin Li" seen in the public recently was not her husband - her husband was dead. Yana saw Spider-Man attack Betty again but the hero eventually fought off Mister Negative's control over him.

Comments: Created by Fred Van Lente, Gianluca Gugliotta, Andy Lanning and Kris Justice.

   

   

    This profile was completed on 04/01/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Yana Li should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#2, page 19, panel 2 (main)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#1, page 9, panel 6 (face)

Appearances:
Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#1 (August, 2009) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Gianluca Gugliotta (penciler), Andy Lanning (inker), Kris Justice (inker), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative I#2-3 (September-October, 2009) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Gianluca Gugliotta (penciler, inker), Stephen Wacker (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2026
Last updated: 04/01/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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