KUROYAMA

Real Name: presumably Kuroyama

Identity/Class: Human, mystically enhanced

Occupation: Ninja, genin (assassin)

Group Membership: The Hand

Affiliations: Nina McCabe

Enemies: The Chaste, Elektra;
     formerly Nina McCabe

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: The Black Mountain

Base of Operations: New York City, NY;
     formerly Valley of Mercy and Wrath, Japan

First Appearance: Elektra I#14 (January, 1998)

Powers/Abilities: Kuroyama wielded a Kusari-Gama (sickle and chain), a large katana, and sometimes used a motorcycle. He was a skilled fighter possessed with immense strength (Peak human?). (see comments)

History: (Elektra I#15 (fb) - BTS) - The Hand performed a mystical rite and sacrificed four of their own to resurrect Kuroyama.

(Elektra I#14) - Kuroyama broke into Elektra's apartment, restrained her ward Nina McCabe, and set a fire to attract Elektra's attention. When Elektra returned home he told her she was in debt to the Hand, and she would eventually pay that debt by dying at his hands. He defeated Elektra in combat, then forced her to watch as he ripped out Nina McCabe's heart.

(Elektra I#17 (fb)) - The Hand resurrected Nina McCabe, and Kuroyama was present to explain to Nina what had just happened to her.

(Elektra I#17) - After a clash between Nina and Elektra in the penthouse office of Babylon Towers Construction and Demolition Corporation, Kuroyama arrived with a group of Hand assassins. They told Elektra they planned to kill her, replace one of her hands with the Demon-Fist of Oni-Shima, then resurrect her once more. This process would supposedly make Elektra undyingly loyal to them. When Kuroyama tried to pitch Elektra out a window, Nina pushed him, and he was the one who took the fall.

(Elektra I#19 (fb)) - Elektra led Nina to the Chaste's mountain stronghold in hopes of redeeming Nina's soul. After Elektra left Nina helped Kuroyama and the Hand gain entry to the Chaste's stronghold. Kuroyama slaughtered most of the Chaste's acolytes.

(Elektra I#19) - Kuroyama and Nina returned to Elektra's apartment. They told her that they didn't need to directly engage her in battle, since they had turned the entire city of New York against her by framing her for a series of murders that Nina committed. They had already alerted to the NYPD to her whereabouts, and when the police arrived they sped off on their motorcycles.

Comments: Created by Larry Hama, Mike Deodato Jr. & Scott Koblish.

PROFILE BY FUTURE

Flashbacks of Nina's death at Kuroyama's hands were seen in Elektra I#15, 16 and 19, and his name was mentioned in Elektra I#18. These flashbacks didn't show anything not depicted in Elektra I#14, so they are not listed in his history.

He was mistakenly referred to as The Blue Mountain on the recap page of Elektra I#18.

Kuroyama's size may have been an indication of him being a mutant, or superhumanly strong, but there was no direct evidence to support this. He may have been resurrected again after his great fall in Elektra I#17, because he appears to be rotting and covered in scars in Elektra I#19. Then again his first resurrection may have made him highly resistant to being killed.

Did Elektra finally clear her name? Did she ever deal with Nina McCabe and Kuroyama? These, and many other dangling plot points from the first Elektra series have never been resolved.

CLARIFICATIONS:

Kuroyama, aka The Black Mountain should not be confused with:

• KUROYAMA of Earth-MC2, alternate future counterpart, remains had computer hard-wired into brain by hand. access any fight techniques, @ Wild Thing II#2
• Izanami">Izanami, Hand, immense woman warrior, absorbed life force of other hand members, originally killed by daredevil, resurrected in body of Naomi Chu, exorcised by tombstone, @ Daredevil I#293
• Kirigi, resurrected by Hand, killed by Chaste, @ Daredevil I#174 
• Black Mamba (Tanya Sealy) - serpent squad iii, serpent society, bad girls,inc, masters of evil vi, former call-girl and exotic dancer. manipulate dark force to form images of loved ones that crush victim,disguise herself+others,survive underwater for short periods of time without breathing apparatus, @ Marvel Two-In-One#6
• BLACK MARVEL (Dan Lyons) - America-based hero during World War II, originally trained by man-to to carry on the tradition of the Blackfoot warrior, after man-to saved his life, founded Slingers in modern times, made deal with Mephisto, soul taken by him, soul spared when Slingers forgave him, passed on to a higher plane. Excellent athlete and hand-to-hand combatant, used sharp knife, @ Mystic Comics#5
• BLACK MONK (Abbe’ Guiberg) - 17^th century,associate of lavoisin, @ [Hellstorm#16]
• Man Mountain Klout, Emile Klout, @ Howard the Duck I#5
• MAN MOUNTAIN MARKO (Michael Marko) - Maggia enforcer, former agent of Silvermane + Caesar Cicero + Nightshade, former partner of Eel, strength-augmented, @ Amazing Spider-Man I#73
• MOUNTAIN MAN (Zebediah June) - @1870, went mad and withdrew as hermit when melinda, his wife, was killed by native americans, sacrificed life to save natalie brooks, whom he believed to be his wife, @ Ghost Rider I#7  
• Mountain That Walks Like a Man, Braggadoom, @ Marvel Two-In-One#13
  
• Any other characters named "Black"

images:
Elektra I#14, p6, pan4

Elektra I#14-15 (January-February, 1998) - Larry Hama (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Scott Koblish (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Elektra I#17 (April, 1998) - Larry Hama (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Scott Koblish (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Elektra I#19 (June, 1998) - Larry Hama (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Scott Koblish (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)

First Posted: 12/28/2004
Last updated: 02/01/2005

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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