Samurai (Super Friends)

Samurai (Toshio Eto (江藤俊夫, Eto Toshio)) is a Japanese superhero in DC's Super Friends animated television series. He was one of the later additions to the team along with other ethnically diverse heroes in an effort for the show to promote cultural diversity, as Apache Chief, El Dorado and Black Vulcan. The character was designed by cartoonist Alex Toth and voiced by Jack Angel. Following sporadic guest appearances, Samurai becomes a prominent team member in the series' later seasons.

Samurai
Samurai on Super Friends.
Publication information
First appearance	The All-New Super Friends Hour "Volcano"
Created by	Hanna-Barbera
In-story information
Alter ego	Toshio Eto
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	Super Friends Justice League
Partnerships	Apache Chief El Dorado Black Vulcan
Abilities	Manipulation of fire and wind Invisibility Illusion casting

Samurai is later introduced into the main comics continuity during Infinite Crisis.

Fictional character biography

Series

Toshio Eto is a history professor who gained his powers after being struck by a beam of light sent by the New Gods of New Genesis, who were trying to create superheroes to battle Darkseid. After the New Gods explain their motivations to him, Eto joins the Justice League as Samurai.^[1]

Comics

Samurai made DC comics appearances during the Justice League/Justice Society of America crossover featured in the Brightest Day event. Toshio appears as one of the heroes driven insane by Alan Scott's Starheart before being defeated by Jesse Quick and Congorilla.^[2]

Prior to Samurai's appearance in Brightest Day, an alternate version of the character named Toshio appears in the Justice League of America 80-Page Giant one-shot. He is a samurai from 13th-century Japan who was granted mystical abilities by a sorceress.^[3]

In Doomsday Clock, Samurai joins Japan's superhero team, Big Monster Action.^[4]

In other media

Television

• A character inspired by Samurai called Wind Dragon appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by James Sie.^[5] He is an aerokinetic, genetically engineered superhero created by Project Cadmus to serve as the leader of their Ultimen and operate independently of the Justice League, though the former group are led to believe that they are regular metahumans.
• A character inspired by Samurai named Asami "Sam" Koizumi appears in Young Justice, voiced by Janice Kawaye.^[6] She is a teenage runaway who was captured and experimented on by the Reach, who activated her meta-gene and granted her the ability to manipulate chi. Asami is later rescued by the Team and becomes an ally of them and the Justice League.^{[citation needed]}

Film

• Samurai makes a cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon.^{[citation needed]}
• Samurai makes a cameo appearance in The Lego Batman Movie.^{[citation needed]}

Merchandise

• Samurai received an action figure in the third wave of Kenner's Super Powers Collection.^{[citation needed]}
• Samurai received an action figure in the Justice League Unlimited tie-in toyline as part of a three-pack with Black Vulcan and Apache Chief.^{[citation needed]}
• Samurai received an action figure in Wave 18 of Mattel's DC Universe Classics line.^[7]
• Samurai received an 8" action figure by Figures Toy Company.^{[citation needed]}