Steel Wind

Steel Wind (original name Ruriko Tsumura) is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe, she is a cyborg and mercenary who is normally employed by the Freakmaster and Centurious. She has a sister who has also become a cyborg and goes by the alias Steel Vengeance. Originally Steel Wind was an enemy of the Ghost Rider and Blaze but has since became their ally after Centurious killed her sister.

Publication history

She first appeared in Ghost Rider (Vol. 2) #75 (1982).

Fictional character biography

Originally Ruriko Tsumura was a gentle painter in Japan, dedicated to capturing beauty's essence on canvas. That life came to an abrupt end during a freak explosion on a pleasure cruise. She washed ashore on a Caribbean island, barely alive, much of her body damaged beyond repair. The mysterious Freakmaster's advanced surgeons rebuilt her as a cyborg warrior; bound by honor, she vowed to serve him though he eventually tainted her immortal soul. Freakmaster sent her to a number of carnivals which then suffered disaster and economic ruin. At the Quentin Carnival, she replaced stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze, even defeating him in a contest when he was distracted by Zarathos (the demon bound to him as the Ghost Rider). Carnival magician Vincenzo confronted Steel Wind and inadvertently discovered her cyborg nature. She captured him and sent him to the Freakmaster, who mutated him into a much more docile form. Steel Wind continued to push the Carnival, working its members to the ground, and filling them with fear. Eventually the carnival gathered to express their disapproval to Quentin. Steel Wind arrives to disperse them, but Blaze returned to challenge her again. This time she sought to kill Blaze, who was forced to turn into the Ghost Rider to survive. The Ghost Rider reversed the chase and, despite her injuring him with missiles and her cyclone-weapon, he ultimately subjected her to his hellfire, leaving her virtually catatonic.