Snapdragon

Sheoke Sanada is a Japanese assassin and highly trained martial artist who operates under the name Snapdragon. She received extensive weapons and combat training before passing through Taskmaster’s academy where Anaconda helped train her and other aspiring mercenaries. Sheoke later joined her brother Kono Sanada in an assassination operation against Black Widow in Japan. Snapdragon managed to overwhelm Natasha Romanoff during their first encounter but Black Widow recovered and defeated her when they fought again. Sheoke continued working as a professional killer and eventually became one of the more accomplished mercenaries in her field.

Snapdragon later became a lieutenant within Superia’s Femizons. Her service there reunited her with Rachel Leighton after the two had known each other during their mercenary training. By then Rachel had become Diamondback and an unresolved dishonor between them had turned their old connection into bitter hatred. Snapdragon brutally defeated her during their confrontation aboard Superia’s vessel. Diamondback eventually returned seeking revenge and defeated Sheoke during a later clash. Snapdragon subsequently resurfaced in Los Angeles as an operative for Count Nefaria. She fought Moon Knight and Echo and hired the Night Shift to eliminate Moon Knight when direct attacks failed. She later became involved with Viper and Arcade in another campaign directed against Black Widow.

Appearance: Snapdragon has fair peach skin and a tall slim athletic build with a narrow waist and long legs. Her eyes are dark brown beneath straight brows. Her hair is short and dark brown with a close cropped cut and blunt bangs across her forehead.

She wears a cropped black leather jacket with broad lapels and small gold studs near the collar. Beneath it she wears a deep burgundy bra style top that leaves her midriff uncovered. Faded blue jeans fit closely through her hips and legs with worn pale patches across the thighs and knees.

Gray leather boots rise to mid calf with wide folded cuffs and reinforced straps around the ankles.

Personality: Snapdragon is ruthless and intensely proud of her abilities. She treats violence as a profession but reacts personally when she believes her reputation has been insulted. She is willing to ambush targets and exploit disadvantages rather than restrict herself to an honorable contest. Her confidence comes from genuine skill and she has demonstrated little hesitation when facing experienced fighters. Sheoke can also hold grudges for years. Once she considers someone an enemy she is willing to pursue the matter far beyond the requirements of an ordinary contract.

Diamondback is Snapdragon’s most personal rival. The two once trained within the same criminal circles before an incident left Sheoke feeling dishonored by Rachel. Their hostility eventually became vicious enough that each tried to permanently eliminate the other. Black Widow is another longstanding enemy whose skill Snapdragon has tested repeatedly. Kono Sanada is Sheoke’s brother and fellow mercenary. He remained loyal enough to seek vengeance against Diamondback on his sister’s behalf. Superia later valued Snapdragon as one of her lieutenants while Count Nefaria employed her as an enforcer during his attempt to establish control over Los Angeles.

Snapdragon possesses no superhuman powers. She is an exceptionally skilled martial artist with extensive experience in assassination and armed combat. She can defeat trained opponents through speed and technique while remaining dangerous against several enemies at once. She is also experienced in coordinating hired fighters and carrying out covert attacks against protected targets. She commonly carries a katana.