Daredevil Characters

Snakeroot

Profile written by: Kuljit Mithra

The Snakeroot ninja clan made its debut in the "Fall From Grace" storyline which ran in Vol.1 #319-325. This arc is well-known for being the story that brought back Elektra into DAREDEVIL comics and also for the change to Daredevil's armoured costume. It was written by Dan Chichester with artwork by Scott McDaniel and Hector Collazo. The Snakeroot seemed to be a high ranking sect, which had influence in many of the dealings of the Hand.

The Snakeroot sect of the Hand was led by Lord Daito. He wanted to create a warrior; an assassin on the level of someone who used to be one of them... namely Elektra. Using information from a disgraced US army general, "TNT" Kenkoy, they found a top-secret virus called "About Face" that could be used to transform anyone afflicted. They then kidnapped SHIELD Agent John Garrett, who after the events of ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN, had Elektra's "dark essence" residing in his mind. The Snakeroot infused the essence into their warrior named Erynys. The "About Face" was going to be used to help the process. Stone, from the Chaste, and Elektra, came down from their mountain hideout to stop the process. Elektra had been living with the Chaste since her resurrection in DAREDEVIL Vol.1 #190. While battling the Snakeroot, Elektra killed Erynys, but caused the "dark essence" to return to her. The Snakeroot made their getaway, but now Elektra was not allowed to return to the Chaste because of her return to the dark side.

In the mini-series, ELEKTRA: ROOT OF EVIL, also by the same team of "Fall from Grace", the Snakeroot had to regroup as Lord Daito performed Seppuku because of his failure with Erynys. Daito had used the Snakeroot's ceremonial sword Sakki, which was now impure. Tekagi took over as leader of the Snakeroot. He had to cleanse the sword by killing three innocent people (a Nobel prize winner, a priest and an activist).

Since Elektra was now cast out of the Chaste, she had formed her own order of six. She learned of the Snakeroot's plans and sent her recruits to stop them. All the new recruits perished. Elektra went after the Snakeroot in vengeance. Elektra and Tekagi were left to battle alone in the end, with Elektra besting Tekagi by killing him with the Sakki sword. The Snakeroot was no more.

Until now, that is...

What connection the current Snakeroot has to the old remains to be seen in SHADOWLAND.