Masane Amaha

Origin

Masane Amaha is unlike other wielders of the Witchblade. She is a kind person, and a mother as well. She lost all her memory due to a catastrophic event that nearly destroyed Tokyo. Masane was found at the epicenter of what could be considered ground zero. She was found holding a baby that would later be discovered to be her daughter Rihoko.

Creation

Masane Amaha ( 天羽 雅音) is the lead character of the "Witchblade" (Anime). She was originally designed by Uno Makoto. The comic version of Masane Amaha was created by Rob Levin and Michael Turner. She appeared in an issue of "Witchblade" called "Witchblade: Bearers of the Blade". In the issue, it explains that Masane is a possible future bearer for the Witchblade in the Top Cow Universe.

Character Evolution

Six years later, Masane would come back to Tokyo with Rihoko after being on the run from NSWF's Child Welfare Division. They wanted to take Rihoko from her because she has no memory of her before the earthquake, and she may not even be Rihoko's real mother (which she finds out later that she isn't her real mother, but still wants her as her own daughter). The Witchblade soon awakens after Masane is taken to jail after stealing a police car in an effort to get Rihoko back from NSWF's Child Welfare Division. While in jail, she was attacked by a machine that could take on human form and was on a killing spree. The Witchblade then awakened and Masane became the new wielder. She destroyed the machine without breaking a sweat.

After all that, Masane would soon come to find herself working for the government to help them destroy the Ex-Cons, machines that escaped six years ago during the Great Quake. Later on, she would face off against two other Witchblade wielders that worked for a huge corporation that was trying to overthrow the government. Masane would eventually come to defeat them but, soon after, the Witchblade starts breaking down her body which leads to her death. Rihoko would then become the new wielder of the Witchblade.

Major Story Arcs

Powers and Abilities

The Witchblade

Masane wielded the Witchblade, but used it differently than other hosts. She mostly used its abilities as a blade that grew from her arm or extending her hair into blades. She never used its abilities to create wings or gills to breath underwater. She also gained a new form of the Witchblade, which allowed her increased strength to new levels. But, because of this new form, the Witchblade began to drain her life and eventually caused her death.

Other Versions

Other Media

Television

Witchblade (Anime)

The Witchblade anime was co-produced by the Japanese company GONZO and the American comic book company, Top Cow. The anime was not an exact adaption of the Witchblade comic book. However, it is connected to the expanded universe of the Witchblade. The setting of the anime is set in the far future, long after Sara Pezzini was the wielder of the Witchblade. The story follows a Japanese woman named Masane Amaha. She was discovered unharmed inside ground zero (A phenomenal disaster). Masane unknowingly had the Witchblade on her wrist after this incident. She was also holding a baby in her arms and had lost all her memory. Six years later, Masane and the baby (Rihoko) returned to Tokyo. They would walk around Tokyo sightseeing for awhile, when Masane told Rihoko that if she got lost they would meet each other under the Tokyo Tower. However when they are having lunch, they are confronted by NSWF's Child Welfare Division. The Child Welfare Division wanted to take Rihoko away from Masane because she wasn't really her mother, and also because she had no job to support herself. Masane would try to take Rihoko back, but ended up getting arrested and sent to jail.

She would then be attacked in jail by a mysterious monster. Luckily for Masane, the Witchblade activated as a reaction to her danger. Masane easily disposed of that monster, and escaped from jail right afterwards. However, using the Witchblade used up all of her stamina and she collapsed in an alley. Masane would be taken in by a man working for the Douji Group Industries. When Masane awakens, she is met by Hiroki Segawa, the same man who took her in after she passed out. Hiroki takes Masane to his boss, Reiji Takayama. He tells Masane about the Witchblade and its powers, and tells her that it belonged to them. Meaning, since she cannot just take it off, she has to work for them now. Masane continued to decline until Reiji offered her a nice life with her daughter. Masane then agreed, and Reiji briefs her about hunting the "Ex-Cons". Ex-Cons are monsters that feed on people, and it was the same thing that attacked Masane while she was in jail. The Witchblade acts differently with Masane when compared to the original American wielders; when activated the Witchblade gives Masane not only a different hair color and style, but also an ecstasy-like rush that heightens when she fights.

Collectibles

The Witchblade anime has also spawned several painted PVC figurines as is common in Japan. It has several versions including Masane wearing the Witchblade, Masane wearing casual clothes, Masane wearing swimwear, etc. Figures all have varying scales.