Ruriko Tsumura

Steel Wind
Aliases:	Steel Wind
Continuity:	Marvel Universe
Notability:	Antagonist
Type:	Criminal
Gender:	Female
Race:	Cyborg
Location:	Japan
Associations:	Femizons Quentin Carnival
Relatives:	Sadae Tsumura
Status:	Alive
First:	Ghost Rider #75

Ruriko Tsumura is a fictional cyborg and a recurring antagonist featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is associated with the Ghost Rider line of comic titles and first appeared in Ghost Rider, Volume 2 #75 in December, 1982.

Biography

Ruriko Tsumura grew up in Japan where she enjoyed a gentle life as an artist. She was on a pleasure cruise one day when an explosion occurred that radically maimed her. Her body washed ashore on some Caribbean island where she was rescued by a scientist that saved her life. Doing so however, required rebuilding her ruined body with cybernetic components. This benefactor, known as the "Freakmaster" maintained control over her ever since.

Dubbing her Steel Wind, the Freakmaster used her as a means of gaining control over his rival Ralph Quentin and placed Ruriko Tsumura as a motorcycle stunt rider at the Quentin Carnival using the name Steel Wind. Because the Freakmaster had offered Ralph Quentin financial assistance to keep the flailing carnival afloat, Quentin had little choice but to concede to the Freakmaster's demands, and allowed Ruriko to take control of the carnival.

Part of this arrangement included the dismissal of the Quentin Carnival's top motorcycle stunt rider, Johnny Blaze. The staff of the carnival rebelled, demanding that Quentin keep Johnny Blaze on. Quentin conceded insofar as the decision would be rendered by way of a motorcycle race between Steel Wind and Johnny Blaze.

Steel Wind and Johnny Blaze raced across the carnival fairgrounds and midway. She used underhanded tactics such as mini-missiles and a laser system built into her motorcycle to gain an advantage, and thus won the race. Over the course of several days, Steel Wind operated as an overseer at the carnival, making hefty demands of its staff, and dismissing those she felt were to weak to be of use.

Johnny meanwhile, learned about Steel Wind's benefactor and how she had been blackmailing Ralph Quentin. Johnny returned to the fairgrounds to confront her. Steel Wind again attempted to stop him with her cycle's weaponry, but Johnny was prepared this time, and refracted her laser systems back upon her. Johnny Blaze transformed into the Ghost Rider and used his Hellfire to incapacitate Steel Wind, rendering her senseless.

Abilities

Powers

• Cybernetic enhancement: Steel Wind had portions of her arms replaced with cybernetic enhancements following her initial boating accident. Over the course of her life, she had more advanced upgrades until the majority of her body had been replaced with artificial components.

• Superhuman durability: Through cybernetic enhancement, Steel Wind is more physically durable than the average human being.
• Superhuman strength: Through cybernetic enhancement, Steel Wind is physically stronger than the average human being.

Skills

• Motorcycle riding: Ruriko Tsumura is an expert at motorcycle stunt riding. She is so proficient at this skill that she can give Johnny Blaze a run for his money. Many consider Blaze to be the greatest motorcycle stunt rider in the world.

Equipment

• Motorcycle: Ruriko Tsumura rides a heavy-duty customized street bike, which is equipped with onboard weapons systems including mini-missiles and a laser guidance system.

Associations

• Freakmaster: The Freakmaster is Steel Wind's scientific and medical benefactor.
• Quentin Carnival: Through the Freakmaster's manipulations, Steel Wind assumed a small measure of control over the Quentin Carnival for a brief period.

Adversaries

• Johnny Blaze: Also known as Ghost Rider, he played a large role in exposing Steel Wind's connection to Freakmaster.

Notes & Trivia

• The character of Ruriko Tsumura was created by writer J.M. DeMatteis and artists Bob Budiansky and Dave Simons.

• Steel Wind redirects to this page.