Publisher Marvel Comics Creator Tony Salmons | Alter ego Dakota North Fictional universe Marvel Universe | |
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Created by Martha Thomases (writer)
Tony Salmons (artist) Team affiliations Dakota North Investigations Abilities Adept hand-to-hand combatant and marksman; highly skilled detective First appearance Dakota North #1 (June 1986) Similar Milla Donovan, Black Tarantula, Master Izo, Lady Bullseye, Mister Fear | ||
Dakota North is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Originally the star of her own limited series and later a part of the supporting cast of Daredevil, the character exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.
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Publication history
Dakota North first appeared in her own eponymous limited series, Dakota North #1-5 (June 1986-February 1987), and was created by Martha Thomases and Tony Salmons.
The character subsequently appears in Web of Spider-Man #37 (April 1988), Power Pack #46 (May 1989), Marvel Super-Heroes #3 (September 1990), Cage #1-4 (April-July 1992), #6 (September 1992), #8 (November 1992), #10 (January 1993), #15 (June 1993), #19-20 (October-November 1993), Black Panther #31-33 (June-August 2001), New Avengers #29 (June 2007), fairly regularly in Daredevil starting with #82 (April 2006), as well as various issues of Captain Marvel (2012-2013)
Dakota North received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #5.
C. B. Cebulski was at one point planning to write a new miniseries starring North, though this project has not been discussed in a while.
Fictional character biography
Dakota North is the daughter of Samuel J. North, a retired agent of the CIA. Little is known about Dakota North's early life, other than after she retired from successful modeling career she chose a career as a freelance private investigator. Her business is apparently quite successful, in that it currently supports four branch offices across the world.
Her earliest recorded case involved being hired by famous fashion designer Luke Jacobson to guard both him and his newest designs. This case was the first time she butted heads with her rival Carolina South.
Her next case, which she took at the request of her father for his old friend, Major George C. Cooper, required her to guard a deadly sample of an experimental gas. However the gas, stored in a gold pen, ended up in the possession of Dakota's brother, who had been led to Europe by a spy. Dakota followed Ricky to Switzerland where she and her brother were captured by Sheik Ibn Bheik. They managed to escape, however the gas sample was released, killing the Sheik and all of his men.
Dakota was next hired by a coalition of modeling firms to track down a serial killer dubbed the Slasher, who had been murdering fashion models with a straight razor. This led to Dakota guarding fashion models Elyse Nelson and Mary Jane Watson. During her guard Dakota met Spider-Man and the two cracked the case, learning that Ms. Nelson is the Slasher and saving Mary Jane's life.
She was next hired by Jack Power (who at the time was Counterweight) to clear children's author Jessie Wilcox Jones of theft charges. While investigating, Dakota met the Punisher, who had been contacted by Jack's sister, Katie (Starstreak). Working with the other heroes, Jones' innocence was eventually proven.
Some time later, during a day of shopping, Dakota became involved in a battle between the Wasp and King-Size, an Inhuman shape-shifter.
Her next case led her to Chicago where she was hired to gather information on the recently relocated Luke Cage. She ultimately befriended Cage, helping him with a situation involving his father and brother, before she returned to New York.
During the time when Malice, the former Dora Milaje once known as Nakia, sought to kill all those dear to the Black Panther, Dakota was hired by the Panther to safeguard Monica Lynne.
Most recently, Dakota has been hired by the law firm Nelson & Murdock as an investigator and bodyguard. She was recommended to Foggy Nelson by her friend Jessica Jones, who previously held the position but has had to relinquish it due to her responsibilities as a new mother. At one point while in his employ, she was shot and hospitalized. Her father Samuel became involved in the case and helped resolve it.
Following the incapacitation of Murdock's wife, Milla Donovan, Dakota became closer to him. Eventually, this led to them having a brief affair, which they both immediately regretted.
Dakota was later stripped of her private investigator's license as part of the Kingpin's plot to frame the H.A.M.M.E.R. director Norman Osborn for going after Daredevil's friends to manipulate Matt Murdock to take further action against Osborn as well as further criminalizing his actions with The Hand. Using a compromising photograph, Dakota and Foggy forced the judge who had both of their professional licenses revoked to learn the Kingpin was behind their recent problems, leading her to decide that they need to locate Murdock at once.
Powers and abilities
Dakota North is skilled in several forms of hand-to-hand combat. She has trained herself to be extremely physically agile and moderately adept at gymnastics. Her excellent physical condition provides her with reflexes, recovery time, and stamina above the norm for a woman of her physical age and build. North is also proficient with a variety of firearms, and is an excellent marksman.