The Hand (comics)

The Hand
Cover art for The New Avengers #27 (April 2007). Art by Leinil Yu
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil #174 (September 1981)
Created by	Frank Miller (writer/artist)
In-story information
Type of organization	Organized crime
Agent(s)	Notable current members: Kingpin Lady Bullseye Matsu'o Tsurayaba Mystique Sabretooth Typhoid Mary White Tiger Frank Castle Notable former members: Black Tarantula Daredevil Echo Elektra Gorgon Hobgoblin Master Izo Kirigi Betsy Braddock Kwannon Wolverine The Mandarin

The Hand is a supervillain organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Hand first appeared in Daredevil #174 (September 1981) and was created by writer/artist Frank Miller.

The Hand is an order of evil mystical ninjas who are heavily involved in organized crime and mercenary activities such as assassination plots. The Hand covets power above all other objectives. They are primarily based in Japan, but operate internationally. They were founded in 1588 as a secret society of Japanese nationalist samurai but were soon co-opted by the Snakeroot, an ancient ninja clan which serves a primordial demon known only as "The Beast of the Hand".

Members of the Hand are practitioners of powerful occult magic and can murder a person and bring that person back to life as a servant of the Hand, but a few are known to have reversed this programming. The Hand's most dangerous adversary is The Chaste, a band of warriors once led by Stick, the blind martial arts master and mentor of Matt Murdock, who grew to become the costumed crime-fighter Daredevil. Murdock would eventually, after many bitter battles, accept the offer of becoming the master of the Hand for a time.

The Hand has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television shows Daredevil, Iron Fist, and The Defenders.