Dakota North
Encyclopedia
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
.
.
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), and fairly regularly in Daredevil starting with #82 (April 2006).
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.
. 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.
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.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that has appeared in various comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. Originally the star of her own limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
and later a part of the supporting cast of Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
, the character exists in Marvel's main shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
, known as the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
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 SalmonsTony Salmons
Tony Salmons is an American alternative comic book artist, film storyboard artist and character designer.-Biography:Born in Rolla, Missouri, Salmons grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, with stops in New York City and San Francisco...
.
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), and fairly regularly in Daredevil starting with #82 (April 2006).
Dakota North received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#5.
C. B. Cebulski
C. B. Cebulski
C.B. Cebulski is an American writer and editor for Marvel Comics, known for his work on titles such as Marvel Fairy Tales. As of 2011, he holds the position of Senior Vice President of Creative & Creator Development.-Career:...
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 at a relatively young age she chose a career as a freelance private investigatorPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
. 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.
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
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
. During her guard Dakota met Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
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
Jack Power
Jonathan "Jack" Power, currently known as Mass Master, formerly Counterweight and Destroyer, is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' universe. He first appeared in Power Pack #1 and was created by Louise Simonson and June Brigman.-Publication history:Jack was a founding member of the superhero...
(who at the time was Counterweight) to clear children's author Jessie Wilcox Jones of theft charges. While investigating, Dakota met the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
, who had been contacted by Jack's sister, Katie
Katie Power
Energizer , is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' universe. She first appeared in Power Pack #1 and was created by Louise Simonson and June Brigman.-Publication history:...
(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
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
and King-Size, an Inhuman shape-shifter
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
.
Her next case led her to Chicago where she was hired to gather information on the recently relocated Luke Cage
Luke Cage
Luke Cage is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1...
. 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
Black Panther (comics)
The Black Panther is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52...
, Dakota was hired by the Panther to safeguard Monica Lynne.
Most recently, Dakota has been hired by the law firm Nelson
Foggy Nelson
Franklin P. "Foggy" Nelson is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, part of the supporting cast of Daredevil ; Foggy is Matt's best friend. The character was created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett....
& Murdock
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
as an investigator and bodyguard. She was recommended to Foggy Nelson by her friend Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones
Jessica Campbell Jones Cage is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. Jones debuted in the series Alias as an embittered former superheroine who had used the aliases Jewel, Knightress, and currently Power Woman...
, 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
Milla Donovan
Milla Donovan is a supporting character in the Marvel Comics comic-book series Daredevil. She was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev and first appeared in Daredevil vol. 2 #41...
, 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
Kingpin (comics)
The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
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
Hand (comics)
The Hand is a fictional supervillainous organization in the Marvel Comics universe.The Hand is an order of evil mystical ninja 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...
. 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.