Warning: Spoilers for Demon Days: Blood Feud ahead!
Marvel's Stormbreaker Peach Momoko's critically acclaimed reimagining of the Marvel Universe (aka "Momoko-verse"), Demon Days, is coming to a brutal and bloody end in March with the debut of Demon Days: Blood Feud #1. Released as 5 separate (but connected) one-shot comics, Demon Days sees classic Marvel characters such as Thor, Black Widow, and Wolverine reimagined through the lens of a Japanese Shinto folktale. In the shocking conclusion to the first arc of the Momoko-verse, main character Mariko Yashida must confront a demon from her past and she must face the dramatic finale to her emotionally exhausting journey.
Many of the reimagined Marvel characters in the Momoko-verse have been changed to be Yokai, which are classic Japanese spirits that stem from old folk tales. This includes the reveal that Mariko, who is a classic Marvel character mostly known as Wolverine's fiancé and one of the tragic loves of his life, is the daughter of a powerful and beautiful Yokai woman. Demon Days: Blood Feud #1—written and illustrated by Peach Momoko—comes after the climactic events of Demon Days: Rising Storm #1 which saw Mariko continuing her perilous journey through Kirisaki Mountain, facing off against men, monsters, and gods such as Storm and Thor.
Related: The Beautiful and Grotesque Meet In Peach Momoko's Cover for Red Room
Peach Momoko's gorgeous watercolor designs have immediately made her stand out as an up-and-coming comics artist, and her conclusion to the "Yashida Saga" is no different, with Marvel revealing the beautiful cover art and character designs for the finale to Mariko Yashida's tortuous journey. In Demon Days: Blood Feud #1, Mariko comes face-to-face with the being who has been hunting her, a rebooted version of the classic X-Men villain Silver Samurai, who is revealed to be another Yashida sister. Ogin, referred to simply as Gin, is an incredibly unique character. Equipped with a fascinating set of powers, as well as the force of an entire cult behind her, she becomes Mariko's greatest foe to date.
The latest Yokai introduced is Gin Yashida, a powerful and beautiful Oni (who are typically huge horned ogres) just like Mariko's mother. Gin is the leader of a Yokai-worshipping cult who uses her followers to hunt other Oni, taking their blood to be used for her own benefit. After it's revealed that Mariko is Gin's secret twin, Gin employs Kuroki—the "Momoko-verse" version of Black Widow—to work for Mariko. Gin asked Kuroki to bring Mariko to her after learning the secret of her blood connection to Mariko. However, after getting close to Mariko, Kuroki refuses to betray Mariko. This upsets Gin, so she and her cult kidnap Kuroki. Now, after fighting her way through Kirisaki Mountain Mariko is up face-to-face against her vicious sister Gin and her gruesome green giant of a bodyguard.
The first Demon Days arc has already provided a lot of intense drama, soul-searching, and bloody battles, and the finale of Momoko's "Yashida Saga" is sure to continue on that same path. Mariko has already been forced to face countless vicious enemies, but it's clear her greatest battle to date will be between her and her twin sister Ogin. Regardless, fans can rest assured knowing that no matter how the Yashida sisters fight ends, it will surely come to a bloody and beautifully drawn conclusion. Make sure to check out Demon Days: Blood Feud #1 when it debuts on March 16th, 2022 and be on the look out for the next Demon Days arc from the amazingly talented Marvel's Stormbreaker Peach Momoko.
Source: Marvel