Stick

Origin

Stick is the sensei who trained both Matt Murdock and Elektra.

Creation

Stick was created by Frank Miller.

Character Evolution

Very little is known about the mysterious blind master of martial arts known simply as Stick, a name he chose in honor of his favorite weapon. It is known that though blind, Stick has developed a proximity sense which is so acute, that it is greater than even the superhero Daredevil’s radar sense. It is also known that Stick became the master of an elite order of martial arts warriors who lived atop an unidentified mountain top. Stick’s warriors were not only masters of martial arts, but also developed mental capabilities such as telepathy and energy siphoning or healing abilities. Stick’s warriors regularly opposed the martial arts mercenary group known as The Hand.

Major Story Arcs

At some point Stick traveled to the United States and met Matt Murdock, who would later become the crime-fighting hero Daredevil. Stick not only trained Daredevil in martial arts techniques, but also helped him learn, control and eventually master his radar sense.

At some point, Stick was introduced to Elektra Natchios who would later become the female mercenary known simply as Elektra. Stick took her under his wing as his pupil. Under the tutelage of Stick, Elektra became a great master of martial arts and also learned some of Stick’s mental techniques. Stick realized that Elektra was filled with destructive emotions and expelled her from his order. Almost prophetically, Stick feared that his descision to turn Elektra away may lead her to seek training with darker forces such as the Hand. His fears proved to be founded, because it was this expulsion that drove Elektra to join the The Hand and become an independent assassin.

Early in his career Daredevil was involved in a bomb blast that caused him to lose his radar sense. Daredevil sought out Stick and under his guidance was able to regain and re-master the use of his radar sense.

He got himself killed draining the energy of The Hand’s ninjas in order to save Daredevil.

Inferno

For more information see: Inferno

While Daredevil lays dying, Stick appears to him and tells him to restart his heart.

Powers and Abilities

Stick was a master of most if not all forms of Oriental Martial arts. His agility and reflexes where so great that they bordered on and possibly were on a superhuman level (Stick could easily dodge or block arrows). Stick possessed a proximity sense which acted like a bats radar sense or a dolphins sonar sense, only much more acute. Sticks proximity sense was so acute, that it was far greater than even Daredevil’s radar sense. Stick also possessed certain mental abilites such as telepathy and the ability to mentally siphon a person’s life-force from their body into his. Sticks supreme mastery of martial arts combined with his uncanny speed, agility, proximity sense and mental capabilities made Stick an extremely dangerous and deadly combatant despite the fact that he was totally blind.

Other Versions

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Stick is Matt Mudock’s boyhood mentor, just as he is in the mainstream continuity. He was also trained alongside Blade and several other warriors to fight vampires. After Matt is killed during the events of Ultimatum, Stick meets a young boy named Ray Connor, and trains him to be the new Daredevil. They are both transformed into vampires after Stick is bitten by the Nerd Hulk, and are last seen burning in the sun after Captain America uses Perun‘s hammer to transport the Triskellion to Iran. Their ultimate fates are unknown.

In Other Media

Film

Elektra

Stick appears in a supporting role, portrayed by Terrence Stamp. In the film, he is the one responsible for resurrecting Elektra after her death in the Daredevil movie. In contrast to the comics, this version of the character has no connection to Daredevil.

Television

Daredevil

Stick appears in the live-action MCU series for Netflix, portrayed by Scott Glenn. Flashbacks reveal that he was hired by the orphanage to help Matt adjust to his blindness shortly after his accident, though he actually sought out Matt and used the job as a pretense to train him. He is portrayed as a very strict teacher who pushed Matt to hone his abilities.