Samukai

> "*I am Samukai, Skulkin general and fearsome master of the axe!*"
> ― Samukai.
>
>

**Samukai** was a fearsome Skulkin general with four arms. At some point, he died and was reborn as a Skulkin in the Underworld where he united the army of the undead and became their king. Upon Garmadon's banishment, Garmadon took over the Underworld and became the realm's new ruler. Nonetheless, Samukai retained a position high on the Underworld hierarchy as Garmadon's second-in-command and the retaining the title of "King of the Underworld" while carrying out his superior's will.

Samukai and the Skulkin fought against the ninja and claimed the Golden Weapons. When Samukai confronted Wu, he took hold of all four weapons, but their immense powers vaporized him and created a portal. Garmadon then escaped the Underworld to another realm.

A statue of Samukai was later placed in the Ninjago Museum of History. When Cole accidentally opened the Departed Realm, Samukai's spirit escaped and possessed the statue in the museum. Samukai set off to exact vengeance, in his case going after Jay with help from Krazi and Frakjaw. Samukai fought Jay at his parents' junkyard before his statue was shattered to pieces by Jay's nunchucks. As a result, his spirit was sent back to the Departed Realm.

## Biography

### Early Life

As a human, Samukai was a powerful warlord with a loyal following, though his desire for more land, power, and riches quickly got the best of him. Despite the countless ruthless acts committed by him and his armies, there were no known desertions or insurrections from Samukai's followers.

At some point, Samukai fell in battle and was reborn into the Underworld, of which he proceeded to become the king. At some point after this, he came into conflict with Wu and Garmadon, only to be defeated by the two brothers.

### Defeated by Garmadon

After Garmadon was banished to the Underworld, Samukai promptly proceeded to confront his nemesis alongside several Skulkin, gloating over his predictions of the former's banishment turning true. Declaring revenge on Garmadon through plans to subject him to an afterlife of pain and suffering, Samukai clashed with his old foe. However, he was ultimately defeated when Garmadon used Spinjitzu and watched in humiliation as his victorious opponent donned the helmet that had once signified his own authority. As a result, Samukai was demoted to only a Skulkin general, while Garmadon became the new King of the Underworld.

### Quest for the Golden Weapons

#### Reviving Dr. Julien

In order to prepare for the upcoming hunt for the Golden Weapons, Garmadon had Samukai track down Dr. Julien alongside his lieutenants Nuckal and Kruncha to his workshop in Birchwood Forest. Resurrecting the inventor with his elixir, Samukai forced Julien to build war machines for him, telling he could see his Nindroid son Zane again if he complied. Samukai imprisoned Julien at a lighthouse and chained the Leviathan to the island as a guard. Though kidnapping the inventor was Samukai's idea, Garmadon took credit for it, which Samukai accepted after a moment of hesitation.

#### Kidnapping Nya

Around a decade after his loss to Garmadon, Samukai used the newly gained vehicles to lead an attack on Ignacia Village alongside several Skulkin in search of the Map of the Golden Weapons. In response to Kai and Nya managing to defend themselves, he personally confronted the former and easily defeated Kai within seconds. Before Samukai could finish Kai off, however, Master Wu knocked him aside with a Spinjitzu vortex. Casually conversing with his old nemesis, Samukai, realizing his lieutenants had already found the map and that Nya was vulnerable, proceeded to throw his daggers at a nearby water tower, causing it to collapse and forcing Wu to save Kai. Taking advantage of the distraction, Samukai ordered Kruncha to capture Nya, and with her hostage, the Skulkin fled the village to return to the Underworld, where Samukai reported the events to Garmadon.

#### Ecountering the Ninja

Arriving at the Caves of Despair, the ninja found their nemesis to have already set up camp there in search of the Scythe of Quakes. Sneaking into his watchtower, the ninja stole the Map of the Golden Weapons and proceeded from there, unbeknownst to him. However, when Jay accidentally revealed their location, Samukai promptly led his forces to ambush the ninja while they retrieved the Golden Weapon for him. Upon their arrival, Samukai attacked the group, only for the ninja to learn Spinjitzu and fight back long enough for the Earth Dragon to arrive, forcing him to call a retreat. Later on, he reported to Lord Garmadon under a fearful guise, only to finally be informed of the latter's plan.

While the ninja went to get the Nunchucks of Lightning, Samukai attempted to ambush them from behind, only for Zane to alert his fellow teammates of the latter's presence. Even as the ninja proceeded to escape with the Golden Weapon in hand, Samukai secretly gloated to himself over the plan's approaching success.

Later, with Kai and Master Wu at the Fire Temple to confront Garmadon, Samukai confronted the sleeping Zane, Jay, and Cole alongside his army and tied the three of them up. Gloating over his success, he promptly claimed the three Golden Weapons they had been guarding and declared their ascent to the Fire Temple, only for Garmadon to warn him that Wu had taken the Sword of Fire to the Underworld. Changing plans, Samukai led his forces on their vehicles to an entrance to their home realm, only to be pursued by Jay, Cole, and Zane. However, after witnessing them hold off his minions, Samukai proceeded to take command of the Skull Truck, throwing the ninja off and finally making his trip to the Underworld.

#### Betraying Garmadon

When Master Wu arrived in the Underworld and confronted his brother within the Dark Fortress, Samukai, on the latter's behest, challenged his old foe to a final rematch, with Master Wu armed with the Sword of Fire while he himself wielded the remaining Golden Weapons. Despite Wu's best efforts, he was ultimately reigned victorious and proceeded to claim the Sword of Fire, even as the ninja arrived to witness Garmadon's triumph.

However, upon Garmadon's order to be given the Golden Weapons, Samukai revealed his own plans to betray the Dark Lord, intending to use the Weapons to overthrow Garmadon and reclaim his role as King of the Underworld. Before he could exact his long-awaited revenge, however, the Golden Weapons began to overload Samukai with their power, with Wu warning Samukai that no one could handle all of the weapons' power at once. Garmadon confirmed Wu's statement by saying that he himself couldn't handle all of that power and that he had planned for Samukai to use the powers to create a vortex through space and time. Realizing this too late, Samukai screamed and the resulting explosion created a tear through space and time, vaporizing him to death in the process. Upon his disintegration, a portal to the Realm of Madness was all that remained, allowing Garmadon to escape the Underworld after a decade of imprisonment. As Samukai had now been destroyed in a realm of the undead, his soul was sent to the Departed Realm instead, finding its new and ultimate resting place.

### Legacy

#### Commemorated in Ninjago History

Years after his demise, a statue of Samukai was placed in the Ninjago Museum of History's Hall of Villainy exhibit.

As part of a television program directed by Dareth, serveral stuntmen dressed up as Samukai and other Skulkin.

### Resurrected by Yang

On the Day of the Departed, Wu and the ninja went to the Ninjago Museum of History, where Dr. Saunders introduced them to the Hall of Villainy. While viewing the statues of the villains, Jay looked at Samukai's statue and believed he was looking at him.

After Cole accidentally opened the Departed Realm using the Yin Blade, the spirits of the ninja's old adversaries were released, traveling from Yang's Temple to the Ninjago Museum of History. There, the spirits possessed the statues in the Hall of Villainy, with Samukai being revived through along with Kozu, Cryptor, Chen, and Morro - none of whom he had met before. Samukai was the first to speak, confronting Morro and asking who he was, to which Morro asked him the same question. As Chen tested out his new chair, Samukai wondered how they were alive once more, to which Morro pointed at the painting of Master Yang, believing he could explain what was happening.

Samukai and the revived villains gathered around the painting, which Yang used to send them a message. He explained how he brought the villains back from the Departed Realm, but that they would only remain in Ninjago for the duration of the rare lunar eclipse unless they exact vengeance on the adversary who destroyed them. The villains cheer, eager to have revenge, but they start to fight when faced with the decision of who to go after. Samukai wants to go after Zane, but Cryptor argues that he's his clone, and he wants to go after him. Yang orders the villains to work it out amongst themselves. All the villains choose who to go after, with Samukai and Kozu having to choose over Jay. Samukai does rock-paper-scissors with Kozu to determine who will go after Jay, but Kozu intends to pursue Dareth instead, leaving Samukai to face Jay. Pythor, who arrived in the middle of the scene, proposes they gather reinforcements from the Hall of Sidekicks. While there, Samukai allies with Krazi and Frakjaw. As they set off to find Jay in the Junk Yard, the other villains go and confront their enemies.

Samukai arrives at Ed & Edna's Scrap N Junk, where Jay is spending time with his mom and dad. Samukai threatens Jay's mom while Jay takes out the two Skulkin mechs used by Krazi and Frakjaw. As Ed goes to help Edna, Samukai begins fighting Jay, while Krazi and Frakjaw apprehend Jay's parents. Samukai manages to overwhelm Jay, beating him in the fight and preparing to kill him so that he can be fully resurrected. At that moment, Ronin arrives in his Salvage M.E.C., saving Jay's parents and kicking Samukai with the mech's foot. Jay and Ronin confronted the Skulkin; with Samukai briefly confronting the mech before Jay crushed Krazi and Frakjaw with a magnetic crane. Afterward, Jay threw his lightning nunchucks at Samukai, shattering the Skulkin general to pieces and sending his spirit back to the Departed Realm, killing him for good.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

* **Skulkin Psychology**:
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: Samukai posessed some level of strength, being able to overpower the likes of Kai and Wu with little effort.
	+ **Superhuman Durability**: Being a Skulkin, Samukai had a near-indestructibility granted to him due to his undead status, though this was unable to protect him from the Golden Weapons.

### Abilities

* **Master Tactican**: Samukai was described as being a brilliant leader and tactical genius in the eyes of Master Wu, who had countless years of experience.

## Weapons and Equipment

### Weapons

* **Bone Daggers:** In battle, Samukai generally wielded four daggers with small skulls on the hilts. Apart from general melee combat, he could also twirl the blades in his hands, enhancing their cutting power, or throw them with impressive accuracy at enemies or objects.
* **Golden Weapons:** After attacking the ninja in the Forest of Tranquility, Samukai gained three of the four Golden Weapons; the Scythe of Quakes, the Shurikens of Ice, and the Nunchucks of Lightning. He used them all to great effect against Master Wu, overwhelming him with the combined elements of Ice, Lightning, and Earth. However, when he picked up the Sword of Fire and attempted to use all four Golden Weapons against Lord Garmadon, he was destroyed, as their combined power would overwhelm anyone apart from the First Spinjitzu Master.
* **Departed Blade:** During his return on the Day of the Departed, Samukai wielded a Departed Blade styled to resemble his old double-bladed bone axe.

## Vehicles and Transportation

* **Skull Truck**: Created by Dr. Julien, Samukai and his forces used a Skull Truck on various missions during the Quest for the Golden Weapons, such as the Ambush on Ingancia.

## Factillicities

* **Underworld Fortress**: *To be added.*
* **Ninjago Museum of History**: *To be added.*

## Relationships

### Allies

* Skulkin - Former Subordinates
	+ Kruncha
	+ Nuckal
	+ Wyplash
	+ Krazi
	+ Frakjaw
	+ Bonezai
* Yang †
* Departed Villains
	+ Pythor
	+ Kozu †
	+ Cryptor †
	+ Chen †
	+ Morro †

### Enemies

* Garmadon - Former Master and Indirect Killer
* Wu - Attempted Victim
* Dr. Julien † - Former Prisoner
* Ninja
	+ Kai - Attempted Victim
	+ Jay
	+ Cole - Accidental Resurrector
	+ Zane
	+ Nya - Former Prisoner
* Ed
* Edna - Temporary Prisoner
* Ronin

## Appearances

### Sets

* 2505 Garmadon's Dark Fortress
* 2507 Fire Temple
* 40429 Ninjago World (pictured)

### TV Series

In Chronological Order:

* Ninjago: Mini Movies
	+ An Underworldly Takeover (flashback)
* Ninjago: Season 2 - Legacy of the Green Ninja
	+ The Last Voyage (flashback)
* Ninjago: Pilot Episodes
	+ Way of the Ninja
	+ The Golden Weapon
	+ King of Shadows
		- Season 2: Legacy of the Green Ninja
			* Wrong Place, Wrong Time (alternate timeline; concurrent events)
	+ Weapons of Destiny
* Ninjago: Season 1 - Rise of the Snakes
	+ All of Nothing (mentioned)
* Ninjago: Day of the Departed
* Ninjago: Season 7 - The Hands of Time
	+ The Hands of Time (statue)

## Trivia

* His original name was "Grim" as a reference to the Grim Reaper. Fitting, as he used to be the ruler of the Underworld before Garmadon took over.
* In the sets, Samukai's armor is black and his spine is white, yet in the pilot episodes, both have a brown coloration. This was later fixed in the mini-movie An Underworldly Takeover, and later in Wrong Place, Wrong Time, where all scenes he appeared in, even repeats, had his armor recolored to black and his spine to white. In Day of the Departed, they're both black.
* His appearance and role in the series are reminiscent of General Grievous (from *Star Wars*). Notably, both Samukai and Grievous are four-armed generals who are predominantly white in coloration and who act as the second-in-command of the evil forces. In "Way of the Ninja," Samukai even used a similar technique to General Grievous, rapidly spinning his weapons in his hands to act as shields and saws. Both were also deceived by their "masters" as part of a larger plot and were unaware that they were mere pawns. However, Samukai differs from Grievous in rebelling against his master, and in being made aware of his master's intent to betray him before meeting his demise.
* The Ninjago website indicated that the skull on the table holding Clouse's Book of Spells was that of Samukai
	+ However, this is most likely an error, as the skull in question looks like Kruncha's rather than Samukai's, Samukai's body was destroyed by the power of the Golden Weapons, and the skull is not the same size as Samukai's or Kruncha's anyway.
* Samukai's LEGO.com description stated that his four arms made him a "mean tennis player". He was also stated to be somewhat sensitive about his deformity of four arms, often avoiding answering the reason for his additional limbs by claiming his refusal to have six arms and likewise finding it convenient that he no longer needed to find shirts that could accommodate his limbs upon becoming a Skulkin.
* It's possible that his four arms were a result of having added extra bones to his body. However, this would not explain how his spine seems to be naturally larger than the other Skulkins'.
* Samukai is one of the three Ninjago villains to have three known death dates, one as a human and two as a Skulkin, in Weapons of Destiny and Day of the Departed respectively. The other two are Chen and Morro.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 An Underworldly Takeover
2. ↑ The Last Voyage
3. ↑ Mother Earth
4. ↑ Way of the Ninja
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wrong Place, Wrong Time
6. ↑ The Golden Weapon
7. ↑ King of Shadows
8. ↑ Weapons of Destiny
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Day of the Departed
10. ↑ Infamous