- "Yondu didn't have a talking car, but he did have a flying arrow."
- ―Star-Lord[src]
The Yaka Arrow is a whistle-controlled arrow made from Yaka that uses technology native to the Centaurian people. The Yaka Arrow was Yondu Udonta's favored weapon. Highly skilled in its usage, Udonta always kept one in a holster by his side.
History[]
Early History[]
- "Enough nonsense, Ravager! Time to die."
- ―Maskless Sakaaran to Yondu Udonta[src]
Yondu Udonta, a Centaurian and the leader of a clan of spacefaring smugglers known as the Ravagers, is widely recognized for carrying a Yaka Arrow, which he keeps close by in a holster at his side. Udonta often relies on his arrow to intimidate others while either brokering deals, interrogating others, or dealing with defiant or insubordinate crew members, maneuvering the arrow close to the person's head to threaten and intimidate them into complying with his interests.[1]
Chasing Peter Quill[]
Yondu Udonta threatens the Broker with his arrow
On Xandar, Yondu Udonta visited the shop of the Broker to gain information regarding the Orb's potential buyer as a lead to finding Star-Lord and the stolen Orb. When the Broker attempted to dodge the question in order to maintain his client's confidentiality, Udonta drew his arrow and used it to intimidate the Broker into answering.[1]
Alliance with the Guardians[]
After he picked up both Star-Lord and Gamora, Yondu Udonta used his arrow to threaten to kill Star-Lord for defying the Ravagers and stealing the Orb for himself.[1]
Battle of Xandar[]
Yondu Udonta defeating a unit of the Sakaarans
While surrounded by Sakaarans during the Battle of Xandar, Yondu Udonta used his Yaka Arrow to kill the soldiers, as well as destroy a nearby Necrocraft.[1]
Attack on Berhert[]
Yondu Udonta used the arrow when hunting the Guardians of the Galaxy on the planet Berhert, making the arrow hover in front of Rocket Raccoon to capture him. As Taserface began a mutiny against Udonta, he responded by making the arrow target the traitorous Ravagers, only to lose control of it when Nebula shot the controller, causing him to pass out.[2]
Escape from the Eclector[]
Yondu Udonta killing all of his former Ravager allies
When Rocket Raccoon attaches the Yaka Arrow Controller to Yondu Udonta's head, he uses the arrow to slaughter the mutinous Ravagers, with the arrow even catching on fire in an attempt to kill Taserface, piercing a tank of flammable materials, causing the Eclector to explode.[2]
Battle on Ego's Planet[]
Yondu Udonta battling against the power of Ego
Yondu Udonta used the arrow again at the Battle on Ego's Planet, with him using it to lower himself down to the ground after being forced to bail out of the Laser Drill, with him being compared to Mary Poppins. He used it again to destroy the obstacles that Ego threw at him, only for the arrow to eventually break.[2]
New Owner[]
Kraglin Obfonteri is given the Yaka Arrow
Rocket Raccoon managed to recover the pieces of the broken arrow and repair it with Peter Quill, giving it to Kraglin Obfonteri, saying that Udonta would want his first mate to own his weapon.[2] Kraglin tried using the arrow to varying degrees of success, accidentally stabbing Drax the Destroyer in the chest non-fatally before deciding to make a run for it.[3]
Kraglin Obfonteri sticks the Yaka Arrow through his nose
As an official member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Kraglin used the Yaka Arrow to combat various threats on various planets, however, Kraglin lost the arrow in a lake and tried to call it with his whistle, causing the arrow to crash into his nose, causing Kraglin pain during the battle.[4] When Kraglin brought Kevin Bacon to the Bowie, he told him how he had trouble controlling the Yaka Arrow.[5]
Attack on Arête Laboratories[]
When the Hell Spawn attacked Knowhere during the battle, Kraglin pulled out the arrow and a vision of Yondu appeared to him, instructing Kraglin to use his heart to control it. Kraglin successfully fought off the Hell Spawn with the help of Cosmo, but the arrow got stuck in a wall during the fight.[6]
| This section requires expansion |
Alternate Universe Versions[]
Saving T'Challa[]
In an alternate 2008, on Morag, Star-Lord stole the Orb from an ancient temple, but was confronted by Korath the Pursuer and an army of Sakaarans. Yondu, signaled by Star-Lord, used the Yaka Arrow to kill all of the Sakaaran soldiers save for Korath, who was recruited to join the Ravagers.[7]
Used by Nebula[]
- "So, if you have this arrow, I'm guessing Yondu's finally turned a paler shade of blue."
- ―Howard the Duck to Nebula[src]
After Yondu's murder, Nebula used a memory of him whistling to summon the arrow which had information on a data core that held the codes for Xandar's planetary shield. Nebula later armed herself with the Yaka Arrow while trying to stop Irani Rael, but the arrow got partially stuck in a doorway, allowing Rael to grab and destroy it.
Capabilities[]
Yondu Udonta controlling his arrow
The Yaka Arrow is a weapon forged from Yaka metal by the Centaurians. Yaka Arrows respond to a specific range of sonic frequencies which change the material's reactive behavior. With self-propelling and extremely modulated anti-gravitational technology, the arrows themselves are able to defy gravity and move freely through the air at great speeds as well as being highly durable and sharp, allowing them to pierce through most targets, including the hull of a spacecraft.
The arrows are controlled by high-pitch sonic frequencies, which Centaurian natives are able to produce by whistling. As with other weapons, Centaurians have to train themselves to be proficient at controlling the arrows with accuracy and precision. Changes in the users' whistling directs the arrow and causes it to gain both speed and momentum or suddenly stop at will, as well as rapidly and fluidly change direction. Skilled Centaurians can direct an arrow to rapidly fly back and forth among targets across a battlefield, or even up and down as well as sideways across tiers and levels of constructed structure, striking numerous targets before they are able to react, all before returning the arrow to themselves. Udonta claimed that personally he doesn't use his mind to control his arrow but his intuition which explains why he was very proficient at using it.
Trivia[]
- In the comics, the Yaka Arrow can actually change its direction, but not speed, in response to certain high-octave whistle-sounds some Centaurians can produce. Udonta is so skillful at controlling his arrows, he can cause an arrow to return to his hand or weave its way through a crowd of people without touching them.
Behind the Scenes[]
- In the audio commentary for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, writer/director James Gunn suggested Peter Quill had not intended to give Kraglin Obfonteri the arrow, but felt he owed Kraglin something after Kraglin gave him the Zune.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Guardians of the Galaxy
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Post-credits Scene
- ↑ Thor: Love and Thunder
- ↑ The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- ↑ What If...?: 1.02: What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?
