Madame Gao

"Lying to that woman is impossible."

- Wilson Fisk

Madame Gao is a powerful woman running her own trade of heroin in Hell's Kitchen. While fighting off the efforts of the vigilante Daredevil, Gao betrayed Wilson Fisk and as a result decided to leave New York City to reflect upon the future.

Early Life
Madame Gao hailed from a distant land. Despite many of her associates in New York City believing that she was from China, she herself indicated this was not the case, and that her home was "a considerable distance further".

Drug Dealer
Madame Gao is a master in the drug trade; she is in charge of an illegal drug manufacturing operation where her subordinates allowed themselves to be blinded, except for the security guards. Gao was approached by Wilson Fisk for assistance in his ambition to change Hell's Kitchen and sought to assist her in the distribution of her heroin. Together they worked out a system where Gao's blind workers would take bags of heroin to Vladimir and Anatoly Ranskahov who would help deliver it.

Clandestine Meeting
One night, Madame Gao sat atop a building, along with Nobu, Leland Owlsley, Anatoly Ranskahov, and Vladimir Ranskahov, awaiting the arrival of Wilson Fisk; James Wesley came instead, citing that Fisk was busy. Gao listened as Owlsley protested about Fisk's absence and Anatoly and Vladimir called Wesley a lapdog. When Wesley questioned Anatoly and Vladimir about why their payment was short, they explained that a masked man freed their captive girls and beat up their subordinates. Gao spoke in Chinese, but only Wesley understood, asking if the masked man took the girls for himself. Gao quietly listened as the meeting continued.

War with the Russians
Gao was later called for another meeting, this time without the Ranskahov brothers; Leland Owlsley commented on the pints of blood being drained from a nearby car, to which Gao only laughed. They were interrupted by the arrival of James Wesley and Wilson Fisk; Gao told Fisk she was happy to see him. Fisk however announced that the Ranskahov brothers were no longer a part of their organisation since Fisk had murdered Anatoly. Both Gao and Nobu expressed their anger at the news; Gao was told to continue moving her shipments of heroin to the Russians until Fisk could take over the distribution. The group agreed on the matter and departed while Fisk offered to walk Gao to her car, where she asked if he wanted something from her.

Controlling Wilson Fisk
"I am not here to pluck flowers from the thicket. This is a courtesy, because you have shown me respect. Restore your house to order, or I will begin dealing with Nobu and Leland directly."

- Madame Gao to Wilson Fisk

Without much effort, Gao learned the location of Wilson Fisk's Penthouse and arrived for a meeting with him. Fisk poured her tea which he had brought back from his last trip to China, of which Gao approved, but she assured him that she had not come to his home for tea. Gao then began speaking to Fisk in English and revealed that she was aware that Fisk spoke both Chinese and Japanese so did not need James Wesley to translate for him. They began speaking to each other in fluent Chinese and Gao told him that neither Nobu nor Leland Owlsley were happy with Fisk's handling of recent events. She called Fisk emotional and sloppy, making an example of her discovery of his residence as proof that Fisk was losing control. Before she departed, she told Fisk if he did not restore his business to order, she would cut him from their organization and begin dealing with Nobu and Owlsley directly. She calmly left Wilson Fisk's Penthouse, thanking him for the tea as Fisk fell into a rage due to Gao's threat and overthrew the table.

Making a Choice
"There is conflict within you." "Conflict?" "Man cannot be both savior and oppressor, light and shadow, one has to be sacrificed for the other. Choose, and choose wisely, or others will choose for you."

- Madame Gao and Wilson Fisk

Gao had a meeting with Wilson Fisk on a rooftop garden, when he arrived she commented on James Wesley's absence, as he was no needed to translate. Gao spoke to Fisk in Chinese and told him a metaphorical tale of a snake that died after mistaking an elephant for prey. When Gao expressed her disappointment at Nobu's death, Fisk claimed he did not expect Nobu to go against the masked man himself. Gao warned Fisk that the Hand were preparing for retaliation after their boss's death, she asked him if his ambition would ever turn to her, but Fisk assured her that she had his respect so he would not. She told him his mind was distracted by his heart since falling in love with Vanessa Marianna, switching to English she told him to decide if he was the savior or oppressor of the city. Believing Fisk's love for Vanessa Marianna would endanger their business, Gao joined forces with Leland Owlsley and together they organized a plan to poison Marianna at the benefit Fisk was attending. Although Marianna did drink the poison, she was rushed to the hospital in time to be saved.

Encounter with the Masked Man
"All those people, you took their eyes." "No, they blinded themselves." "Why would they do that?" "Because they have faith."

- Masked Man and Madame Gao

While in her warehouse, Gao looked over her workers as they continued producing heroin. However, she spotted an intruder in her warehouse, the masked man, who was snooping around for answers. Gao yelled a warning to her workers and ordered them to attack the man. While her workers found and surrounded the intruder, Gao attempted to escape. With two armed guards protecting her, Gao moved through the warehouse. They were attacked by the masked man who quickly defeated the guards and confronted Gao. The man demanded to know why her people had been blinded, but Gao assured him that they had blinded themselves because of their faith in what she stood for, and now the masked man had taken that faith away from them. When the man asked about Wilson Fisk, Gao struck the man in the chest and the force of the punch sent him flying across the room. As the man recovered from the shock of the hit, Gao escaped.

Reflecting upon the Future
"I will visit my homeland, and reflect upon the future." "Home? China?" "It is a considerable distance further. We shall not speak again."

- Madame Gao and Leland Owlsley

Having escaped with her warehouse and her business burnt to the ground, Gao met with Leland Owlsley to discuss the recent events. She greeted Owlsley in English, apologising for her lateness. She informed Owlsley about the encounter with the masked man and the destruction of the heroin. They discussed the risk of Wilson Fisk learning of their plan to assassinate Vanessa Marianna and Owlsley asked if Gao was responsible for killing James Wesley as well, but she assured him she was not. As Gao left the meeting, she informed Owlsley that she was returning to her homeland to reflect upon the future.

Lurking in the Shadows
"I see from the uniform, you've taken the devil's name to heart." "Yeah I had to, because of people like you." "So you continue your fight, but for how long I wonder, and at what price."

- Madame Gao and Daredevil

Gao either returned or never left New York, continuing her heroin trade despite running into trouble when a rival dealer known as the Blacksmith began stepping into her territory. Gao was visited by Daredevil who demanded to where he could find the Blacksmith. Once Gao had ordered her men to leave, they discussed the Blacksmith, with Daredevil threatening to call the New York City Police Department to her location if she did not assist him.

As Gao explained how the Blacksmith was elimating her chemists and causing her work great trouble, Daredevil assured her that he could end the Blacksmith's career the same night. Gao directed him to the docks as her men believed he brought his drugs over by ships although she did not know which pier and therefore could not have him killed herself, advising him that the ship should be well guarded. As Daredevil thanked her for her assistance and prepared to leave, Gao warned him that his path would not be an easy one.

Personality
Madame Gao is a ruthless criminal, able to gain complete trust of her subordinates and even made them blind themselves. While working with others she is highly calculating and even spoke only Mandarin to make them underestimate her and let them believe she would not understand them without translation. She was quick to turn on her allies but seemed to respect Wilson Fisk more than the rest of his associates, as she warned him that he was losing himself on his mission. Despite this she ultimately ended up trying to kill Vanessa Marianna as she considered her a distraction for him. She seemed to have some level of respect for Daredevil, however, and when their interests temporarily aligned she willingly gave him information on the Blacksmith.

Madame Gao speaks a lot in riddles and surrounds herself with an air of mysticism during her interactions.

Abilities
"I speak many languages." "How many?" "All of them."

- Madame Gao and Wilson Fisk


 * Omnilingualism: Gao is fluent in Mandarin, English, and Japanese and she claims to be able to speak all languages.
 * Master Martial Artist: Gao is highly trained in martial arts, able to knock over Daredevil with a single strike, and although he was still suffering from his injuries taken in the duel with Nobu, her appearance as a frail old woman fooled Daredevil enough to catch him by surprise.

Allies

 * Wilson Fisk
 * Leland Owlsley †
 * Nobu †
 * Anatoly Ranskahov †
 * Vladimir Ranskahov †
 * James Wesley †

Enemies

 * Daredevil
 * Vanessa Marianna - Attempted Victim
 * Blacksmith

Trivia

 * Steven S. DeKnight confirmed Gao is connected to the Iron Fist villain, whose seal was visible on the heroin packets.