Mortal Spotlight: Q&A with Darren Shahlavi!
With a career-defining role as British boxer "Twister" in the 2010 Hong Kong hit, Ip Man 2, Darren Shahlavi confirmed his status as the ultimate martial arts baddie you'll love to hate! A familiar face of film and television, the breakout fighting role made him a natural choice when Kevin Tancharoen was given license to bring MK back to live-action with the anthology webseries, Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

Appearing in three of the nine episodes; Darren Shahlavi will be remembered by Mortal Kombat fans as Kano -- the Black Dragon crook famous for killing Sonya Blade's partner and igniting one of the series' longest running blood feuds. Starring opposite Jeri Ryan (Sonya) and Michael Jai White (Jax); Shahlavi plays key to bringing the classic plot to life, injecting MK's original rogue with a fresh brand of delicious contemptibility.

The role proved to be Shahlavi's second brush with MK, one of the interesting facts he shared in this special interview with Mortal Kombat Online. With a Blu-Ray release coming November, MKO probed the actor for further insight into the role, the work, his history, the future, and which character he'd love to beat the snot out of.

[MKO]: How did you get involved with MK Legacy?
[Darren Shahlavi]: I got a message from Larnell Stoval, the fight choreographer, a few months earlier, saying he may want to get me in on something. Later, I heard they were doing Mortal Kombat as a web series, I asked my agent to look out for it, I also contacted Larnell, who knew about me. Kevin [Tancharoen; series Director] had seen Ip Man 2, where I play a rather brash British boxer, and they both thought I'd fit as Kano.

What is your background in martial arts and acting?
I started Judo when I was seven years old, and once I saw Bruce Lee, I was hooked on martial arts and films. I trained in everything and studied all the movies, too. I was most impressed with the Hong Kong films and when I was a teenager I took part in film fighting seminars, including one that [Ip Man star] Donnie Yen was doing in London, England. That gave me the confidence I could work in Asia as a bad guy, and by the time I was twenty, I was out there, working in film.

What was your impression of Mortal Kombat before Legacy?
I was very familiar with MK, mainly the movie and the soundtrack. I loved it. I trained to the music all the time. I didn't play the game much at all.

The first movie I ever did was a Hong Kong movie that starred Robin Shou a few years before he was Liu Kang. We met each other again in Hong Kong in a bar and he told me all about the filming of Mortal Kombat and showed me pics from the shoot in Thailand. I also visited him on the set of Annihilation in London. He said he could get me a small part in it, but at the time I'd just got a lead role in a martial arts movie called Bloodmoon, where I fought Hakim Alston, the guy who Robin fights with bo staff in MK1.

Kano's background has been connected to Japan, the United States, and finally Australia. You yourself have an interesting heritage. Is that something important to you as an actor?
Of course my background is very important to me. It is who I am. Born and raised in England, I grew up in Hong Kong and live in North America. I've worked on movies all over the world. As an actor, I'm sure it helps me that my roots may not be too deep, but wide spread.

Did you have a particular place in mind when you played Kano?
Good question, but the short answer is no. I didn't give us a location.

How would you describe your Kano, in general?
Seriously enjoyable, loves to be bad! He wants to be feared rather than loved, without a clue, that will change in time.

Did you feel a specific sense of character or attitude was important for the role?
Absolutely. Untouchable, domineering, masculine yet proud arrogance. A pretty petty little gangster with dreams to be bigger than his dream.

The late Trevor Goddard made a real impression playing Kano in the 1995 film. You share some of his iconic dialogue. Did you take inspiration from his portrayal, or feel any pressure?
When I was younger my best mat Jawaz and I didn't see much of each other, as we lived far apart. We would greet each other with the line, "Hello, baby. Did you miss me?"

I loved what Trevor Goddard did with Kano and decided to play him more internally. I added "I'm gonna miss you, baby" [in Legacy Ep. 1] as a nod to Trevor's Kano. You don't try to top a great performance. Only to differ.

A lot of people are going to recognize you from other recent work -- I personally loved Ip Man 2. How does Kano stack up against another classic bad guy role
Twister" Milos?
Kano is Twister's little cousin. Can you imagine going out drinking with them both? It would be a riot. Someone asked how I prepared to play Kano, I said by playing Twister and having so much fun. The audiences everywhere loved to hate Twister, so I knew who Kano was right away -- Twister's little cousin. An ignorant, arrogant, small timer with big dreams, misguided, but going places because of big balls and a bigger mouth.

Your fight with Jax (Michael Jai White) set the tone for Legacy's action. What did you think of the style of action and choreography?
Larnell called me the Sunday before we went to camera and said, "Where are you?" I said, "At home watching a movie with a cup of tea." He said they were rehearsing the fight and waiting for me!

Somebody from production forgot to contact me and tell [me] about the rehearsal, so by the time I got there I was playing catch-up and didn't get any chance to add anything I wanted to the choreography. When we came to shoot it, they had been shooting other stuff all day and we had two hours to rush through the fight. Believe me, at the rate of speed we were going, Kevin, Larnell, our DP Kim [Miles] and the crew, and Mike and I, we did good. We had to skip some of the stuff and normally I would have been saying I need to do some kicks here, etc, but there was no time. Larnell did a great job. I just saw Sektor and Cyrax; the fight was magic. Kevin has a wonderful vision and is prepared to the brim. He has an infectious enthusiasm, with experience and conviction way beyond his years.

If you could have any fight with another character or member of the cast, who would it be?
I want to fight Goro. I want Kano to kick the shit out of Goro, up and down and all around. Big, fast, powerful, well placed kicks, like Hwang Jang Lee against Andre the Giant!

So, what was it like having your eye punched out by another man? Was that something that attracted you to the role, or was it just a little extra bonus?
That's the strangest question anyone has asked me in a while! Never crossed my mind.

How cool is it having a cybernetic eye? How was that special effect achieved and was it as awesome as it looks?
It was uncomfortable. Modifications will need to be made, but I thought it looked wonderful. It actually had an LED and a battery behind my head, so the light did glow. All the crew wanted pictures with Kano that day!

Kano really bookends Legacy, appearing in the first and last episodes. He's a stalwart of the games. Is this a character you would like to do more with?
I'd love to play Kano again, a number of times.

There is a lot that one can do with a young fresh bad guy like that. We've only just begun.

What do you think might be in store for the future?
No idea. Nobody has officially mentioned anything to me.

Legacy feels like a hot girl you got to shag once, and you hope to run into her again soon and really get to know, explore, and play around. Have some fun and maybe get serious.

Originally Posted: http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1552

Mortal Spotlight: Q&A with Shane Warren Jones!
Comic-Con International 2011 runs July 20-24 and it's there that -- after a month a half's wait -- fans will finally get their chance to glimpse the long awaited ninth episode of Mortal Kombat: Legacy!

Featuring a surprise spotlight on Cyrax [pictured right] and Sektor; the episode will tell the tale of Lin Kuei warriors fated to become unfeeling, mechanized weapons. With a design borrowed from the latest Mortal Kombat video game, the episode speaks directly to fans, spotlighting the MK3 additions in a curious close to a series that featured mainstream icons like; Sonya (Jeri Ryan), Jax (Michael Jai White), Scorpion (Ian Anthony Dale), Raiden (Ryan Robbins), and more.

The unexpected delay in schedule already has many speculating about what lies ahead at Comic-Con, which has become one of the most reported launching pads for new and existing projects. With an uncensored BluRay release already on the cards, possibilities of a television expansion, or feature film, remain open.

In anticipation of the episode and the series' conclusion, Mortal Kombat Online took the opportunity to talk to Shane Warren Jones before he officially becomes a cyborg assassin. The actor stars in dual roles as both Cyrax and lesser known Malibu Comics creation, Hydro. MKO probed him for more on that surprising twist, as well as his experiences with the series and hopes for the future.

[MKO]: How did you first get involved with MK Legacy?
[Shane Warren Jones]: Well, I first heard about it when a couple friends of mine had worked on the MK: Rebirth pitch. I literally got an audition a week before shooting started and flew out the following weekend for a fitting and two days later we began shooting.

It seems to be a role that demands a lot of physicality. What kind of background do you have?
The physical background I have is in dance and martial arts. I've studied kung-hu for a few years and dance all through high school/college. I started training at a gym called White Lotus Martial Arts in Los Angeles about three years ago, and have been studying a sport called Tricking ever since. It's a good work out.

As an actor/martial artist, which skills have been most stretched by MK Legacy?
Definitely the martial arts aspect.



You play a cold-blooded cyborg programmed to kill in one of the most violent fighting franchises in games. What's something warm and reassuring people might like to know about you?
[Laughs] True, true, that is an accurate assessment of my character. Well, I'm a huge nerd and hopeless romantic at heart... So... yeah... The complete opposite of a cold blooded cyborg anything! If you get me in a room and talk comics I'll probably nerd out with you. I grew up with the stuff. But shhhhh, don't tell anyone. Ninjas can't love, or nerd out.

What was your impression of Mortal Kombat before joining Legacy?
Like I said; I knew some of the guys on the Rebirth pitch and I was very impressed with the quality and realism put into the project for an under the table pitch [laughs]. Then I got to read the script and my role on the plane and I couldn't help but get excited.

How familiar were you with Cyrax before getting the part?
I was familiar only through his introduction in MK3, but I did my research and was really excited to see that the character had such a cool arc to it.

Have you played the new game at all?
I didn't get to play the new game until after I had already shot, but I've played it at the launch party, loved it and will say that I did beat our director, Kevin Tancharoen, in one round at the party... Which, in my opinion, isn't bad for never having practiced before. That dude plays a mean Smoke! [laughs]

There have been a lot of reports that you're playing two characters -- Cyrax and Hydro. Is that accurate?
Yes, that is correct. All I can say is that Hydro is also part of the Lin Kuei. [smiles]

What were some of the demands of playing two characters? How did you separate them?
Well, I was lucky in that there wasn't a lot of info on Hydro, so it was pretty hard to mess him up. It all came down to what Kevin wanted out of me performance-wise. Some of the difficulties would be, what are essentially the different, distinct mannerisms of the individual characters themselves. I tried doing some research on [Hydro] and not very much came up other than, 'He only appears in a few issues of the comic.'

The games have seen a lot of plotlines over time. Is Cyrax a character you'd like to do more with?
Oh, absolutely! Like I said before, Cyrax has really grown over the course of the past six games. While I haven't played the ones in between MK3 and MK9 at length, I am aware of the turn the character takes and his journey in juxtaposition to Sektor's journey, and without revealing too much before the episode, I believe we've only touched the surface of it, and I would LOVE to really flesh that character out for the fans.

We've seen pictures and trailer clips of the suit. What was it like to wear? Does the work diminish the 'cool factor' of the look?
[laughs] The suit was snug, to say the least, and there was no cool factor being diminished. What's the point of being a ninja if you can't even enjoy wearing the cool gear... Am I right? [He's right, folks.]


The last episode has been held off for a month and a half. Has the added wait been as tough for you as it has been for fans?
[laughs] Harder even... trust me. It's been quite a ride.

What do you think the future holds for MK Legacy and its characters?
I hope, much like everyone else, that we get a series and/or movie going with the grittiness that Kevin wants and can deliver. MK is a really visceral franchise and needs someone who can really put that on the big screen.

What are you hoping people take away from the SDCC unveiling of the episode?
What I hope people take away is that first and foremost that we are badasses [laughs]. I'm kidding.

What I hope fans take away, those who enjoy the series and those who had other expectations -- (I've read some of the venom spewed on YouTube [laughs]) -- is that there is an incredible amount of work that goes into the entertainment that they enjoy. Not just from the actors, but from the crew -- directoir, stunt coordinators, stunt men, producers, studios, etc etc. This is all done to please them because we love what we do. I hope they enjoy it and it makes them dream a little bigger.

Originally Posted: http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1528

MORTAL KOMBAT/DC UNIVERSE: HANS LO UNLOCKED!


A man of steel, a dark knight, and a warrior princess:
The DC Universe will soon collide with the world of
Mortal Kombat and we've tracked down one of the
men responsible for the merger: Hans Lo!

The DCU may be staring down the barrel of it's own Final Crisis, but catastrophic cosmic events will introduce a whole new set of problems when the DC heroes and villains come face to face with the warriors of Mortal Kombat in - Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe!

With invested interest in both franchises, the Infinite Wars has watched over the past few months with keen interest as this surprising crossover unfolds!
Earlier in the month we did our darndest to probe for more interesting information regarding the DC-side of the game when we held a Q&A with consulting DC writer, Jimmy Palmiotti! In an effort to balance the scales, and satisfy your insatiable desire for info, we we one-on-one with chosen warrior from the MK Team - Hans Lo!

We were very grateful to have the opportunity to talk more about some of the story and details from Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, as well as some of the surrounding details, like John Tobias' return, the on-going saga of Mortal Kombat, and what the future might hold.

For the readers: Who are you and what is your history?
My name is Hans Lo and I am the Senior Producer on Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe (MK vs DCU). I have been in the gaming industry for about twenty years. The first nine years I worked at Nintendo starting at a Gameplay Counselor, and later being involved in QA and hardware accessory licensing.
Then for a brief period after that I worked at Crave Entertainment as the QA Manager. Then in late 1999, I joined Midway as a QA Manager. From there I moved into production working on a wide variety of games.
For the last three years I’ve been involved with the MK Team working on such titles as Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 on Xbox Live Arcade, and Mortal Kombat DS.

Fifteen years of MK has built one of the fullest stories in the fighting genre, but in comparison to the seventy years of DC comics, it's still a very young world. What's it like contributing to this on-going saga that manages to be familiar, but constantly evolving?
It’s very exciting. As you’ve said, these universes are ever changing and evolving. In MK vs DCU, we’re going on more of an alternate universe storyline. It’s more of a "what if" scenario involving the DC universe, similar to what DC calls their Elseworld series. So while there is a lot of familiarity with the MK characters, we have a chance to explore how their interactions and views are effected when exposed to something that’s very alien to the MK universe.

For new fans jumping on board, what are some of the highlights of the MK story they might like to know?
Well, as I mentioned before, this is more of a "what if" scenario. So while it does take place in the MK universe, it’s not totally canon to the previous MK games storyline. What I can say about this story is that major events occur simultaneously in the MK and DC universe which leads to a cataclysmic event that forces heroes and villains from each universe to team up in order to save their worlds. These heroes and villains put aside their differences to help each other survive. Some for the good all, and others only do it for self preservation. Either way, it makes a great story. But as for now, the team isn’t quite ready to give out much more detail than this.

Word from above comes down: MK is about to collide with the DC Universe.
What's the first thing the MK team does to initiate the creative process?
Well with any game the team sits downs and brainstorm.
Ed welcomes feedback from the whole team. So if anyone has something they feel could contribute to the process, they are more than welcome to participate. One of the first thing they go over is story arc. In this case, what makes sense for both the MK universe and the DC universe. Why are they colliding? How are they going to collide? Who or what is responsible? Once a basic framework has been worked out, we had to think who do we want to populate these worlds? Basically, you start to fill the missing pieces of puzzle.

Armageddon left the MK story in a very open-ended, pliable place.
What was the impetus to remove MKvsDCU from the on-going story? How much influence, if any, does a potential MKA sequel have on the decision?
Since this crossover is something completely new for MK, we decided to reboot everything. Reboot the gameplay, story, presentation, everything.
At its core, it’s definitely still MK. By removing this game from the past storyline, it gave us sort of a new canvas to work with. It allowed us to go back and look at what we liked and what really worked on previous MK titles, without the constraints or preconception of the MKA storyline.
By doing this, I think we’ve really been able to come up with a really fun game that people will really enjoy. As for a sequel to MKA, it’s too early to say.

I do know that Ed and the team want to go back to a more traditional MK game in the sense that the game will take place within the MK universe, but right now we’re all focused on finishing MK vs DCU.

That "open-ended" quality of Armageddon left many fans wanting more of the in-game story and character development. How much are fans going to get out of MKvsDCU? In the end, will we learn or appreciate anything new about the characters or MK worlds?
Definitely, you’ll get to see more how the character act and react with each other in the situations they find themselves in this game’s story. Sometimes they’ll even behave in such a manner that while is out of character, it’s believable for the altered state they’re in. I might have said a little too much here, but when the fans play the game, this will all make sense. It’s a pretty wild ride.

There have been whispers of character appearances outside the playable twenty-or-so. How much of each universe and it's wide range of characters can we expect to see? What kinds of roles will these characters play?
Can you divulge any names, or mysteriouso hints?
Really? Who’s been whispering this? What do politicians always say these situations?... I can neither confirm or deny these rumors. I guess it’s possible for other characters to be playable. Guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?

The major MK cast is hovering around the seventy character mark, and, of course, the DC Universe has hundreds of characters created over decades of publication. What was it about the characters we've seen announced that assured them a spot? They're iconic, but was there something more?
Yeah, they’re all pretty iconic, and the reason for this is we wanted characters that were easily recognizable for players that were not necessarily familiar with these universes.


No Adam, No Canary:
Neither fishnets nor mass
genocide could guarantee
characters a spot in MKvsDCU!For example; we may have an MK fan that knows every MK character and his or her back story but may not have an idea as to who Canary or Black Adam are. The same could said for the DC fan: They may not know who Kenshi is or Bo Rai Cho are.

By choosing the characters we have for the game, it makes it much more accessible to a larger audience. But this wasn’t the only factor, we also wanted to make sure that each character in from each universe had a counterpoint. I can tell you, when it came to the decision process for this roster, it got pretty headed between the team members. In the end, I think we found a good balance. Hopefully the fans out there will agree.

Fans have spent a lot of time trying to pair characters up by certain commonalities. How much of the cast is built on specific comparisons, be they of similarity, or friction?
As I mentioned in the previous question, it was a pretty large part of the process. Both sides have so many rich and interesting characters. Some match ups were really easy, others were tougher in the sense that there could have been more than one good match up.

What led to the decision to create a hybrid villain over existing options?
How involved are the two halves prior to merging? Of the names yet to be revealed, are these characters playable, and can we still look forward to the age-old tradition of henchman sub-bosses?
Hybrid villain? Really? You don’t say. I know that the merging of the universes happens in the game. But villains? Hmmm…

[EDITOR: WorldsCollide.com alluded to a mash-up boss last month, referring to "a cataclysmic force [that] merges conquerors from two universes." Very recent leaks also revealed a "Dark Kahn" victory achievement for Xbox.]

Can you hint at all at the circumstances that merge the chief villains, or for that matter, the universes themselves? Be honest: is it Kochal?
As for the merging of the two universes, I can say that two major events occurring at the same time in each universe triggers the merging process and that it’s up to the teams from each universe to find the cause and hopefully correct the situation before it spells the doom not just one universe, but both.

The differing moral codes of each universe caused a stir when the game was first announced. Has this contrast of ideals played in to the thematic presentation of both worlds?
I think it’s because of these differing forms of moral codes it what makes this game and story great. Each side is true to itself, and because of this, it comes across in the story in an exciting manner.

Shoulder pads, loin flaps, face masks: Has the story and juxtaposition of the two franchises influenced the design of the MK characters?
While the universes are merging, the characters stay true to their universe.

In other words; Scorpion looks like Scorpion, and not some sort "DCized" version of him. The truth can also be said of the DC characters. You don’t see Wonder Woman wearing an outfit that looks like it came from Outworld or the Neatherrealm. She is instantly recognizable as Wonder Woman, golden lasso and all.

MKvsDCU promises to boast a range of story driven cut scenes in the appropriate mode. Are we going to get to see fully rendered motion video? How amazed are fans going to be? How far have things come since MK4?
The cut scenes will be rendered, but right now they’re a work in process, but even then, where they stand right now, they look pretty awesome, and they’ll look even better after we put the final touches on them. Given the power of the Xbox360 and the PS3, the characters and environments in-game look amazing.
We’ve been able to do things that we could only dream of back in MK4.
With that, even though we’re rendering the cut scenes, there’s a very consistent look throughout the game between cutscenes and gameplay.

Will characters feature individual cinematic endings as well as the conclusion to the storymode? Will these be story driven, or suggest more about the characters?
At this point in the development process, we’re not ready to divulge this information. You’ll have to be patient a little longer.

Are there any enticing details you can offer fans eagerly anticipating the story of MKvsDCU?
Well we’ve mentioned quite a bit to date.
Most of the line-up has been announced. We’ve confirmed that there will be fatalities and brutalities. Announced some of the levels. There’s really can’t say much more... yet. We’ll definitely have more in the coming month. A few more exciting things to share in the new future.

Shaolin Monks saw well known comic writer, Jim Kreuger, come on to provide writing that left some fans a little unimpressed. How important was it, in expanding the presence of characters, to examine the script?
Shaolin Monks’ story was about filling in the blanks of between the events of MK2 and MK3. So when we went into it we pretty much knew where the story picks up and where it needed to end, and how it needed to end.

For this game, because it’s more of alternate reality/timeline, we had much more freedom with the story, but at the same time, we knew we weren’t DC writers.
We could write story and dialogue for the MK characters, but while we are fans of the DC universe, we weren’t qualified. This is why we brought in Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray [check out our Q&A with Jimmy!].
Both these men have experience writing in the DC universe and are both well respected in the comic world. Who better to help write the story and the DC dialogue? They both were able to help us find ways of bringing these two universes together.

The prodigal son, John Tobias, has returned. How involved is he with this, or future games? How does his presence, if at all, effect John Vogel's position within the writing staff?
John Tobias isn’t involved in the game development of the game, he is involved in a special edition comic book that supplements the game’s story line.
He’ll be bringing his artistic talents to create the drawings within the comic. So in regards to John Vogel, this doesn’t really effect his work.

Having John Tobias back in the office interfacing with the team was awesome. The newer members were excited to be able to meet and work with John, who is a legend to them. For the older team members, like John Vogel, that have worked with John in the original MK games, it was a blast.

Tobias was announced at SDCC as the penciler for a sixteen-page comic packaged with the collector's edition. That's quite short. What kind of content can we expect from that? Who's writing? Will DC characters appear? That’s right, John will be the penciler for the comic.
Like I was mentioning before, this comic is more of a supplement, or companion to the game. It’ll give you a bit more back story of the events you see in game.
The writing will mainly be done by John Vogel.
As for DC characters; oh yeah, they’ll in there. After all, this story affects them as much as it affect the MK characters. This also means there will be DC involvement in this story.

It's been well over a decade now since Malibu produced their range of licensed MK comics. It's been surprising for some that DC haven't taken a publishing role for any MKvsDCU tie-ins. Is there any intent from the MK team to see Mortal Kombat return to comics again in an expanded role? What would it take to see that happen?
I think it would be great if this happen. As of right now, there are no plans on doing anything more comic wise. However, this isn’t to say that it could never happen.

The MK Kollection three-pack value bundle will be available when MKvsDCU hits shelves. How high are hopes that MKvsDCU might induct new fans into the MK mythos? Why was Deadly Alliance omitted?
With every MK title, we always hope that we can win over new fans, and with MK vs DCU this is no different.
I guess the main difference this time around it was a more conscious thought. Having a Teen rating in North America was part of it. Mostly this can be seen in our gameplay mechanics.

This game is probably much easier for novice gamer to pick up and play than the previous versions. This is not to say that the game has no depth. We also put moves in there that the more advanced players would appreciate.
The best way to phrase it would be easy to learn, but tough to master.

With the bredth of press and acknowledgments coming in, you really get the impression MKvsDCU is another breath of fresh air for the franchise.
What does the future look like for Mortal Kombat?... Could I sell you on a sequel to Special Forces?...
All the positive press and attention for the game has garnered has been phenomenal. The team thinks we have something really special here and we’re really excited to get this game finished and out the door so that the fans can play it. It’s really energized the team. We can’t wait to start on the next MK installment.

As to a sequel to Special Forces, I’ll talk to Ed about it and get back to you. :-)

- Hans, many thanks for your time!

Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe is scheduled to hit stores November 10, available for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360! A limited collector's edition [pictured right] comes in a velvet box and includes; a print, t-shirt, making of DVD, and sixteen page comic book drawn by returning series co-creator, John Tobias!

---

For more on Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, check out the official website, and our series of character spotlights and discussions: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, clues special, bonus one, two, three, and four!

MORTAL KOMBAT/DC UNIVERSE: JIMMY PALMIOTTI UNLOCKED!
Trash cans and crotch punches -- Mortal Kombat begins for Jimmy Palmiotti and the DC Universe!

A final crisis may be brewing in the DC universe, but before the heroes of of the DC world can put their own problems to bed, they'll take on the warriors of another realm, in Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe!

Over the past few months the Infinite Wars has watched with keen interest as this surprising crossover unfolds. As a fan of both Mortal Kombat and DC comics, it was a very special honor and privilege when we were granted the opportunity to correspond with Midway and [one of] the contributing DC writers, Jimmy Palmiotti!

The New York native appeared on a recent edition of the offical MKvsDC podcast, to talk about his history as a comics writer, and the writing process. We continued down this line of questioning to probe for even more details about the formulation of the game, it's content, and the nature of the plot that will bring these two universes into mortal kombat!

- [Infinite Wars] An easy place to start: How did yourself [and Justin Gray] become DC's men for the job?
[Mr. Palmiotti] Well, this was a first mash-up for the Mortal Kombat franchise, as well as the first DC videogame mash-up, and everyone on both sides wanted to make sure that the DC characters stayed true to their voices that fans have come to know and love. That’s why DC recommended us for the job. Midway hired us and we went to Chicago to sit with both sides to work out story, tone and everything else that came up, and the end product is a very loyal take on both licenses, and how they meet. It’s pretty cool.

- The last game in the [MK] series created a stir amongst fans for it's
approach to story driven content. Did you receive any broad direction based on recent games? Were you involved in the decision to remove the game from central canon?
We created a story that worked with these two worlds colliding and we left it up to the Midway people, and their experience of how to approach the game, once we had the spine worked out. I don’t think this game will get too many negative reactions once people actually sit down and play it.
"... for the teases you have seen,
there is 80% of the game you have no
clue about till you put it in and play it."Right now a lot has not been revealed and people are guessing what's going to happen and a lot of their guessing is way off.

Remember, people that live with and love these characters created this game. Nothing is done half assed here.

- Jim Kreuger somewhat infamoulsy provided writing for the 2005 MK
spin-off, Shaolin Monks. Were you aware of Jim's work? Did you pick up any useful pointers from ground he broke before tackling the project?
Not a thing, wasn’t aware of his involvment one bit, but that said, I think it's pretty cool and Jim is a friend and good writer, so I'm gonna find him and pick his brain.
Whatever was picked up and used from Jim's work was probably applied on the Midway side of things.

- How familiar were you with the Mortal Kombat characters and universe
when heading into the project? Did this knowledge/naivity help when approaching the results and reactions of the DC characters?
Justin Gray and I knew their universe pretty well, but know the DCU 100 times more because we write these characters daily. Whatever we didn’t know, Ed [Boon] and his crew was happy to fill us in on.
This is an amalgam, and a fine example of synchronicity on every level. A team effort that will be seen and enjoyed by millions. We had a blast working with everyone and San Diego couldn't have been more fun, working the game with Ed Boon and the media.
It’s nice to have a product you are proud of and going out there and pimping it.

- Initial fan reaction was somewhat negative due to the differing moral
codes of each universe. How much was the nature of violence and heroism in each brand considered, and was this a conceited opportunity to present a juxtaposition of styles and themes?
[Laughs] I always laugh at the people having negative reactions so early in the game. It's like reviewing half a movie. All that matters is the end product, and that will blow people away. We did everything we could to keep the game play and characters loyal as hell to their origins.
There is plenty of violence and heroism and bloodshed and madness.

- The DC cast is coming to MK's turf. From a comic writer's perspective, what are some of the MK characters you think translate especially well into the four-colour format? Which MK character could you imagine writing in an on-going series?
All of them work because sitting down with Ed Boon and his crew showed Justin and I there is a total feel for a back history of each and every character, and they know every single thing about them.
I would like to write them all as a team and then hit on each and every one of their origins separately. To me, they are equally interesting and really, if I said I liked one more than the other, a portal would open up in my studio and a power blast would rip my spine out of my body, I just know it!!!

- A collector's edition comic book was announced at San Diego, ushering in the return of John Tobias, on pencils. Will you be writing the book? Will the comic offer an opportunity to expand the context of the event? Will it include a broader view of the DC Universe?
Justin and I were not able to do the book, but we are excited as hell that the guys responsible for the game are penning the book.
"The Mash-Up villain: ... will we get
to see them in their individual
contexts?" "Yes, you do, and then
the madness begins."What could be better?
They know their stuff and I am excited to see what they do and to see John [Tobias]'s art again.

It’s a cool project.

- Given MK's suitability for the medium, and DC's current crop of battle-based comics; some might be surprised a promotional series wasn't conceived to coincide with the game. Was there a deliberate reason not to expand into a mini-series? Could this be a possible option in the future?
That's out of our hands. What Justin and I did was the nuts and bolts, and all the other stuff has its own life.
To tell the truth, my main job right now is to do press and make people aware how awesome this all is, and push the game as best as we can.

- Story and character has always been vital to the MK franchise. Is there any danger of the comic taking plot out of the game? How much can we expect from story modes, character endings, and any additional plot-driven interactions?
We aren’t writing the comic, so I have no answer to that. Sorry.

- The Mash-up villain: What prompted the "Amalgamation"? Presumably you can't reveal who the characters are, but will we get to see them in their individual contexts?
Yes, you do, and then the madness begins.
Like I said before, for the teases you have seen, there is 80% of the game you have no clue about till you put it in and play it.

- Returning to the clash of styles; characters like Captain Marvel and Green Lantern have been confronting announcements for some fans.
Can you elaborate at all, in a broad sense, how their characters connect to an event like this?
They are vital parts of the DCU and the legacy characters, as well.
You need these guys in the game and as you can see by what was revealed already, each and every one of them serves a purpose in the story, and the best part is, we get to play as them.

This is a giant event in the DCU and how could you not have a Green Lantern involved?

- After playing the game, hopefully fans from both sides will be able to jump on board with each franchise. Is there any story or series you could recommend for MK fans looking to jump into the DCU? What about some of yours and Justin's work, for those interested in your voices?
Well, we have a Superman/Supergirl series coming out in November, as well as a Terra series and Powergirl series in January. Our regular book is Jonah Hex. While it’s not too vital to the game, I suggest a casual reader go out to a bookstore, or comic shop, and hit the trade books. Look through them and see what appeals to you.

Frank Miller's Dark Knight, Mark Waid's Superman and Flash, Gail Simone's work, etc. There are a lot of great books out there right now.

- Finally: Is it true you're going to appear as a hidden character in the game? Can I expect to throw down a trashcan beating on Sub-Zero? Do you have magic powers, and will this be the context by which you beat up Superman?
I am not allowed to tell, but if I am, my powers would be exactly that. Trashcan beating, throwing the all-powerful middle finger, and the power punch to the nuts.

Mr. Palmiotti, thank you very much for your time!

Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe is scheduled to hit stores November 10, available for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360! A limited collector's edition comes in a velvet box and includes; a print, t-shirt, making of DVD, and sixteen page comic book drawn by returning series co-creator, John Tobias!

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For more on Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, check out the official website, and our series of character spotlights and discussions: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, clues special, bonus one, two, three, and four!