EARTHREALM versus OUTWORLD
Death Moves (Malibu/Midway)
Where: Mortal Kombat: Battlewave #6
When: August 1995 Why: Charles Marshall
How: Vinton T. Heuck

The Story So Far...
Held once every generation; the sanctity of Mortal Kombat was intended to be Earth's saving grace. By pitting their greatest warriors against the forces of Outworld in controlled one-on-one contests, they fend off invasion. Representing their evil emperor, Shao Kahn; Shang Tsung and Outworld's fighters need only win ten straight tournaments to be granted freedom to attack Earthrealm.

Lust for power led Shang Tsung to deviate from the course of traditional combat and pursue the powers of a mystic book called the Tao te Zhan. With the tournament compromised, Earth's greatest champions were forced into battle Goro outside of the rules, only to be flung into the depths of Outworld upon the champion's disappearance. Both hero and villain united their efforts to curtail the unleashed forces of the Tao te Zhan, but the Emperor is not so easily curbed.

In his bid to claim the realm of Earth, Shao Kahn takes full advantage of the kidnap of Sonya Blade. Intent on marrying her as a means of crossing the threshold between worlds, Shao Kahn has his minions manipulate the special forces agent's mind, but he failed to account for her friends...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Shao Kahn 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Shang Tsung 5 (Professor)
Speed: Reptile 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Raiden 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Smoke 7 (Formless)
Fighting Ability: Goro 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Raiden 6 (UWMD)


- The Earthrealm warriors are: Raiden, Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Jax, Johnny Cage, Bo, Sing, Sang, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero, Kitana, & Baraka.

As one of the key realms of the universe, Earthrealm is a land of great promise and potential. Protected by the god of thunder and lightning, Raiden, the Earth stands steadfast against it's opposition, survived by the courage of generations of warriors pledged to light and justice.

Among the great champions to spring from Earthrealm was the warrior called Kung Lao, who first earned victory in a tournament with Outworld. Kung Lao's reign may have been brought to an end by the Shokan Prince, Goro, but decades later his descendents carry on the flame. Liu Kang, accompanied by Kung Lao II, follows in his ancestors footsteps to become the new champion of Mortal Kombat.

- The Outworld warriors are: Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung, Goro, Kintaro, Reptile, Mileena, Smoke, Jade, Kano, & Scorpion.

The realm of Outworld was once the domain of the fabled Dragon King, whose desires to become immortal proved his undoing. Shao Kahn, once an advisor to Onaga, poisoned his master to usurp the throne. In doing so, Kahn destroyed one horror only to become a far worse alternative. His desire for power sees the invasion and conquest of many realms, such as the once beautiful kingdom of Edenia, which was merged into Outworld by the tyrant.

Shao Kahn's most recent preoccupation is Earth where the sorcerer, Shang Tsung, acted as an emmissary of Outworld in the tournament called Mortal Kombat. Ten victories in the tournament would earn Outworld the right to invade Earthrealm without the intervention of the gods. A warrior named Kung Lao once held the title, but his reign as champion was undone by a Shokan prince called Goro.

Outworld is home to many violent species, some displaced by the destruction or assimilation of their home realms. Within Kahn's empire are the nomadic mutant creatures, the Tarkata; the four-armed powerhouses, the Shokan; and the horse-legged Centaurians.

Math: Earthrealm (Ttl) Outworld (Avg) Ranking: Shang Tsung (#19)

What Went Down...
Having endured the hypnotic suggestion of Reptile - Sonya Blade is on the verge of accepting Shao Kahn's hand in marriage when a solitary voice echoes into the tyrant's chambers. Unintimidated by the collective of evil, Liu Kang stands proud, confident as the champion of the Temple of the Order of Light.

Goro, former champion of kombat, charges his newest nemesis with evil intent, but Kang is ready. He leaps the descending fist of the four-armed man-dragon and counters with a skillful kick that staggers the beast!

Shao Kahn's other minions descend with overwhelming numerical superiority, but just as they do, a hurricane wind and thunderous roar usher the arrival of Earth's protector god -- Raiden! Shang Tsung shoos his own allies away, intent on exacting revenge for one of his greatest opposers.

Coming to aid in the scrap are two more of Earth's destined warriors - Sonya's Special Forces partner, Jax, and the actor with a special affection for her, Johnny Cage. Together with Cage's bodyguard, Bo, the trio make an immediate impact against Reptile, Smoke, and Kano!

Just as Goro steps up to make the save, yet another warrior makes a dramatic entrance, this time the merged mortal whose soul is comprised of both living and dead -- Siang! Having been manipulated with the use of a rare gem, Siang again falls beneath the mystic control of Prince Goro, who himself was responsible for killing one of the brothers, Sang.

The rebel collective of Kitana, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero, and Baraka, enter to complete the opposition of Kahn's sinister plot. The Lin Kuei ice warrior, Sub-Zero, quickly renews his vendetta with the ninja whose spectre remains bound to torment so long as he lives. Scorpion is quick to sting, but finds an opponent at the ready!

While the blood fued boils on, kombat spills throughout Shao Kahn's throne room. Kung Lao battles Reptile, while the many other combatants tackle their own foes. The mutants Baraka and Mileena; Princess Kitana and her former ally, Jade; Bo against the combined prowess of Goro and Smoke; and Jax a double-team by Kintaro and Kano! It is a fitting conclusion that mirrors the struggle between realms that gathered these warring factions.

Baring witness to this bitter clash of nemesis', Shao Kahn achieves a moment of clarity. Recognising the passion that drives them to attain physical superiority, he questions the value of any attempt to bring the two sides together.

Even as he observes the mutual hatred shared by denizens of the opposing realms, Shao Kahn is set upon by his would-be bride, the Earthrealm agent he'd attempted to brainwash! Free from her programming, Sonya topples the Emperor with a jump kick to the back of the head!

It begins with a cackle and ends with a booming speech.
In an effort to bring about a conclusion, Shao Kahn declares a challenge to decide the superior force. Thus, Mortal Kombat begins anew, pitting the fighters from both worlds against each other in a race for a sacred artifact...

The Hammer...
After what really amounts to a series of dramatic introductions, we can only conclude that neither force gained certain enough a blow to obtain victory. Ergo, it is a draw for all concerned!

Now well into December, it seems we have quite a bit of catch-up to do. While this means we won't get to milk quite as much out of the month of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe as originally intended, let it never be said that a Friday went unrepresented in the Infinite Wars!

MKvsDC Super Stock
#1 Batman (DC)
#2 Superman (DC)
#3 Shang Tsung (MK)
#4 Wonder Woman (DC)
#5 Catwoman (DC)
#6 Green Lantern (DC)
#7 Shao Kahn (MK)
#8 Sonya Blade (MK)
#9 Flash (DC)
#10 Raiden (MK)
#11 Kano (MK)
#12 Darkseid (DC)
#13 Deathstroke (DC)
#14 Kitana (MK)
#15 Sub-Zero (MK)
#16 Captain Marvel (DC)
#17 Lex Luthor (DC)
#18 Scorpion (MK)
#19 Joker (DC)
#20 Baraka (MK)
#21 Liu Kang (MK)
#22 Jax (MK)The idea behind this post was to preceed next week's entry (which will feature Darkseid) with the classic MK boss who put the "Kahn" in Dark Kahn. Admittedly, impatience leaves us with a pretty vague entry for the character, but it's yet another opportunty to indulge in the vast cast of characters that Mortal Kombat has to offer.

Malibu Comics by no means made any kind of delicate effort to weave an intricate story of subtlty and subtext, but we should give them some credit. In practise it proves to be a fairly cumbersome idea, but I rather like the motivation behind Battlewave's interpretation of Sonya as famous captive of the Emperor during MKII.

Presumably inspired by the background that had many fans buzzing with theories in 1993; Sonya, in a subplot pulled straight from modern living, finds herself as the ticket for Kahn to be allowed what amounts to a visa into Earthrealm.
When put alongside established fact from the series - such as Kahn's wedlock to the Edenian Queen, Sindel - you can imagine the scheme as a trump card in the complicated game of the Elder Gods' rules.

What will be lost on neophytes is the fact that the second MK game exists as part of a farcical tournament that serves as little more than a distraction.
The much maligned cinematic sequel, Annihilation, revealed to unfortunate mainstream audiences the core plot of MK3/Trilogy pertaining to the resurrection of Sindel in Earthrealm. If we consider these backdoors into Earth as a routine practise for the conquerer, it stands to reason he might just as likely marry to gain entry into realms, as he is to fight. Whatever works, eh?

Man-slut doesn't really do this boss character justice, however.
Multiple fake-out deaths and a string of varying characterizations have left Kahn in a bit of a state. Back in the day you might have been naive enough to take his lauding exclamations as an acknowledgment from an honorable warrior, but cries of "excellent" and "outstanding" should never have taken away from his menace!

Kahn dealt super-power blows at a cut-price to gamers who made it far enough to enter his arena. Like Bison/Vega before him, Kahn represented the stuff of legend to fans who believed Mortal Kombat's digitized graphics, cartoon gore, and mythologically inspired storyline was king of the arcade.
As much as is possible in storylines dependent on such big and loud plot-twists, I like to think of Kahn as a respectable warrior who is as cunning as he is powerful. A character who is master not only of harsh hand-to-hand combat, but also the dark mystic arts that allow him insight into his allies, enemies, and the world around him.

It's characters like Shao Kahn that gave me fairly high hopes for the meeting between Mortal Kombat and the DC Universe. It felt like an ideal opportunity to take advantage of a T-rated audience quite possibly trained to indulge further in the story and character driven events that surround the DC characters. It was disappointing that the series, largely unrecognised or mocked by other fanbases, could not rise to the challenge.

If Midway can fight to live another day, it will be very interesting to see where they take the series in it's first focused step into this current generation of consoles. With iterations that improve in some way the previous fight engine, Mortal Kombat appears to have a plan for the future, even if this type of scenario has crumbled to mediocrity before. With financial destruction looming, the future of MK remains a very interesting subject.

While we play catch up, be sure to tune in daily for the annual DC/Marvel Fantasy Fight polls, and much more in the Infinite Wars!

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 3

For more on Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, check out the official website, our Q&A interviews with Jimmy Palmiotti and Hans Lo, and our series of character spotlights and discussions: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, clues special, bonus one, two, three, four and Dark Kahn spotlight, Final MK cast, Final DC cast! ALSO: C2C editions Mortal Kombat vs DCU, Finish Him...!, Heroic Brutality, Heroic Fatality, Mooortal Kombaat!

Don't forget! The holidays are right around the corner! For the fanboy in your life, the Infinite Wars Gift Shoppe offers a range of the titles derived from the many issues reviewed in the Secret Archives! You'll not only find a great Amazonian deal, but also help sponsor the site by using purchase links provided! Cheers!

JOHNNY CAGE versus SUB-ZERO
Mortal Mayhem (Malibu/Midway)
Where: Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #6
When: December 1994 Why: Charles Marshall
How: Patrick Rolo

The Story So Far...
Struggling to prove himself as a successful martial arts film star, Johnny Cage seeks the noteriety of an ancient martial arts tournament that will prove his expert skills.

Held once every generation; the sanctity of Mortal Kombat was intended to be Earth's saving grace by pitting their greatest warriors against the forces of Outworld in controlled one-on-one contests. Representing their evil emperor, Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung and Outworld's fighters need only win ten straight tournaments to be granted freedom to invade the Earth.

Shang Tsung's desire for victory led him to the mysteries of an ancient book of power called, the Tao te Zhan. This deviaton has corrupted the tournament in which Earth's final hopes dangle. Now, scattered across the realm of Outworld, the warriors of Earth wage their own personal battles in Mortal Kombat...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Noob Saibot 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Noob Saibot 5 (Marathon)
Agility: Johnny Cage 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Draw 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Power: Noob Saibot 4 (Arsenal)


- John Carlton studied the martial arts with some of the world's greatest masters, but rather than dedicate himself to the enlightenment of the arts, he assumed the screen name of Johnny Cage to become a renowned action film star.

Despite amassing cult followings around the world (notably, France); Cage fails to endear himself to an audience of critics who believe he relies too heavily upon special effects and trick photography. Little do moviegoers and reviewers know, Cage's amazing feats are all his own, the result of his mastery of fighting techniques that harness his chi for energy blasts and the legendary shadow kick.

The filmstar embarks on a quest for noteriety, hoping to earn the respect of his peers through victory of an ancient martial arts tournament held by Shaolin Monks. Unbeknownst to the actor, he approaches his destiny to become one of the Earth's great protectors in the competition called Mortal Kombat.

- Descended from an ancient race of warriors capable of manipulating ice; the being called Noob Saibot was the legendary mortal assassin, Sub-Zero. As a member of the elusive Lin Kuei clan, Noob had inhereted the mantle from his cryomancer father, before it was handed to his younger brother, after his death.

It was while in the employ of the sorcerer Quan Chi that Noob found himself pitted against a member of rival clan, the Shirai-Ryu, in a race to retrieve ancient artifacts of great power. When faced with the skilled ninja called Scorpion, Noob murdered his rival, succeeding in serving the evil plot of Quan Chi.
Scorpion's soul refused to rest, however, returning from the realm of dishonored dead to seek vengeance for his own demise, and the murder of his family and clan. Noob could only delay the inevitable so long, eventually succumbing to Scoprion's rage at the Mortal Kombat tournament.

His soul tainted; the then Sub-Zero was condemned to the Netherealm where Quan Chi charred his body black with the powers of his Brotherhood of Shadow. Reborn as a mindless wraith, Noob Saibot gained new dark power in the name of a new master he had unwittingly served all along; Shinnok.

As a wraith Noob appears to have lost, or forgotten, his knowledge of the inherent kori arts that come with being a cryomancer. Instead, he possesses a variety of abilities to teleport and move through darkness, as well as his own impressive skill in the martial arts. Upon regaining his consciousness, Noob embarks on his own dark mission of domination.

Math: Noob Saibot Ranking: Noob Saibot (#34)

What Went Down...
Distracted by his battle with Sonya Blade, Kano loses sight of the legendary Tao te Zhan book, making it easy pickings for the evasive warrior, Sub-Zero!
Although power seems to be within his grasp, the contemplative cryomancer fails to notice a shadowy martial artist lurking up behind him -- Johnny Cage!

The surprise flykick knocks the book from Sub-Zero's hands and leaves him vulnerable to a driving boot to the gut - reminiscent of Cage's trademark shadow kick! The blow is decisive - payback for a previous ambush by the icey assassin.

Sub-Zero scoffs his opponents tenacity, boasting the reputation of the Lin Kuei clan's standard of membership. By naivity or action-movie delivery, Cage deflects the verbal assault, and follows with an uncompromising fist to the face!

The action star is forced to contend with the deadly kori technique as Sub-Zero resorts to the art of ice manipulation to silence his foe. Familiar with the attack, Cage plays a game of avoidance, dodging and blocking the attacks, only to find himself at the whims of a more tactile assault -- a vaulting leg throw!

Showing an aptitude for balance, Cage lands on his feet, perching at the ready to launch a finishing assault. It begins with a running start, but soon the star becomes airborne, launching foot-first into an energied kick attack!

Johnny Cage wins!

The Hammer...
Uhhh... For tradition's sake and those of you spin to the end to find the conclusion, I might as well repeat myself: Johnny Cage wins!

Regular readers know we're once again staggeringly far behind schedule, but the sacred tradition of a fight each Friday must be upheld! As was decreed by our fighting forefathers!

Those playing along at home will have seen us chipping our way through the Blood & Thunder series throughout the year.
The title offered a spine of central plot elements relevant to most of Malibu's '94/'95 run with the Mortal Kombat license, embellishing it's own history around the MK tournament of the 1992 game, before spinning out into new plot threads.

As you would expect of any good MK series there's plenty of punching and kicking to be found throughout the series.
In an effort to set us up for a final megamix entry on the series (detailing the remaining unreviewed skirmishes); this fight, with curious irony, marks the last of the feature-length clashes.

The November 16 (US)/November 21 (EU) release of Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe has been a driving force on the site, but the final product has failed to impress. Whilst noted improvements for the MK brand have been made on a technical level, the final product smacks of a rushed mandated cash-in, whether that be the case, or not. Of the most obvious criticisms is the under representation felt by a game that offers a subdued twenty-two character roster, only even from each brand.

The irony of wrapping up the Blood & Thunder review sequence on this fight is that they are two very recognisable characters not featured. Alright, there are good reasons for that. Despite being the only two playable characters not to make the grade, the deceased Sub-Zero is easily succeeded by his brother, and Johnny Cage remains a character tenuously connected to the martial arts epic as comedy relief and a rarely utilized human inlet into the fantastical series.

The big news right now, of course, is the mysterious investor emerging from the dark. Is he an undead emmissary of evil, a white knight in service of the Elder Gods, or just another re-coloured super-unlockable Scorpion?
Little is known of "Mark Thomas" but we do know he's the head of the awfully generic sounding "Acquisition Holdings Subsidiary I LLC" and he has no intention of sitting on the Midway board, which, given his 87% stock holding, sounds like a special order of assets ala chop-suey.

In a recent interview with Official Xbox Magazine ^[#143] series co-creator and senior producer, Ed Boon, floated the prospect of MK finding a new home. Ed remarks on the intrigue of seeing someone else tackle the franchise, but as the chat was conducted before the buy-out news broke, little more than suppository deductions based on voice tone analysis can be drawn. Boon does have a nice little chat about some of the characters that missed out, including Lobo, who was not a character the creator was familiar with. A satisfying footnote for anyone ashamed and embarassed by the MK fanbases' tendency toward clinging to outrageous nineties properties without a hint of irony.

For Mortal Kombat, the future looks uncertain, but very interesting. We will, no doubt, return to the subject as it continues to develop.

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 3

For more on Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, check out the official website, our Q&A interviews with Jimmy Palmiotti and Hans Lo, and our series of character spotlights and discussions: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, clues special, bonus one, two, three, four and Dark Kahn spotlight, Final MK cast, Final DC cast! ALSO: C2C editions Mortal Kombat vs DCU, Finish Him...!, Heroic Brutality, Heroic Fatality!

Don't forget! The holidays are right around the corner! For the fanboy in your life, the Infinite Wars Gift Shoppe offers a range of the titles derived from the many issues reviewed in the Secret Archives! You'll not only find a great Amazonian deal, but also help sponsor the site by using purchase links provided! Cheers!

SONYA BLADE versus KANO
Mortal Mayhem (Malibu/Midway)
Where: Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #6
When: December 1994 Why: Charles Marshall
How: Patrick Rolo

The Story So Far...
When Lt. Sonya Blade followed career criminal, Kano, onto a docking ship, she could have had no notion of the destiny she was about to fulfil. Unwittingly chosen to represent the realm of Earth, Sonya was to be ferried, along with Kano and other fighters on board, to an ancient tournament called Mortal Kombat!

Held once every generation; the sanctity of Mortal Kombat was intended to be Earth's saving grace by pitting their greatest warriors against the forces of Outworld in controlled one-on-one contests. Representing their evil emperor, Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung and Outworld's fighters need only win ten straight tournaments to be granted freedom to invade the Earth.

Shang Tsung's desire for victory led him to the mysteries of an ancient book of power called, the Tao te Zhan. This deviaton has corrupted the tournament in which Earth's final hopes dangle. Now, scattered across the realm of Outworld, the warriors of Earth wage their own personal battles in Mortal Kombat...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Kano 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Sonya Blade 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Sonya Blade 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Draw 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Power: Sonya Blade 4 (Arsenal)


- Lieutenant Sonya Blade is a dedicated member of an American Special Forces unit tasked with dismantling the ancient criminal organization, the Black Dragon clan. This mission becomes Sonya's sole driving purpose when Kano, leader of the clan, is responsible for the murder of her partner and several other ambushed operatives with the Special Forces. Her pursuit leads her to take chase onto the Nethership, which ferrys warriors to the hidden island of Shang Tsung, where mortals do battle to defend the Earth from the forces of Outworld.

Thus, Sonya is dragged into a battle not only for revenge, but for the fate of the world. Joining Johnny Cage, and eventual tournament winner, Liu Kang; Sonya becomes embroiled with Earth's chosen warriors, to the point of being captured by Shao Kahn's forces when Shang Tsung's island crumbles after his defeat.
The event forces a brief alliance with Kano and familiarizes Sonya with the ream of Outworld, which, upon her rescue, would become the domain of her and her partner, Jax, as founding members of the secret government exploratory division, the Outer World Investigation Agency.

Sonya is a highly trained operative of the Special Forces, skilled in the martial arts and tactical procedures of urban warfare and hand-to-hand combat. Her role with the military and OIA grants her access to an arsenal of weaponry, as well as her own ability to harness her chi to inflict energy based attacks.

- As a leader in the ancient organization of the Black Dragon clan; the Australian mercenary called Kano is one of the US Special Forces most wanted criminals.
By murdering an entire Special Forces unit, and also the partner of Sonya Blade, Kano earned the personal vengeance of the fiesty Lieutenant, and her subsequent replacement partner, Jax, as well. This rivalry led Sonya to pursue Kano when he joined the Mortal Kombat tournament to steal the lost treasures housed within Shang Tsung's island fortress.

Kano's involvement in the ancient tournament brought him into conflict with warriors from both the realms of Earth and Outworld. A new era began as Kano used his guile and fighting expertise to endear himself to the emperor, Shao Kahn. This would be but the first of Kano's allegiances held in Outworld, his quest for power bringing him into the service of other warriors, such as Shang Tsung and Quan Chi; the Deadly Alliance.

Kano is skilled in a range of weaponry, including munitions, blades, and cybernetic enhancements that grant him additonal powers, such as a laser fired from his artificial eye. Despite being a highly skilled martial artist, Kano's mystic associations have allowed him to escape death many times.

Additional: Since their first appearance Kano and Sonya have been tied together by the archetypal struggles of a cop and her partner's killer. This rivalry, established in the first game, carried over to film, television, and indeed, comics. Malibu's Blood & Thunder #2 adapted the relationship within their microcosm of characterizations, isolating Sonya's personal investment to events occuring during Shang Tsung's tournament. This prompted their only recorded encounter on the Infinite Wars, where Sonya proved the victor.

History: Sonya Blade (1-0-0)
Math: Sonya Blade Ranking: Sonya Blade (#51)

What Went Down...
In the wastelands of Outworld, Kano reclaims the mystic Tao te Zhan stolen previously by Sub-Zero. His celebrations are short lived -- enter Sonya Blade!

The Special Forces operative launches into a diving kick that telegraphs her promise to bring Kano down once and for all. In desperation, the Black Dragon killer tries to broker a deal, but his leverage in the transaction proves lacking...

A crunching blow to the nose puts Kano on the backfoot, with another jumping kick seemingly securing victory for the embittered heroine. Kano shows tremendous resilience, swiping back with a left hook, but Sonya ducks it with grace and ease, returning fire with a rising stiff right!

Kano scoffs Sonya's dedication to the kill; something she is forced to acknowledge, albeit, with a little excessive force for good measure.

The pair battle on, unaware of a recovered Sub-Zero, who makes an attempt at retrieving the unguarded Tao te Zhan, but another warrior lurks, and in time, they are all teleported from the planes by the will of Shao Kahn!...

The Hammer...
Admittedly, the conclusion of the fight is somewhat vague, but I think we're granted more than enough to declare Sonya Blade the victor on the points of her dominance.

Continuing our whirlwind tour of the Mortal Kombat franchise, we're making another stop in the comics! Actually, at this point, we've now touched upon every issue of what essentially serves as the central series in Malibu's catalogue of mini releases.
Blood & Thunder presents the established conceit of the Mortal Kombat tournament, but interrupts it with side plots exclusive to the series, and presumably someone's idea of an appropriate sequential adaptation.

Final MKvsDC Roster:
#1 Batman (DC)
#2 Superman (DC)
#3 Flash (DC)
#4 Catwoman (DC)
#5 Green Lantern (DC)
#6 Wonder Woman (DC)
#7 Sonya Blade (MK)
#8 Raiden (MK)
#9 Deathstroke (DC)
#10 Darkseid (DC)
#11 Lex Luthor (DC)
#12 Captain Marvel (DC)
#13 Kano (MK)
#14 Scorpion (MK)
#15 Joker (DC)
#16 Liu Kang (MK)
#NR Sub-Zero (MK)
#NR Shang Tsung (MK)
#NR Jax (MK)
#NR Kitana (MK)
#NR Baraka (MK)
#NR Shao Kahn (MK)

Infinite Wars rankings
are based on win/loss
records derived from
reviewed fights. Follow
character links for
available data!One of the many curiosities of Malibu's licensed projects is the treatment of Liu Kang. While the bulk of the work preceeded the first feature film (released in 1995), there was some established reference within the MK canon that Liu Kang was one of the central players in the series -- not to mention eventual tournament victor in the first game.
In later inclusions Malibu caught up with Kang's importance to affirm his role as chief protagonist, introducing other elements from the 1994 game sequel, Mortal Kombat II, such as the defining representation of characters.

Shortly after our Q&A with Hans Lo the final roster for Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was released.
Confirmed was the strong presence of characters from the first and second games. Missing were some very interesting cuts, such as Quan Chi, but even he has since emerged in a screenshot [posted on Noob.com] from the hotly anticipated story mode.

Glancing the list inevitably inspires fans to observe the presence and omission of their favourite characters.
It's a factor common to any interpretation, and as we browse the variety of modern sequels to the major fighting brands, it's an issue that seems to arise time and again.

Story telling is a basic mathematical principle: characters + conflict = plot. What seperates the good from the bad is the details and dressing hung on this basic frame.

In the past, fighting games have successfully broached the requirements of design, placing great weight on the first bite taken with the eye. Characters in early games were encapsulated and mythologically defined by their appearances, and the insinuations they made. A fine example: the chest scar -- worn by Sagat in Street Fighter II as an indication of one of the few lasting legacys of the very first, ill fated game -- Ryu's shoryuken! [Depicted; Street Fighter #1]

The interactive mechanics of a game substitute 'conflict' in our equation.
Despite the freedom afforded by current technologies we see an increasing disinterest in devices exclusively dedicated to plot. Novelty gaming; encapuslated by Nintendo's incredibly popular Wii console; shares the market with less casual gamers steering toward the barren platitude of shooting games.

Malibu, despite their best efforts, reflects on the lacklustre reputation video game plots have earned. Presumably the misconception stems from an admission shared by many fans that gameplay is the sole interaction required, replacing the reception of ideas and details that drive story.

Despite removing itself from previous instalments of the MK saga, Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe joins Street Fighter IV in reintroducing the important presence of a narrative to the plot. Divorced from recent history, this game will rely on conventional story telling that pits these vividly recognised characters against a conflict familiar to both brands: interdimensional crises.

Jimmy Palmiotti, in another Infinite Wars Q&A, made the bold claim of another eighty percent awaits keen fans. I hope he's even half right, because this generation of gaming needs a reminder. The mashing of buttons makes these games lasting trinkets in the annals of gaming, but I think we can do a little better. A little better than Malibu's valiant efforts to combine the mindless flashy narcisissm of the nineties and the higher narrative concepts MK so often teases.



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!Looking back, we can be very critical of this comic, and even the origins of the Mortal Kombat plot in the games. As we meander toward some sort of point to all this discussion, I suppose it's the positive: look at all the brilliant characters!

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 3

Malibu didn't last long enough to collect it's licensed MK comics, but the Infinite Wars is happy to bring you all the important details in this year of the beat 'em up franchise. Be sure to hit up the Secret Archives for more MK comics nostalgia, and browse through our many introductory entries on the heroes and villains of both the MK and DC universes! It's the perfect primer before heading in to the collision of worlds in the upcoming video game, available for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, with the pictured collector's edition including a bonus collector's comic featuring art by the returning prodigal series co-creator, John Tobias!

QUEEN AYNOS versus SONYA BLADE
Kombat Zones (Malibu/Midway)
Where: Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #4 When: October 1994 Why: Charles Marshall How: Patrick Rolo

The Story So Far...
Once every generation an ancient martial arts tournament gathers the greatest warriors to defend the Earthrealm from the invading forces of Outworld. This dark dimension is ruled by the tyrant emperor, Shao Kahn, whose insatiable apetite for conquest seems endless.

The sorcerer, Shang Tsung, ensures the presence of a variety of warriors at the tenth, and potentially final, Mortal Kombat tournament, luring many with opportunities of personal glory and vengeance before their battle with reigning champion, Goro. Sonya Blade is one such fighter, whose pursuit of underworld figure, Kano, sees her boldly storming the vessel to Shang Tsung's island.

There, she encounters Liu Kang and Johnny Cage; other warriors chosen to defend Earthrealm by Tsung and the protectoral god of Earth, Raiden.
Shortly after the tournament begins, Shang Tsung's plans for victory see him ambushing the various warriors of Earth, all part of a plot to unlock the mystical powers of an ancient book called the Tao Te Zhan. This breach of protocol allows Raiden to interfere on the benefit of his warriors, allowing them to escape into the wastelands of Outworld.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Johnny Cage 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Sonya Blade 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Draw 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Draw 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Power: Sonya Blade 4 (Arsenal)


- 1992's Mortal Kombat established many new tropes in the one-on-one beat 'em up fighting genre. Among it's popular influences on the vernacular was the concept of the "mirror match," an attempt to lend some assemblence of logic to the game's potential to pit the same fighter against themselves in combat. While subsequent games dropped the specific event, the first boasted a mirror match in the final stages of it's arcade tournament ladder.

Malibu's licensed comics incorporated the mirror match concept into it's narrative version of the Mortal Kombat story.
Queen Aynos is a none-too-subtle mirror of Sonya Blade, a tribal queen of Outworld who not only possesses many of the same abilities, but even dresses identical to the Special Forces fighter. She rules over a race of purple troll-like warriors.

- Lieutenant Sonya Blade is a dedicated member of an American Special Forces unit tasked with dismantling the ancient criminal organization, the Black Dragon clan. This mission becomes Sonya's sole driving purpose when Kano, leader of the clan, is responsible for the murder of her partner and several other ambushed operatives with the Special Forces. Her pursuit leads her to take chase onto the Nethership, which ferrys warriors to the hidden island of Shang Tsung, where mortals do battle to defend the Earth from the forces of Outworld.

Thus, Sonya is dragged into a battle not only for revenge, but for the fate of the world. Joining Johnny Cage, and eventual tournament winner, Liu Kang; Sonya becomes embroiled with Earth's chosen warriors, to the point of being captured by Shao Kahn's forces when Shang Tsung's island crumbles after his defeat.
The event forces a brief alliance with Kano and familiarizes Sonya with the ream of Outworld, which, upon her rescue, would become the domain of her and her partner, Jax, as founding members of the secret government exploratory division, the Outer World Investigation Agency.

Sonya is a highly trained operative of the Special Forces, skilled in the martial arts and tactical procedures of urban warfare and hand-to-hand combat. Her role with the military and OIA grants her access to an arsenal of weaponry, as well as her own ability to harness her chi to inflict energy based attacks.

Math: Sonya Blade Ranking: Sonya Blade (#92)

What Went Down...
Deviating substantially from the established canon of the brand; Malibu's Mortal Kombat tournament is halted after the disappearance of Goro, and the escape of the briefly entrapped Earthrealm warriors. Scattered across Outworld in their escape by Raiden, the fighters attempt to regroup and find their way home.

Stumbling across the wastelands of Outworld, Johnny Cage comes across a small village ruled by a warrior Queen identical to Sonya Blade. When Cage makes the mistake of kissing the Queen, she launches an assault on the unsuspecting actor, but he soon finds himself rescued by the real deal.

Sonya attracts the attentions of Queen Aynos with a rock and confronts her mirror head-on. The two share a brief exchange of words, before the Queen launches the first attack, striking with a kick that Sonya promptly blocks.

The Special Forces trained fighter lets her fist provide the reply, springing out of the defensive into a stiff right hook. She ducks a roundhouse kick and takes full advantage, striking her embattled doppelganger in the back of the skull.

A charged kick to the head finishes Queen Aynos off, prompting her to call the aid of her tribal warriors. Numerical advantage lets the purple men take Sonya and Johnny Cage hostages, positioned to suffer a kiss of death energy ball from their Queen. Cage and Blade prove agile enough to evade their captors and leap free, leaving the blast to decimate Aynos' own forces!

Alone against the combined might of the Earth warriors, the Queen knows her fate, seeing it come in the form of a double teamed flying kick!
With the Queen defeated, the two fighters are able to deduce their locale, no longer on Shang Tsung's island as they had believed. Together, they trek into the unknown! "... I'd say that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

The Hammer...
Johnny Cage picks up the assist, but in this mirror match, the winner is Sonya Blade!
For those playing along at home, there are still a couple of other battles from this issue that will be revisited sometime in the future as part of another quick fix megamix!

By the wonders of being extremely late, you'll probably have already read our brief MKvsDCU one-on-one with Jimmy Palmiotti! For those of you still chomping at the bit for more MKvsDCU, we've got another Q&A discussion coming up, this time with the writers behind the MK portions of the game! So stay tuned!

If you've recently come out of a coma, or for some reason, aren't a regular reader of the Infinite Wars, you might like to know that November will see the release of the shock crossover video game - Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe.
Over the past few months we've done our darndest to help broker an understanding between the two universes, and if you're still unsure, you can check back through our plethora of fantasy match-ups: rounds one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. If that isn't enough for you, there's also our bonus round addendum posts that feature one, two, three, and four rounds of extra glimpses into the DCU, and the special decyphering of clues that may or may not have done well to allude to the cast of the DC roster.

Top 25 Femme Fatales
#1 Invisible Woman (Marvel)
#2 Catwoman (DC)
#3 Storm (Marvel)
#4 Rogue (Marvel)
#5 Wonder Woman (DC)
#6 Wasp (Marvel)
#7 Zatanna (DC)
#8 Elektra (Marvel)
#9 Kitty Pryde (Marvel)
#10 Hawkgirl (DC)
#11 Tara (Marvel)
#12 Spitfire (Marvel)
#13 Hellcat (Marvel)
#14 R. Mika (Capcom)
#15 Phoenix (Marvel)
#16 Black Cat (Marvel)
#17 Black Canary (DC)
#18 Sonya Blade (Midway)
#19 Black Widow (Marvel)
#20 Lyja (Marvel)
#21 Tabitha Stevens (Marvel)
#22 She-Thing (Marvel)
#23 Powergirl (DC)
#24 Stargirl (DC)
#25 Sayd (DC)Today our focus is on Sonya Blade, a character whose course as an iconic MK female has been tumultuous, to say the least. Sonya's inclusion in MKvsDCU has been well received, but the ebbing flow of perception within the fanbase hasn't always looked as favourably, as is now being felt by her male counterpart, Jax.

As the only female presence in the original 1992 game; Sonya carried less responsibility as a female icon, and more as the representation of the genre stalwart of a cop seeking revenge for the death of a partner.
It was probably this incidental treatment of gender that made Sonya and instantly accessible and admirable inclusion into the tradition of the gaming female that was jump started by characters like Chun-Li.

Sonya's personal vendetta against Kano successfully transitioned to the big screen when Bridgette Wilson took up the role for 1995's, Mortal Kombat.
It was arguably here that the attitude of the character was solidified in a film that's still regarded by many as one of the greatest representations of a game-to-movie adaptation. The success of the film and characterization of Sonya, however, was not without it's drawbacks.

The mid-nineties had not yet seen the violent franchise fully develop it's ironic relationship with death, prompting widespread speculation (and petitioning) for the character's death circa Mortal Kombat 4. The heart of the issue: a stagnant plotline that had carried from the apparently dead Kano, to new character, Jarek.

Initially one of the least popular characters in arcades; Sonya was pushed aside for the first Mortal Kombat sequel, appearing only as a cameo character shackled in one of the arena backgrounds along with arch-rival, Kano.
Ironically, despite being one the only original character not to return playable in the sequel - Sonya's demotion to cameo sponsored a fever pitched interest in the character which made her one of the first confirmed for 1995's, Mortal Kombat 3.

The drop off came with the fourth instalment of the series and the subsequent Special Forces spin-off exclusive to the Playstation, which, due to extenuating circumstances, was conceptually aborted, leaving Jax to inherit much of the story that would have been shared with, or exclusive to, Sonya.

This redundancy of plot, particularly once shared between the two law enforcement protagonists, was understandably responsible for a negative shift in the perception of Sonya as a character. While Jax established new key plot and rivalries with 2002's relaunch title, Deadly Alliance; Sonya was still to be identified by her interchangable rivalries with criminals.

If any criticisms can be made of MKvsDCU as the first step into this generation of gaming, it's the continued stagnancy of the characters and their development.
2006's much maligned compilation game, Armageddon, hampered the individual progress of plotlines, but the central story deserves credit for grafting a new era onto the adventures of the Special Forces. This renewed potential came from the expansion of Sektor as a villain, who now represents a Matrix-esque threat of technological ego with his expanding army of Tekunin cybernetic warriors.

MKvsDCU - despite being removed from and having no known interactions with the central canon - draws specific inspiration from the unversally praised MKII era of the series. In doing so it attempts to match-up with the broad iconography of the DC characters, who will enter the game with the weight of their long printed histories, but not with any specific frame of reference. One wonders if this isn't a discredit to the MK portion of the game, which does not have the dense characterization that implies a continuity-free appearance for the licensed characters.

MKvsDCU essentially takes place on MK's home turf, and after Armageddon's vague conclusion, the opportunity to insert an unlikely crossover into the central plot was better than ever. We'll be asking the MK team what their motivations were for removing the game, but one assumes the meta response would simply be that it's conventional wisdom. The constraints of licensed properties means lasting effects from crossover stories are rare, but not without example.

Comics fans can look to crossovers like the original Spawn/Batman for a very specific model that might have done more for the MK franchise. In the hellacious meeting, a batarang lodged in Spawn's face led to a new instalment in the character's iconography, leading to the affectionately known shoestring face.

Future references to Superman or Batman might be unlikely, but the opportunity to develop the MK story and characters remains. Characters could very naturally develop through the usual channels of individual arcade endings, if not vague elements from the DC crossover story mode. Specifics aside, even interactions with DC's well established criminal underworld (ie; Gotham rogues) might have been the perfect opportunity to develop reference to Sonya as a character, broadening her associations beyond Kano and comparable facsimiles.

Needless to say, Sonya's brief appearances in the Malibu comics did very little to expand appreciation of the character. Comics will be another subject we breach when the Infinite Wars goes one-on-one with the MK team! In the mean time, we look forward to new reveals from the game, and the "80% of the game" we have no knowledge of!

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 3

Can't stand the thought of missing out on Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe upon release? Amazon have the game available for pre-order, or, if you fancy a John Tobias comic, t-shirt, and cell, you can pre-order the Kollector's Edition for either Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. Hey, by using links provided on the Infinite Wars, you help sponsor future kombat, like the other MK reviews you'll find in the Secret Archives! Outstanding!

QUICK FIX MEGAMIX: BLOOD & THUNDER #3!
The Art of War (Malibu/Midway)
Where: Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #3 When: December 1994 Why: Charles Marshall How: Patrick Rolo

Quick Fix...
Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost!
Today we'll be talking about the island tournament of Mortal Kombat, and while that might not have anything to do with the season finale of the ABC sci-fi/drama, I really wanted to take advantage of that fat Lost web-traffic...

With useless gratuity out of the way, I now officially welcome you all to the latest instalment of our running reviews and discussions of Mortal Kombat.

Reflecting on a month where reviews have been tough to come by, I'm almost a little disappointed we've dedicated so much time to the video game franchise. Apologies to those of you who've been coming by hoping for more iron in your diet in the proclaimed Invincible Iron Month. Hopefully our back catalogue specials will have at least contributed to whetting our apetite.

I don't want to be too apologetic.
Over the past month I've been very conscious of the split audience I've been talking to, and as much as the loyalties of this website are to comics, I feel I should be doing more to champion the Mortal Kombat cause.
Since the announcement of November's Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, I've done plenty to document the cultural insignificance of this once mainstream phenomena, and the accompanying disinterest of comics fans. What I haven't done terribly well is describe what's great about the franchise that has kept my interests since the first game, released in 1993.

I suppose full disclosure is in order. I like to consider myself a pretty savvy individual, with well grounded criticisms and opinions, but I'm not without my predelictions. As is self-evident, I have a special penchant for combat, and I take absolutely no issue with the simplicity of a narrative dependent on the interactions of two (or more) opposing forces. I like the art of fighting.

Fortunately, Mortal Kombat manages to deliver substantially more in the story department than would otherwise be associated with it's under achieving, two-axis gameplay. Important, given the few admirers the series has earned within the hardcore gaming community, even with recent advancements.

Though far more technically sound; rival narratives, like the more successful Japanese Street Fighter, can be typified by the underdeveloped method of communicating ideas through individual characters. Contrary to this genre-established tradition; Mortal Kombat takes far more ownership of it's concepts and story, delivering serialized epics comparable to the checkpoint storytelling of major comic book events, like Infinite Crisis or Civil War.

Within the larger themes of interdimensional world domination are the personal struggles that develop the characters and embue the sense of verisimilitude within these fantastic situations. These details have inevitably propelled the Mortal Kombat franchise forward into it's most involved incarnations. Spin-off stories tackle everything from; the origins of Scorpion's predicament as a tortured soul; to the law enforcement duties of the Jax, Sonya, and the Special Forces; the manipulations of the eventually resurrected Dragon King; and more.

These finer details that have really made the MK story a valid piece of fictional history are the product of cumulative effects. The departure of creative co-creator, John Tobias, though often connected to the downfall of the series, arguably allowed the franchise to blossom under new creative direction.
Though crucial to laying the groundwork, it's fair to say the natural state of circumstances worked against Tobias and the makers of the first games. Though definitive in the MK canon, the specifics of many important details derived from the early games were retrofitted, and certainly not elaborated upon in detail accessible to the everyman playing at the time.

It's here I think we find the disconnect between MK's once mainstream fandom, and today's smaller, dedicated fanbase. Though not everyone's vice, the story remains one of the most important pieces of the MK puzzle, evidenced brutally by responsive outcry for the announcement of Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, perceived by many fans as a frivilous, post-Armageddon interruption.

I can't help but wonder what difference might have been made had the details of the Mortal Kombat epic been more accessible to mainstream audiences.
This rather conveniently segues into our review of the comic books, which, though a quaint opportunity to see the characters moving in a narrative environment, offers examples of what not to do when translating the MK story.

Running terminally late; I want to get on to the review/play-by-play portions of this meandering and garbled entry, but consider this a conversation to be resumed at a later point. Sometime in the countdown to the November release of MKvsDC we may revisit these points in relation to the influence and involvement of the Threshold films.

- SIANG versus GORO
Alright. Things have been a bit hectic here on the Infinite Wars, so I've got to stretch it out a little before resuming. Crick, crack, creeak. That just about does it, but I should offer a stern health warning to all of you! Before continuing on to the [mis]adventures of the character Siang, everyone should indulge in some thorough stretching.

It would be fair to say 1994 had it's share of gems!
Real 2 Real released I Like to Move It; Pulp Fiction made Tarantino an undisputed name in film history; we finally found out what would happen if Venom fought Iron Man; and the beat 'em up video game genre enjoyed some it's highest heights with titles like Mortal Kombat II and Street Fighter II permeating throughout the pop culture landscape to reach heights unparalleled.

Comics were teetering between the repercussive harmony of post-grim and gritty superheroics, and the Image-funded shitfest of over developed anatomy and splash pages. At some point all the companies were guilty of selling out to a movement now much maligned, but only Malibu managed to bring together the very worst qualities of mid-nineties comic books, and the video game franchises we know and love.

So foul were their efforts that Capcom ordered the cancellation of a Street Fighter series, infamously identified by scenes of Ken Masters' scalping at the hands of Sagat and the villains of the series. Violence familiar to MK proved to be little more than flash and style - if you can call it that - over substance.

Enter Sing and Sang: vengeful twin martial artists chosen to represent the forces of Shaolin in Mortal Kombat. As individuals they were great fighters, but together they could fuse into one super-powered green-mohawked fighter called Siang!

You can probably start to see that aformentioned disconnect...
Series star and in-game five-time champion, Liu Kang, finds himself little more than an accepted tag-along for what amounts to a repetitive distraction. Think, though you might, with modern consideration, that Siang would surely be put in such a position to somehow elevate the importance of the central cast, or present some sort of dilemma by which Liu Kang could be baptized.

Alas, no.

Fans of the series surely sigh a breath of relief as Siang, much like Lt. Lance before him, is unceremoniously removed from Malibu's stable in his first fight.
They'd be wrong to get too comfortable, though, as this is not only a comic, but also a Mortal Kombat licensed property, which means Siang is down, out, but sure to return...

By six degrees of seperation you might connect previous issues to Street Fighter Alpha, if only for the fact that the sinister tournament master intends to gather fighters for nefarious purposes underground. You might remember fighters were disappearing in previous entries [Blood & Thunder #1, #2].

By this, the third issue, any assemblance of an actual tournament goes out the window when the characters are gathered in Goro's dungeons. Scorpion's full-page arrival at the end of #2 proves to be little more than tedious filler, the vengeful spectre opting to free his blood enemy, rather than fight him...

This eventually leads to an impromptu fusion dance as the Kombat warriors wander the labyrinthine halls beneath Shang Tsung's island. The mini-mixxed duo launch a fly kick assault on the four-armed Goro, who welcomes the opportunity to secure the rare feat of two corpses for the price of one.

Given that Kung Lao is the last direct descendant of Earth's last champion, it's always seemed a little insulting that Liu Kang was chosen over him to represent Earth in it's most crucial entry. Imagine then, how Kung Lao must feel, after this green and gold mook was chosen!

I do not know what Charles Marshall and Malibu were thinking when they devised such a prominent inclusion to the series, but if you weren't a Goro fan before, hopefully you are now...

The Fix: 3 Winner: Goro (Fatality!... Sort of...)

- RAIDEN versus GORO
Shang Tsung's treachery, part of a distracting plot introduced by Malibu revolving around a magic book of riddles, does not go unnoticed by Earth's protector god, the phonetically challenged, Raiden.

Since he's an all-seeing god, you've got to assume he didn't care much for Sing and Sang (aka; Siang), either, because it's not until they've been mortally ripped apart that the thunder god shows himself!

A lightning bolt precedes the god's entry, which prompts a macho exchange between the thunder god and Shokan champion. Goro absorbs a lightning blast and mocks Raiden's powers, lumbering at him with evil intent. The barbaric assault proves ineffective in battle with a god who can teleport himself.

Challenged as a coward, Raiden finds himself joined by the mortal warriors of Earthrealm. Not a terribly constructive gesture for proving one's bravery, nor a conclusive end to the battle between god and champion!

The Fix: 3 Winner: Draw

- LIU KANG, SONYA BLADE, SUB-ZERO, JOHNNY CAGE, KANO, HYDRO & RAIDEN versus GORO
Having thrown in with Raiden; Liu Kang and Sonya Blade are the first to step up to the champion. Somewhat suitable, given that Liu Kang is supposed to be the champion of the series, and the one to defeat Goro. Of course, depending on what you pluck from the game series, Kang actually becomes champion after beating Shang Tsung... Which has a shakey logic, because Goro's champ...

Never the less, the pseudo-tournament continues in the bowels of Shang Tsung's dungeons. Kang connects with a flying kick that leaves Goro open to an ice blast from Sub-Zero. Mirroring elements from the game, Goro blasts free from his icey pause, providing the heroes no time to score a free hit.

Enraged, the Mortal Kombat champion begins a rampage against the insolent warriors, beginning with a devestating swat that sends Cage, Sub-Zero, and Raiden sprawling! Then, with Sonya clutched in a vice-like grip with one hand, Goro uses the other to slap one of the Lin Kuei warriors around a little.

Just as Shang Tsung arrives to enjoy his warrior's dominance the four-armed warrior begins to disappear! Neither the sorceror, nor Raiden, are able to explain the phenomena, but it buys the necessary time to abandon the underground courtesy of an escape blasted by the thunder god!

Mohawks, chains, flames, dodgy art, foil variant covers, bad writing; as the ultimate in shameful nineties experiences, you should be able to guess Goro's fate. Yes, that's right. The first in a small collection of crossover mini-series and one-shots, padding out the Mortal Kombat story with more brilliant Malibu-originals, and a few new colours to add to the ninja tally. Awesome!

The Fix: 3 Winner: Draw

The Hammer...
At this point Blood & Thunder has featured a sum of two official fights in the Mortal Kombat tournament. Given the implied importance of the rules, one would imagine that would be some measure of problem. That's nto the only qualm to be derived from these early issues though, and since I'm supposed to be offering positive remarks about the franchise, I should probably mention some of the assumed details from the official game canon.

John Tobias certainly seems content to support much of the pre-tournament scenes as depicted by Malibu. In fact, in an official collector's edition comic for the first game, scenes are almost identical, including the scuffle between Cage, Kang, and Kano [Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #1].

To Malibu's credit, even today details of the first game's events are sketchy, and with the addition of highly debated additions; like 2005's Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks; very little has been streamlined through recent revisions.

It's generally accepted that post-tournament catastrophe sees the island crumble, taking with it Kano, Sonya, and Goro, who were engaged in mortal combat, along with Johnny Cage. Cage survived to be picked up by Jax and his Special Forces rescue team, in scenes bridging the gap between the first and second games. These events also ultimately connect to in-game backgrounds revealing the unplayable Kano and Sonya in bondage.

We also know Scorpion caught up with his mortal nemesis at the tournament, and indeed successfully returned the favour of his death with a fatality of his own. This beat was revealed in the second game with the introduction of the dead Sub-Zero's younger brother, a more heroic successor to the family mantle of the legendary cryomancer. More recent additions, discussed previously, led to the reveal that the elusive all-black secret character, Noob Saibot, was actually the dead Sub-Zero reborn as a mysterious wraith with the Brotherhood of Shadow. An ironic end for the character whose rivalry with Scorpion was galvanized whilst served Brotherhood patriarch, Quan Chi.

Scorpion's continued presence is likewise elaborated upon through the interference of the necromancer, Quan Chi. As per the original description of Scorpion's curse, it was not only his own death, but the extermination of his family and clan that keeps him bound to unrest, the latter being the responsibility of Quan Chi, and not Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuei as originally thought.

Finally, and perhaps most important, is Liu Kang's victory in the tournament.
Details of whether the Shaolin Monk battled anyone, let alone defending champion, Goro, are unclear, but we do know he was successful in both defeating Shang Tsung, and securing an official tournament victory. A victory that prevented the lawful invasion of Outworld's forces, but began a plot of deception to lure the Earthrealm warriors to an Outworld tournament - Mortal Kombat II.

These are but some of the intricately layered details that have made up fifteen years of Mortal Kombat history. I don't expect to convert the unimpressed with this checklist of confirmed events, but I hope it can at least provide a gateway to a story that seems to have been mistranslated, and ultimately lost to mainstream audiences. In the lead-up to Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe, I can at least hope to appeal to the sensibilities of those already invested in indulgences of this nature.

Fix Average: 3 The Issue: 2.5