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!

SHIPPING LIST: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Thin and Crispy...
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The Deep Dish...
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If you don't buy these, Robert Kirkman will call you a pansy*!
*[Claim not guaranteed, endorsed, or affiliated with Robert Kirkman, or Image Comics.]

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On the page this RIP tie-in poses the question: Can the Outsiders survive without the overbaring leadership of their founder, Batman? A fair enough premise, but one wonders how much this question applies to the metatextual fate of a title that will almost certainly find the axe of cancelation dangling above, if not now, at least within the next year or two. With a cast as obscure as they are, the faithful could almost see it as a vehicle for a new leading character -- how about Hawkman? Eh... Me thinks it's time to start that letter writing campaign, fans. This one promised a lot, but might have tanked.

- JUN080259 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #2 $2.25
Without reading the first issue it's so difficult to make a call, but I'd really like to believe in this new series by Mike Kunkel. Starting off with 2007 MVP, Black Adam, is a great way to kick the series off, but I do wonder if the all-ages nature of the comic might just skew a little too young to have the mass appeal of it's Marvel Adventures counterparts. At this point I'm sure there are many who'd appreciate an innocent Captain Marvel comic, but it's hard to say if this is it. Don't worry! I made a promise to myself I'd go a week without complaining about finances or angling for review copies, and... Oh. Oops!

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I routinely have to resist the temptation to fawn over covers, but this one was just too amazing to not mention!
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Blade joins MI:13. MI:13 is Spitfire's team. Spitfire is a vampire. Blade kills vampires. Uh oh!

- JUL080105 DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
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- JUL080194 DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #6 (OF 6) $2.99
Interdimensional catastrophes seem to be a point of interest for DC as they wrap up their cross promotional stint with Wildstorm, just before heading into the combat arena with Mortal Kombat! MK fans disappointed by the diminutive sixteen page collector's comic, or the apparently absent unstoppable crushing power of Doomsday, might like to look here for not only a preview of things to come, but a glimpse of things that might have been! Then again, if I were inclined to read into things, I might wonder if the threat of the moon being torn from it's orbit in this series, might not connect to clues posted in the lead-up to the announcement of MKvsDCU. Is this what you'd call an "event"? Interesting!...

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- JUL082418 GENE COLAN TRIBUTE BOOK IRON MAN COVER $9.99
- JUL082420 GENE COLAN TRIBUTE BOOK MARVEL MONSTERS COVER $9.99
A celebration of the works of legendary artist, Gene Colan!
Featuring favourites chosen by superstars of the industry, the issue boasts a range of exciting stories sure to feature Colan's classic work with; Dracula, Daredevil, and Iron Man! Net proceeds from this Heroes Initiative special release will go toward aiding Gene Colan, whose health deteriorated in May.

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Know Your Trade...
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MAY080213 SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE HC $24.99
JUN080257 UNCLE SAM FREEDOM FIGHTERS BRAVE NEW WORLD TP $14.99

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!

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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!

COVER TO COVER: THIS LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR SUPERMAN!
What is it about Superman?
What is it that makes him one of the most recognised pop culture icons in the world, whilst also being one of the most reviled heroes among certain groups of modern day comics readers?

Recently on the Infinite Wars we took some time to stop and really think about what makes a great Superman adventure.
To communicate our suggestion we divided vague references over two posts [Last Son Part 1/Part 2], distilling our ideas into the popular crossover format of a cartoon series. It is, afterall, undeniable that animation connects more readily with the modern equivalent of what once would have been avid comics readers.

Perhaps it's too great a suspension of disbelief to accept a hero who can conceivably save a world from itself, and other. For that matter, maybe it's the arrogance of an indomitable power, that disrupts the youngsters so.

Any suggestion that Superman is 'too powerful' is quickly debunked by the presence of rival powers, who often endear far greater fandom as the slightly cooler alternative.
Likewise, as you'll find in our string of feature issues from 2005, Superman is as vulnerable as ever! So much so; the popular misconception that magic as a conceptual device is a 'weakness,' rather than a vulnerability of logic, has been incorporated into the canon, awkwardly lodged somewhere next to the more specific weakness of Kryptonite.

I do not believe weakness is the platform upon which a strong superhero is built.
As interesting as these devices can be, particularly among the emotionally vulnerable heroes that populate the gritty urban streets, they are not the solution to Superman's flagging polls.
Granted, with the advantage of rewriting history, we looked at the aspect of Superman's rivals and the manner in which those stories are carried, attempting to structure arcs around major rivalries, with occasional distractions from smaller grade villains. This is just one method.
As you'll see in the following stories, in reality, things are probably doing just fine. Perhaps if you are among the naysayers, you will find yourself intrigued enough to take a chance of Supes!

JLA: Classified #3 (March 2005)
"Seconds to Go" Morrison/McGuinness
With the Justice League trapped on a mission to the infant universe of Qwewq; it's up to the International Ultramarine Corps to respond to disaster in Africa!
Gorilla Grodd, having allied himself with the mysterious cosmic being, Neh-Buh-Loh, has begun a path of destruction intended for the entire Earth!

The Ultramarine Corps quickly find themselves overwhelmed by Grodd and his ape-army, leaving the Knight's sidekick, Squire, to make a call to her mentor's American counterpart - The Batman! The Dark Knight summons his secret arsenal of bizarre and alien technologies, as well as the resources of the League itself, in an effort to rally against Grodd and the Nebula Man.

He leaves Squire to make contact with Qwewq, leading an inhuman proxy-League to distract from the true team's absence. His automatons prove insufficient in battle with the Corps; now under the manipulation of Grodd. With Batman defeated, the Justice League are needed more than ever, but will their escaped from the infant universe come too late?...

Action Comics #824 (April 2005)
"Old Man, New World" Finn/Reis
Suffering the stress of a clash with Gog and a synthetic yellow form of Kryptonite, and the lurking threat of Doomsday; an aged Superman struggles against the xenophobic charge of Kandor's General Preus.

Having captured both the inquisitive Jimmy Olsen and the Justice League's Martian Manhunter, Preus uses Olsen's signal watch to lure Superman to his desert base where he commands an army of zealous white-supremicists.

Facing overwhelming physical odds, Superman will courageously do combat with his disillusioned Kandorian counterpart, but at the end of the battle, Preus' greatest weapon may prove to be humanity's own capacity for self-destruction.

Superman #216 (June 2005)
"Lightning Strikes Twice" Winick/Churchill
Madness tears through the bustling hum of Metropolis calm, as a rock star's suicide appears to set-off a chain reaction of violent deaths and destruction.

When the chain reaches STAR Labs' Dr. Jeannie Tracey, she kills an over zealous admirer, and uses her privilages to access a LexCorp security powersuit. With the suit, she begins a rampage of destruction designed to attract the attentions of Superman.

Battle with Dr. Tracey reveals the hidden threat of Eclipso, the villain who possess those when weakened by anger.
Superman is able to curb his emotions, but finds himself under attack where he least expected it -- in his home. Unknown to Superman, Lois Lane has been possessed, and when she manages to anger him, Eclipso takes hold.

Superman/Batman #23 (November 2005)
"Smoke and Mirrors" Loeb/McGuinness
When a Kryptonite meteor is headed for Earth, Captain Atom is volunteered to pilot a rocket ship of intervention to protect not only the planet, but also it's greatest hero, Superman, from a life-threatening shower!

When Captain Atom reemerges in Japan, Superman and Batman soon discover the meteor housed a conscious entity called Kryptonite Man, capable of possessing and embuing a host body with incredible powers of Kryptonite radiation!

Amidst struggles with inter-dimensional elopers called the Maximums, Superman and Batman find themselves unwitting pawns in a much larger plot waged between Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Joker. Kryptonite Man returns to become the latest piece in the conflict, possessing Batman to best strike at his enemy, Superman!

Infinite Crisis #1 (December 2005)
"Infinite Crisis" Johns/Jiminez
Multiple crisis' are mounting in the DCUniverse and though the Justice League may be needed more than ever, their ever diverging morals and ideals have caused a rift of disapproval and mistrust within even the inner circle of the group -- the fabled Trinity!

The final straw comes while the League's leaders survey the wreckage left by an attack on the team's satellite base. With the Martian Manhunter missing, an apparent casualty of the incursion, the group is on a knife's edge, something the villainous powerhouse Mongul intends to capitalize on when he launches a surprise attack of his own!

Instead the swine is met with the increasingly unforgiving blade of Wonder Woman, which itself is the cause for much dissention. With Batman's life on the line, and Superman's morals taking a pounding, can the League possibly recover from this internal struggle, or will this be the crisis that finally tears them apart?

SMASH HITS: LAURIE ANDERSON


Laurie Anderson - O Superman (1981)
Laurie Anderson's politically charged, haunting synth classic took on an eerie new meaning in the new millenium, when planes plunged into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre. [Touched upon in our DDW retrospective.]

The song; a reference to the Jules Massenet aria, O Souverain, o juge, o père; has held varying political significance throughout it's lifespan as perhaps Anderson's most memorable track.

While the song actually bares no relevance to the superhero it shares a name with, it seemed like a vaguely appropriate song, given our recent musings on Superman as a cartoon [Last Son Part 1/Part 2]. It is also another fine opportunity to cram a great song onto the site through the flimsy premise of this weekend supplement.

HERCULES/SHE-HULK versus
BRAN THE BLESSED
(Marvel)
Where: She-Hulk #30 When: August 2008
Why: Peter David How: Val Semeiks

The Story So Far...
Jennifer Walters: Avenger/Attorney-at-Law, at least, she was, until being coerced by magic to assault her acquitted guilty client. After breaking a restraining order upheld in favour of the evil sorcerer responsible; a mystic called Dark Art; Shulkie finds herself in the sinbin again, her tenure as a bounty hunter interrupted while she cools her heels in a Cleveland city prison.

The pursuit for justice continues in her absence, however, as her shape-shifting partner, Jazinda (who is a Skrull, FYI), borrows She-Hulk's civilian identity to pursue their target!

Bran Murphy; who was hired as Dark Art's bodyguard; has been making his own mischief, and after hearing the tale of Shulkie's misfortune, does her the credit of poisoning the sinister sorcerer. Now, utilizing the powerful bond of a celtic god, Bran channels his vengeance through the super strength of Bran the Blessed, attracting not only the attentions of She-Hulk, but the prince of power, too!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hercules 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: She-Hulk 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Hercules 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hercules 5 (Marathon)
Agility: She-Hulk 2 (Average)
Fighting Ability: Hercules 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Draw 1 (None)


- Hercules is the demigod spawn of king of the Olympian gods, Zeus, and Alcmena; the mortal daughter of the king of Mycenae. Despite a conspiracy perpetrated by Hera and Luciana to prevent the birth; Hercules was born after seven days of labor, to rule those around him, by the decree of Zeus. The mammoth child would indeed traverse many perils to grow into a mighty leader of men, whose strength became the stuff of legends.

When Jennifer Walters was the victim of a retribution shooting by a crime boss out to hurt her sheriff father; Bruce Banner, Jennifer's cousin, was forced to offer his blood as a match for a transfusion. The gamma irradiated donor blood carried over properties that turned the timid Jennifer Walters into a savage She-Hulk!
Like her cousin; She-Hulk possesses superhuman strength and durability, but unlike Banner's Hulk, she is able to control her transformations.

Both Hercules and She-Hulk have been charter members of the Defenders and the Avengers, racking up many miles of experience in battling the foremost threats in the Marvel Universe.

- Bran Murphy is an apparently violent Irishman willing to go to great lengths to inflict pain and suffering upon She-Hulk.
The motive behind his initial attack, which involved blowing up a bar populated by both the hero and innocent civilians, remains unknown. Further investigation, however, reveals the potential influences of ancient powers who may have in fact manipulated Murphy as a human host.

Math: Hercules & She-Hulk Ranking: She-Hulk (#237)

What Went Down...
Offered a full pardon in exchange for her services as the sensational She-Hulk; Jennifer Walters negotiates the release of a fellow jailbird, before stepping directly out of the pan, into the fire of a sixty-foot tall demigod called Bran!

Running the rooftops above, in a torn shirt, is the outlaw prince of power - Hercules! The Greek demigod, whose involvement is strictly non-official, suffers a dismissive swat as he launches himself at his Celtic rival.

The harsh descent leaves Hercules pron, but even as he struggles beneath the mighty heel of the towering Bran, She-Hulk makes her presence known with a leaping fist to the chest! The unsuspecting Celt swipes back, but is swept off his feet by the prince of power, whose godly muscles give him the strength to topple Bran the Blessed like a glorified caber!

Shulkie flexes her own bulging biceps in the nick of time to stop the toppling titan crushing scrambling citizens at ground level. Bran the Blessed defers blame to his Greek counterpart whilst shrinking to a less dangerous size, all the while denouncing the once worshipped demigod as an ego too arrogant to care for the lives of humans around him.

Hercules takes exception to the accusation, but before he can channel his rage in PPI, She-Hulk puts a grapple on to probe for information. The exposition proves brief as Bran lets fly the taunts, stirring Hercules' temper to boiling point!
He effortlessly tosses his jade-skinned ally aside to reach his foe, but before a Herculean beating can be dealt, the giant-sized demigod turns to flee, fearful for the requisite safety of his host -- Bran Murphy -- now discovered by Jazinda.

She-Hulk again lays her hands on her ally in battle, this time to propel Hercules with an offensive maneuver known in some circles as the fastball special...

The velocity of the pitch turns Hercules into a humanoid torpedo, allowing him to deliver the finishing blow -- a decapitation strike to the Celt's vulnerable throat!
With the demigods' block literally knocked off, (by way of a mythic weakness incurred by the historic removal of the immortal kings' head), Herc and She-Hulk are free to make a hasty exit (for some lovin's, as it were).

The Hammer...
Y'know, we've been talking Hercules up as the year's most improved player, so it seems fitting he finally pick up the win with the vital assist coming from She-Hulk!

Time and economics have conspired against any valid commentary or reflection on the battles of 2008, but while out and about, I decided to make a couple of a concessions at the not-so-local newsagent. This issue of She-Hulk was one of the things I grabbed off the shelves, and admittedly, I kinda had my hopes set on a post-WWH She-Hulk/Hercules gaff. Alas, t'was team-up I did find within these pages.

It's been quite a while since I picked up She-Hulk.
Actually, those conspiring forces that have kept me away from most recent monthlies have been doing a pretty good job of it for quite some time now.
It was the break between 'seasons' that saw my dedication to the breakout hit of 2004 wane substantially to the point of missing out on the eventual reboot.

I'm an ideas man, but the more I indulge, the more I realise refreshing art direction can be as important to my reading habits as anything else.
While it was undoubtedly Dan Slott's ability to play with all corners of the Marvel Universe and the high-concept of superhero law, in his absence, I begin to appreciate the importance of Juan Bobillo's stay puft pencils.

Val Semeiks delivers competent sequences and some big time superhero action, but falls short in the finer details. His She-Hulk, while packing a suitable amount of presence, teeters a little uncomfortably on the bulky side of human anatomy. This is something that appears to carry through with his figures who have the air of appearing somehow incomplete, but I wonder if that might not be partly the responsibility of Chris Sotomayor on gradient-happy digital colours.

Conceptually, She-Hulk's being driven by a variety of influences that have now come to include [Peter] David's own cross promotion with pet project, X-Factor. While everything you would expect of a baseline comic is well covered, one can't help but shake the sensation that this is a superhero title at it's most forgettable. As much as we've come to champion the seemingly inconsequential on the Infinite Wars, given the history of the book, it's just such a shame to come back to this.

Dan Slott's first year on She-Hulk brought such a vibrancy and delightfully refreshing kitsch that it's impossible to ignore comparison. As a character, She-Hulk continues to have enough personality, albeit, defined by her sex-drive, that she deserves a solo-title. Yet, I almost feel such a pedestrian read is counter-productive, if not a discredit to the potential of a fringe series.

"GG Studios' Vincenzo Cucca" is looming on the "next issue" horizon with a far superior digital render to his artwork. Perhaps for the first time since Bobillo, the series looks to get a visually distinct treatment that appears both new, yet undeniably suitable. I had to get that last bit in, because I'm sure the faint presence of animé-inspired artwork will get other reviewers' Y-fronts in a twist.

I enjoyed revisiting She-Hulk. Trainspotters will know she served as an anchor on our monthly Super Stock rankings for a long time. I'm fond of the character! I just wish it could've been under different circumstances.
The apparently stacatto'd presence of a conspiracy-plot, told through unwinding structural devices, seems tedious and uninteresting, devoid of any real hook.
Though fun, #34 reads like a classic assembly line comic maintaining the brand, and I'm not entirely convinced that isn't the case in previous issues also.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 3.5

Not convinced? Disagree? Want to know more?
You can pre-order Vol.7 of She-Hulk in collected trade (including this Hercules-packed issue and the X-Factor crossover) through Amazon. Not only do they offer affordable prices and convenience, but by using purchases links supplied, you also help sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars! Alternatively, if you want to fall in love with the initial Slott/Bobillo revival of the character, you should check out Vol.1, or any of the other titles on offer in the Amazonian Gift Shoppe! On offer are a wide variety of titles containing issues reviewed in the Secret Archives. Mixed bag o' fun, t'be sher!