COVER TO COVER: MOOORTAL KOMBAAAT!!!
Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe hit home consoles November 16 (US) and November 21 (EU), which, if we were running on time, would mean you'd be just now anticipating owning it in both regular and kollector's editions for either the Xbox360 and PS3!

We've spent much of 2008 browsing and discussing Mortal Kombat, which has been fun, for me at least.
I had the fortune of getting in to the series with the release of the first Enter the Dragon-esque entry, in 1992, and have continued to enjoy the characters and concepts, onward.

The connection between MK and comic book superheroes has always been there. Be it the forthcoming inspirations of characters and movesets, or the methodology of the story telling, it all syncs up quite neatly. MKvsDC might not have presented the strongest concept for this meeting of two similar brands, but for it's faults, fans of both franchises have been very welcoming of the game.

Some very kind people at Midway went above-and-beyond to help in organizing Q&A interviews for the site. As a fan who certainly wishes no personal ill will to any employees, or the series in general, it's been difficult to be as critical as we have been of the final product. Worse still is the roaring thunder of financial woes that finally seem to have threatened Midway's continued existence. I hope fans new and old can appreciate the critiques we've made, as much as they do a franchise that we can only hope will continue well into the future.

As with a lot of details featured on the Infinite Wars, let's hope entering the wonderful world of a series you might not know a lot about has been made easier by our features.

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, our Dark Kahn spotlight, final MK cast, and final DC cast! PLUS: C2C editions Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, Finish Him...!, Heroic Brutality, & Heroic Fatality!

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #1 (July 1994)
"A Slow Boat to China" Marshall/Rolo
The tournament begins as events conspire to bring together some of Earth's greatest fighters in a tournament destined to decide the fate of the world. Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kano, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Raiden all emerge to face-off against the sinister forces of Outworld - the sorcerer Shang Tsung, and his champion, Goro!

Before the battles of the tournament there are the personal struggles that define and provoke the destiny of each fighter: The blood feued that ties Scorpion's undead soul to his Lin Kuei murderer, Sub-Zero; Lieutenant Sonya Blade's vigilant pursuit of the international criminal, Kano; Johnny Cage's desire for international acclaim and respect as a martial artist; and Liu Kang's chosen path as the Shaolin Monk chosen to represent the Temple of the Order of Light in Mortal Kombat!

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #2 (August 1994)
"Test Your Might" Marshall/Rolo
The tournament begins as events conspire to bring together some of Earth's greatest fighters in a tournament destined to decide the fate of the world. Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kano, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Raiden all emerge to face-off against the sinister forces of Outworld - the sorcerer Shang Tsung, and his champion, Goro!

The pursuit of Black Dragon criminal leader, Kano, brought Special Forces Lieutenant Sonya Blade to Shang Tsung's island, but it's the death of a partner that will drive her to new personal levels to seek justice - and maybe revenge - against her target.

PLUS: Just as the forces of humanity appear to be gaining the upperhand, the dark sorcerer Shang Tsung begins to undermine them with a new plot to ensure the success of the Emperor, Shao Kahn!

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #3 (September 1994)
"The Art of War" Marshall/Rolo
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.

Just as the forces of Earthrealm begin to gain the upperhand, the sanctity of the ancient tournament is perverted as Shang Tsung pursues the hidden power of an ancient book, called the Tao te Zhan. His Shokan champion, Goro, is unleashed early as Earth's defenders come face-to-face with a distorted destiny, and one of their greatest champions falls before the final showdown!

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #5 (November 1994)
"Tao" Marshall/Chansomone
For centuries the purity of Mortal Kombat has preserved peace and order among the realms, requiring ten tournament victories of any invading force.

Each tournament spans a generation, and after nine victories, the Shokan champion Goro was defeated by Earthrealm champion and descendant of Kung Lao - Liu Kang. Thus, Shao Kahn and the forces of Outworld are thwarted.

The chosen warriors of Mortal Kombat exist beyond the tournament, and when Kano steals a powerful mystical book known as the Tao Te Zhan, it begins a new battle for omnipotence.
When Scorpion steals the book one of seven riddles has already been solved, and he has just solved the second...

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (October 2006)
Midway
For centuries the balance between realms has been maintained through combat, but as the fighters of each world grow in number and power, they threaten to unstick the natural order of the universe.

Having foreseen a great cataclysm, the Edenian prophet, Delia, combines her powers with her god husband, Argus, to create a catalyst that will decide the fate of existence. Pledged to a quest that will ensure the course of events, their two sons, Daegon and Taven, enter hibernation to be awoken by the flaming elemental, Blaze.

Deviated from his task by the servants of the Dragon King, Blaze becomes embroiled in distraction that leads to a perversion of the quest. Corrupted, Daegon enters the Earth early, manipulating the world in an effort to gain the power of Armageddon for himself.

Like moths to flame, the kombatants converge on the ancient Edenian pyramid of Argus, and the battle of Armageddon commences.

SMASH HITS: ADEMA


Adema - Immortal (2002)


Way back when this was supposed to be current, there was a little video game coming out the following Sunday called, Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe!
As the Infinite Wars has fallen into the abyss of lateness and distraction the relevance might be lost, but the smash hit reference remains!

The 2002 revival of the dormant Mortal Kombat franchise didn't just include the best game to bare the brand, but also a multitude of bonus features, such as the Adema track seen here!
The group performed the song live at the MK booth of that year's E3, while also cross-promoting the game with their album, Insomniac's Dream, through their music video and MK: Deadly Alliance commercials. The adverts featured an exciting CG clash between contemporary models of Scorpion and Quan Chi - popular arch-nemesis' in this generation of the series.

The clip not only showcases the new designs and three-dimensional aspects of the modern MK release, but also offers an underlying piece of the puzzle that leads to Quan Chi's team-up with classic villain, Shang Tsung (who hears the battle outside and naturally goes to shoo those punk kids off his acid bathed lawn).

For fans who agree Deadly Alliance remains the most promising entry in the Mortal Kombat series, the song is sure to conjure up fond memories. Particularly if you only need standard cutlery to account for the years of your life you cannot numerate with your fingers.
While MKvsDC has boasted a dynamic new superhero-influence system of fighting, it was Deadly Alliance that brought the series into the fighting arena for the first time. Diverse mocapping and a modicum of attention to the individuality of styles turned MK into a fluid strategic exercise with a hint of character. That was lost over subsequent instalments, but at least we have backward compatability!

When it comes to compatability, chances are plenty of appliances you'll be using these holidays will take +AA. Energizer have tailored their latest product toward the modern technophile with Advanced Lithium! Lighter and longer-lasting, they're perfect for digital appliances, and are much easier than absorbing souls for a power-boost.

Energizer have sponsored a brand new message board for the fantastic music service, Pandora. I discovered the service a few years ago and have used it to discover some great artists, like Austrian songstress, Gustav. Party-on!

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!

MORTAL KOMBAT/DC UNIVERSE: KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 2!
Catastrophic events in the MK and DC Universes have brought together these two unlikely nemesis in a battle for self-preservation! MK vs DCU offers up a cast of iconic characters from each game, but just what is it telling you about them? The Infinte Wars serves up the 101 basics on the opposing teams!

Mortal Kombat Top 25
#1 Shang Tsung (R8)
#2 Shao Kahn (R10)
#3 Goro (R10)
#4 Noob Saibot (R8)
#5 Sonya Blade (R9)
#6 Sheeva (R4)
#7 Raiden (R9)
#8 Johnny Cage (R8)
#9 Stryker (R6)
#10 Kano (R7)
#11 Hotaru (R2)
#12 Kintaro (R9)
#13 Onaga (R3)
#14 Quan Chi (R8)
#15 Kenshi (R6)
#16 Kitana (R10)
#17 Bo' Rai Cho (R4)
#18 Sub-Zero (R10)
#19 Scorpion (R6)
#20 Kung Lao (R1)
#21 Baraka (R1)
#22 Liu Kang (R1)
#23 Li Mei (R4)
#24 Shinnok (R10)
#25 Jax (R9)In April; Midway officially announced a game many insiders were already trained to expect, but some could not believe: Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe! The first installment for new-generation consoles promised a threat of interdimensional nature not unlike MK's traditional foes, only this time, the enemy was all too traditional -- the DC Universe!

With major plot points lingering from 2006's Armageddon and the opportunity offered by the PS3 and Xbox 360, diehard fans were understandably perturbed by the very nature of a canonically inconsequential encounter. Even more bitter, the pill of an inevitable T-rating, which made killing with the mainstream DC icons unlikely.

Having been available now for a week, the atmosphere feels different. Baseless animosity has been replaced by a blend of familiar critique of the franchise, and almost blind loyalty from those satisfied by incremental changes billed publicly as major revamps for the notorious game mechanic.

Last week we took a look at the cast of Mortal Kombat characters featured in the game. With only twenty-two in total (and the merged Dark Kahn) expectations now rest heavily on downloadable content that many consider to be overdue from the final release. Handling of the additional material could prove vital as the game enters its first week with estimated sales slightly lower than their 2006 release, marking a continued slide from 2002's successful franchise reboot - Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.

Today we take a look at the eleven DC heroes and villains that make up the second half of the titular showdown. While it has been easy to be critical of a storymode lacking subtlty or intricacy, the assumed contributions of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray as writers haven't come without fruits!
Arcade endings, (which we intend to spoil), feature a lot of exciting possibilities for a MK/DC sequel that exits with a commitment to a unique experience.

It would be unfair to call MKvsDC a bad game. It isn't that.
It does, however, fall well short of the potential suggested by two major franchises. Given Midway's current financial woes it's hard not to feel a touch of empathy for the presumed reasons the game seems to have suffered, as so many Mortal Kombat games have, from an abrupt and uncompromising release date.

With only eleven playable characters, the DC license goes wasted. As we've mentioned previously all the characters in the game are perfectly reasonable, but lack the contextual balance that might have been offered by more options and more creation time. Likewise, the story is perhaps the most disappointing part, falling well short of the historic value of both brands. Removing the game from the MK canon reduces it to an inconvenient fundraising pitstop that shows little imagination or belief in the Mortal Kombat storyline and writers.

We will continue to watch eagerly to see what the MK team do with their DLC options. More characters seem like an obvious addition, but if there were any detail that would excite the comic fan in me, it would be new chapters in the storymode. If the inconsequential nature of the game is one of it's glaring weaknesses, it would be truly admirable to turn that into an advantage by using that freedom to supply an endless array of new stories using these characters.
Depending on the cost of the animation, it also strikes me as a cost effective method for extracting much needed replay value.
Heck, if it meant seeing it happen, I'd write the bloody thing for free, myself!

In the mean time, let us take a closer look at the heroes and villains of the DC Universe! While the game bios muddy the MK canon with a reference to the Shao Kahn/Raiden familial ties of reviled 1998 film sequel, Annihilation; it does escape any ham-fisted allusion to the cinematic embarassments of the Joel Schumacher Batman films. In other words, we aren't setting the record straight here, but you might find some interesting info (and links), none the less.

NOTE: Given the sixty year history of some of these characters, you might like to research details to better understand whether they remain canonical, and how they fit into the lengthy landscape of superhero history. Being that we're quite far behind schedule, these are dramatically abridged accounts of key events.

Batman (Good)
First Appearance: [Detective Comics #27]
Year One: [1939] Group Affiliation: [Justice League]
2008 Rank: [#1] Cumulative Rank: [#1]
Win Percentage: [69.44%] Our Odds: [100%]

Translation: Scorpion and Stryker are murdered infront of their urban-ninja love-child who then seeks vengeance through a war on crime!

Secret Origin...
Witnessing the street murder of his parents by a petty thug, Bruce Wayne grows to be a pensive and dark child. Lusting for justice the youngman, once of-age, embarks on a global journey to learn the ways of the sciences and martial arts, dedicated to the pursuit of justice. When a bat flies through his window one night, he is inspired to create a symbollic persona to spread terror through hearts of the corrupt men who control his native Gotham City. He becomes the Batman.

As the heir to his family's fortune and business empire; Batman finances his one-man war on crime, while using the social status it affords him to keep a watchful eye on the powerful and potentially corrupt. To this end, some believe Bruce Wayne is the mask that Batman wears when it is required.

The emergence of Batman in Gotham City inspires a new generation of criminals as the gangsters of old become overrun by a garrish breed of "freaks."
As these costumed killers become recurring figures in the Gotham landscape, Batman's moral stance against killing, and the very nature of his vigilante justice, becomes increasingly tested. Though he incorporates valuable recruits along the way, his is an internal struggle that may never end.

Konquests & Mythologies...
Bruce Wayne's career as Batman is littered with tragic ironys as his dark battle inevitably attracts and creates new villains. His early career pits him against mob bosses like Carmine Falcone, while also inspiring onlookers such as Selina Kyle, who dons a catsuit to become Catwoman. If anything the clown prince of crime claims can be trusted, then Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker, may also be an accidental creation of his own making.

Batman's war on crime leads him to adopt Dick Grayson, a young circus performed orphaned by the murder of his parents. Feeling a kindred spirit the boy, he trains him to become his first sidekick and ward, Robin. As the boy wonder grows into a man, Batman accepts Jason Todd, a homeless tearaway whose skills and audacity led him to steal the tyres from the Batmobile, as his next student.

Like Barbara Gordon before him; Todd eventually becomes collateral in the endless battle between Batman and Joker. As a reminder of his failure, Batman hangs the former Robin's costume in his cave, entering into a new personal darkness and solidarity in his pursuit for justice. Recognising this dangerous brooding and potentially self-destructive, an industrious young man named Tim Drake deduces the identity of Batman, and compells him to accept the lightening influence of a new Robin. Though resistant at first, the Dark Knight comes to accept him, creating a sidekick to rival even Grayson.

Batman finds himself tested like never before when a South American experiment subject for a formula called venom arrives in Gotham to prove himself. As the forces of the city press Batman to the limit, Bane unleashes more villains still, empowering even the likes of Riddler with a dose of his venom drug. In doing so, Bane achieves something never before seen: he breaks the Batman's back!
Though Bruce Wayne would eventually heal, it would not be before the dark disciple, Azrael, would taint the Batman mantle. This would not be the first time Batman would be forced to battle his own emmissary.

Despite being beaten and blown up, Jason Todd is revived by the reality-altering influence of Superboy-Prime, whose rages undo his death whilst in the grave.
Having lived through being buried alive, memory loss, and a brief stay with Talia Al Ghul; Todd returns to team with the villains, Hush and Riddler, in an effort to manipulate the forces surrounding Batman in a personal assault.

After initially disguising his identity through subterfuge supplied by Clayface - Todd emerges in full force in Gotham as the Red Hood. There he walks a fine line between good and evil, restricting and manipulating the crimes committed, whilst battling both Batman and the kingpin of crime, Black Mask. It was during the Mask's rise to power that Batman seemingly lost yet another ward, this time the short-lived female Robin, Stephanie Brown aka; Spoiler. Seeking approval, the young vigilante unleashed a hypothetical plan formulated by Batman to destroy the gangs, not knowing Matches Malone was in fact a control alias used by Bruce Wayne to curb spilloff from the battles.

The Batman's most recent struggle pits him against a foe that may or may not be a ghost from the past! The personal attacks of Black Glove drive Batman to his toughest struggle ever, forcing the Dark Knight to stare down death, itself.

When Worlds Collide...
With the Dark Kahn world merger ended, Batman's concern for interdimensional threat leads him to create an autonomous security system called, Outerworld Monitor and Auto-Containment, or "OMAC" for short. Designed to detect and contain threats, the machine quickly discovers just such concern in Metropolis.

While not especially exciting for it's specifics, Batman's ending draws very specific allusions to the recent Infinite Crisis tie-in, Project OMAC. Here, Batman's satellite system "Brother Eye" was overtaken by a corrupted Checkmate organization, and turned against the heroes. For the familiar, this sinister potential offers a forboding of a potential villain for an MKvsDC sequel.

Allies: Alfred, Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Superman, Zatanna, Gordon, Knight
Enemies: Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Hush, Ra's Al Ghul, Black Mask, Zsasz

Superman (Good)
First Appearance: [Action Comics #1]
Year One: [1938] Group Affiliation: [Justice League]
2008 Rank: [#2] Cumulative Rank: [#4]
Win Percentage: [57.69%] Our Odds: [100%]

Translation: Shao Kahn if he was sent to Earthrealm as a child before doom gripped Outworld. Y'know, give or take a few powers.

Secret Origin...
With the planet Krypton on the verge of destruction, one of the planet's preeminent scientists, Jor-El, bundles his only child into a rocket ship destined for another planet. This last son of Krypton travels through space only to crash land on the planet Earth, somewhere in Kansas!

Discovered by the Kents; baby Kal-El is taken-in and rechristened Clark Kent.
The alien boy grows to discover the Earth's yellow sun embues him with a host of fantastic abilities, and possessing the morals of the humble Kent family, chooses to use his superhuman powers to fight for truth and justice as Superman!

Clark Kent takes his newfound powers to the big city, leaving behind Smallville to take a job as a reporter for the Daily Planet, in Metropolis. There he becomes the iconic protector of the city, lending his also to the world as well, as a member of the Justice League!

Konquests & Mythologies...
Despite the prominance of his strength, Superman finds himself fending off threats not just extra terrestrial in nature, but also human. Lex Luthor's growing fixation with the hero leads to a zealous crusade that pits his genius intellect against the vast powers of a charged Kryptonian. In his scientific and business endeavours, Luthor proves responsible for the creation of other villains, such as incarnations of the techno-organic being, Brainiac, Bizarro, and the cyborg villain with a heart of kryptonite, Metallo.

As Superman discovers the existence of other surviving Kryptonians, he is forced to confront difficult decisions, particularly against those who would be corrupt. With his hand forced, Superman condemns super-criminals to the void of the Phantom Zone - a decision not made lightly. Years later the sins of the past return as General Zod leads Zone criminals against everyone Superman loves.

The ghosts of Krypton would continue to plague Superman throughout his career as a hero, culminating in the arrival of the ancient genetic experiment called - Doomsday! The clash between Doomsday and Superman rocked the streets of Metropolis until each struck a final blow that seemingly killed the other.

After four other individuals attempt to carry on the tradition of Superman, Kal-El returns alive, donning a powersuit to account for the loss of his powers. Having survived his battle, Clark Kent and Lois Lane, the love of his life, finally marry.

Sometime later, the fully restored Superman was transformed into a being composed of electrical energies. After diverging into autonomous red and blue versions of himself, Superman finally reconverged into his original form during battle with the Millenium Giants. Despite this, it would not be the last time Superman would find conflict with an alternate version of himself and the past.

The secret beginnings of this universe lie in the battle with a being called Anti-Monitor, who threatened the existence of all realms of matter. His defeat created a new singular Earth, conedmning some to be erased from existence, while others were reborn with new, streamlined histories. For some key heroes of the Crisis of Multiple Earths, a different fate was rewarded.

The Superman and Lois Lane of Earth-2, Superboy from Earth-Prime, and the son of Earth-3's heroic Lex Luthor, are all sealed by the latter in a pocket dimension of reality. Essentially trapped in their crystaline sub-existence, they can only watch as the new Earth's heroes slowly become dark mirrors to their once glorious heroism. Prime's rages lead to rippples of unreality affecting the world, and eventually, the heroes of the Crisis return to seek redemption for a world they have deemed unworthy.

Alexander Luthor Jr disguises himself as his father, rallying the villains of the world into a Society that gathers heroes of necessary properties to manipulate the multiverse through a totem built from the Anti-Monitor's armor. Secretly intending to reshape reality to his own desire, the young hero becomes the villain of the piece, eventually coming undone by the hand of the Joker, who was not invited to be a part of the villain collective.

Superboy-Prime suffers his punishment at the hands of the Flash and the Guardians of the Galaxy, who entrap him in the energies of the Speed Force.
Prime escapes however, and eventually finds himself in the thirty-first century, where he intends to reclaim the Superman S symbol as a beacon of terror.
Superman travels to the future to rejoin the Legion of Superheroes he has aided on many occasions, in their battle for good.

When Worlds Collide...
Having suffered defeat at the hands of the magics controlled by warriors of Outworld, Superman is finally inspired to create a mystic suit granting him resistance to magic. Using Kryptonian artifacts and the magics of the Wizard Shazam, Superman ensures he will not be so easily defeated next time.

As conclusions go, Superman's is surprisingly shallow and uninteresting.
The perception of magic as a "weakness", rather than a vulnerability, has been a subject we've discussed previously with varying detail [ie; What if? #24], and it's interesting enough that the character would try to avoid the subject. Lord knows I would be quite happy to never hear about it again!

Magic was very specifically pointed to as reasoning behind characters ability to spar with the invulnerable Superman. While I'm much more inclined to rest on an unspoken suspension of disbelief for gameplay, if this is to undo that specific claim, it might open an interesting prospect of Superman as a boss character!

More than likely this one can join any number of disposable fighting game endings, but in the interest of cohesion, I'd at least like to see it represented, should a sequel be built on these ideas. A feat not difficult.

Allies: Wonder Woman, Batman, Steel, The Legion
Enemies: Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Zod, Superboy-Prime, Bizarro, Darkseid, Doomsday

Flash (Good)
First Appearance: [Showcase #4]
Year One: [1956] Group Affiliation: [Justice League]
2008 Rank: [#49] Cumulative Rank: [#42]
Win Percentage: [100%] Our Odds: [DNR]

Translation: Kabal (if he could do more than sprint for a minute and gave his life to save reality during Shao Kahn's invasion of Earth).

Secret Origin...
Whilst working late one night in his lab, chronically slow police forensic-scientist, Barry Allen, was struck by lightning, throwing his body into shelves of chemicals. Against all odds he survives unscathed, but soon discovers he has the super-human speed of a living lightning bolt! With his new powers, Allen borrows the name of his childhood hero, the Flash, to become Central City's greatest hero!

As a key figure in the modern DCU, Flash was there when the Appelaxian aliens invaded the Earth, leading to the founding of the first Justice League of America! He also seemingly gave his life to protect reality from the weapons of the Anti-Monitor, outracing tachyons to intercept certain destruction.

Konquests & Mythologies...
After co-founding the Justice League, Barry Allen goes on to continue to have many adventures with the team, solo, and with his close friend, Green Lantern.
Flash famously discovered the existance of other universes with the use of the cosmic treadmill, which, when used with super-fast vibrations, could penetrate the boundaries of reality. These adventures bring him face-to-face with a character who had only existed in fiction in his universe, Jay Garrick.

Flash eventually married his sweetheart, Iris Allen, but was witness to her death at the hands of his inverted arch-nemesis, Professor Zoom. Flash's vendetta with the villain culiminated in his breaking Zoom's neck, but when put on trial for the murder, Flash is aquitted. He soon learns that Iris had survived in her native thirtieth century, but his joy was short lived, curbed by the emerging threat to the multiverse posed by the Anti-Monitor.

When Worlds Collide...
Flash maintains a psychic connection with the spirit of Liu Kang, agreeing to share any information of potential interdimensional attacks. Kang soon warns Flash of an impending incursion by the villainous necromancer, Quan Chi.
Flash is swift to attack the sorcerer, but the outcome is unknown.

While somewhat non-committal to the result of Quan Chi's attack, the ending provides not only a method of corroboration between the two heroic sides, but also a rather obvious role for Quan Chi in the future. Several potential villains are proposed in the twenty-two arcade endings, so this could just be one of them.

That said, Flash's inclusion might just be the most surprising of any character in the game. Initially assumed to be a (curiously) redesign Wally West, it turns out the Flash selected to represent the DCU is actually one of it's greatest historic heroes! Barry Allen recently returned to comics after a twenty-year absence in the pages of Final Crisis. There it was revealed he had escaped death to chase down a bullet moving through time, intended to kill the New God, Orion.

Barry Allen has been at the forefront of the resistance against Darkseid, who has seemingly taken control of the Earth with the use of the Anti-Life Equation, in the previously mentioned Crisis. Given the announcement of Allen's role in the upcoming Flash: Rebirth series (ie; GL:R), it seems reasonable that DC might wish to promote their chief speedster through crossmedia exposure, but it still comes as quite a surprise. Since Ininite Crisis, the Flash mantle has been passed around, moving disappointingly with a lax direction.

Allies: Green Lantern, Wally West, Jay Garrick, Green Arrow, Black Canary
Enemies: Captain Cold, Prof. Zoom, Gorilla Grodd, Mirror Master, Anti-Monitor

Catwoman (Good)
First Appearance: [Batman #1]
Year One: [1940] Group Affiliation: [NA]
2008 Rank: [#30] Cumulative Rank: [#21]
Win Percentage: [45.46%] Our Odds: [65%]

Translation: Part-Kitana, Part-Sareena, all butt kicker!
Flirtatious, and as dangerous as she is feisty!

Secret Origins...
Working briefly as a dominatrix prostitute, Selina Kyle was inspired by the emergence of the Batman in Gotham City to don a costume of her own, leaving behind her exortion operation to become a freeroaming burglar. As Catwoman, she hones her agility and fighting skills to become the greatest thief the city has ever known, and one of Batman's most elusive opponents.

Fiercely independent; Catwoman walks a dangerous line between good and evil, often aiding the Dark Knight Detective in his struggles, whilst also maintaining ties with the criminals of Gotham. Abiding by her own code of morals, Catwoman constantly flirts with her Bat-counterpart, and the idea of being a true hero.

Konquest & Mythologies...
Early in her career Catwoman comes to blows with the Batman, involving herself in the criminal underworld of Gotham City. The catburglar secretly suspects Batman's mafia mob boss nemesis, Carmine Falcone, as possibly being her father, leading to a tangled web of relations between the trio. Despite travelling to Italy, Catwoman never learns the truth, content to move forward.

After living a multitude of different lives, Selina returns to Gotham amidst an Earthquake that decimates the city. She aids the Batman in his struggle to maintain control in the decimated city, and the prevention of Lex Luthor's attempts to take advantage of the rebuilding of Gotham's infrastructure.
She quickly returns to odds with the Dark Knight, suspected of shooting Comissioner Gordon. Cleared, she eventually takes advantage of an attack by Deathstroke, using it to fake her own death.

PI Slam Bradley investigates the truth about Catwoman's disappearance, leading to her return to Gotham's East End where she acts as it's protector, balancing her role between thief and hero. After interfering in the plans of Roman Sionis, he seeks out friends from her past, brutally torturing them to learn information.
After enjoying a romantic relationship with Bruce Wayne during his manipulation by Hush, Catwoman finally murders Sionis, ending his reign as Gotham crimelord.

Catwoman returns after being trapped on by the government on the planet Salvation with the villains of the world, allying herself with sometimes employer, Lex Luthor, to return. She finds herself the victim of Hush's renewed pledge for vengeance against Batman. After surviving having her heart surgically removed, revenge against Hush is hers when, with help from allies like Poison Ivy and Oracle, she extorts his fortune for her own.

When Worlds Collide...
Her experiences in the Mortal Kombat universe somehow embue Catwoman with the magic ability to transform herself into a black panther. This new power comes in handy on her nightly prowling around Gotham City.

On the whole, I think it's safe to say the DC characters got the far less interesting endings. What makes many of the MK conclusions so interesting is their incorporation of iconic mythology from the DC Universe, reinterpreted with the MK characters. While that might be somewhat difficult to do in the reverse, turning Catwoman into a literal cat seems awfully benign. I do wonder what type of influence DC might have had in the approval process.

Allies: Batman, Slam Bradley, Wildcat, Holly Robinson, Oracle, Captain Cold
Enemies: Hush, Black Mask, Hammer, Sickle, Angle Man, Deathstroke

Captain Marvel (Good)
First Appearance: [Whiz Comics #2]
Year One: [1940] Group Affiliation: [Marvel Family]
2008 Rank: [NR] Cumulative Rank: [#249]
Win Percentage: [20%] Our Odds: [45%]

Translation: Liu Kang, with a sunny disposition, chosen to wield the powers of gods who actually give a crap! "RAIDEN!"

Secret Origins...
When his archaeologist parents are killed, boy orphan, Billy Batson, finds himself on the streets. A strange twist brings him to the Rock of Eternity -- cavernous lair of the Wizard Shazam! As Earth's elder protector and possessor of great magic, Shazam recognises a good heart in Batson, and embues him with the mystic that allow him to transform into - Captain Marvel!

Captain Marvel possesses a pantheon of powers inspired by gods and legends!
The wisdom of Solomon; the strength of Hercules; the stamina of Atlas; the power of Zeus; the courage of Achilles; and the speed of Mercury. Billy summons these fantastic abilities by bellowing the secret word - Shazam!

Konquest & Mythologies...
During the course of the Second World War Captain Marvel's chief nemesis' were the likes of the evil scientist, Dr. Sivana, and Adolf Hitler's soldiers, including his scientifically enhanced champion, Captain Nazi. Also bedevilling the hero was Shazam's fallen former champion, Teth-Adam, the Egyptian black marvel.

After the battle with Anti-Monitor, Captain Marvel's history was rewritten as he became incorporated into the single new Earth. In this world the hero suddenly finds himself surrounded by evils far more threatening to the mighty marvel than anything he had faced in his forgotten past. In an effort to protect a city from the rampage of a monster called Macro-Man, Billy Batson summons the powers of Shazam, using the mystic lightning bolt to fend off the super-sized attack. The villain was burnt to death, causing Batson to become disillusioned with his claim to the powers of Shazam, unwittingly the victim of a plot hatched by Darkseid.

Batson regains his strength to continue his career as one of the DCU's greatest heroes. His battles continue with Black Adam whose failed attempts to redeem himself eventually result in an epic clash between world officials, the superheroes of America, and the fallen marvel. The Captain manages to trick his counterpart into transforming and changed his password to "sorry," unable to strip him of the powers.

Even after the Spectre's rampage against magic saw the death of the Wizard Shazam, the Captain, who ascended to the guardian role as simply "Marvel," could not strip his foe. He now watches over his junior fellow, Freddie Freeman, who earnt the right to succeed him as the champion. Mary Marvel, the other prominent hero of the Marvel family, was lost, seduced by darkness.

When Worlds Collide...
To regain control over his powers, Captain Marvel enters a deep ritual of focus with the aid of the Wizard Shazam. Perhaps because of his time in the MK universe, Captain Marvel finds himself surprisingly face-to-face with the Elder Gods. Their, he comes to master an array of new abilities, beyond even the pantheon he previously commanded.

In hindsight, we might've been a bit generous when rating Captain Marvel's chances of appearing in the game "45%." In perspective that's less-than-even, but aren't that I glad it turned out to be the case? The Captain's ending captures some of the same imagination of the many MK ends, whilst also adding an extra layer of excitement to the nature of his own powers.

Captain Marvel was probably the most interesting inclusion into the list, arguably diametrically positioned opposite Mortal Kombat. Traditionally recognised as the heir to the Golden Age throne, Captain Marvel has been at his best when depicted as a vessel for the wholesome ideals of the superhero genre. This iconic importance - embued even into his design - was understandably lost on a good many Generation Y (and late X) fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise.

It's a strange sort of pleasure to see the character get an honorable depiction in the game, and for that to inspire new interest from players. While I don't imagine this will convert to comic book sales, it's just nice to see the cross pollonation, and a surprising nugget of gold coming from the least likely of places.

Allies: Wizard Shazam, Captain Marvel Jr, Mary Marvel, Stargirl
Enemies: Dr. Sivana, Mr. Mind, Captain Nazi, Mister Atom, Black Adam

Joker (Evil)
First Appearance: [Batman #1]
Year One: [1940] Group Affiliation: [The Society]
2008 Rank: [#312] Cumulative Rank: [#269]
Win Percentage: [14.29%] Our Odds: [75%]

Translation: Kabal with a prettier disfigurement, a hero to fixate on, and insanity that makes him the life of the party!

Secret Origins...
The truth about the man before the Joker may never truly be known, nor how his skin came to be chalk white, and his hair bright green. If the clown crook can be believed, it may have been a case of tragic irony as he was bullied into donning the garb of a villainous Red Hood, who fell into a vat of chemicals upon the arrival of the Dark Knight Detective - Batman. Other versions of his tale claim a life of organized crime, before his inevitable dip in a soup of toxins.

Regardless of the truth, the Joker is a ruthless criminal whose madness bestows upon him a unique clarity. Though commonly driven by a hidden agenda, he appears to many as an emmissary of wanton destruction and chaos, interested only in seeing madness brought to a world already out of control. The greatest single purpose in his life is a dedicated pledge to bedevil the Batman at every turn, using Gotham City not just as an arena, but a weapon.

Konquests & Mythologies...
With an aptitude for manipulating and utilizing toxins and poison in a variety of inventive ways, the Joker emerges quickly as a plague of terror on Gotham City. In his first outing he forecasts his victims, evading police protections to always kill in his trademark manner -- leaving his victims in a grinning mess. Only Bruce Wayne escapes death, all the while his alter-ego, the Batman, works to finally foil the Joker's plans.

In an effort to prove insanity is but a single bad day away, the Joker kidnaps Barabara Gordon, niece to the Gotham Police Commissioner, and taunts him with photographs of her in various states of undress, paralyzed by a gunshot that grazed her spine. Unbeknownst to the Joker, he had ended the career of Batgirl, and begun a path that would lead to one of Batman's greatest allies - Oracle.

Using a variety of insanity pleas, diplomatic immunities, and sheer luck, the Joker constantly returns from defeat to threaten the ones the Batman loves. He succeeds in murdering the second Robin, Jason Todd, but is eventually forced to pay for his crimes as the young hero returns from the grave with a brutal plan for vengeance - something Batman could never do. He also claims the life of Sarah Essen, then second wife of Commissioner Jim Gordon.

Not long after coming to blows with emerging Bat-foe, Hush; Joker finds himself shunned by Alexander Luthor Jr during his gathering of villains as the Society. Deemed too unpredictable, Joker fullfils this prophecy, emerging as the unlikely hero who claims the life of Luthor as his attempts to manipulate reality are thwarted. Despite being accepted by the true Lex Luthor as a founding member of a new Injustice League (with Cheetah), Joker again comes to blows with his fellow criminals, this time trapped on the lawless hell-planet, Salvation.

Returned to Earth, the Joker resumes his chaotic spree of crime, ultimately enduring a new stay in Arkham Asylum, before joining Libra's new version of the Society.

When Worlds Collide...
With the end of the world merger, the Joker finds himself still embued with the powers granted by Dark Kahn's aura. He quickly unleashed these abilities on Gotham City, crowning himself Mayor Joker. With the city in disorder, Joker holds fighting tournaments for his own amusement with the victor becoming his victim.

Once again not a terribly involving ending, but a nice spin on the Joker's mania in a Mortal Kombat context. If only the transition between bosses could be that simple in the core series! Joker arguably steals the best lines in the story mode, but it's fair to say, he's a character here out of respect to the mainstream demand of the brand, rather than specific suitability. While his fighting mechanics play well with character beats, Joker is no fighter, and is much better served by character-driven stories, one of the reasons The Dark Knight works so well, but MKvsDC does not.

Allies: Harley Quinn
Enemies: Batman, Oracle, Red Hood, Two-Face, Onomatopeia

Green Lantern (Good)
First Appearance: [Showcase #22]
Year One: [1959] Group Affiliation: [Green Lantern Corps]
2008 Rank: [#19] Cumulative Rank: [#23]
Win Percentage: [80%] Our Odds: [75%]

Translation: Ermac, if he divided his many souls and made them into artifacts to be wielded and used by worthy warriors!

Secret Origins...
A successful daredevil pilot with the USAF - Hal Jordan's life was given new direction when strange technologies deemed him a worthy individual of moral courage and strength. Transported from his plane, Jordan was brought to the side of a dying alien lawman called Abin Sur. There he was sworn to the oath of the Green Lantern Corps, granted the energy manipulating ring worn by the alien, and it's charge battery, to become the Green Lantern of Sector 2814.

Upon his official induction into the Corps, Jordan was mentored by the legendary Korugarian Lantern of Sector 1417, Sinestro. Though his sector had become famously crime-free, the Lantern would become one of Jordan's greatest enemies when he exposed the tyrannical methods used by Sinestro. In exposing the truth, Jordan paved the way for him to become a new revered figure in Lantern history, until his fated fall from grace...

Konquests & Mythologies...
Shortly after joining the Green Lantern Corps, Hal Jordan would become a founding member of the Justice League after thwarting the contest of the evil Appelaxian aliens. Many of his subsequent adventures would include prominent team-ups with the Flash, and his close friend, Green Arrow.

After the Anti-Monitor was defeated, Jordan was responsible for establishing a strong Green Lantern presence on Earth during the absence of the Guardians. He captained members that included his alternates; John Stewart and Guy Gardner, and alien recruits; Kilowog, Arisia, Salakk, Katma Tui, and Ch'p.

Jordan's continued battle with his arch-rival Sinestro comes to an end when, after escaping inprisonment, the villain used his enhanced powers to commit multiple acts of genocide. Sinestro's punishment ultimately left him entrapped in the central battery on Oa, where he made the startling discovery that the famous yellow weakness of the Lanterns was a result of an impurity affected by another imprisoned entity called Parallax. The fear entity was able to possess Jordan when he entered the battery to defeat his nemesis, who had stemmed the flow of energy to the Corps.

When Mongul and the Cyborg Superman destroyed Coast City in an effort to recreate the War World, they awakened the sleeper within Jordan, allowing him to be seduced to extreme measures by the Parallax creature. The transformation led Hal Jordan to follow in Sinestro's footsteps once more, this time becoming the greatest threat they had ever known. After rampaging on Oa to absorb the full power of the Lantern Corps he left a single inheritant, the last Lantern, Kyle Rayner. When the Sun-Eater devoured Earth's sun, Jordan used his fantastic powers in a final act of redemption, overcoming Parallax to reignite the star.

In death, Hal Jordan's journey continued when he was grafted to God's wrath as the balancing human host of The Spectre. At odds with the vengeful entity, Jordan earned his resurrection, and the resurrection of the entire Corps, when Sinestro and Parallax revealed themselves to the universe. With time, Jordan was absolved in the eyes of Earth, and resumed his career as one of the greatest the Corps had ever seen, free of the evil influence and impurity of Parallax.

When Worlds Collide...
On a far off planet, the Green Lantern discovers a pyramid emerging with energies similar to those detected by Batman in the MK Universe. News of the pyramid travels to Sinestro who leads his Yellow Lanterns to the planet in an effort to aquire the prize within. The Green Lanterns know only that they must stop their evil counterparts at any cost.

This is probably my favourite ending of all on offer.
The Sinestro Corps War was such an exciting piece of the on-going Green Lantern revamp, it's a joy to see it utilized in a game that otherwise takes a shallow dip into the DCU. Of all the endings it's the one that casts the fullest illusion, I think, raising connotations of the Edenian pyramid that precipitates the events of MK: Armageddon. It's the only ending that supplys an environmental circumstance for a potential sequel, which could make for a very interesting platform upon which the other endings could be fulfilled. Great image, too.

Allies: John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Ganthet, Green Arrow, Flash
Enemies: Sinestro, Parallax, Star Sapphire, Cyborg Superman, Atrocitus

Wonder Woman (Good)
First Appearance: [All Star Comics #8]
Year One: [1941] Group Affiliation: [Justice League]
2008 Rank: [#11] Cumulative Rank: [#20]
Win Percentage: [50%] Our Odds: [90%]

Translation: Kitana if she could man-up, drape herself in an Edenian flag, and actually kick some Shao Kahn punk-ass butt! Whoooo!

Secret Origins...
Commanded by the Greek gods to carve a child from clay; the Amazonian Queen, Hippolyta, bore witness to the animation of this child as her daughter, Diana.
The child was enchanted with abilities comaprable to those of the gods themselves; fantastic speed, strength, agility, and endurance. With the teachings of Gaea and the peaceful Amazon warriors to guide her, Princess Diana grew to be their greatest champion, as powerful as she was gentle.

When the Princess was of age she was the natural choice of the warrior women of Themyscira to carry their message of of peace and harmony to the world of man.
There, she served not only as a diplomat, but as a founding member of the Justice League whose legend grew to be one of the greatest heroes on Earth.

Konquests & Mythologies...
Throughout her career Wonder Woman finds herself at odds with the sinister forces of the Greek pantheon, while also battling evils from the world of man.

In recent times Wonder Woman's methods had become increasingly violent as her struggles became further distanced from an original mission of spreading peace. With former Justice League ally, Maxwell Lord, revealing himself as a mastermind of betrayal with the corrupted Checkmate organization; Wonder Woman engages in her most public act of violence -- snapping Lord's neck in order to free Superman from a murderous rampage caused by mind-control.

Her act caused further distrust within a JLA torn asunder by the secret manipulations of it's enemies and members in the past. Wonder Woman is able to unite the team, however, at the crucial moment, rallying Supermen from multiple Earths to battle the reality-altering villain, Alexander Luthor Jr.

Exonerated for the execution of Lord, Wonder Woman is forced to turn against her own mother and Amazon sisters when they launch an attack of retribution on Washington DC. All ends well, but the manipulations of Granny Goodness eventually trickle into Darkseid's unleashing of the Anti-Life Equation which strips Wonder Woman of many of her enchantments, and reduces her to a mindless stalker under the fallen New Gods' power, dedicated to hunting her allies, Barry Allen and Wally West, as one of the Female Furies.

When Worlds Collide...
With the defeat of Dark Kahn and the restoring of realms, Wonder Woman returns to Themyscira to discover strange artifacts strewn across the island. Mysterious weapons from the other world, pulsing with energy, become new pieces of her arsenal, enhancing her powers beyond even the gods.

Wonder Woman really feels inconsequential in this game, which strikes me as a shame. We talked a little bit about her role in the comics landscape previously [DC Universe 0] and the disappointments of MKvsDC's story, but even the artwork seems strangely lacking. The portrait render and in-game build feel awkward and unglamorous, vaguely reminiscent of George Perez' work, but lacking even the presence he gave to the character. One wonders if the design choice was enforced by DC, or if it was the intent of the MK team to go traditional by choice, or by lazy default. A more impressive choice might have been the well known armored skirt version. Something that is in keeping with the character, the MK universe, the story situations, and a little more elaborate than the bodysuit.

The ending appears to include iconic weapons introduced in recent games.
The sword is like Datusha, the mystic kriss blade used by Ashrah to slay demons and vampires; the shield is a reference to the Deadly Alliance of Quan Chi and Shang Tsung; and the amulet, presumably, is the mcguffin that's floated through the games since MK4, exchanging hands from Sub-Zero, Shinnok, Quan Chi, and iconically, Onaga. Another nice piece of cross pollonation in the arcade endings, but a little on the inconsequential side, for my tastes.

Should a sequel eventuate, it would be fantastic to see the warrior Amazon out in full force. A superior story that grants character-driven spotlight to the key figures would no doubt benefit the hero. What many neophytes will not have fully appreciated in the build-up to the game is the similarity between the two worlds which explicitly dwell on the subject of man's interaction with gods.

Wonder Woman sits at the convergence of ideas, representing similar lofty ideals to Superman, when positioned next to mortal parables, like Batman. This sits as a general argument in favour of the unlikely meeting of the two brands, but speaks in particular to an Amazon warrior blessed by the gods.

Allies: Superman, Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, Aquaman
Enemies: Cheetah, Giganta, Ares, Genocide

Deathstroke (Evil)
First Appearance: [New Teen Titans #2]
Year One: [1980] Group Affiliation: [The Society]
2008 Rank: [#294] Cumulative Rank: [#203]
Win Percentage: [33.33%] Our Odds: [55%]

Translation: Kenshi with military training and upgrades that enhance his abilities even further to include wearing silly boots!

Secret Origins...
Slade Wilson submitted himself to a series of military experiments that enhanced his body and brain capacity in ways that far exceeded any mere soldier. With these enhancements he quit the military to become the assassin-for-hire, Deathstroke the Terminator. With his thought process, reflexes, coordination, and healing all excelerated by his increased brain capacity, he quickly became one of the world's greatest mercenaries.

Eventually it would be his family who would become the target of unsavory forces, resulting in the near murder of his son. Driven by grief, Wilson's wife made an attempt on his life, succeeding only in costing the fast-reacting fighter the function of his right eye. The wound proves almost inconsequential as Deathstroke renews his career as a mercenary estranged from his family.

Konquests & Mythologies...
When Deathstroke refused a contract from HIVE, they enhanced his second son, Grant, creating a mercenary in his image called Ravager. HIVE's enhancements proved fatal for the young man, leading Deathstroke to resume his contract against the Teen Titans. Using a young metahuman called Terra, Wilson succeeds in infiltrating the Titans, causing them to come unstuck from within. It is the intervention of his first son, Joseph, that leads to another defeat for the killer.

During his son's tenure with the group Deathstroke walks a fine-line between nemesis and ally, occasionally aiding the group in times of need. When his son became possessed by corrupted souls from the dimension Azarath, it was Deathstroke who rescued the team, forced to slay his own son to free him.

Wilson's vendetta with the group continues with varying regularity, while his mercenary duties brings him into conflict with new enemies, most prominently the likes of Batman, Green Arrow, and other heroes of the Justice League.
When the recurring Titans villain, Dr. Arthur Light, became a suspect in the murder of Sue Dibny, he employed Deathstroke as a protector from the League's secret wrath. When Deathstroke proved able to incapacitate a group of JLA heroes, Light unlocked memories lost when the League had secretly employed the powers of Zatanna to alter his mental faculties and knowledge of the group.

The revelation that the JLA had tampered with the minds of many foes led to a renewed unity amongst the criminal community. Deathstroke joins as a prominent member when Alexander Luthor Jr officially forms the Society as part of his plan to manipulate forces to his whim, and galvanize the dark forces of the DCU.
Though Luthor's plans are dismantled, Wilson continues to affiliate with the other villains, becoming a part of the real Lex Luthor's Injustice League who were stranded briefly on another planet called Salvation.

Wilson also founding his own group of dark Titans to oppose his resurrected son, Joseph, and turncoat daughter, the new Ravager. When Libra assumes control of the Society, Deathstroke and his villainous Titans become members of Darkseid's infinite army of free-thinking loyalists.

When Worlds Collide...
Having encountered powerful assassins during the world merger, Deathstroke returns to life after the defeat of Dark Kahn with a new sense of caution. In an effort to maintain his stock as an assassin he founds a new group of warriors shaped in his image. As the Grandmaster of the Deathstrike Clan, few will dare to challenge the Terminator.

While not particularly involving as an ending, I have to admit that I'm quite fond of the idea of a Deathstroke clan. It wouldn't be the first time Slade Wilson has trained assassins wearing his colours! The artwork seems to suggest either a collective built from various powered warriors baring similarity to fighters from either universe. Nice enough, but if we were to think in terms of an MKvsDC sequel, I'm not sure we really need more colourful characters dressed alike.

Allies: Ravager, Libra, Inertia, Batgirl
Enemies: Green Arrow, Batman, Nightwing, Catwoman, Deadshot, Teen Titans

Lex Luthor (Evil)
First Appearance: [Action Comics #23]
Year One: [1940] Group Affiliation: [Injustice League]
2008 Rank: [#110] Cumulative Rank: [#262]
Win Percentage: [33.33%] Our Odds: [65%]

Translation: Reshaping the world in his image and massive ego are all the hallmarks of what drives the villain called Sektor!

Secret Origins...
As the son of Metropolis corporate mogul, Lionel Luthor, a young Lex grew up in the shadow of his demanding father. Forced to spend his formative years in the care of his aunt in the Kansas township of Smallville; Lex developed little more than a resentment for the smalltown values that embodied his home.

One of the most brilliant minds in the world, Lex returned to Metropolis to use his genius to amass a fortune of his own. Publicly he would maintain status and adoration as a man responsible for developing Metropolis into a city of tomorrow, but privately he harbored deep resentment for the city's famous alien protector.
As his interactions with the Superman became increasingly frequent, so did his silent cursing of the hero, until his resentment became one of the greatest drives for his existence. So, the true Lex Luthor was unleashed upon the world.

Konquests & Mythologies...
Obsessed with undermining and destroying Superman and everything his legacy stands for - Luthor is responsible for unleashing evils on the world that include versions of Metallo, the Bizarro Superman, and even the artificial intelligence, Brainiac. While each new threat would provide a new obstacle for the Man of Steel, it is always Superman who emerges victorious over his vile counterpart.

After developing cancer due to prolonged exposure to Kryptonite, an unremorseful Luthor finds various ways to avoid death, eventually selling his soul to the devil, Neron, in exchange for renewed health and a vibrant body. The gambit enables Luthor to free himself of all previous criminal charges by shifting the blame to an imaginary clone that had infact been himself. With his record cleaned, Luthor was able to run for President of the United States, which he did so successfully on a platform of modernization and technological progress for America.

For a time Luthor was successful in maintaining his position of control over the fiercely loyal Superman, but when unrest within the superhero community provokes an attempt to unseat Luthor by force, they uncover a plot to frame Superman for the arrival of a Kryptonite asteroid. Batman and Captain Atom are able to prevent the destruction and force Luthor to resort to more desperate methods, including using a mutant strain of the venom serum (used by Bane) and Apokoliptian weaponly traded from Darkseid. The resulting insanity from the super-drug finally forces Luthor to flee the White House.

Luthor remained underground where he took the alias Mockingbird in an effort to rally six outsiders who refused offers into the Society from Alexander Luthor Jr, who had disguised himself as Lex. Led by Deadshot and Catman, Luthor's Secret Six succeeded in striking critical blows to the Society's efforts. When the threat to reality subsided and the Joker had killed Alexander Jr, Luthor was again able to manipulate events to exonerate himself of his recent crimes. Though no longer President, he was free to embark on new enterprises with LexCorps, free from a degree of unwanted public scrutiny.

With Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman absent after the Crisis; Luthor's Everyman Project is formed to unlock the secrets of superpowers in ordinary humans, creating a potential new wave of protectors for America. In truth, Luthor seeks to embue himself with powers that rival Superman's, using the procedure to create henchman such as a new Blockbuster, while encoding a deactivation into most heroes baring the artificial meta-gene. The plot is exposed by John Henry Irons, but Luthor escapes legal ramifications, even though his reputation is once again muddied.

Renewing his vendetta with Superman, Luthor forms the Injustice League with Cheetah and Joker, before being trapped on another planet along with other criminal elements. He succeeds in transporting the villains back to Earth where Libra eventually assumes control of the villain community, to Luthor's objection.

When Worlds Collide...
Using data stolen from the US Special Forces of Earthrealm; Lex Luthor is able to design his own personal portal to the other worlds of the MK Universe. In doing so he encounters the free roaming necromancer, Quan Chi. The pair combine to form a new deadly alliance to threaten and manipulate both worlds.

Having made substantial appearances throughout the game plot, endings like this really brings home how surprising it is Quan Chi did not make it into the game as a playable character. Despite ascending to a prominent role within the franchise, Quan Chi represents negatives seemingly at odds as both a character taunted before those disatisfied with a meagre eleven-a-side roster, and also those who would've appreciated a wider array of guest spots in the story mode.

The ending recalls the alliance between Quan Chi and Shang Tsung in 2002's hit revival of the franchise, Deadly Alliance. If Quan Chi wasn't already demanded in a potential sequel that would be required to fulfill the numbers not seen here -- an ending like this secures it! As with many others, it's a fairly shallow conclusion even by fighting game standards, but the imagined potential is appreciated.

Allies: NA
Enemies: Superman, Batman, Steel, Alexander Luthor Jr

Darkseid (Evil)
First Appearance: [Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134]
Year One: [1970] Group Affiliation: [Dark Side Club]
2008 Rank: [#103] Cumulative Rank: [#201]
Win Percentage: [25%] Our Odds: [75%]

Translation: Lives in a nightmarish world merged with a paradise and spends his time plotting Earth's destruction from afar. A match made in heaven for Shao Kahn!

Secret Origins...
Emerging from a war of old gods, the planets Apokolips and New Genesis came to be inhabited by poweful new entities -- the New Gods! Originally born Uxas, the New God called Darkseid was the son of Yuga Khan and Queen Heggra. The ambitious overlord of darkness claimed for himself the fabled Omega Effect and in doing so became the ruler of the planet Apokolips.

As tensions between the two worlds grew, even Darkseid was forced to acknowledge a pact would need to be made to avoid the destruction felt by their predecessors. Thus, the sons of Darkseid and the Highfather were exchanged, to be raised by the other as a sign of treaty. Orion, Darkseid's traded son, would eventually rise to become one of his greatest adversaries, channelling his inherent rage through the teachings learned with the New Genesis warriors.

As a stalemate of war renewed between the twin worlds, Darkseid turns his attentions to the distant world of Earth, where he believes the secrets of the Anti-Life Equation can be unlocked, and a fifth world will be born.

Konquests & Mythologies...
Darkseid's evil brings him into regular confrontation with Earth's mightiest heroes. Attempts to corrupt, destroy, or undermine the members of the Justice League constantly result in defeat, despite the overwhelming powers at the disposal of Apokolips' dark ruler. His greatest defeat seemingly came at the hands of Superman, when, after using both he and a mind-controlled Supergirl, Darkseid was tossed into the inferno of the sun, before being hurled into the stasis of the Source Wall.

Superman is ultimately forced to free Darkseid from the Wall when the timeline becomes corrupted by interfering cosmic forces. Freed, Darkseid reacquires the powers lost to him, and renews his focus on using Earth to birth an end to freewill and thriving life in the universe. His most recent plot begins with the corruption of heroes, such as Mary Marvel, and the final death of the New Gods.

Though a confrontation with the last survivor of their kind, Orion, seemingly resulted in Darkseid's prophecized death, it ultimately played directly into the despot's hands as he marshalled his forces on Earth as a mortal. Utilizing humanity's dwindling subconcious, Darkseid disperses pieces of the Anti-Life Equation across the planet, bringing about a reign of darkness that spares few.

With many of Earth's greatest champions enslaved, defeated, or missing; only the likes of the Flash, both Wally West and a returned Barry Allen, stand between Darkseid and total annihilation of Earth as we know it.
The conclusion of this final crisis remains unknown.

When Worlds Collide...
Imprisoned in the Netherealm after his merged-self's defeat, Darkseid's powers were dramatically diminished. Knowing this, the sorcerer Shang Tsung attempts to take advantage, seeking the soul of the fallen New God. Darkseid proved powerful enough, however, to reverse the draining effects of Tsung's dark magic, reducing the sorcerer to an aged and withered state. Darkseid spares his life, as Tsung pledges allegiance to Darkseid, who easily breaks free of his shackles.

Echoing familiar scenes like Nightwolf's attempts to bind a defeated Dragon King to the Netherealm (in Deception), this strikes me as a fairly standard result for an arch-villain like Darkseid. Conventional wisdom might suggest an MKvsDC sequel should avoid retreading ground from the first, but these arcade endings all strike me as so cohesively plausible, that it would be a shame to let any detail go unreprised. Shang Tsung may not appear withered in other conclusions, but I see no reason a simple stitching couldn't tie this ending together with the amassing of a new army -- Shazam powered Tarkatans -- as described in Tsung's own ending.

While DC's were much less interesting than the MK endings, the collective paint a very interesting alternate universe landscape. While disappointing that MK remains financially bound to still pictures and narrated text, these arcade endings emerge as an unlikely positive in a game that underperforms in so many respects. With breaking news that majority stock in the ailing parent company, Midway, have been sold, there seems to be a possibility MKvsDC will be the last the company produces, apparently not successful enough to sway investors heavily in debt.

Mark Thomas - mysterious representative of a generic aquisitions firm - seems likely to slice n' dice what he can to recoup a profit from his $100k investment in millions of dollars of debt. Exactly who would be likely to buy MK - and what they would do with it - remains a guessing game for fans.

While not terribly remarkable as a finished product; MKvsDC has stirred some renewed interest in the franchise. This might not be enough to resurrect Midway from it's million dollar grave, but there's every chance it has maintained the value of the MK brand enough to ensure it's future, even at another company.

We'll be watching developments!

Allies: Desaad, Libra, Kalibak, Granny Goodness
Enemies: Orion, Superman, Mr. Miracle, Flash, Wonder Woman, Atom

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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, dark kahn, bonus one, two, three, & four, MK Final Playable Cast!