Mortal Kombat 2020 is out. Reception is mixed at best but even I can’t deny that the movie has so many video game nods that I chuckled more than a few times.
As a millennial who played both the first and second Mortal Kombat in arcades before purchasing both on Sega’s Genesis, performing the ABACABB blood code in MK1 (recalled here from memory). I moved on to MK 3 and ultimate MK3 on the SNES. Then MK Trilogy on the N64 and despite how negatively it’s talked about nowadays MK4 was crazy fun and those 3d fatalities were mind-blowing! The unreal tournament’s early 2000’s forums alongside ‘goodbags’, the announcement of MK5, its evolution into Deadly alliance, the excellence of unlocking the Krypt, MK Deception, MK Konquest, Midway’s bankruptcy, etc.
It has been a wild ride to be an MK fan experiencing the phenomenon in real-time. Once the series started skipping Nintendo platforms I kept up to speed via youtube and now thanks to the Switch I’m back with MK11, (which I recommend for the story but the microtransactions potentially mean I’m done with the series as a video game).
I am pleased with Mortal Kombat 2020, was I expecting a Grammy winner? Nope!
I was hoping for better than Mk Annihilation…
That I did get!
To celebrate the diversity of the series I’m counting down my favorite Black characters from the series to date!
FIGHT!
- Cyrax
Cyrax is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, who made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3.
Making his debut in Mortal Kombat 3, Cyrax was one of the three cybernetic ninjas created by the Lin Kuei, in an effort to convert all members into unfeeling, cold-hearted, cybernetic assassins to improve their performance. Of all the three cyborgs, Cyrax appears to be specialized in Hand-to-Hand Combat. He was assigned to hunt down the renegade, former Lin Kuei member Sub-Zero as designated unit LK-4D4. Of the three cyborgs, he has become the first to recover his humanity. This is due to the efforts made by Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs. He has currently allied with them as a token of his appreciation. In the alternate timeline of MK 2011, he was automated and dutifully serves the Lin Kuei, but was visibly opposed to the process before being presumably automated against his will.
- Jade
Jade first appeared as a secret, unplayable character in Mortal Kombat II, and made her official debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
Jade is a childhood friend of Princess Kitana. While her motives were unclear, she served Shao Kahn alongside Kitana and Mileena as his personal assassin for most of her life. When Kitana finally turned against Shao Kahn, Jade was ordered to capture her for the Emperor. She ultimately chose to join her friend and has since loyally assisted Kitana in her quest to free their native realm and restore its original beauty.
- Jax
Major Jackson “Jax” Briggs (U.S.A.) is a cybernetically-enhanced soldier who is the leader of the Outer World Investigation Agency (O.I.A.), Earthrealm’s Special Forces unit, in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat II.
Jax made his debut in Mortal Kombat II. He is portrayed as an archetypal African American hero. In the Special Forces’ chain of command, he is Sonya Blade’s direct superior and the catalyzing force of Sonya’s impulsiveness. Jax is clear-headed, careful and always keeping a watch on what his men are doing. When the need arises, he is a beast on the battlefield with the attitude and ferocity of a lion. He unscrupulously makes use of the most advanced technology to improve both himself and his unit. He is responsible for the crime lord Kano’s disfigurement, forcing him to wear a metal plate over a portion of his face. Jax is the father of Jacqui and was against her joining the Special Forces, believing she only joined due to his legacy.
- Vorpax
Vorpax is an original character for the television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest, performed by actress Tracy Douglas. Also known as Princess Vorpax, she is the daughter of Queen Kreeya, a wise and powerful empress of an ancient race of warrior women known as the Kreeyans.
Vorpax is a beautiful, sly woman acquainted with many secrets of the realms, having been imprisoned within the Cobalt Mines of Shokan years ago for deception of both herself and others. She commands formidable acrobatic martial arts abilities, but no supernatural powers
- Jax (1997)
In the movie, Jax is recruited by Sonya Blade to fight against the forces of evil who were invading Earth.
When Sonya finds Jax, he is getting his cybernetic strength-enhanced arms. He was portrayed by Lynn “Red” Williams in the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
- Tanya
Tanya is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. She made her debut in Mortal Kombat 4.
Tanya is a dark-skinned slender, gloomy woman from Edenia. Originally introduced as an ostensible innocent, she was quickly revealed to be corrupted by evil, a worshiper of Shinnok and an ally to the Brotherhood of Shadow. After Shinnok’s defeat, she later served Shao Kahn, the Deadly Alliance, and Onaga. Tanya seems to view herself as a survivor more than anything else, justifying her choices as being the “right decisions”. She is one of the few henchwomen from the Mortal Kombat series and prides herself on her superior knowledge of magic and diplomacy. Because of her frequent betrayal of the Edenian cause, she has earned the rivalry and bitter hatred of Jade.
- Jacqui Briggs
Jacqueline Sonya “Jacqui” Briggs made her first appearance in the Mortal Kombat X comic series and her playable debut in Mortal Kombat X. She is the daughter of Jax.
A close friend to Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs is the daughter of Jackson Briggs and Vera Briggs. After Jax was resurrected from being one of Quan Chi’s slaves during the Netherrealm War, he became overly protective of Jacqui and wanted her to live a normal life. At some point, Jacqui became a professional kickboxer and eventually competed in the Junior Olympics and enlisted in a training camp.
- Darrius
Darrius is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat: Deception.
Originating from the Realm of Order, Darrius is an ambitious and unscrupulous man whose intricate schemes further his own ambitions. To his followers, as well as to the patriots of Seido, he is a revolutionary and visionary. To his foes and other people, he is a terrorist. He is most known for the massive riots he starts in Orderrealm.
- Fox
Fox like all of the reformed Shirai Ryu under Scorpion after his rebirth is a sole survivor of his family. In the mountains of the Himalayan mountains alongside other orphans he was trained under Scorpion to become a skilled ninja. He was the first friend that Takeda, son of blind swordsman Kenshi made upon arriving at the compound.
Massacring the entire clan he took Takeda hostage and tortured Scorpion in the hope of having his wraith personality come to the fore.
- Art Lean
Art Lean is a character in the film Mortal Kombat. He is an Earthrealm fighter and meets Johnny Cage in the movie on the dock while he and the other Earthrealm warriors wait to board the boat to the tournament.
He is one of the few people who believe in the authenticity of Johnny Cage’s martial arts. After Cage mentions seeing Lean fight in London and being impressed by his skills, Lean replies “I saw a couple of your films. Listen, you can’t fake those moves.” Cage, smirking, mentions that he should tell that to the press. he is slain by Goro in battle, and his soul becomes absorbed by Shang Tsung.
- Qali
Qali was an Edenian who made only her appearances in the Mortal Kombat: Conquest episodes “The Essence” and The Festival of Death“.
Qali was very similar to the character Jade. Qali had been best friends with Princess Kitana for many years. According to Shao Kahn, Qali and Kitana had trained together as fighters. Prior to Shao Kahn’s successful conquest of Edenia, Qali’s family (with the likes of her brother) were slain by Shao Kahn’s army. Qali had seemingly remained “loyal” to Shao Kahn, as well as her friend Kitana who planned to bring hope in the process of restoring Edenia.
- Kai
He first appeared in Mortal Kombat 4 in 1997 and made his first comic book appearance in 1998.
Earth-born Kai was a member of the order of light a sect of Shaolin fighting monks to whom both Lui Kang and Kung Loa belong. He participated in the war against Shinnok and Quan Chi. AT the end of the war he was granted Raiden’s staff and wandered the earth to find his purpose. He later returned for Mortal Kombat Armageddon.
- Mileena
Half-Tarkatan and half-Edenian, Mileena is said to be both vicious and unpredictable. Fiercely loyal to her creator, her teleportation skills and duel sai blades both aid her in her service to him.
A clone of the princess Kitana, her only goal is to obliterate the champions of Earthrealm. Mileena is a character in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film. She is portrayed by Sisi Stringer.
- Jax Briggs
A Special Forces major, Jax Briggs bears the same dragon marking as Cole Young. He sends Young searching for Sonya Blade, which in turn ultimately leads him to the temple of Lord Raiden.
A natural-born protector, Jax Briggs has been working for ages to uncover the truth behind the mystery of Mortal Kombat. In his military service, he has done six tours of duty. He gained his dragon marking by killing a wanted fugitive during a mission in Brazil alongside Sonya Blade, one who had superhuman abilities. Major Jackson “Jax” Briggs is a character in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film. He is portrayed by Mehcad Brooks.
DIG DEEPER INTO MK2021 JAX HERE
- Jataaka
Jataaka is one of the sub-bosses in the Pyramid of Shinnok in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, and a member of the Brotherhood of Shadow. She is one of three assassins serving under Quan Chi and Shinnok, along with Sareena and Kia. They each protected a crystal which, when combined together, allowed access to a teleportation device that sent the elder Sub-Zero to Quan Chi’s throne room.
Judging from Sareena’s story, she also may be a demon from the Netherrealm, using Quan Chi’s magic to sustain her attractive human form. Jataaka fights using a laser sword from which she can fire blue bolts of energy. She was defeated by the elder Sub-Zero. Jataaka is played by Rachel Hebert in-game and by fitness instructor Erica Grace during the full-motion videos.
- The Fighting Monk
The Fighting Monk was an Outworld warrior and was the first opponent that Liu Kang had to fight in the Mortal Kombat movie in order to advance further into the tournament.
After he was defeated by Liu Kang, Shang Tsung took his soul, leaving behind only a pale dead body. The character was played by veteran martial artist and kick-boxing champion Hakim Alston.
- Sora
Sora (Renee Tenison) is an assassin in two episodes from 1998-1999 for the TV series “Mortal Kombat: Conquest”. She appeared in the episodes “Quan Chi” and “Flawed Victory”.
Sora is one of three beautiful loyal servants of Quan Chi, the other two being Siann (Dana Hee) a light-skinned brunette woman, and Mika (Jaime Pressly) a light-skinned blonde woman. They first appeared as lifeless corpses that were part of the Netherrealm. Quan Chi used his powers of sorcery to allow them to have a living form. The three were skilled fighters as well as masters of manipulation, and expert assassins. Despite their loyalty, Quan Chi often mistreated the three and threatened to return them to their previous states if they failed or betrayed him.
There you have it, my favorite Mortal Kombat black characters.
Did your favorite make the list?
Who are your top five Mortal Kombat black characters?
Sound off below!
That GoodBags character sounds like a real top guy
He was the greatest! and most memorable too 🙂