Marvel Characters in Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat 1 is out and is the current hottest game!  Everything gamers expect Neatherrealms to do to exceed their last game is apparent.  And that’s without a single DLC character release, something that is a huge staple of Neatherrealms games.  Speaking of games, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is on the horizon with big ambitions and anticipation.  With new features, mechanics, and gameplay, the game is already set up to be something huge.  But with these two games coming out in back-to-back months, it opens up a question that will perhaps never be truly answered; if Neatherrealms had legal access to Marvel characters, which ones will best fit Mortal Kombat?  Marvel has a huge roster of heroes and villains, and although many have received a more tamed approach, others have existed in, or came from, a violent side of the Marvel Universe.  Backgrounds tailored made for Mortal Kombat.  So, which characters will fit best?

Wolverine has violent tendencies.  A man whose most recognized ability is using metal claws and goes into something called a Berserker Rage must have violent tendencies.  Films such as Logan and video games like the X-Men Origins: Wolverine tie-in game show that Wolverine does not shy away from spilling large amounts of blood to get what he needs and what he wants.  Even in the tamer films and shows, Wolverine still displays that violent rage he has become synonymous with.  There is no hiding it.  As much Wolverine tries to move away from that life, something pulls him back in, and it seems each time he does, he ramps up the brutality.  And why shouldn’t he? His greatest weapons are, in a sense, indestructible knives, and he should use them to their fullest intent when the worst of the worst unfolds.  Plus, with his super healing, he takes to heart the phrase ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.’  Very little could kill Wolverine, so that makes him a formidable foe for anyone.  Mix in nigh invulnerability and animalistic violence, and someone who embraces that violent side when it is necessary, Wolverine is a perfect guest character for Mortal Kombat.

Carnage is also a character that simply looks like he belongs in Mortal Kombat.  For a franchise that makes demonic creatures, embracing Carnage will perhaps be an absolute gift.  Carnage himself looks like a tormenter of hell.  Much like every other villain, Carnage uses his deranged abilities for the utmost of self-gain.  He himself is a monster outside of his fusion with his own symbiote.  As a Cletus Cassidy, he was a serial killer fated to receive the death penalty.  Then dark destiny fused an evolved symbiote into his blood, making his abilities that much more sinister.  Once in full Carnage mode, he uses the symbiote to harden the liquid-like state of the symbiote to sharp, razored weapons.  Each one with a true bloody aesthetic.  Something the Neatherrealms team is familiar with since they have Skarlett in their roster.  And since he is deranged, brutal, and savage, his play style will have to reflect that.  Again, gameplay Neatherrealms is familiar with by having Mileena, Reptile, and even Alien in their games. Whether it’s death or chaos he causes, Carnage laughs at other’s torment.  It seems nearly every aspect that makes Carnage the character audiences love, Neatherrealms has experience with it.  It would make sense for Carnage to be one of the first characters Neatherrealms should look at.

Of course, there is Punisher.  Although, over the years, he has been quarreled, that won’t change his history in Marvel and his impression on fans.  The Punisher is the best definition of an anti-hero.  He seeks to do the worst things to the worst people.  His training and experience in the military guide him in his violent crusade to permanently put down his opponents.  Various firearms, explosives, and bladed weaponry are all part of the Punisher’s arsenal.  This is a mortal man who is literally too angry, too hellbent to die.  He’ll complete his mission and then think about succumbing to his wounds.  His tenacity alone is an intimidating superpower. The Punisher was essentially John Wick become John Wick become John Wick.  As long as there is a treat that The Punisher deems antagonistic, he will go after them, be it a lighting god, a demonic ninja, or an evil sorcerer.  And overkill seems to be a low bar for The Punisher to cross.  For him, punishment does not fit the crime because he goes ballistic in his attempts to take out his targets.  He goes for the most over-the-top finisher to force his target to feel all the pain they caused themselves and to send a message to anyone else.  Plus, hurting him seems to drive him more, makes him hungrier to get the person he wants.  The Punisher is a man that wants all the smoke.

But the top choice is the merc with a mouth, Deadpool himself.  Of all the Marvel characters that Neatherrealms could get their hands on, Deadpool is the most perfect.  He is tailor-made for Mortal Kombat.  He is adept in close-quarter combat, firearms, and explosives.  Has military training and has healing abilities that rivals, that may even surpass, Wolverine’s own.  And even though he is an anti-hero who does really bad things to really bad people, he relishes in it.  The dude enjoys it.  Smiles, laughs, jokes as he is slicing people’s ribcage to ribcage.  Being mouthy and immune to so many attacks, Deadpool is not afraid to attack or be attacked by anyone.  No matter how hard he is being attacked, he always finds joy in it.  And always finds the right words to get under people’s skin.  In addition, there is an ability that he has that other characters in Mortal Kombat characters don’t have.  That’s his fourth wall break.  The only other character that comes close is Johnny Cage but Deadpool far surpasses him. Capcom did a good job of capitalizing on this by having him use the health bar as a weapon.  Neatherrealms has shown that they could pull of great things for their guest characters, so what they could do with Deadpool’s ability to break the fourth wall is a rabbit hole.  If Johnny Cage and Kano had a baby, it’ll be close to Deadpool.

Obviously, those characters are just the tip of the iceberg.  Blade, Ghost Rider, Venom, and Moon Knight could all make a case.  But the characters listed have reigned supreme in the more violent stories for Marvel.  Plus, there is a sturdy following for each of those characters that still want to see their favorite portrayed outside of the books and do it faithfully and respectfully.  What Neatherrealms has shown with each guest character, they treat them as one of their own.  The studio puts in the work to research the character, so every move is being respectful to the character.  Although this situation may never happen due to the nature of business, it won’t be hard for Neatherrealms to select vicious Marvel Characters.