When Mortal Kombat debuted in 1992 it was a big hit for developer Midway Games, and laid the groundwork for what would become a huge international franchise. The game pits competitors in one on one matches where they fight to the death for the victory of their realm. As the latest movie adaptation fights for supremacy at the box office, we are diving into the world of Mortal Kombat.

Mortal Kombat is set in a universe occupied by several realms that were created by Elder Gods. The realms in the game franchise are Earthrealm (modern Earth), Outworld (a realm of constant conflict), Netherrealm (home to the scariest demons), Edenia (a place of art and beauty), the Realm of Chaos, and Seido (the Realm of Order). The Elder Gods created a rule that one realm could only conquer another realm if the realm could defeat the other in ten consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments.

Earthrealm is home to fighters like Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Jax, and Kung Lao, who are guided by Raiden, the Thunder God. Outworld is a dark realm ruled by Emperor Shao Kahn with fighters like the Sorcerer Shang Tsung and Goro. Additional key characters from across the realms are Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Kitana, Mileena, Kano, Jade, Reptile, and Mileena.

All of the players have shared moves like high and low punches or kicks, the ability to jump, duck, block, or sweep an opponents leg out from under them. additionally, each player has signature moves, and finishing moves they can do by hitting a combination of buttons.

When the first Mortal Kombat game was released, the hyperviolent, bloody fights that ended in gory finishing moves delighted players, but courted controversy. Some critics and watchdogs were displeased by the level of violence and claimed that parents were not given enough warning about the content. As a result, Mortal Kombat was one of the titles that prompted the creation of the video game rating system by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

The video game franchise has grown to over two dozen titles with recent editions including characters from other properties. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe featured heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman; other games showcased comic characters like Spawn, Homelander, and Omni-Man; horror villains including Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Ghostface; and other movie characters like the Predator, RoboCop, and the Terminator.

There have been multiple Mortal Kombat comics that goes back to 1992 when Malibu released Mortal Kombat Collector’s Edition. Malibu published limited series, one-shots, and trades through 1995, including the seven-issue Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder, the Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition one-shot, and books focused on specific characters like Goro, Kitana and Mileena, Kung Lao, and Baraka. DC picked up the license in 2008, starting with the Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe trade paperback, the 12-issue Mortal Kombat X in 2015, and the Mortal Kombat: Onslaught trade in 2023.

The first Mortal Kombat movie came out in 1995, followed by the direct sequel, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, in ’97. The new live-action movie franchise began in 2021, which introduced new character Cole Young. There have been several animated movies, starting with Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins and most recently with 2023’s Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match.