Adapting Mortal Kombat, a fighting game known for its spine-ripping fatalities, into comic book form seems like it could be an easy sell. After all, who doesn't love bloody, over-the-top martial arts mixed with a story of alternate dimensions, demons and ancient gods? It's a perfect fit for the comic book medium and provides the perfect excuse for some striking art.
Whereas issue one of the digital-first Mortal Kombat X series managed to deliver on the gory battles and iconic characters fans expect from a comic with the Mortal Kombat name, issue two pushes in a different direction by focusing on Kenshi's son Takeda and a new character named Fox in the first part of an arc titled "Scorpion's Apprentice."
Kenshi's son has been taken under Scorpion's wing and is training with the fellow assassins at Scorpion's Shirai Ryu temple. Readers are treated to a flashback of the two boys sparring in a spread that invokes the 2D fighting game heritage of the series, with Scorpion (or Hanzo, as he is referred to in the book) serving as the fight announcer. Skip forward a few years and Takeda is still being beaten by Fox, despite Takeda having the necessary skills and speed to turn the tables on his opponent.
Hanzo isn't pleased by this and is on edge thanks to a surprise visit from the Thunder God, Raiden. It seems Hanzo and Raiden don't get along well, but nonetheless he heeds Raiden's advice when the god says a demon has slipped into Earth Realm.
It soon becomes clear that Fox isn't his usual self. I won't ruin the terrifying surprise at the end of the issue, but this issue is definitely building towards the introduction of a new threat for Mortal Kombat's champions.
Compared to last issue, there wasn't much to identify this as a Mortal Kombat comic. Raiden does make a brief appearance and visually is one of the highlights of the book, with streaks of blue lightning arcing off his body, his eyes hidden under the brim of his hat. But besides that encounter, no other characters appear besides Scorpion's human self. Whereas last issue teased a brutal battle between Kano and Sub-Zero over a magical artifact, both characters are missing in action in this subsequent issue, yet the dagger is now housed in Scorpion's temple. I'm sure there are narrative reasons the creative team isn't outright showing how the dagger changed hands, but for the average reader is comes off as confusing. Hopefully some explanations are in store next issue.
The fallout of this issue looks to push Takeda and Scorpion closer. It's an interesting idea for Scorpion's character, and hopefully issue three will bring that "master and apprentice" relationship to the forefront and expand upon it. Hardcore fans will get a kick out of seeing some of the plot points for the game fall into place, but for those wishing for some actual "Kombat" in their Mortal Kombat comic, this issue doesn't deliver much.
Story
★★½☆☆☆
Art
★★★½☆☆
Overall
★★½☆☆☆
