Klassic Raiden Pop Culture Shock Statue Pre-Order
The most electrifying god in Mortal Kombat gets a klassic statue - MKII Raiden!

He has watched over the Mortal Kombat tournament since it began - now the thunder god Raiden will join the battle on your shelf thanks to Pop Culture Shock Collectibes!

Lord Raiden is the latest addition to the Mortal Kombat Klassics statue line, recreating his fondly remembered Mortal Kombat II digitized design in deadly detail! Pre-orders begin January 19 (Monday), with standard and PCS exclusives to ship Q4, 2015!

Klassic Lord Raiden looms an impressive 27.5" (67cm), weighing in at 12lbs (5.4kg) of perfect polystone. This dangerously divine statue boasts an authentic cloth costume and sculpt by artist Jonathan Reilly that embellished the menacing grimace inspired by original in-game actor: Carlos Pesina.

Standard versions have a starting pre-order price tag of $345.00 (plus postage), with 10% discount incentives for full payment. This time around there are two electrifying exclusive variants!

Raiden EX is limited to 250 pieces, boasting light-up LED eyes and raised hand! The EX Player 2 variant is ultra rare at just 100 pieces, and features the EX light-up components with a limited edition red costume inspired by the original MKII arcade sprites [enlarge thumbnails below]!

Pop Culture Shock have been authentic high-end Mortal Kombat merchandise makers since 2011. The Klassics line-up also includes: Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Human Smoke, Mileena & Jade. The 1:4 series will soon launch with the first Mortal Kombat X statues, as well.

Register to find more product news and discussion on the Media & Merchandise forum! Enlighten your friends by liking and sharing stories via @MK_Online & Facebook.

UFC Fighter Felice Herrig Claims Cassie Cage Likeness
UFC Ultimate Fighter Contestant Claims Comparison to Cassie Cage

International kickboxing champion turned MMA pro Felice Herrig believes her likeness is the inspiration behind Mortal Kombat X newcomer: Cassie Cage. IGN reports the UFC Ultimate Fighter Season 20 contestant made her claim in a tweet this week, sharing photographic comparisons via Instagram.


"After thorough investigation I think it's safe to say #MortalKombatX definitely used my likeness for the video game character #cassiecage"

Herrig directed her claim to series co-creator and Creative Lead Ed Boon, but doesn't appear to regard the assumption with malice. She responds to one fan, "lol. Nah it's all good. It's kinda cool. Especially since I love Cosplay & now I know want I'm gunna be for Halloween." Rival gaming icon Cammy White (Street Fighter) has been a Herrig cosplay favorite in the past.

[Related Article: UFC Frankie Edgar - Mortal Kombat Better Than Street Fighter]

Cassie was one of the new characters unveiled during E3 2014, last June. She is the offspring of klassic kombatants Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, who were survivors of 2011 reboot storyline: Mortal Kombat. Since her debut, Cassie has been one of the less featured fighters, continuing to be a work in progress.

Interestingly; Cassie Cage will have a competitive mixed martial arts connection when she appears in the DC Comics tie-in series, written by Shawn Kittelsen. February solicitations reveal the second generation fighter finds herself in an illegal MMA deathmatch during issue #2.

In 2008. developers sparked wild speculation when they used modified MMA fighters as character stand-ins for Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe concept art.


Face Off: Cassie Cage vs Felice Herrig

Mortal Kombat Online isn't convinced the resemblance is strong enough to assert a "definite" likeness. Ironically, Herrig's choice of images don't make as strong a comparison as could be made. Even with a more generous line-up: key features (eyes, nose, hair) are notably different under scrutiny. Both are clearly kick ass blondes, but aside from superficial similarities, we have to say this one's a bust.

How do you think the two compare? Register to have your say on the Mortal Kombat X forum. Special thanks to User hotKira for sharing elements of this story.

Casper Van Dien Confirms Webseries Return
Prepare yourself! Casper Van Dien confirms return in third live-action webseries!

Mortal Kombat: Legacy II star Casper Van Dien has confirmed his return in the upcoming live-action webseries! He made it known via Facebook with a photo of the "Mortal Kombat 3" script.


"You Got Caged! #MORTALKOMBAT #ItHasBegun #GetOverHere"

The Johnny Cage actor began training at altitude last June, appearing in gym photos with Mark Dacascos (Kung Lao) in September. He joins fan-favourite Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Shang Tsung) in the social media teases. Tagawa - of Mortal Kombat: The Movie fame - begins filming Monday [full story].

With casting rumors tying the series tightly to Mortal Kombat X, the Legacy chronology of "Mortal Kombat 3" is believed to be a working title. A Warner Bros. representative could not be reached at the time of this article. Mortal Kombat Online will be following the story as it develops.

Register to follow and discuss all the webseries news on the Media & Merchandise forum! Found some interesting information? Submit a newslead! Special thanks to @KoriMaru for contributing a tip. Follow & share stories via @MK_Online & Facebook.

EXCLUSIVE: Mortal Kombat X #5 Cover Preview & Solicitation
Mortal Kombat Online Exclusive - First Look D'Vorah Comics Art!

Mortal Kombat X explodes onto home consoles this April, but before it does, you'll want to pick up Issue #5 of the top selling comic book tie-in series! Thanks to DC Comics, we're excited to present the exclusive first look at April's cover by Stephen Segovia! Check it out:


Click to Super-Size D'Vorah and her friends!

MORTAL KOMBAT X #5
Written by SHAWN KITTELSEN
Art by DEXTER SOY
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
On sale APRIL 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
DIGITAL FIRST • MATURE READERS

Scorpion and Takeda’s search for Sub-Zero leads them to find an entire city that’s been frozen solid! Meanwhile, Sonya and Johnny’s quest to rescue their daughter is interrupted by the Outworld Civil War – and a Shokan uprising led by Kintaro!

The Mortal Kombat X comic series is the prequel story to the upcoming Mortal Kombat X game, NetherRealm Studios’ next highly anticipated installment in its legendary, critically acclaimed fighting game franchise. The game will be available April 14, 2015.

Insect warrior D'Vorah adorns the cover, with the Outworld Civil War escalating on the interior! As an ally to temporary Outworld Emperor Kotal Kahn, we're sure to be seeing more of D'Vorah in the countdown to the video game release! Kahn may need the help after he battles Goro in February, with Kintaro joining the fray in issue #5!

Looking forward to issue #5? Register to share your anticipation on the Media & Merchandise forum! Find more MKX comics previews, reviews & purchase links in the MKO Comics Directory. Support the site by sharing this story around the web via @MK_Online & Facebook.

Review: Mortal Kombat X #1 Chapter 2
DC Comics introduce Takeda & Fox in Scorpion's Apprentice Part 1!

Mortal Kombat X comics are finally here and they're diving deep into the gap between Mortal Kombat (2011) and April's new generation sequel!

The following review covers the digital edition of Chapter Two and will contain spoilers! Readers should proceed to DC Entertainment to purchase and read the digital edition. You can also preview Chapter Two, or the full print issue #1.

If Chapter One raised issues of format and the strained mutual priorities of print and digital versions - Chapter Two responds with calm assurance. Where the first edition threw readers into an ill defined melting pot of familiar faces, carnage, and set up for further set ups - Chapter Two hunkers down for a more traditional piece of storytelling.

"Blood Ties" is the name given to the issue as a whole, but Chapter 2 begins the tale of Scorpion's Apprentice - leaving behind the vague swashbuckling of Kenshi to explore the next generation. This is a digital two-parter that will presumably resolve within the first print issue. Again; the average ratio is 3 digital chapters to 1 print edition. Something artist Dexter Soy seems acutely aware of, based on the evident equator in most of his print layouts [preview].

There are two young students vying for the titular apprenticeship. Takeda was introduced in the prologue of Chapter 1 as the offspring of blind sword saint turned special forces operative: Kenshi. The other is a slightly advanced Shirai Ryu warrior of unknown origin called Fox [first name Forrest, according to Warner Bros. sources] They're both new to the franchise, but we suspect Takeda will be the hero of the pair, drawing from the comic itself, and rumors of pending webseries involvement.

We have to join the chorus of fans who are already clamouring for Takeda & Fox's inclusion in the Mortal Kombat X video game. In this chapter alone, they're given the framework of characterization, rivalry, and motivation that makes for good fighting game characters. As unknown quantities, the pair also give the writing a much needed thrust of information.

This isn't a complicated read by any measure, but it has a forthcoming focus that Chapter 1 lacked, making better use of its pages by infusing them with greater meaning. The action is still center stage. As seen in previews, the junior battle between the pair is brutal - especially for the younger, less experienced Takeda. When the exercise is reprised many years later, the maturing Takeda pays Fox back for the broken nose he received as a child. Think 300 spartan agoge for your brand of juvenile brutality, rather than the cream puff hide & seek of The Hunger Games.

The violence reaches a crescendo in the final pages of the chapter, when Fox is assigned to protect Takeda. Unbeknownst to all involved, Fox has fallen under the influence of a powerful demon unleashed upon the Earth as a result of "The Netherrealm invasion". The result - another massacre for the once murdered Shirai Ryu clan by a now faceless Fox.

Fox cut the skin from his face using a Kamidogu dagger - something introduced in Chapter One, when Kano was compelled to do something similar [read more]. We still have no clear impression of who the demon is, or why the Kamidogu artefacts featured in Deception are now daggers. These seem like on-going mysteries we'll be happy to follow in future instalments! The demon is citing a blood code. We'll reserve expectations for a character named Abacabb, though.

More vexing are omnipresent references to Netherrealm conflict. We continue to presume they allude to the Shinnok led plot originally told in Mortal Kombat 4, and hinted at during the epilogue of 2011's reboot. Given that it's the basis for so much, it feels less reasonably serial, and more like missing information. It remains to be seen if the "Netherrealm War" is told in the game, comics, or both. Either way, it can't come soon enough to alleviate the burden of untold premise.

The information we do receive comes through Raiden. Artist Dexter Soy and colorist Veronica Gandini do a tremendous job of giving the thunder god a grand entrance! It's a dramatic, uniquely comic book take on the ominous protector. One that pays fitting homage to one of the series' most important characters. The writing doesn't shy away from Raiden's perceived failings in the 2011 story, noting the demise of heroes, but he's depicted as aloof, rather than frayed to the point of incompetence. [Special Note: We get our first sighting of 2011 survivors Johnny Cage & Sonya Blade with the reference to "fewer" heroes.]

Where Raiden comes off reasonably well, the voices of other characters don't quite hit. Kano's Australian dialogue felt suspect in Chapter 1, rigidly non-specific with one or two exceptions. Scorpion suffers under similarly non-specific dialogue choices, exhibiting no sense of ceremony, or Japanese ethnicity. There's something very strange about Scorpion asking about being 'audted' - but it may be symptomatic of a bigger friction.

Scorpion plays the stern taskmaster, throughout. It's the right kind of advancement of klassic characters, used well to ingratiate the new generation, but something rings false about Scorpion in such a visible role. It's clear the tortured spectre will return in the game. There's a definite lack of ceremony in his role as mentor that fails to sell the distinction. Again, character changing events in the untold Netherrealm War are unable to resolve the sense of discrepancy. It recalls an anecdote by film director Paul W. Anderson, who learned very quickly from test screenings of the 1995 Mortal Kombat film that fans expected certain things of iconic characters, Scorpion & Sub-Zero.

As noted - the digital chapter ends with the mass dismemberment of Shirai Ryu clansmen. Fans know this one of the original triggers for Hanzo Hasashi's transformation into a vengeful ninja spectre. We have to suspect this history repeating will play a role in returning Scorpion to a vengeful state. We'll be interested to see if a status quo returns a more familiar sense of voice in the character - preferably without soundbytes.

There's still a question about how the slice 'n' dice from print format to digital chapters affects the read. From just two chapters, there's a sense of anthology developing, but it's too early to establish expectations. What is clear is that Chapter 2 is a much better measure of this series than the first.

Mortal Kombat X is on sale now! Visit DC Entertainment to pick up all the digital chapters for 99c each! Bookmark the MKO Comics Directory for more previews, reviews and purchase links. Register to share your review on the forum!

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