ThePredator151 Wrote:
No, not specifically metal arms. The notion that "all black guys are huge, and super strong" however, is. Metal arms are simply a visual representation of the stereotype of the early 90's.

Mick-Lucifer Wrote:

With all due respect ThePredator151, you might be tugging at short threads and trying to turn them into a sweater.

Sure, there's a strongman archetype long associated with "black" characters, but metal arms aren't a part of that.
They're removed by degrees of separation to a whole other silly pop culture fad, which was prevelant in the nineties. I would be very surprised if John Tobias (or Ed Boon) were remotely cogniscent of the John Henry fable when creating Jax, who was supposedly stripped of his Jim Kelly archetypal references at the last minute to 'show off' John Parrish's large physique -- which itself implies strength.

Blaxploitation stereotypes, (which overlap with all the other Hong Kong references of the early games), are obviously there, but I'd wonder if two rubes from Chicago would even know who John Henry is to reference him! I'm personally only aware of him through the Steel comics character, but I'm not American, and I guess it's not an idea high on the export list. Seems like more of a Southern thing to me, though.

Interesting conceptual genealogy, but I don't think it's directly relevant to MK.

MNOEVIL_aka_WildRocker334 Wrote:
his doesnt alway have them. and your question is why does he have metal arms?" Because he considered himself a weakling, and felt like he wasnt good enough. he decided to make metal arms (sleeves) to enhance his fighting. Later in life he realized that he does not need them, because the true power comes from the heart.

Read the comics, bios, and watch the movies. It's all pretty much right there.

b-don Wrote:
why does he have them in each game?is what i meant.

Chilly-McFreeze Wrote:


I'd just call it a development
like younger Sub having a scar.

b-don Wrote:
idon't think young sub has it in deception.Also he needs to have normal arms in the new MK(2011) When you first see him for MK2 know what i mean?Also he REALY needs to get rid of the machinegun move.It's just boring and annoying.

Darkhound74 Wrote:


Yeah im not a huge fan of the machine gun move but Jax having metal arms is what people recognize most about about him and its kinda part of his character after all these years.

jbthrash Wrote:
I don't know. Removing his cybernetic implants seems like a surgery that would be hard to perform. To my knowledge they don't just slip off like that shitty movie. Secondly it's it is kind of iconic to that character and it makes him stand out. In MK2 there was nothing special about him except he was black. Each character had there own gimick and Jax doesn't really have one without the arms. Sure he is a soldier like Sonya, but it still seems a little plain compared to so many other stand out characters. If you like him without the arms that's cool, but I like him better with them.

RazorsEdge701 Wrote:
I'm fine with any of his hairstyles except the shaved completely bald with a hat on and no goatee look from Deadly Alliance. That's really what I care about most, that he has a mustache or goatee. He looks just plain stupid without facial hair.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:
Can't we all agree one costume should be metal arms and the alternate should be metal-less? Just don't make him so gangsta... no guns... give him the moves everyone wants him to have...

Ground Pound, Gotchya, Back Breaker and Multiple Slams

Don't even give him a fireball. In MK2 he had that wave slice, MK3 a missile, MK4 a purple fireball, and MK: DA-Armageddon a machinegun... he has never had a consistent projectile... but I just remembered he had a wicked Dash Punch in MK4... give him that too!

Jax's character doesn't need to shoot fireballs. He is an in your face type guy so give him the close-combat specials