I can't rule it out, but also can't imagine Hornbuckle making the cut. I can't imagine anyone with less fan requests than tremor making the cut, not even as an unplayable boss.

Skarlet had sex appeal at least. How would you sell Hornbuckle to people who have no knowledge of the rumor or its history? It wouldn't be the worst thing ever if he's in, but I'm certainly not cheering him on.

If the game wants to become an instant laughing stock, then yes.

As long as his name isnt Hornbuckle...
And he isn't involved with Blaze or the Dragon Egg...
And he doesn't look like Liu Kang...
And he isn't Hornbuckle...

Then I welcome him with open arms!

Huan Buk-Il is a Korean super-soldier trained in a deadly assassin style combining TKD and kung fu. His mission is to detain the elemental Blaze so his energy can be used to power an interdimensional death cannon. Huan looks a bit like a cross between Liu Kang and Rambo. Have a nice day.


What's the difference between "Hornbuckle" and Kotal Kahn, Ferra/Torr or D'Vorah? It's not like a "Hornbuckle" adheres to any impenetrable, or even important reference. Just another new character with a wacky name. What that new character entails - anybody's guess! Meta knowledge not required, but interesting backstory if you've got it. [Much like "Ermac"]

Hornbuckle who? (Sorry couldnt resist lol)

Sunderland kinda indirectly makes a point about this. If we're gonna bring in Hornbuckle, then he has to have some of the traits from his MK2 incarnation (if you can even call it that). He would also have to be one of Onaga's holy men. If he's not any of these things, then what's the point of bringing him in? Why start a brand new character with restrictions?

Let me put it this way. If they attached the name "Hornbuckle" to any given new MKX character currently shown in place of their original name, it wouldn't bother me. The new characters aren't really my cup of tea right now anyway. However, if we have a Liu Kang look-alike in MKX called Hornbuckle, I'd be a bit perplexed. Is there an actual demand for that?

Ermac isn't a palette swap anymore. The last decade and a half has been a hard slog to get away from the restrictions imposed by early 90s tech. There's no logical reason to impose palette swap logic (or fan-fic) on a character that has only existed as a static sprite in an MKII background. They didn't do it with Blaze. They don't need to do it with Hornbuckle. There are beats to pull upon, but it's open season. No reason to expect anything.

Yet he was a pallette swap when he officially debuted. I think it's also fair to say he still retains the essence of being "the red ninja." That's important because bringing the rumor to life in that case did mean making him a visual palette swap.

But I don't disagree with you. No character has to conform to the conventions of the 90's game. My only point is that Hornbuckle is an onion with very few layers. There isn't much left when you take away those few staples, and the Onaga staple is the only one that really belongs to him.

If this new character is Hornbuckle only in name, that's fine. I don't have a problem with that, but can we really consider a case like that a rumor coming to life like Ermac or Skarlet? When there's so little to work with, I feel like you have to go with one of the two extremes. If there was a middle ground for Hornbuckle, I'd say do it. I just don't see one, though.

You both bring up some really good points Mick and Temperary but let me throw a monkey wrench into this well oiled machine. Hornbuckle is really the Deus Ex Machina - the One Being in flesh pulling all the strings behind the scenes.

Hornbuckle was never a rumored nonexistent character like Ermac or Skarlet, however. He was physically personified from the start.

Fuck no to horn buckle.

What will be the next absurdity on demand?
Nimbus Terrafaux?

*sigh*...God damn it MKO...

Why does every single background character have to become playable at some point? What's the next one people are gonna demand? The severed heads from the pit?

If Lui Kang is playable (I'm not saying he is or isnt, or should of shoudn't be)

But if Lui kang IS playable, give him a green alt.

Close enough.

one of Shao kahns dogs as playable character. Or maybe a shadow priest or the krupt screamer.

But I missed one in Onaga Mummy MKDA and MKD.

Called a Shadow Priest in an environment without Shang Tsung would not be possible?

Beat you to it. Already been requested

Shit, let's make one of the Living Forest trees playable while we're at it.

This is something I was thinking about when Boon first said the main bad guy would a surprise returning character. I brought it up on ComicVine but nobody knew who I was talking about :/ Anyway yeah its probably not likely lol

If the One Being is awake, then why does the universe still exist? What, did he just decide that lucid dreaming is more fun than pulling himself together and killing the Elder Gods?

They have not back in the day and they won't now. That would be a total waste of a character spot.

The problem with Hornbuckle is the ridiculous name. You could easily introduce a character and say -yeah this was the guy, the Dragon King's Shaman- blah, blah, blah.

In reality the only two things that make Hornbuckle are green pants and the name ascribed to him by the fans.

Some dude working for Onaga wearing some vaguely green pants and being more or less shirtless could work as a character, sure. Silly name, though.