Since its earliest days serving mail order collector's editions -- Mortal Kombat has always had one foot in the world of comic books, but if proposed plans had gone ahead several years ago, the series could have become part of the DC Comics Universe itself. Writer Gail Simone has revisited the topic, offering new details from what would have been a dramatic reinvention for both brands:
Liu Kang and Kung Lao rubbing shoulders with Bronze Tiger and Richard Dragon? Jax and Sonya cutting departmental red tape from Amanda Waller and Checkmate? Raiden and Fujin at odds with Darkseid and the New Gods? It's not the plot of a sequel to Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe -- but the kinds of natural scenarios that might've eventuated from MK's incorporation into the DCU.
The popular writer of series such as Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman first revealed elaborate plans for a multi-series Mortal Kombat project back in 2019. The revelation came after an extensive period of research the prior year, which saw Simone's output dip as she versed herself in the mythologies of MK and My Little Pony -- a separate licensed project, at the time.
In a series of posts to X (formerly Twitter); Simone details more about the project, which was first brought to her over a seafood lunch at San Diego Comic-Con by Dan DiDio. In their meeting, the then-DC Comics Publisher revealed a list of Warner Brothers owned properties they could potentially adapt to comic books, leveraging established fan bases for new reader sales. A similar strategy is credited with financially saving Marvel Comics when they published Star Wars in 1977 & '78.
Comic books based on licensed properties are nothing new, but according to Simone, this initiative could've seen selected brands incorporated into the shared fabric of the DC Universe itself -- assuming necessary rights hurdles could have been cleared. Although the writer no longer remembers the list of potential IP, she cites "various Bugs Bunny-type things" and "things like the Three Stooges and tons of toy lines and action movie franchises. It was an incredible list."
Simone herself selected Mortal Kombat, which was acquired by Warner Brothers when Midway Games was approved for sale in 2009. The writer identified MK as ripe for laying out its "confusing" lore in "big" on-going series, which would also bolster the martial arts and godly pantheons of the DC Universe, which she describes as "less fully-realized" than Marvel's well known counterparts.
Details of the 12-issue maxi-series, and three resulting spin-offs, aren't on offer yet, but Simone's example of regular fighting match-ups between characters like Scorpion and Plastic Man, in a now "annual" tournament, suggests the stakes of inter-realm conflict may have been raised beyond the traditional fifty year timeline between Outworld and Earthrealm, and may have even incorporated the concept of multiple Earths.
The writer, as well as fans and contemporaries, such as Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe scribe Jimmy Palmiotti, have praised Dan DiDio for his spirit of risk taking. Simone notes: "Lots of execs tried to keep their heads down, he always wanted to try something new, and a lot of exceptional comics came from that. I really appreciate that quality."
The concept likely would've challenged and radically altered perceptions of the Mortal Kombat reality, but such inclusions into the DC Universe are not unusual. With DC's controversial line-wide New 52 reboot in 2011, they incorporated Jim Lee's creations of the former Image Comics published Wildstorm Universe, into the DCU, adding to a tapestry that famously acquired Captain Marvel (aka; Shazam) in the 1970s, and even upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack guest character Peacemaker -- who was originally a Charlton Comics creation by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette.
So why didn't it happen? We simply don't know for sure.
DC previously published Mortal Kombat X tie-in comics in 2015 & 2016, but Simone alludes to "simple corporate stuff" leading to a "sad end" to her year's worth of work. Whether this was a corporate reevaluation of the property, with a view to its value as a separate video game and multimedia brand, or a rejection by rights holders of the original IP, will be a matter of pure speculation for now.
[Related Article: Feature: The Importance of Comics to Mortal Kombat]
such as Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe scribe Jimmy Palmiotti, have praised Dan DiDio for his spirit of risk taking. Simone notes: "Lots of execs tried to keep their heads down, he always wanted to try something new, and a lot of exceptional comics came from that. I really appreciate that quality."
Despite noting the difficulties the 2011 franchise reboot and its new timeline introduced to the adaptation process; "MK's lore is a bit confusing and they don't have a clear timeline (or didn't at the time)"; the writer added praise for the most recent timeline restart of Mortal Kombat 1.
So what do you think about this wild what if scenario? How much would MK gain or lose in the transaction of entering the DCU? Would you like to see more Mortal Kombat comics? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and go deeper into discussion in the Mortal Kombat 1, Comic Book & Merchandise, and DC Universe Injustice categories!
