I think Jax is more iconic than Mileena, personally. Jax for the longest time was MK's token black guy, and with the mechanic arms I'd say that gives him one of the more unique looks for a fighting game character. So for the reason that Jax is more distinguishable and unique aesthetically I'd say that makes him more iconic. Plus he introduced MK to the arm rip fatality, the air throw, the unblockable 'ground pound' mechanic, and probably a few other things. Mileena, to the passerby, is probably just a purple Kitana.

Dude Jax was never a token black guy until his MKDA alternate costume but yeah I think he is one of the icons of the series

I hope that Ermac will be in the game although I dont think so as the ninja would be too many like this .

3. Kano - Probably the most recognizable MK character after Scorpion and Sub Zero.

That's a pretty funny joke.

I made a post a long time ago (I think it was after a few months after Deception was out) where Versatile and myself named the 10 essential characters to MK. These were not my top ten favorites, but the most important to us in the franchise.

Scorpion
Sub Zero
Raiden
Shang Tsung
Quan Chi
Kitana
Johnny Cage
Sonya
Shao Kahn
Liu Kang

Token characters are just characters included for the vote of diversity. A token black character doesn't have to be jive/gangsta.

I'm surprised how low people are rating Jax.
I really expect him to be front and centre. I think it's fair to say he surpassed Sonya as the more prominent OIA character, and is definitely one of the instantly recognisable characters for his moves and metal arms.
And with a story being driven by worlds crossing over, you'd expect some sort of OIA representation there, presumably Jax and Sonya, with Cyrax and Kenshi outside chances to varying degrees.

Given the limited roster, they're all also much more interesting than including Mileena, when Kitana's almost a given.


lololololol ya ermac telepwns that friend of rain!!!

Here is my top 10 most likeley abart from SubZero and Scorpion oredered from most likely

1 Raiden - cant see him not in it... he is a major player
2 Lui Kang - Having won nearly every tournament... I think ihe is pretty safe
3 Kitana - I think she is the most certain of the females to get a place. An absoloute icon
4 Shang Tsung - The quintisential bad guy
5 Quan Chi - has become a central player to the MK universe
6 Baraka - His look is really too iconic to pass
7 Mileena - She brings to the game what Scorpion does to Sub Zero... she will not be left out
8 Shao Khan or Onaga - one of these big bad's will get in. I almost lean towards Onaga because he would look impressive against alot of the DC characters.
9 Jax - Tokenism
10 Robot (Smoke/sektor/cyrax) - one of the icons of MK

Others with a big chance are
Kung Lao - He is an impressive looking character and on of the mainstays of the series
Goro - he is an icon of the game
Shujinko - he is the one who started it all
Li Mei - If they want a more recent character in and a third female... I lean towards her. She won the DA tournament and has a fair amount of character progression happening
Kabal - his look is memorable and has some iconic moves
Kano - he would look great against the DC characters
Sonya - Origional female... this could get her over the line against Lei Mei
Kenshi - this would be purely looks based
Noob - the powers that be really love him

I'm sure that most of the roster of the MK characters will be the ones that had attended MK 1.That is my hypothesis at the moment,although there are many other figures that will deal with the final roster. This is only a simple guess,but nothing that should be looked over upon.

Iconic is way too vague. Everyone has their own view/opinion on who has been an iconic character simply because we all have our personal favorites.

For some people, it could be Stryker.
Other's its Johnny Cage.

I mean shit, some people might have started only playing MK since Deadly Alliance, so fuck-tards like Mokap would be iconic. Or look, some people are even mentioning Shujinko for Christ's sake! That ass clown was the sorriest excuse of an MK character I've seen since Mokap and Stryker... oh but that's not all, we've got Taven now too.

Ya never freakin' know. And this stupid DC Universe has like 340943042834 fucking people in it so I don't bother trying to figure out that half of the roster.

No, iconic is not way too vague. Iconic characters are those that are associated (mainly from a marketing perspective) with a series. Stryker is one of my favourite characters, no doubt about it, but I would not make the case for him being iconic. I would not even try.

I think a case can be made for all the characters from MK1 (including Reptile and Goro). They are all "firsts" for Mortal Kombat. I don't expect them all to get in, however. That is too easy. I like Kano, but I think he will be out. Besides, he is in one game, then he misses it. It's Kano tradition.

Other iconic characters are Shao Kahn, Kitana, Mileena, Baraka (merely for his look), Kung Lao, Noob Saibot and Kenshi. I'd maybe include Sindel in there, too, just for her look and powers.

That is a lot more than 11, though. Get rid of Kano, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Noob Saibot, Kitana or Mileena, Sindel and maybe Baraka (he's only in for his look). That leaves a possible prediction list at:

Liu Kang
Sonya Blade
Raiden
Sub-Zero
Scorpion
Reptile
Shang Tsung
Goro
Shao Kahn
Kitana/Mileena
Kung Lao

Maybe they will cut either Tsung or Kahn (probably Tsung), and only include one monk (which means Kung Lao will probably go), and maybe leave Reptile out. That would give you three extra character slots. Maybe Kahn could also be MK's contribution to a boss, like a lot of people are predicting Darkseid to be from DC.

These characters are some of those I would argue would be the most iconic MK characters to peopel around the world in terms of who they would know.

1. Raiden
2. Sub-Zero
3. Scorpion
4. Sonya
5. Liu Kang
6. Shang Tsung
7. Shao Kahn
8. Kitana
9. Kung Lao
10. Johnny Cage (possibly) Mileena / Reptile / Goro / Ermac / Quan Chi / Kabal / Sindel

The following are those I think would actually make the game:

1. Raiden
2. Sub-Zero
3. Scorpion
4. Sonya
5. Liu Kang
6. Shang Tsung
7. Shao Kahn
8. Kitana
9 & 10. Mileena / Reptile / Goro / Ermac / Kung Lao / Noob Saibot / Kabal / Johnny Cage / Random cyborg / No one past MKT

Kano is not that poplar but his looks are one of the most memorable ones in MK.

Marketing might focus on iconic characters, but it isn't intrinsic to marketting... Iconic characters are just instantly recognisable, and representative of something.
Just a clarification worth making, particularly given the negative connotations with marketting.

Mokap? Stryker? Hardly icons of the MK brand, or universe.
Scorpion? Liu Kang? Almost instantly recognisable, and very relevant.

I don't agree with the idea that everyone in MK1 is automatically an icon. Johnny Cage an icon? KANO an icon?! And even if we were to consider them icons...no way in bloody hell they're more iconic than characters like Kitana, Mileena, Kung Lao, Shao Kahn, and I would even include Quan Chi.

Personally, in order for a character to be considered an icon, for me they have to fulfill a certain criteria:

- Prominance in the series
Obviously, characters that have been around longer have been more prominant, but I point to a character like Quan Chi, who...despite only first appearing in MK4...has become a more prominant and crucial character than guys like Kano, Baraka, and Johnny Cage. Actual contribution should be more a factor than who's been around longer.

- Recognizablility
Is the character reasonably well known beyond Mortal Kombat? Now this will probably only be limited to the characters from MK1 and MK2 and anyone who showed up in the movie. Someone may not remember Kung Lao or Shang tsung by name...but they'll remember "the dude who throws his hat" or the "that dude who took souls and could be anyone."

- Distinction
This, IMO, is crucial. There is a difference between being recognizable and being distinct. By distinct, I mean you could take the character out of Mortal Kombat and they would still be able to stand out. Here, I'm talking about characters that make Mortal Kombat as a series stand out. Scorpion does this. A yellow ninja throwing a spear in someone's face...that's Mortal Kombat. Raiden...a electric guy with a big Chinese hat. That's Mortal Kombat. Mileena...a ninja chick with a fucked up face. Kitana...a blue ninja chick tossing fans around. This is where I have trouble considering characters like Liu Kang or Sonya as icons. Take Liu Kang out of Mortal Kombat.....he's another Bruce Lee homage.


Now all that aside....mere "iconic" value should not be the sole reason the characters are chosen. The role the serve in Mortal Kombat should also be a factor. They should chose the characters who represent a key part of Mortal Kombat and role.

So here are who I think are the best candidates to represent Mortal Kombat:

- Liu Kang
As much as I despise Liu Kang and as much as I think Kung Lao is both superior and more iconic....in this game, Mortal Kombat should have their "pure chosen hero" character represented. Liu Kang is in essence what Superman is to DC. The "main hero." The pure-hearted guy who saves the day in the end.

- Sub-Zero
Obivously he's an icon and so forth...but he serves as the other "darker" hero. Makes sense he's being paired with Batman.

- Kitana
Also an icon and all that...she represents one of the roles of "heroine"...the stoic, cold, melancoly, brooding type of character. She's also more or less, Mortal Kombat's equivilent to Wonder Woman (although Wonder Woman isn't cold or brooding, but I think you get my point).

- Sonya Blade
I could begrudginly consider Sonya an icon...but more importantly, she represents tha other kind of "heroine." The hot-tempered, brash, in-your-face, tough chick type. Like in the Justice League cartoon, they already had Wonder Woman...who is very low-key, disciplined, calm etc....so they included Hawkgirl to contrast that.

- Scorpion
Well you can't not have MK's posterboy. You could also make a case that he represenst MK's anti-hero wild card type of character.

- Reptile
If you're going to include lower-level henchmen villains, Reptile is a far superior choice than Kano or Baraka. Aside from the fact that, unlike them, he's a fairly well developed character...I think he fulfills the iconic qualities much better.

- Raiden
Another obvious choice. IMO, the unofficial third icon after Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Also serves the role of "mentor" and guide to the heroes.

- Shang Tsung
Fairly iconic to the series, and serves the role a role of one of the main villains. The pompous, conniving disgruntled lieutenent.

- Quan Chi
Granted, his iconic value is debatable...but in a short time, he's become one of MK's main villains. The slimy, shadowy, manipulator, mastermind.

- Shao Kahn
Obviously, an icon of the series and obviously, the "big evil" type of villain.

- Goro
Fairly iconic...represented the evil muscle.

- Mileena
I think she's iconic and she also represents the role of femme fatale or villainess.

- Jax
I don't like Jax, but some people could make a case that he's iconic and other people would make a case that there is a need for a "token black man" on the MK side. DC follows suit...which is why John Stewart is often cast as Green Lantern in shows and video games even though he's really more a side character in the comics.


So I listed 13 candidates there. There are other long-shot characters, like maybe Noob Saibot, Kabal, or one of the cyborgs...but I have feeling the ones I listed are the most likely. I have a feeling though that if Goro and Shao Kahn play a part, it won't be as a playable character. So that would leave 11...which happens to be the number of character that's expected.

maybe
1-scorpion
2-sub-zero
3-Rayden
4-kano/ Mavado
5-Quan Chi
6-shao khan
7-shangtang
8-kitana
9-goro
10-liu kang
11-cage

You might not like it, but that’s the way things are.

I do agree with your 3 observations, and that’s my way of thinking too, exactly the same (specially role prominence, thats really important!) but as much as you don’t like the idea, the MK1 characters are instant icons. Your idea of “iconic” is correct, but it doesn’t take away the fact that “iconic” also means the most noticeable, best remembered, recognizable, etc.

Johnny Cage and Kano are faaaar more recognizable then Mileena, Kitana, Quan Chi, and I dare to say even Kung Lao. Yes, their roles might not be as deep and expanded as Quan Chi’s and Mileena’s, but their roles have been "decently" well established (with Johnny Cage just happening in MKA) to be recognizable.

Sure the movies, the comics, the toys, the shirts, the game promotions, the posters, the stickers, the cards, etc. helped them, but don’t underestimate them “just because” they are from MK1+Mk movie and haven’t done as much as others.

Johnny Cage did great in MK1, had a decent story in MK4 that was sadly changed, and thankfully an extraordinary-great role in MKA, the rest was fu**** crap. His history of lame story is huge and bad, but that doesn’t take away the fact that he is extremely iconic to the series, more then Quan Chi and Shao Kahn, not just because he "was" from MK1 (simple and flat), but because people outside know about the "Movie star", and people inside know about him being leader in MKA.

Here is were the public and media perception of characters works very well, the thing QueenSindel(TheBitch) keeps talking about. About how people view certain characters and all, and if you talk MK, its 100 times more likely that you will hear people remember Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya, Rayden, Goro and Johnny Cage then Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena or even Shao Kahn.

Inside MK itself, Kitana is obviously more iconic then Baraka amd Goro for her role, but outside, for the general public, they are far more recognizable. Also, take Kitana out of MK and she is just as “distinct” as Liu Kang and Sonya, so I don’t know what makes these two less iconic then her.

The “blue ninja chick outfit” has nothing interesting going on for her, that’s seen everywhere, that doesn’t even make her stand out from the crowd. Its her steel fans that make her distinct, just as Sonya is clearly remembered for her specials and fatalities, same as Liu Kang (though I do agree *his* design is rather simple). Even Johnny Cage is distinct, because his style is, in a way, MK. Show Kitana with the steel fans: distinct. Show Sonya throwing her Kiss of death or doing a leg grab: distinct. Show Cage with his glasses doing the nut punch: distinct. Take those things away from them and you have a common blue ninja girl, a tough blond chick, and a handsome looking guy.

There ARE true icons inside the series of MK (Kitana, Mileena, Sonya, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Rayden, Kung Lao, Quan Chi, Shao Kahn), but there are also true icons outside the series (Baraka, Johnny Cage, Kano), and finally, there's a mix of true icons inside+outside of the series (Practically the entire Mk1 cast, and another group from Mk2, and probably even Mk3).

As for the iconic characters, overall, I say (in no order):

* Scorpion
* Sub-Zero
* Rayden
* Sonya
* Johnny Cage
* Jax
* Mileena
* Kitana
* Goro
* Shang Tsung
* Baraka
* Kano
* Kung Lao
* Quan Chi
* Liu Kang
* Reptile
* The robots could be considered.

Most people are aware of the female ninjas.

The movies alone left a lot of people thinking Kitana was in the first game, let alone subsequent cartoons, TV series, and various other merchandising efforts.

I think you're right on a whole, but Kano probably falls to the female heroic lead. She dwarfs Sonya in mass media.

LOL! So true.

I think that your list is some-what plausible, BUT you didn't include Shao Kahn! Surely he is the most iconic villain after Shang Tsung!

I couldn't have said it better. So true.

And I'm really suprised with people thoughts of Kano. Kano NOT Recognizable?? He is far, far, far more recognizable than Quan Chi. Just by him having the laser eye and apearing in MK1 and the movie gives him that.

If this was really MK8 than ofcourse Quan Chi would have been preferd over Kano any day. But when Midway wants to have 10 chracters, that people who havn't played MK since MK2 (which is 98% of the gaming industry) will instantly recognize Kano and Jhonny Cage are a must.

True. People are aware of the existence of female *ninjas*, but thats it. Its never as specific like the male ninjas, for you hear their names used, people actually know them, and same thing goes for some of the *not ninja* males.

BTW, lol, please forgive my English, but I didn’t understand your last bit about Kano, could you please explain? If you ment to say he falls under the shadow of the female lead, then I agree.

Cool icon btw. Long live Shao Kahn!

Yeah, I didn't completely understand it either. That's pretty much what I assumed he meant,



Hell yeah! All hail Emperor Shao Kahn!

1-Raiden
2-Liu Kang
3-Sub Zero
4-Scorpion
5-Mileena
6-Sonya
7-Shang Tsung
8-Shao Kahn
9-Cyrax
10-NightWolf

really i think only four character are sure fire hits to make it into the game and thats:

sub-zero
scorpion
kitana
mileena

those are definitely iconic characters to the franchise, i think most random people would know who they were. a lot of people are debating kitana and mileena as iconic when the truth is both of them especially kitana have pretty much over taken sonya as the female lead of mortal kombat but since sonya was the FIRST female ever in series i think it's safe to say she's in. also i think shang tsung is the most iconic villian of the series, some would argue goro or kahn or whoever but i don't think they'll be putting any "god" characters into the game i.e. any character that you couldn't perform a fatality on in MKT so as far as villians i'd say definitely shang is in.

sub-zero
scorpion
kitana
mileena
sonya
shang tsung

i find are far more likely than anyone else to make it in this game especially those first four.

Everyone from MK1 and then some.