Nice find.

I completely forgot about the sword.

Ok yeah. That's what I was referring to. Thanks man.

Yeah, I wasn't sure why a Thai lady would give her child a Japanese name, but I guess his father is Japanese, so I suppose I could see her doing that for sentimental reasons.

I don't even know where to start, I have so much I want to say and speculate.

Also I DO NOT know how to do spoiler blocks on this site so this is the best I can do, also, if you don't want spoilers, you might be in the wrong thread lol

That would mean he has to die to gain some of Of the powers Scorpion has. And we also have to answer the question "is Hanzo dead or alive?" He didn't use any of his netherrealm powers in the comic so most would assume he is a living breathing human again. And if that's true and Hanzo dies does he become Scorpion again?

Scorpion's demeanor is definitely a breath of fresh air. I'm really glad he's changed, and that he appears more like a mentor/leader now rather than the same ol' revenge-driven pawn he's been for the past ~20 years.

Like you, I'm intrigued as to how this new Scorpion came to be, and I'm really wanting to learn more about this Netherrealm War. Did it end with Quan Chi's death (obviously, Quan is in the game as a playable character, but maybe that's simply because he appears in the first few chapters and is summarily off'd at the end of the 1st Act)? And what heroes were rescued from Quan's sorcerous grip? More importantly, who else died during this war, since Scorpion is reforging the Shyrai Ryu from some of the "survivors". Sounds like said war was fairly devastating...

Questions abound, and my hype is definitely in overdrive now.

My initial reactions:

1. Hsu Hao is so totally dead hahahaha. Boons dead pool confirmed.

2. Takeda will be a characer in mkx as he will be older during the game. Will have some kenshi telekenesis powers?

3. Want/expecting s or pins maskless costume as a wraith that subdued his demons. BADASSSS.

4. Chances of subzero being new went up. Possibly a new subby recruited by raiden.

5. Possibly a hood less alt. Costume for subby.

6. Kenshi's inclusion still up in the air but chances are still extremely on the high side.

Could it be possible for Sub-Zero to be both Kuai Liang and Bi-Han in the comics or in fact on different costume designs, be both playable with unique quotes in case they face one another? My gut says that the Sub-Zero in the comic might be a resurrected Kuai Liang. As he's battling Kano, maybe someone might butt in to help his butt for say plot convenience like Sareena. Maybe she previously freed him during the Netherrealm War after she defected from Quan Chi and the Brotherhood?

From an interview with Kittelson:

[Will you be taking the games original canon into consideration? As a prime example, Kitana meets Mileena in MK9 for the first time, but in the previous games canon they have thousands of years’ worth of history together. Will you be following the new timeline or perhaps cherry-picking from both?

Shawn: This series is canonical with the games, so we’re aligned with the MK9 timeline that extends through to MKX the game. For Kitana fans, that means she is still very much where she was at the end of MK9. As for Mileena, well, she’s still around and up to no good]

All I can see is "Mileena's still around and up to no good

My guess is that it's Tundra. I assume A lot of souls were freed after the Netherrealm wars and its never made sense to me why a soul would carry on it's cybernetic shell so I hope they retcon that stupid idea. I still don't think we have seen the last of Noob/Bi-Han. I'm also guessing that the Kamidogu curse will make Sub-Zero Quan Chi's servant yet again in some form or another and Raiden goes to Scorpion to search for Sub-Zero and try to break the spell.

Damn, I feel like a kid. I want the next issue. NOW.

Razors and Scorpion. Those two should get aquainted.

I also have wondered if they will have two (or 3) different subby in this game. Sort of like what they did in mk9. But they'd all have different dialogue intros.

Would be really neat imo.

I definitely suspect this Sub-Zero is Kuai, and the one we've seen in the game is Bi Han. I hope we get some clear answers soon.

I don't know if you consider these Netherrealm powers or not since people like Liu Kang use fire without being from there but before he killed Hsu Hao his fist was enveloped in a flame, and Takeda later says "He's a wraith. From Hell." so id say he still has those powers, at least to some extent.

It's great Mileena's still around but f**k the new timeline story they gave her.

OR, and this is a random thought, what if the Outworld Civil War hasn't taken place yet, and the Kamidogu curse puts Subby under Kotal's thrall. We learned early on that Kotal seeks out the Kamidogu in order to empower himself against Goro and claim Outworld's throne. And we know that MKX chronicles Kotal's rise to and fall from power. So, maybe he's not only using the Kamidogu to strengthen himself, but also build an army?

This is all predicated on the Outworld Civil War taking place after the Netherrealm war (which I'm assuming will once again be waged against both Outworld and Earthrealm, and again by Quan Chi and/or Shinnok). If the Netherrealm War took place soon after MK9, then I doubt Outworld would have had much of a chance to fall into internal strife with the forces of Hell on its doorstep. Maybe only after Shinnok and Quan are defeated and a few years have passed do the factions of Outworld have the time and strength to turn on each other.

Just speculation on my part.

ah yes you're correct. He must still be the same Scorpion. I have a feeling Takeda will grow up under his tutelage but betray him and the shirai ryu(if the guy posting the quotes from the comic description says true)(also means we will get a glimpse of tremor). Maybe the betrayal is a good thing or maybe not. But Kenshi will not want his son to be killed by Scorpion and will attempt to protect him. I bet Takeda will kill his own father in the end.

Judging by some stuff Kittelsen's said, the civil war is definitely going on right now. Kotal's already clashing with a bunch of other parties over the throne.

With the cursed dagger being a kamidogu, maybe the "fear their powers" quote from Sub-Zero to Raiden is because this will mark him for some time?

He really looks like Kuai Liang, with the mention of the Netherealm wars and Scorpion already liberated and in control of the wraith, Kung Lao back too, I'm almost 100% sure this is Kuai Liang and the scar was a big hint (maybe they even use the scar as something more than a cosmetic thing if it's the mark of this curse?).

I won't like it too much if he starts the game controlled by Quan Chi and then spends more time controlled by another force, but as long as he has his own chapter "under his own control" and has character progression it will be fine I guess. I wouldn't mind a replica of his old timeline actions with Sektor's defeat, Lin Kuei reform, discovering his outworld origins (maybe even as part of his time controlled if it takes him to outworld), etc...

Well the one element that I feel a lot of people are overlooking is that Hanzo and Scorpion are being recognized as two separate entities for the first time to my knowledge. Scorpion has always really been Hanzo at his core, driven by vengeance.

I ask myself "What purpose could they achieve by separating the entity "Scorpion" from Hanzo? There are really only two answers in my mind. EIther they are finally giving scorpion some REAL depth ..

or...

They plan on somebody else coming into that identity. I just can't shake the feeling that this may be happening. Goodbye Hanzo in MKX? With the relevance that the name Takeda already has with hardcore fans of the Shirai Ryu, I could not think of a better fit.

From comic #2s description. "As Takeda continues to train and study the ways of the Shirai Ryu, Raiden pays Scorpion a visit... and a dangerous new threat emerges"

You may be right and Kotal could be that threat. Kotal, Subby, and Kano along with various other outworlders would be very dangerous.

To Casselman: the reason I give distinction between Hanzo and Scorpion is because of two reasons. He was really Hanzo before he was Scorpion even if he was nicknamed Scorpion when he was alive(not sure that's canon). When he became a wraith he just went by Scorpion and you didn't really hear much of his former name. Reason 2 is Kenshi calling him Hanzo and telling his son that Hanzo conquered Scorpion. That could have many meanings in actuality and now I think Hanzo still carries his wraith abilities and still maybe undead but has mastered and disciplined himself. I see Takeda becoming his own character and a very powerful one at that but I don't see him becoming the new Scorpion because if Scorpion is still a wraith that means he will never truly die.

Does the subby we have seen in the game have a scar? I know people have said to of seen it but it is really tough to tell for sure

I just double checked. Subby definitely does not have a scar over his right eye in any of the official renders.

Well now that we know Tremor's secret identity being Kenshi's son. Now NRS can make him a playable character on MKX.

I am really uncertain what's up with Scorpion now, but I love it lol A few things have made me think really hard such as how Hanzo has a regular human face now, and was helped "out of the darkness" by Kenshi AND how Kenshi said "Hanzo Conquered Scorpion years ago" I found that really interesting. I do think Takeda will grow up under Scorpion/Hanzo and be Shirai Ryu, but im unsure what roll he will play, but im thinking he will be a important character in MKX. Lol this comic has really got me thinking, especially about Hanzo/Scorpion.

@Casselman: That is one of the main things I have been thinking about since reading the comic today, the way Kenshi says Hanzo conquered Scorpion makes it seem like they are not one and the same, which I find very interesting.