Johnny Cage is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in the original 1992 game, he is an action movie star with an extensive martial arts background. The series depicts Cage as one of the primary heroes defending Earthrealm from various threats, as well as the comic foil. In the first rebooted timeline, Cage is also the love interest of Special Forces officer Sonya Blade and the father of their daughter Cassie. He is inspired by martial arts star Jean-Claude Van Damme, particularly Van Damme's character, Frank Dux, in the 1988 film Bloodsport. A staple of the franchise, Cage has appeared in various media outside of the games.
Reception of the character has been generally positive for his role in the series, character development, gameplay, and Fatality finishing moves.
Concept and design
Van Damme in 2010
Original concept sketches for a proposed fighting game by artist John Tobias showed a character called "Michael Grimm, the current box office champion and star of such movies as Dragon's Fist, Dragon's Fist II and the award-winning Sudden Violence."[7] Tobias later described them as "R-rated really schlocky 1980s martial arts films".[8] According to martial artist Daniel Pesina, who portrayed Cage in the original game and the 1993 sequel Mortal Kombat II, Pesina used Iron Fist from the Power Man and Iron Fist comic series as the source of inspiration prior to the team settling on spoofing Van Damme.[9]
Midway Games had hoped to license martial artist and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme for a fighting game that was intended to be modeled after Van Damme's 1988 film Bloodsport.[10] The company created a short demo reel that consisted of film footage of Van Damme inserted into a digital background in order to convince the actor to join the project, an attempt that was unsuccessful.[11] When the game later became Mortal Kombat, the Michael Grimm character was retained as a spoof of Van Damme and renamed Johnny Cage,[10] with Van Damme's split-legged groin punch from Bloodsport consequently included as one of Cage's special moves.[12][13]Mortal Kombat 1 would later feature a special skin for Cage featuring Van Damme's voice and likeness.[14]
Cage's real name of John Carlton[6] was taken from Midway artist and programmer John Carlton, who worked on the NBA Jam arcade game series.[15] Cage was the first character created for Mortal Kombat,[13] and the test prototype of the original game had just two Cage characters fighting each other.[16] In a 1995 interview with Electronic Gaming Monthly, Tobias said that Cage's Fatality finishing move of punching off his opponent's head was the final one created for the game, before which he was going to simply throw his opponent across the screen.[17]
As a narcissistic Hollywood star, Cage serves as comic foil in contrast to the games' more serious characters like Liu Kang and Raiden,[18] which is embellished in the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot game with a large chest tattoo of his name.[19] Cage's main role in Mortal Kombat X is as a Special Forces consultant instead of an actor; his design by NetherRealm Studios (formerly Midway Games) was their attempt to define whether or not he had taken his martial arts skills seriously since the aftermath of the 2011 reboot game, and he was outfitted in tactical gear that was designed to fit his fighting style while finding the balance between "serious or stoic" and "too goofy".[20] In Mortal Kombat X, Cage's gameplay style is split into three fighting variations like those of the other playable characters;[21]Prima Games deemed him effective at zoning.[note 1][21] A female alternate universe variant of Johnny named Janet Cage appears in Mortal Kombat 1, initially as an NPC during the story mode before being added as a downloadable assist character, or "Kameo Fighter".[22]
Portrayal
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Ashby, who had practiced martial arts before he was cast in the role,[23] would later lend his voice and likeness to a downloadable skin for Cage in Mortal Kombat 11.[24]Pat E. Johnson, the first film's stunt choreographer, recommended Conrad as Ashby's replacement to Annihilation's producers.[25]
Appearances
Mortal Kombat games
Introduced in Mortal Kombat (1992), Johnny Cage is a martial artist and actor who is tricked by the sorcerer Shang Tsung into entering the latter's Mortal Kombat tournament to prove that he does not rely on special effects in his films and improve his marketability.[26][12] In the sequel Mortal Kombat II (1993), Johnny disappears from the set of his latest film to join Earthrealm's warriors, led by Mortal Kombat champion Liu Kang, in traveling to the otherworldly dimension of Outworld to compete in a second Mortal Kombat and save their world from Outworld tyrant, Shao Kahn.[27]
While Cage does not appear in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the 1996 compilation title Mortal Kombat Trilogy reveals he was killed by Shao Kahn's forces during the latter's invasion of Earthrealm and Johnny's journey to the afterlife was blocked due to the tyrant fusing Earthrealm with Outworld. Nonetheless, the merger restores Johnny's soul and allows him to help his allies defeat Shao Kahn once more before ascending to heaven.[28][29] In Mortal Kombat 4 (1997), at Johnny's request, Raiden revives him so he can join his friends in fighting the disgraced former deity Shinnok.[30]
In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002), Johnny is in the midst of shooting a film based on his death and resurrection titled The Death of Johnny Cage when Raiden recruits him for a new mission in Outworld.[31] However, Johnny and his fellow Earthrealm warriors are killed while trying to stop the titular Deadly Alliance from resurrecting the Dragon King Onaga.[32] In Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004), the first installment in which Johnny is not playable, he and the Earthrealm warriors are resurrected and brainwashed by Onaga to serve as his slaves until they are eventually freed by reformed ninja Ermac and Liu Kang.[33][34][35]
Johnny returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (2006), in which he participates in the titular Armageddon to claim the elemental Blaze's godlike power, only to be killed once more. Additionally, according to his biography, Johnny became the de facto leader of Earthrealm's forces after he has multiple visions of Shinnok and fights to stop him from taking over Shao Kahn's empire.[36][37]
In Mortal Kombat (2011), due to Raiden altering the timeline to avert Armageddon, Johnny becomes a cocky and talkative martial arts actor and "a descendant of an ancient Mediterranean cult who bred warriors for the gods".[38][39] Additionally, he joins the Mortal Kombat tournament as a publicity stunt. While competing, he repeatedly flirts with Special Forces lieutenant Sonya Blade and initially sees the tournament as a joke until Raiden informs him of the consequences should Outworld win, convincing Johnny to join Earthrealm's warriors.[40][41] However, after defeating Reptile and Baraka, Johnny is beaten in the first competition by Earthrealm assassin Cyrax and eliminated from the second tournament by Ermac.[42][43] After Shao Kahn launches an invasion of Earthrealm and his wife Queen Sindel slaughters the rest of their comrades, Johnny and Sonya are left as the only survivors.[44]
In Mortal Kombat X (2015), which takes place two years after the previous game, Johnny inadvertently discovers his special powers while rescuing Sonya from Shinnok and assists Raiden in imprisoning Shinnok inside a magical amulet.[45][46] Johnny and Sonya later get married and have a daughter, Cassie Cage, but they divorce due to Sonya's commitment to her career.[47] A further twenty-five years later, Johnny joins a secret Special Forces unit under Sonya's command.[48] With help from his followers, Shinnok escapes from his amulet, kidnaps Johnny, and corrupts the source of Earthrealm's life force.[46] Having inherited her father's powers, Cassie defeats Shinnok, rescues Johnny, and reunites the Cage family.[49]
In Mortal Kombat 11 (2019), which takes place another two years after the previous game, Johnny and Cassie grieve over Sonya's death following a Special Forces attack on the Netherrealm.[50] After the keeper of time Kronika causes a time storm in an attempt to remove Raiden from history, past versions of Johnny and Sonya are brought to the present.[51] Disgusted by his younger self's arrogance and misconduct around his version of Sonya, the present Johnny works with him to improve his attitude. Though the older Johnny successfully defends the Special Forces base from Kronika's forces, he is injured in battle,[52] while his and Sonya's younger counterparts are kidnapped and forced to fight for the Black Dragon crime cartel's entertainment. After Cassie leads a Special Forces unit to rescue them, the younger Johnny becomes inspired to be more like his future self.[53] In the DLC story expansion Aftermath, the younger Johnny attempts to take part in a joint Earthrealm/Outworld assault on Kronika's keep, only to be ambushed by Shao Kahn and Sindel, who take him and his family prisoner.[54]
In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), after Fire God Liu Kang creates a second new timeline while stopping Kronika, Johnny has become a powerless and struggling actor whose expensive lifestyle drives away his ex-wife, Christina, whom he married before becoming famous.[55] Not long after, he is confronted by former yakuza member Kenshi Takahashi, who seeks one of his recent purchases and a sacred Takahashi family sword, Sento. Their fight is interrupted by Liu Kang, who recruits them to represent Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat tournament.[56] Though Raiden is chosen as champion, Liu Kang sends the remaining representatives to capture Shang Tsung. All throughout, Johnny films his exploits to use as inspiration for future film projects and bonds with Kenshi. After the latter loses his eyes while saving him from a Tarkat-infected Princess Mileena, Johnny eventually and willingly gives Sento to Kenshi in return.[57] Following Shang Tsung's defeat, Johnny creates a multi-media franchise based on his adventures to gradually introduce Earthrealm to Outworld.[58][59] In addition to the "prime" Johnny, Janet Cage of a gender-inverted timeline appears as a downloadable assist character, or "Kameo Fighter",[citation needed] while Lieutenant Colonel Johnathan Cage of a World War II-esque timeline appears in the Khaos Reigns DLC.[60]
Johnny Cage appears in Mortal Kombat (1995), portrayed by Linden Ashby. He, Liu Kang, and Sonya Blade are chosen by Raiden to participate in the eponymous tournament, with Johnny agreeing to prove himself as a legitimate fighter after being tricked by Shang Tsung. Johnny goes on to defeat Scorpion and Goro before Liu Kang replaces him in the final round.[61] Additionally, Cage appears in the prequel Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins.[62]
Johnny Cage makes a minor appearance in Mortal Kombat Annihilation, portrayed by Chris Conrad. Amidst Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm, Sonya is taken hostage. Johnny successfully saves her, but is killed by the tyrant in the process.[63]
Johnny Cage appears in Mortal Kombat: Legacy, portrayed again by Matt Mullins in the first season and Casper Van Dien in the second season. This version is an unemployed television actor who had previously starred in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. In his self-titled episode, Cage, desperate to revive his flailing career, pitches reality show pilots that depict him engaging in vigilantism. However, he is rejected by two executives, one of whom would then steal his idea and pitch it to another actor. After assaulting the executive and two security guards, Shang Tsung approaches Cage to recruit him as a fighter for Outworld in the Mortal Kombat tournament.[66] Cage declines before reluctantly joining Raiden's warriors in representing Earthrealm in the tournament.[67] Van Dien compared his career trajectory to that of Cage in a 2013 interview with MTV.[68]
While Johnny Cage was excluded from Mortal Kombat (2021), with director Simon McQuoid explaining that the main cast was already established when he had joined the production and feeling that Cage was "a very tricky, complex character" and a "big personality ... that has such a gravitational force around him [that] everything would have started to orbit around him", a reference to him appears at the end of the movie, when Cole Young (Lewis Tan) departs to scout more champions for Earthrealm, passing by the poster of a Cage movie, hinting at him being recruited in the future.[72] Cage will appear in Mortal Kombat 2, portrayed by Karl Urban.[4]
Johnny Cage appears in Malibu Comics' Mortal Kombat comic book miniseries Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder (1994), which adapts the original game,[73] and Mortal Kombat: Battlewave (1995), which sees Cage resuming his acting career before he and his personal bodyguard Bo join Jax Briggs in traveling to Outworld to investigate an attack carried out by Goro.[74] He appears in DC Comics' Mortal Kombat X: Blood Ties, which is set before the events of the game.[75]
Cage has been rated among the top Mortal Kombat characters by various gaming media publications,[84][85][86][87] and his Fatality finishing moves over the course of his series appearances have been positively received.[88][89][90][91] Brad Nicholson of Destructoid enthused in 2008 that Cage was "easily the best character in a fighting game ever."[92] However, Shea Serrano of Grantland rated Cage as the second-worst of Mortal Kombat II's characters in 2012, on the basis of his skill being "overtaken almost entirely by his own ego."[93] In her 2015 review of Mortal Kombat X, Maddy Myers of Eurogamer questioned what she felt was the implausibility of the "white-as-snow" union of Cage and Sonya.[94]
Critical reception of Cage's characterization in the Mortal Kombat games and alternate media has been mixed. Chris Buffa of GameDaily wrote: "If you can't marry Brad Pitt, you can always settle for Mortal Kombat's Johnny Cage."[95]GamesRadar considered Cage a combination of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Nicolas Cage, and Robert Downey, Jr.[96] Writing for Complex, Elton Jones declared that Cage "embodies Hollywood's overpaid jerk persona perfectly,"[97] while Hanuman Welch considered Cage an exemplification of overconfidence and self-delusion, as well as a "spokesperson of the obnoxious Ed Hardy crowd."[98] Mark Walton of GameSpot castigated Cage in the 2011 reboot game as sexist and arrogant.[99] In their review of Mortal Kombat 11, the Washington Post enjoyed the interactions presented between the young and the old Cage as they gave elements that helped to make the narrative more appealing.[100] Fans have praised Cage's gameplay, specifically his combos and sunglasses finishes in Mortal Kombat 1.[101]
Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek praised Linden Ashby's performance in the first Mortal Kombat film as "a perfect idea of" Cage's personality.[86] R. L. Shaffer of IGN was critical of Cage's "illogical character arc" as a former Power Rangers actor in Mortal Kombat: Legacy as he felt it was "disconnected" from Cage's role in the games,[102] but Carl Lyon of Fearnet opined in his 2013 second-season review that Casper Van Dien's portrayal of the character made Cage "the loveable asshole we all know and love."[103] In the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 film, Bradley Russell of GamesRadar+ felt that Karl Urban's Johnny "is suitably obnoxious."[104]
Notes
↑ A fighting game tactic in which players strategically keep opponents at a specific distance onscreen.
Related Research Articles
Mortal Kombat Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts fantasy film directed by John R. Leonetti in his directorial debut. Based on the Mortal Kombat video game franchise, it is the second installment in the Mortal Kombat film series and a sequel to the original 1995 film, on which Leonetti served as cinematographer. Largely adapted from the 1995 video game Mortal Kombat 3, Annihilation follows Liu Kang and his allies as they attempt to prevent the malevolent Shao Kahn from conquering Earthrealm. It stars Robin Shou as Liu Kang, Talisa Soto as Kitana, James Remar as Raiden, Sandra Hess as Sonya Blade, Lynn “Red” Williams as Jax and Brian Thompson as Shao Kahn. Only Shou and Soto reprised their roles, with the other characters from the previous film being recast.
Sub-Zero is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A warrior from the fictional Lin Kuei clan, he possesses ability to control ice in many forms. He is the only fighter to appear in every main installment of the series, along with the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997).
Shao Kahn is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as emperor of the fictional realm Outworld, he is one of the franchise's primary villains. Feared for his immense strength, which he complements with a large hammer, and knowledge of black magic, Shao Kahn seeks conquest of all the realms, including Earth. He serves as the main antagonist final boss of Mortal Kombat II (1993), Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) and its updates, and the 2011 reboot, as well as the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005). An amalgam of Shao Kahn and DC Comics villain Darkseid also appears as the main antagonist and final boss of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008) under the name Dark Kahn. A younger persona known as General Shao appears in Mortal Kombat 1 (2023).
Shang Tsung is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted as the final boss in the original 1992 game and has remained one of the franchise's primary characters. A powerful sorcerer, he is principally defined by his abilities to shapeshift into other characters and to absorb the souls of defeated warriors. Shang Tsung is usually portrayed as the right-hand man of Outworld emperor Shao Kahn and the archenemy of Shaolin monk Liu Kang. He also appeared in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002), alongside Quan Chi as the eponymous Deadly Alliance, as well as in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (2020) and Mortal Kombat 1 (2023).
This is a list of playable and boss characters from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between various realms. Most characters fight on behalf of their realm, with the primary heroes defending Earthrealm against conquering villains from Outworld and the Netherrealm. Early installments feature the characters participating in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to decide their realm's fate. In later installments, Earthrealm is often invaded by force.
Jade is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. She debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a hidden opponent and first became playable in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995). Her primary weapon is a steel bō staff.
Jackson "Jax" Briggs is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as the leader of a Special Forces unit, he became a mainstay of the series, including as the protagonist of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (2000). The character is distinguished by his metal bionic arms, which he first received in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), and his abilities are based around his upper-body strength.
Kitana is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat media franchise originally by Midway Games and later by NetherRealm Studios. Debuting in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a player character and as a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. She uses steel fans as her primary weapon. In the series, Kitana is aligned with multiple characters, especially Mileena who originally served as her clone, however, as the series evolves, Mileena suddenly becomes the older sister of Kitana and takes her place being the empress of Outworld. Kitana also shares the relationship as the love interest for the series' protagonist Liu Kang.
Kung Lao is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a Shaolin monk and close friend of series protagonist Liu Kang, and his trademark characteristic is his wide razor-brimmed hat that he uses as a weapon. Kung Lao is depicted as one of the series' primary heroes, including a main role in the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005).
Kenshi Takahashi is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He makes his series debut in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002) as a blind swordsman and Special Forces operative. In addition to his sword skills, he possesses telekinetic abilities.
Scorpion is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A ninja dressed in yellow, his primary weapon is a kunai rope dart, which he uses to harpoon opponents. Since his debut in the original 1992 game, Scorpion has appeared as a playable character in every main installment except Mortal Kombat 3 (1995).
Sonya Blade is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. She debuted in the original 1992 game as the roster's sole female fighter, a military officer with the Special Forces. In the storyline of the games, Sonya becomes involved with the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament through pursuit of her archenemy, the criminal leader Kano. She subsequently joins the warriors defending Earthrealm and establishes a government agency dedicated to battling otherworldly threats. The series' rebooted timeline also depicts her as the love interest to martial arts actor Johnny Cage and the mother of their daughter Cassie. A mainstay of the franchise, Sonya has also appeared in various media outside of the games. Reception to the character has been generally positive, with respect to her role as one of Mortal Kombat's primary female fighters. Though, some of her outfits in the games have received criticism.
Mortal Kombat is an American media franchise centered on a series of fighting video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992.
Mortal Kombat is a 2011 fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the ninth main installment in the Mortal Kombat series and a soft reboot of the series. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems in April 2011, and a PlayStation Vita port was released in May 2012. An expanded version of the game, titled Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition, was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in February 2012 and for Microsoft Windows in July 2013.
Liu Kang is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as Earthrealm's greatest warrior and champion, he debuted in the original 1992 game as a Shaolin monk with special moves, which were intended to be the easiest for players to perform. Since his introduction, Liu Kang has appeared as playable in every main installment except Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002). He is also one of the protagonists of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005).
Raiden is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Based on the Japanese deity Raijin, he is depicted as the god of thunder who possesses control over lightning. He debuted in the original 1992 game and has appeared as a playable character in every main installment except Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) and its first update. In the storyline of the games, Raiden is the protector of Earthrealm. He fulfills his duty by selecting and training the warriors who defend Earthrealm from various threats, while also participating directly in the realm's defense. Raiden generally serves as a mentor figure to the franchise's heroes, although he sometimes assumes a darker role in the story, which sees him become more ruthless in his protection of the realm. One of the franchise's central characters, Raiden has appeared in various related media outside of the Mortal Kombat games, including guest appearances in NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1995), NFL Blitz (1997), Unreal Championship 2 (2005), and Injustice 2 (2017). He has generally received a positive reception and is among the series' most popular characters for his design and special abilities.
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Cassie Cage is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by NetherRealm Studios. She debuted in Mortal Kombat X (2015) as the daughter of martial arts actor Johnny Cage and Special Forces officer Sonya Blade. Possessing the fighting prowess of her parents, she follows their footsteps by becoming a Special Forces soldier and leading a new generation of warriors in defending Earthrealm. Cassie is featured as the main hero of Mortal Kombat X's story mode and plays a prominent role in her other appearances.
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Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms is a 2021 American direct-to-video adult animated martial arts film, directed by Ethan Spaulding from a screenplay by Jeremy Adams, based on the Mortal Kombat franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, it is the second installment in the Legends series and a direct sequel to Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020). Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and animated by Studio Mir, Boon returned from the predecessor as creative consultant.
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