NOTE: This is the recap page for Mortal Kombat's tie-in comic and the endings for each playable character.
For ages, The Shaolin Tournament was a contest where warriors from all over the world fought for honor and glory. One of those warriors was a man named Shang Tsung, who quickly became grand champion. But Shang Tsung was cursed by the gods to keep his life by taking the souls of his slain foes, and through this method kept himself young. Until one day, Tsung was defeated by a noble Shaolin warrior named Kung Lao, who overpowered the over-confident sorcerer.Years later, after the mysterious death of one of the three tournament grandmasters, Shang Tsung returned, his body aged rapidly from lack of souls. He brought with him the Outworlder Goro, a four-armed brute of a man. Although Kung Lao fought long and hard, in the end, Goro won. This began Shang Tsung’s domination over the Tournament, eventually alienating the Shaolin and provide Tsung with his desired immortality.
500 years later, in the present day, a young Shaolin named Liu Kang is invited to take part in the Tournament. Although his masters fear that Kang losing would forever prevent the Shaolin from re-taking the contest, Kang believes that Goro has undoubtable grown overconfident from a 500 year-long winning streak. With advice to keep his mind and spirit in balance, Liu Kang is granted permission to leave his temple and compete in the Tournament.
Two weeks later, at a seedy dock in Hong Kong, action movie star Johnny Cage boards the ship that will take him to Shang Tsung’s Tournament. Cage’s agent Chuck worries for the actor’s safety, pointing out that the Tournament is not sponsored by any martial art organization. Cage is optimistic, however, and believes that the Tournament is run by quality people.
Further downtown, a high speed chase is going on as a van full of Special Forces soldiers pursue members of the Black Dragon gang. Kano, high-ranking member of the gang, plans on entering the Tournament, believing rumors that Shang Tsung’s palace is made of gold. He ditches his jeep and heads to the docks, with Lt. Sonya Blade in hot pursuit. Kano is able to board the Tsung’s ship just as it leaves the dock, distracting Blade by setting an oil drum to explode. Rather than risk injuring the boat’s other passengers with her firearms, Blade decides to have her unit continue the pursuit at sea.
In rural Japan, Shang Tsung walks among the mountains, and calls out to Raiden, the God of Thunder. The sorcerer issues a challenge for Raiden, inviting the god to compete in the Tournament. While not impressed by Tsung’s pretensions, Raiden accepts the invitation, but warns that he will crush any who oppose him. Pleased, Tsung reminds the god that the Tournament will take place in his domain…
Back on the boat, Kano quickly gets into a fight with Cage, taunting the actor over his lack of stuntmen. Kang intervenes, and takes down Kano’s fellow thugs while Cage beats the criminal with his patented Shadow Kick. Observing this is Sub-Zero, an assassin for China’s Lin Kuei Clan. However, he is accosted by Scorpion, another warrior Sub-Zero killed two years ago. Scorpion has made a pact with demons for a chance to avenge his death, but instead of murdering Sub-Zero on the boat, plans to do so in the Tournament.
Soon, the boat, and other boats carrying more competitors, arrive at the island where Shang Tsung holds the Tournament. Greeting the assembled warriors, Tsung reveals that he has captured Blade’s unit, and is forcing her to compete to spare the lives of the other soldiers. While Raiden, Sub-Zero and Scorpion are neutral to this turn of events, Kano is excited, and Cage and Kang are disgusted by Tsung's actions. Goro, Grand Champion, declares, “LET THE TOURNAMENT BEGIN!”
