X Of Swords Proves It's Marvel's Turn For A Mortal Kombat Krossover

The X-Men's X of Swords tournament showcased exactly why Marvel and Mortal Kombat were made for each other in a comic crossover.

Ever since the days of 1943s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, audiences have had a craving for crossovers. Now, in the mold of films like King Kong vs. Godzilla and Freddy vs. Jason, video games have gotten in on the action. Marvel may have crossed over before with titans of gaming like Capcom, but the stunning X of Swords run proves once and for all that the Marvel Comics Universe’s true gaming home is with Mortal Kombat.

Most fighting games, due to their central premise, revolve around the notion of a combat tournament of some kind. Mortal Kombat, however, stands out from the rest by taking the formula established in the martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon, and adding a multiverse of planes and dimensions, all battling one another in the name of conquest. Mortal Kombat has used this multidimensional concept to great effect in the past. Most notably in their 2008 game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. But the fun doesn’t need to stop there, and considering the Mortal Kombat setup holds a striking resemblance to the premise of Marvel Comics’ X of Swords: Creation #1 (by Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, VC’s Clayton Cowles and Tom Muller), where Lady Opal Luna Saturnyne forestalls Arakko’s invasion of Krakoa through a tournament of swords, it seems Marvel Comics deserves their chance to tussle with the forces of Earthrealm and Outworld.

A Fight To The Death, But No License To Kill

Unfortunately, despite the perfect alignment of theme and content introduced by the X of Swords run between the Marvel Comics Universe and Mortal Kombat, the likelihood of such a crossover is unlikely. With Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. having ownership of both DC Entertainment and the Mortal Kombat franchise it would be a licensing minefield, and one in which the DCU is likely to always receive special treatment. Yet the legal entanglements it would entail shouldn’t stop diehard fans from speculating on just how awesome a Marvel Komics vs Mortal Kombat title could be.

Thanks to X of Swords’ narrative of different realms fighting a tournament in order to win the right of conquest over another, the Marvel Comics Universe already has a step-up over the DCU in terms of storytelling suitability for a potential crossover. While Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was certainly an enjoyable title, it failed to integrate the two fictive universes in a way that made the most out of the premise. Though fun, Midway Games simply mashed together the two universes, literally, prompting repeated bouts of conflict based on little more than false pretences and a little mystic urging from the game’s final boss, the combined form of Darkseid and Shao Kahn, Dark Kahn.

Marvel Kombat Is A Recipe For Success

Marvel could improve upon the previous attempt by combing story and theme in addition to character and setting. Mysterious Elder Gods speaking through the Omniversal Majestrix Opal Luna Saturnyne could oversee a new Mortal Kombat Tournament of Swords. Pitting both heroes and villains alike drawn from the length and breadth of the Marvel Comics Universe against those drawn from the realms of Mortal Kombat. A more grounded justification for the tournament, one that actually justified the kind of one on one combat found in the fighting game format would enhance ever facet of the potential crossover.

The Marvel Comics Universe also provides a character roster better suited to face off against that of Mortal Kombat. While the DCU does have excellent candidates like Batman and the Joker, whose appearance as a guest character in later Mortal Kombat titles was a sheer delight, its preponderance of godlike entities made for a distractingly uneven balance.

Street-level heroes and villains like the Punisher, Blade and Daredevil make a far better match for the fighters of the Mortal Kombat universe. Further to this, the Marvel Universe’s characters tend to have a greater association with personal weaponry of the kind that would suit the crossover perfectly. Thor’s hammer, Wolverine’s claws and even Captain America’s shield would not only contrast fantastically against Shao Kahn’s hammer, Baraka’s blades and Kung Lao’s hat, but they also lend themselves well to special moves that would fit right into the previous games input styles.

Its Time For Marvel To Draw Some Blood

Mortal Kombat’s place in video game history is well-earned, and one can’t talk about Mortal Kombat without talking about blood. Famous for its fatalities, the long-running series has captured attention and drawn ire for its spectacularly bloody finishing moves. While the Marvel Comics Universe is typically more restrained in its willingness to draw blood, it has spilled its own share of pints. A potential crossover would be a perfect excuse for Marvel to let some of its bad boys off the leash and revel in the freedom Mortal Kombat offers.

Characters like Blade, the Punisher and Wolverine are practically begging to bust out some fatalities. After all, cutting up ninjas is a favorite pastime of many in the Marvel Comics Universe, and Mortal Kombat has a seemingly endless supply. The chance then to see fan favorites, free to slay beyond the confines of Marvel Comics storytelling, is not something fans would want to miss. Because who wouldn’t want to see what Spider-Man could do with a fatality.

Marvel/Mortal Kombat Will Have More Than Brawls

The potential crossover works from a technical standpoint as well. The X of Swords tournament isn’t simply fought with its eponymous blades. It incorporates everything from drinking competitions, catwalk modeling, eating contests to arm wrestling. Given the Mortal Kombat franchise’s history of mini-games like Test Your Might and Test Your Sight, the Otherworld tournament’s peculiarities could work as a fine addition to the typical Mortal Kombat formula.

Marvel Kombat is unlikely ever to grace fan’s screens, but it's a fine idea as a thought experiment. Who knows if audiences will ever get the chance to see Scorpion fight Spider-Man, but after weighing up the idea, there is only one thing to say about a Marvel Kombat Krossover, and that is “Get over here!”