MORTAL KOMBAT

THE SHADOW AND THE SHAOLIN

A TRIBUTE TO KITANA BY LUIZ MICTIAN
 WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY LUIZ MICTIAN
Edited by MARINA PAK

THIS IS NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

The purpose of this work is to study illustration, matte painting,

storytelling and comic book editing.
And last but not least, make a tribute to one of the most
powerful women in the video game history.

This is a fan art experiment using the characters of Mortal Kombat

video game franchise created by Ed Boon and NetherRealm Studios.

This fan art comic book is not endorsed, sponsored or authorized

by © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

MORTAL KOMBAT, THE DRAGON LOGO, and all related characters

and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

THIS COMIC CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE.

luizmictian.deviantart.com
 Long ago,
in the darkest of
times, in an era marked
by chaos and betrayal
among gods, warriors
were clashing over
realms only to be
hit by bloodthirsty
fate.

So dreadful
was this age that
the Elder gods feared
for existence itself.
Seeking to balance
rivalries between Realms
they founded a sacred
tournament as a
last appeal to
order.

Then, the
fates of entire
worlds were decided
by fists. To dash back
or forward. To strike
or to parry. To kill or
be killed. This fighting
tournament was
named...

Mortal Kombat.

Since its
inception, we have
marveled at the
slaughter of the weak
and witnessed the
strongest warriors get
revenge, gain power
and even eternal
life.
For many
generations, spectacles
of blood and carnage
have taken place bringing
us closer to claiming the
most desired treasure
of all--

earthrealm!
 As the Elder
Gods proclaimed,
after ten consecutive
defeats a realm is
declared too weak
to evolve or and so far,
protect itself. we, the realm
of outworld, have
stood victorious for
nine times against
earthrealm. The tenth
tournament is
coming.

and this is why

I’ve summoned
you here today,
my friends. my warriors,
my family.
 In this
room, I’m standing
before the greatest
Kombatants I have
ever seen:

fighters
with exceptional
skills and
abilities,

soldiers from
the ancient times.
assassins and
champions.

You all have

been serving
me honorably
and fiercely!

However,
given that we are
And together so close to achieve
we shall cast the our purpose, I do
Elder Gods down, not wish to defy
crush their pathetic their stupid laws
existence and create yet,
a new everlasting due to
world in their which I cannot
stead. send all of you to
the tournament.
Choices have to
be made.
 Give me
this honor,
father!
Choose me
as your champion
and Earthrealm
will fall at your
feet.
My sole
aim is to pierce
their warriors
and decorate our
new home with
their heads on
spikes.

That would
be delightful.
Mileena,
but your
training is not
finished yet, and I
wouldn’t risk your
life like this.
Moreover,
I have already
assigned you to
a very particular
mission.

Now, I wish to
hear a different
perspective from
the one who has Princess
brought death to Kitana!
legions of our
enemies.

I sense
you’ve been
quite distant
in the last few
meetings. It’s
time you
spoke.

when
you know my
It’s not opinion on
necessary this matter.
to ask...
 The desire
to ensure a victory
begets unreasonable
doubts, especially if
we consider an
old established
strategy.
The things I’ve
The craving seen in almost
for laurels inspirits ten millennia led
many to volunteer me to believe that
but eventually leads victory belongs
to embarrassment. to the powerful

When glory is regardless of

at our doorstep, their motives
who bears the and wishes.
honor to receive
its wonders? This
is what you are
truly asking
me.

And speaking
of “sole aim”, I
was there to witness
Prince Goro defeat
Earthrealm’s
mightiest warrior.
Shang Tsung,
For instance, The Great
was punished Kung Lao was a
for abusing dark legend fighting
magic five hundred for a greater
years ago, yet cause.
he managed to Yet Goro
take over the snapped his
tournament to neck like a
our benefit. twig.
Did he
atone for his
crimes then?

by any
chance, was
his cause
noble ?

In my long We should end

life I have never this idle meeting
known anyone right now and
who could start making
overcome the provisions for
power of Shang the invasion.
Tsung or Prince
Goro. That’s
The idea what I think,
of replacing father!
them is as
foolish as it
is insulting.
 oh!
How nice
of you to state
the obvious, But let
Ko’atal! me remind you
that our will to
carry the banner
of Outworld at the
tournament is not
out of vanity.

The princess
is right. Our
common aim is to
win the tournament.
For a total victory
over Earthrealm we
must follow our
reliable strategy.
We can’t let
ourselves be
misled by vanity
and personal
desires.

It is out
of loyalty
and immense
gratitude to
our Emperor.

In his
infinite wisdom,
he knows each
of us is willing
to die for him,
if need be.

Oh,
glorious
emperor,
you...
...

...
...

Humph.

dismissed!
 kitana!
you stay.

You know And that’s a

You have I’ve always mistake right
been very questioned here.
my warriors’ If you
impatient lately, question
my daughter. Your loyalties to keep
them in line. loyalty, you
words were assume treachery.
quite harsh. Perhaps you
even invite it.
I guess
You and I
are quite
different in
this regard.
 I’ve been
looking back at
the day when you
brought Mileena to
the court claiming
you had finally
found your long
missing daughter. All this
time I have been
wondering how that
is possible. A missing
sister under our
very nose.

You said you

thought she was
dead, and you were as
shocked as everybody
else, when you
discovered the And now, after
truth. all these years, she
hasn’t changed a bit.
Still petulant, selfish,
vainglorious and reckless.
Blinded by the same vague
ambition that haunts every
single member of this
council.

As you can
see, father, I
don’t call loyalty I told you
into question, but I didn’t know
this whole story she was alive
gets shady in the until I found
course of time. her raised by
the tarkatans.
It was as
overwhelming to
me as It was to
you. I recognized
her by the eyes.
You both take
after your
mother.

Yes, No doubt
except that you’ve been my
she inherited greatest assassin
impulsiveness whereas I and my most
from our inherited a keen trusted adviser.
Tarkatan mind to destroy And this is what
ancestors, our enemies, I need from you
which I have right now:
done since the
beginning of to be
time. the sharpest
dagger against
my enemies.

when

ch
 Discussing
the lineage of
our family is not
important. We must Something
turn from such I could not And you
thoughts and set say in front of must not
purpose towards the others. An fail!
a more urgent important task I
concern. require you
to do.

When the
Great Kung Lao was
defeated by Goro many
generations ago, the shadow
priests from the ancient
monastery foretold the coming
of a powerful warrior--a ...And this
possessor of unique fighting warrior might prove
skills--appearing at the last to be the chosen one
moment when all hope by the Elder Gods, and
seemed gone. thus hinder the merging
of the realms. Perhaps
strong enough to
defeat even
Shang Tsung.
 Yet your
and that’s father believes
what he told it might hold true,
me that day, and confided it
Jade! only to you, so no
one would know
about his
A mission doubts.
to watch the
kombatants and You offend
kill the most against reason
likely candidate, when you give
if necessary. an ear to such
fallacies, I
And prove say.
this prophecy
to be nothing
but a delusion
of fools.

So do
you believe this
praying man is the
candidate to hinder He is not
our dominion over praying; he is
Earthrealm? channeling his
energy--a shadow of
power he doesn’t
want to reveal
yet.
 And no!--
I don’t believe
this prophecy to
be true, Jade, but
judging from what
I have seen, this
mortal certainly
stands out.

His name is
Liu Kang,

and he Fine, but why

is a shaolin not kill him
warrior of The stealthily? Why
White Lotus does it have to
Society. be kombat?

Lord Raiden,
the Thunder God
and protector of
Earthrealm, won’t
leave his side. A So In
suspicious fact, exchange we
if you ask me. get to challenge
one of them.
The only A shrewd
way to approach maneuver!
the Shaolin had to
be an arranged fight Now two
under Raiden’s approval. earthrealmers will
An impossible deal, it conveniently perish
seemed, until something today. And this...
completely unexpected prophecy rumor
pressed our will be put
advantage-- to rest.

Earthrealm’s
actor Johnny cage
was mad enough to
challenge Prince
Goro.
At first,
Shang Tsung
wanted to deny
such a foolish
request, but I
asked him to
reconsider
that.
 For them,
you mean.

And If Earthrealm
nothing will loses this
stop us from tournament again,
conquering Your they will lose
Earthrealm. mockery is everything.
unwelcome. You I’ve always
oh, gods! should know supported your
There is too father’s claim and his
Of course! I much at stake ambition to see Outworld’s
have forgotten here. ascension, but I’ve never
how desperate favored the bloodshed
I am to invade of innocents. And should
Earthrealm! we win, a massacre upon
Earthrealm is
inevitable.
Perhaps I’ve
gone soft, for
I miss the wars of
yore--the times when
we used to hunt
down real enemies
rather than...

--Earthrealm’s
sheep.

A Point
well made,
Jade. now,
Come! Shang
Tsung is
waiting.

K: Let’s go. Shang Tsung is

waiting.
 LIU KANG!
Stand up, I
--And Shang say!
Tsung has waited
for too long to
taste the glory.

Since the
beginning of this
tournament you have
fought bravely against
formidable warriors and
achieved remarkable
victories, but before
facing me in kombat, I . I’ve spoken
will require of you with Lord Raiden,
one final task. and he was willing to
let me arrange a new
challenge for you, in
return, of course, for
my acceptance of your
fellow Johnny cage’s so here
request. we stand.

Now let me
introduce you to
the most dangerous
adversary you will
ever face,
Liu Kang.
A formidable
immortal warrior far
above your station,
Outworld’s greatest
assassin, the daughter
of emperor Shao Kahn,
and heir to his
empire--
--Princess
Kitana!
 Now,
stand in
position!

fight.
 !!
HYAh

Liu Kang se defende e esquiva por

pouco na maioria das vezes. Kitana
ataca agressivamente.

h!!!
ooi A A
 h!
uoh

Kitana imobiliza Liu Kang.

When your mind is not in the

kombat, you disrespect your
oponent, mortal!
 I confess
myself
disappointed,
earthrealmer. Did you
know It is a
serious offense
when your mind
is not on the
fight?

tsk,tsk,tsk.

Too easy!

I didn’t So tell
come here me,
to waste my
time with an
apprentice, why do
you fight?

What madness
possessed you
to come here
and defy the
strongest?
 Why do
you care for
what I think,
assassin?
 Why do you
bother what’s
inside my head if
you’re going to
cut it off and Good to
deliver it to know you can
your father? predict your
own future,
shaolin!

Is this what
life means for
an immortal--
kill the
living for
sport?
iAh!
 I wonder
whether you are
a weapon or a
warrior capable
of judgment,

huo
h!

or maybe
neither! And what
stands before me
is just another I thought
demon. you would be a
worthy opponent,
but even for an
immortal,

this is a
waste of
time.

show
me your best
techniques, then!
and I will do
the same.
 Pff!
Your best
will prove to
be nothing!

aah
h!
 You have
refinement
and incredible
You precision in
really are your moves,
an ancient
warrior. but I
sense war is
in your mind
No mortal and this anger
man has such unbalances you
a skill. as a result.

Wars have Perhaps

been my garden I should give
for too long, you a reason to
Shaolin. I don’t It’s rather fight after I kill
need anger to an honorable all your friends
kill you. end to a and reduce your
warrior whose realm to
mind lacks ruins!
purpose.
 I would Be glad to find death by
never let
you--
Stop wasting
my blades.
my time.
reveal your
true power

or Die!

I was saving
this for Shang
Tsung, but you
give me no
choice!
Kitana leva golpes pesados,
!
oi Ah!

uohh!

o último é um soco de fogo na barri-

 !
hm!
whAt?

aahh!
uohh
!
L
r
 I will
answer
your
question.

I cannot
even imagine how
many souls you have
harvested in your
immortal life: armies,
empires or an entire
realm perhaps. But
how many have you
actually saved?
I am just
a mortal but I
carry the onerous
burden of protecting
millions. And that’s
the very reason I
stand against my
enemies.
Now I’m
asking you the
same question:
Why do you
fight, warrior?
Shaolin!
 but--
oh!

No!
Kitana,
You cannot let
him win! It’s
against the rules.
You have to fight
and Finish him!
FINISH HIM!

finish him!

Thank
you for
this lesson,
warrior.

I hope we
can meet again
under different
circumstances.

An Outstanding
victory, Liu Kang!
I’M proud of
you.

I can’t
stand this any
longer, Lord
Raiden! I want to
fight Shang Tsung
now and end
this!
 K: As he should be.
I understimated him and I lost the
kombat.
Well, Instead I
I must say I underestimated
was expecting my enemy and
a headless lost the fight.
Shaolin, There is nothing
instead... to discuss.

Nonsense!
You won’t fool
me. I once saw you
defeat hundreds
of enemies at war,
absent wounds.

You were
testing him!
WHY?

We are
soldiers, Kitana!
Our purpose is
simple: defend
your empire
You do and follow
remember the commands.
conquests, Jade,
but can you recall But you have
the reason for all to question things.
that bloodshed? Every once in a while
I see you ignore your
father’s orders when
I just you consider having a
wonder if power better alternative, but
should really be put this time he will not
over purpose; an be as forgiving.
old belief I never
questioned until This is
now. Mortal Kombat,
and you just
let a weak
mortal live.
 Now you
should talk
sense! A moment
ago you said you I’m not
were against the talking about
bloodshed of kombat skills. For
innocents. all we know, he
can beat Shang
And what do Tsung... or even
you mean by the emperor.
“weak”? Did you
by any chance see I’m talking
the energy about soul
he released strength.
at me?

We’ve been
assassins for
ages, Kitana! How Would it
long have we not be better to
crossed the fine kill Liu Kang before
line between Shang Tsung absorbs
light and total his soul? If the
darkness? mortal loses, I’m
afraid he will face
a fate far worse
after many than death.
millennia, I’ve To destroy
lost count. the Shaolin, all
one has to do is
kill those he
loves.

and the
and how thunder god
long has knows it--
he?
 --and so This is
does Shang absolutely
Tsung! unacceptable,
Kitana!

How could
you have lost
to a weak You have
mortal like disgraced your
that? father, your realm
and everything
we’ve been
fighting for.

And you,
Goro! Do you
have anything to
say after that
humiliating defeat I should have
at the hands of you both thrown
Johnny Cage? onto the spikes
in the pit as we
do to verminous
losers like you
two.

That’s
enough,
sorcereR!
 As I already
said, I understand I What
brought shame upon did you
our realm, and I But if you say? you dare
alone intend to face speak to me in
the consequences such manner again threaten
of my actions. or even attempt to me?
hurl another insult
to my face, Liu Kang
will have no one
to face in the final
challenge.

good
evening!
Apologies
for the intrusion.
I need to speak
with princess
Kitana for a
moment.
 This is a
private meeting,
May I, Lord Raiden!
princess? How dare
you? She certainly
won’t speak
with you. It’s
completely
inappropriate.

Inappropriate
is assuming you
can speak for me,
Sorcerer, yet I
appreciate your time
and lecture.
Now, may
I have the
room for a
moment?

Have it
your way. But
remember where
your loyalties lie,
princess!

In this world,
It doesn’t matter
how important you
are. there isn’t
anyone...

irreplaceable!
 well...

Not even
the mighty
princess of
Outworld!
Come now,
Goro! Time for
retaliation!

I’d rather
spill this
snake’s blood,
when if you ask
a snake is me.
threatened,
venom is Now, how
spilled with can I help
greater you, Lord
ease. Raiden?

Yes!

...

Help? I’m going

to need your
help a lot in
the foreseeable
future.
Judging from
the past events
and today’s
unexpected
turn...
 Speak plainly,
Lord Raiden, for
my ears have heard
idle threats and
cursing.
A discontent
council awaits
me in Outworld,
alongside
emperor’s
unforgiving So, please,
wrath. Reveal your
intent or
leave!

I meant
no offense,
princess.

I only wish
to compliment you
for such an outstanding
fight. Not only for your
skills, but for your
judgment to restrain
yourself before a
horrific end.

To be honest,
I didn’t expect
this from
you.

I know we
are on opposing
sides, yet I see
a legendary warrior
like you understands
the code of
honor.
In these
dark times, I see
myself lost and
haunted by terrible
foresights--visions of
chaos, death and all
sorts of tragedies--
and to prevent such
misfortunes, actions
must be taken.

Sometimes
just lighting a
candle of hope,
like you did today,
might change
everything.
 And as the
initiative was yours,
it would be foolish
of me, as a protector
of Earthrealm, not
to reciprocate. Consider
this gift a simple
courtesy from
the elder
gods.

a reminder
that sometimes
we must face
defeat to see
the path to
victory.

a token of the elder gods

I don’t
understand!

May it be
a guiding light
when a shadow of
a doubt crosses
your mind.
 yes,
princess.

hm...

Did i?

I didn’t
let him win--
He was
Lord stronger.
Raiden, You
wait! chose him
wisely.

peace
be with you,
princess!

After many millennia,

I thought I had seen
everything there was
to see, but now it
seems fate pushes me to
question my old beliefs.
 Not only to Am I anxious
question, but to force about the shadow
my way into a maze of of things to come?
turmoil. Followed by Is it the taste
words of wisdom and of fear?
omens of chaos, the
gift from the Thunder
God is a dangerous
enigma.

Never have I ever

sought shelter from
raging tempests, yet I
feel this one is going
to hit full force.

Nonsense! in the end, (Perhaps) I am Nonsense.

After all,
the great shadow. there’s no
greater shadow
than mine.

LK: You could

I was
have stand?
wondering if
you would pass
this way.
 A wonderful
night, isn’t it?
I can’t help
admiring the
beauty of the
island. perhaps
you shouldn’t
Who knows trust your
what else it is eyes.
concealing?
Cruelty
often finds a
great ally in
beauty.

A conclusion
I have reached
today.

This beautiful
blade nearly killed
me, but tomorrow
the blast will come
from Shang Tsung’s
wrath, and it will be
horrendous.
Enemies
have many
forms, I
guess.
 Sometimes.
When he’s in the
best mood, which
is not the case
still today.
wounded!

Does your Lord Raiden was

Thunder God ever quite nervous. I
heal his champions guess this is the
after kombat? price you pay for
being the protector
of Earthrealm.

But it hasn’t
always been this way.
I have known him since I
was born, and one thing
is certain: he constantly
speaks in riddles meant to
impart a greater And one that
lesson. had a huge impact on
me was a story he
told me when I was
very young.

When I was
beginning my training,
he told me a tale of a
legendary princess from
a distant realm. A woman
of unique beauty and
skill--traits that made her
enemies hesitate to
stand against Hardened by
her. battle, she became
a weapon to forever
silence those who would
cross her path. In time,
she bragged about her
immortality and power
because she knew there
was none like her neither
in the Old nor the
New World.
 As ages passed,
slowly the memories
of her past began to fade
away. Eventually, they all
were gone, yet her youth
and beauty never waned.
A cold-hearted immortal,
drifting aimlessly in
life until--err--
Anyway,
maybe we should
change the
subject. This tale
doesn’t end
well, like many
other stories to
scare children into
behaving and
toeing the line.

this...
princess, As I said,
it is not a very
--ahem-- happy ending--
What
happened
to her?

She went
Blind!

because
she could not see
the demon she had
become and the
fiends around
her. What’s more,
there was
something even
worse--
 --With her
blindness she
couldn’t even see Yes,
her own shadow father!
plotting to kill
her. It is
just like you
suspected!

She couldn’t see that her own shadow was

hunting her.

groaaahh

Yes, father. It is just as

you suspected.

the end
SOME INSPIRATIONS
for the Story

for the kombat

for the ending

BAGUAZHANG REFERENCES

Mortal kombat Deadly alliance

Mortal KOmbat Unchained
Mortal Kombat Armageddon

freedommartialart.com

lotusneigong.net
 A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO:
“KITANA FAN PAGE”
(facebook.com/KitanaFanPage);
“THE KOMBAT TETHER”
(facebook.com/TheKombatTether);
all my deviantart followers;
and all the Mortal Kombat Community
around the world for the support
and feedback.

luizmictian.deviantart.com