Kano (Mortal Kombat)
Kano is a male video game character who features in Mortal Kombat.
Contents |
Biography
Original Timeline
Kano (加納) was a male human born in the modern age where he was a native of Earthrealm. According to one account, he was an orphaned child by his mother who was an American living in Tokyo. He came to be deported from Japan and was wanted in 35 different countries. By adulthood, he came to be the leader of the Black Dragon criminal organization. Afterwards, he was responsible for freeing several captured members of the Black Dragon syndicate with these including No Face, Tasia, Jarek and Tremor who were being detained at a Special Forces security facility. This was under the pretence that they would help him reform the criminal organisation but in reality he wanted to use them to slow down his pursuers that were Special Forces agents.
Kano entered Shang Tsung's Mortal Kombat tournament after hearing rumors that Tsung's palace was filled with gold and other riches: Kano intended to steal them for the Black Dragon. At that time, the Black Dragon was the primary target of the U.S. Special Forces and would remain so for a number of years. He was pursued by Lt. Sonya Blade, who held a personal grudge against Kano because he had killed her former partner. While Kano was free to take part in the tournament of his own accord, Sonya and her unit were captured by Shang Tsung's minions. Tsung offered Sonya an ultimatum: compete in Mortal Kombat, or she and her unit would be executed. If she won, they would all be free to go. Sonya and Kano survived the tournament but many others died, including Sonya's men. After the final battle between Shang Tsung and Liu Kang, Kano teamed up with Sonya and Johnny Cage to fight Goro. During the battle, Shang Tsung's Island began to crumble because of Shang Tsung's defeat and before they knew it, Kano and Sonya found themselves in a forest in Outworld. They were found and captured by Shang Tsung. Kano and Sonya both spent the duration of the second tournament chained up on display in Shao Kahn's arena, where they were forced to observe the battles that took place. Eventually, they are freed by Jax, who then takes advantage of the opportunity to arrest Kano. As they cross the portal back to Earthrealm, Kano escapes and runs back into Outworld.
Initially, he was thought to had been killed in the tournament but in fact he was in Outworld where he once again escaped capture by Sonya. In this time, he came to convince Shao Kahn to spare his soul during Outworld's invasion of Earthrealm. This was done so on the condition that he teach Outworld's warriors on how to use Earth's weapons with Kano offering his expertise.
It was during this time that he fought in a battle against Special Forces agent Sonya Blade only to be defeated at her hands. Following his defeat, Kano came to be incarcerated for his failure by Shao Kahn but came to save the Outworld Emperor's life from an assassination attempt at the hands of the Shokan warrior Sheeva. This led to Kahn hastily promoting Kao to the rank of General and was ordered back through the portal to Outworld to gather more troops for the final push against Earthrealm's forces. He came to remain in that realm after the retreat in the failed invasion and over the years came to enjoy the power he commanded over the greatest army in Outworld. However, Shao Kahn's power came to fade in the fight against Kitana's forces which threatened to bring about the end of the Outworld emperor. In this time, the sorcerers Shang Tsung and Quan Chi launched a surprise attack on Shao Kahn with Kano deciding not to interfere and instead remain in the shadows in order to ally with the winning side. Shao Kahn was ultimately defeated with Kano then offering his allegiance to the Dead Alliance.
Reboot Timeline
In an effort to stop Shao Kahn's victory, Raiden sent a warning back through time to his earlier self in order to avert this future. This caused a change in the timeline as Raiden sought to use the incomplete experiences of his future self to prevent that timeline from occurring.
Kano steals Shinnok's amulet and leaves a duplicate in its place, along with a trap for anyone who discovers it. The Black Dragon mercenary would then sell the amulet to Mileena to be used as a weapon against her usurper, Kotal Kahn. The deposed empress then pays Kano at least 100 million in gold to eliminate Kotal Kahn. Kano is first seen alongside Kotal Kahn and D'Vorah, bargaining over weapons prices and information on Mileena's location. Unbeknownst to Kotal Kahn, Kano had already been hired by Mileena to eliminate him, and makes his move after their carriage is attacked by Mileena's Tarkatan hordes. However, Kotal manages to fend off Kano's attack. After defeating the criminal, the Kahn attempts to finish him off, but is blasted away by Tanya, allowing Kano to escape with his life. Kano is mentioned by Li Mei and thousands of Outworld refugees cross over into Earthrealm seeking asylum from the war. She alludes to "an Earthrealmer with a glowing red eye" as being among those who crossed the portal with them, and Sonya instantly recognizes that this is, in fact, Kano. She heads off to the refugee camp to intercept him before he can escape, and discovers the slain corpse of an Outworlder along the way, recognizing it to be Kano's work. Kano somehow sneaks into the Special Forces' Refugee Kamp disguised as an Outworld refugee. Sonya spots him, and after being confronted by Sonya and Kenshi, Kano reveals himself and offers info in exchange for his freedom. Sonya refuses to negotiate, and Kano responds by threatening to go after Cassie, initiating a brawl between the two. Kano is defeated, and an enraged Sonya nearly strangles him to death. As Kano begs for his life, Johnny Cage shows up and urges her to show restraint, explaining that they still need info on the amulet. Sonya complies with Cage, and demands the info out of Kano, which he agrees to. Kano is not seen again after this, presumably brought into custody for his crimes.
Afterwards, the Titan Kronika began her own plans to restart history to create a New Era that was to be a universe that was balanced according to her designs. She at some point approached Kano where she offered a place where the Black Dragon ruled supreme in the new universe in exchange for their aid with Kano forming an alliance with her. At the same time, Kronika's manipulation of the timeline caused past versions of various warriors to emerge in the present with among them including a younger Kano. Alongside Erron Black, they were approached by Geras who offered a deal where they could attain riches for their aid. The two agreed where they were brought to Kronika's Keep in order to get their aid to help repair the damaged Sektor and help in replicating his design many times to build an army. Kano and Black were both more concerned about money but they were met with an older Kano who told them of Kronika's deal. Thus, the two Kano's set about upgrading the Cyber Lin Kuei and built an army of them to attack the Special Forces headquarters in Earthrealm alongside Black Dragon forces.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Kano was a white male with a black buzzcut, sporting a white GI accessorized with a brown bandolier strapped around his chest & shoulders and knives holstered on his ankles.
Across his life, Kano was known to had lived in crime and injustice where he served as a mercenary, thug and extortionist thief. He was known as an undisciplined but deadly thug who operated as a killer for hire.
It was said that he had as many allies as he had enemies.
Powers and abilities
Kano was born a human who by adulthood came to be trained in martial arts and became a hardened skilled criminal. At some point, he came to enhance his body with cybernetic implants that included his eye. The eye was capable of conducting a scan of technology and determine damage to it.
He was shown to had been trained in the art of Xing Yi and Aikido.
One of his signature moves was the Cannon Ball whereby he curled into a ball and flew at his opponent.
He was armed with throwing knives that he could throw with a degree of skill.
His cybernetics were upgraded and extended throughout his entire body. This included a cybernetic 'heart' that served as a booster to his cybernetic enhancements.
Kano made use of Butterfly Knives in combat where he could use them in close range and as a throwing weapon.
At some point, he came to be the leader of the Black Dragon criminal syndicate.
Notes
- Kano was created by Ed Boon and John Tobias where he made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat (1992).
In other media
Television
- In Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, Kano appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Des Barres.
Films
- In Mortal Kombat, Kano appeared in the setting of the 1995 live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Trevor Goddard.
- In Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, Kano appeared in the setting of the 2020 animated film where he was voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes.
- In Mortal Kombat, Kano appeared in the setting of the 2021 live-action reboot film where he was portrayed by actor Josh Lawson.
Video games
- In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Kano appeared as a playable fighter in the setting of the crossover fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Michael McConnohie.
Comics
Novels
Appearances
- Mortal Kombat: (1992)
- Mortal Kombat 3: (1995)
- Mortal Kombat: Special Forces:
- Mortal Kombat X:
- Mortal Kombat 11: (2019)
External Links
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