Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)
Sub-Zero was a male character that featured in the Mortal Kombat series.
Contents |
Biography
Game Continuity
The boy who would become known as Sub-Zero was the younger of two sons and was named Kuai Liang with his elder brother being Bi-Han as well as had an unidentified sister. He was the son of a Chinese Cryomancer father and a Caucasian American mother. His father was a secret operative of the clan who was sent to the United States. However, his father went against his mother's wishes by taking his sons with him to China where the two were to be trained in the footsteps of their father. However, another story indicated that the two sons were abducted as children and were trained to become the ultimate assassins by the Lin Kuei Thus, the elder and younger Sub-Zero joined the clan officially while their mother and sister remained in the United States.
When he grew up into a warrior, he learnt of his brothers failure in assassinating Shang Tsung in the first Mortal Kombat Tournament. Furthermore, the elder Sub-Zero was killed at the hands of the hellish wraith Scorpion. His younger brother Kuai Lian swore revenge as a result and was dispatched by the clan with his close friend Smoke to Outworld to complete their new assignment when the second Mortal Kombat Tournament was announced. Taking his brothers code name, Sub-Zero discovered that the undead warrior Scorpion was continuing his vendetta against his brother by attacking him as he believed that the warrior he thought he killed had infact survived. Scorpion learnt that Sub-Zero was infact the brother of the elders after his defeat in the Mortal Kombat Tournament. After this event, Scorpion swore not to harm him. Sub-Zero's mission against Shang Tsung was unsuccessful but he managed to aid Liu Kang, Raiden and their allies against Shao Kahn.
- According to Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, during his journey into Outworld, Sub-Zero gained his red scar over his right eye after a sudden attack from Kung Lao.
Sub-Zero and returned back to Earthrealm empty handed and came at a time when the Lin Kuei developed the means to improve their warriors by undergoing a process that turned them into cybernetic assassins. The Grandmaster of the clan chose four of his warriors for the process which were to be Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke and Sub-Zero himself. The first two had undergone the process which horrified Smoke and Sub-Zero who decided to flee. In their escape attempt, Smoke was captured and forcibly transformed whilst Sub-Zero himself was declared a traitor to the clan and hunted down. This was because Sub-Zero had broken the Lin Keui codes of honor and resulted in the cybernetic Cyrax, Sektor and Smoke being sent to terminate their former comrade. Sub-Zero also recieved a vision from the thunder god Raiden about a new threat that was going to fall upon Earthrealm.
At this point, the armies of Emperor Shao Kahn began an open invasion of Earthrealm. Sub-Zero was one of several mortals who's souls were spared by Kahn and thus was being hunted by his extermination squads. This brought about a greater moral consciousness within Sub-Zero who yearned to be a more honorable warrior. However, he was still being hunted by the cybernetic Lin Kuei assassins who lacked souls to steal who continued their programming to kill Sub-Zero. His first encounter was with his former friend Smoke who managed to overrode his programming and decided to help him defeat Cyrax and Sektor. He next battled Cyrax but rather then destroy his CPU, Sub-Zero reprogrammed him with the mission of hunting and killing Shao Kahn though instead he failed and left stranded in a desert. However, as a result of the battle, Smoke himself was lost and captured by Shao Kahn's troops who imprisoned him in Outworld to study him. Ultimately, Earthrealm's warriors were successful in defeatinh Shao Kahn's forces and were victorious which prevented the merger between Outworld and Earth returning the latter back to normal.
However, the Earthrealm was not free from danger as the fallen Elder Gods Shinnok had risen from his home in the Netherrealm and sought to gain dominion over all existence. To that end, Sub-Zero was one of the warriors summoned by Raiden to defend Earthrealm. To honor his dead brother, Sub-Zero wore his siblings uniform and informed others of what his brother had done in his battle against Shinnok. However, danger stalked Sub-Zero as the sorceror Quan Chi convinced Scorpion that the younger Sub-Zero was involved in the destruction of the Shirai Ryu clan. Thus, the supernatural spectres attentions were focused on slaying Sub-Zero with the two fighting in Goro's Lair. Scorpion gained the advantage and defeated Sub-Zero and was about to kill him for his "crimes" when Sub-Zero revealed that the Lin Kuei were not involved in the murder. It was then that Quan Chi revealed that it was he who was involved in the act and attempted to send Scorpion back to the Netherrealm but the spectre charged at Quan Chi sending them both to that infernal realm. Thus it seemed that the vendetta between Scorpion and Sub-Zero had ended.
Returning back to his home, he learnt that the cyborg Sektor had assassinated the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei in attempt to gain leadership of the clan. This resulted in a duel between Sub-Zero and Sektor, with the icy warrior knowing the kind of threat the cyborg posed. Ultimately, Sub-Zero was successful in defeating him though Sektor managed to escape thus leaving Sub-Zero the new Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. Into his possession also came the Dragon Medallion which enhanced his powers and somewhat altered his appearance. Being the leader of the feared assassin clan, Sub-Zero moved their headquarters to Articka in order to ensure that their training was not to be disrupted and attempted to turn them into a force for good. He taught his students not only formidable fighting techniques but the value of life as well in an attempt to turn them into wisened warriors rather then mindless assassins.
As part of his attempt at making a new better Lin Kuei clan, he held a tournament to recruit stronger warriors in its ranks. One of the contestants was a female with surprisingly strong freezing powers similar to Sub-Zero's himself who emerged as the winner. The Grandmaster was impressed with her exceptional skill and made her his apprentice even though it broke Lin Kuei tradition. Though she was a superb fighter, Frost did not agree with her masters philosophies. Furthermore, she was both arrogant and aloof which generated much tension between her and Sub-Zero's allies such as Sonya Blade.
With the rise of the newly formed Deadly Alliance between Quan Chi and Shang Tsung as well as the murder of Liu Kang, Sub-Zero found that the survival of Earthrealm was at stake once more. He was paid a visit by the thunder god Raiden once again who asked for his assistance. Sub-Zero was surprised by the tragic news and accepted the task given by the Elder God. However, this was partly for his own personal reasons as the new Lin Kuei clan began doubting their Grandmaster and thus Sub-Zero went to prove his worth to his clan as well as to himself. To that end, he took Frost with him and joined with the other Earthrealm warriors in Outworld. Once they were separated from the other champions, Frost betrayed Sub-Zero and attempted to steal his Dragon Medallion. But she was unable to control its great power and was consumed by it, seemingly frozen into ice by her own abilities. Sub-Zero blamed himself for not dampening her pride and teaching her the philosophies of life that he knew.
Trapped in Outworld, he sought for a place to bury her and found the ruins of an ancient Outworld civilization called the Cryomancers who were capable of controlling cold. After studying the ruins, he determined that he himself as well as Frost were descendants of this ancient race. Thus, he buried her in the ruins where he forgave her for her rashness. He then wore an ancient suit of armor from the Cryomancer race before heading back to the Earthrealm portal in order to rendevous with Raiden and the Earthrealm warriors.
Along the way, he met the warrior Kenshi who had also been trapped within Outworld. The two journeyed together for the portal but were ambushed in the Living Forest by Tarkatan warriors. This attracted the attention of the newly arisen Dragon King Onaga who dispatched his newest general, Hotaru from Seido to defeat this threat. Despite the Order realm generals efforts, Sub-Zero and Kenshi manage to escape and return to Earthrealm where the Grandmaster returned to his Lin Kuei clan.
Life in the artic was not easy as they had to contend with the rival Tengu clan that prowled the icy wastes. The stronghold of the Lin Kuei was infiltrated the Edenian half god Taven who had come to his mothers former temple to retrieve an item. At first, Sub-Zero battled this intruders but the Lin Kuei academy came under attack from wraiths from the Brotherhood of Shadow led by his corrupted brother Noob Saibot and his cybernetic former friend Smoke. With the aid of Taven, they battled the intruders and defeated them with Noob Saibot left unconscious in the stronghold floor. Sub-Zero hoped to contain his brother and attempt to redeem him of the evil that plagued him. In gratitude, he informed Taven of the location of the Red Dragon clan in Earthrealm.
He later participated in the quest at the Temple of Argus to defeat the fire elemental Blaze.
- If successful, Sub-Zero was given such power that he became an Ice God but this was against the consent of the Elder Gods who sought Champions to defeat the much more powerful Sub-Zero.
MK vs DC
Set after the first Mortal Kombat Tournament and thus making Sub-Zero still a member of the old Lin Keui order. With the merger between the two universes beginning due to the unintentional creation of Dark Kahn, Sub-Zero's Lin Kuei home was partially placed within that of the Fortress of Solitude. Meeting Superman, Sub-Zero challenged the warrior by turning him into ice and trapping him. Sensing a dire threat facing the realms, his Lin Kuei master informed Sub-Zero to find Quan Chi and sent him to meet the thunder god Raiden. Though respectful of the thunder god, Raiden still remembered the dark nature of the elder Sub-Zero and battled him; a battle that Sub-Zero won. Raiden then agreed to help Sub-Zero and informed him of the state of the realms with the merger between the two universes.
Movie continuity
Background
Personality and attributes
Unlike his brother and the rest of the Lin Kuei clan, Sub-Zero believed deeply in honor and the preservation of life. Thus, upon his appointment as Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, he sought to turn the clan into wisened warriors rather then ruthless assassins that sought only their own interests. He was a respected leader though he doubted himself and sought to ensure that he proved his worthiness of being Grandmaster to his clan.
According to Mortal Kombat vs DC, Sub-Zero was aware of his brothers darker nature and stated that he did not possess his mindset. Furthermore, he held a type of respect for the thunder god Raiden.
He held a deep friendship with the warrior Smoke. He was aware of the help Sareena gave to his brother during his mission in the Netherrealm and attempted to aid her as well.
His fighting styles included knowledge in the use of Shotokan-Ryu Karate and the Dragon.
Powers and abilities
Being descended from the Outworld of Cryomancers who held a great deal of control over ice. His arms from his hands to his elbows appeared encased in ice and he was capable of freezing a persons attack if they hit his hands. Furthermore, his breaths appeared icy cold in nature when he was normally breathing.
He was capable of using this ability to shoot blasts of deep freeze capable of temporarily freezing his opponents upon the first hit. This left them vulnerable for a second attack. In addition to this, he had the ability to freezing the ground to slide and slam into his enemies. He was also capable of directing his ice onto the floor which left the floor in a state where his enemies would lose their balance by slipping. He was also capable of leaving an icy statue behind with whoever touching it being frozen temporarily. A variant of this power allowed him to turn into ice which hardened his body making him more durable against attacks. Furthermore, he was capable of firing ice into the sky which showered back onto his opponent and froze them. A more unique ability was the capacity to turn into ice, fall onto the ground and reappear elsewhere in order to attack his opponent which served as a form of teleportation power.
His powers were said to have been enhanced by the possession of the Dragon Medallion which made him much stronger with the ability to create weapons made out of ice to use in combat against his enemies. This showed a far greater level of control over the medallion as Frost was frozen solid when she took possession of it.
According to Mortal Kombat vs DC, Sub-Zero appeared to have been a skilled tracker and was capable of tracing the nether energy generated by Scorpion allowing him to follow his trail. It was also noted that Raiden commented on him being stronger then his older brother.
His capacity to create weapons from ice allowed him to create an Ice Scepter though he later made use of frozen Kori Blade.
Notes
- According to Ed Boon, the character was originally going to be called Tundra.
- His Cryomancer armor looks similar to that of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle villain Shredder.
- In a vignette of the 2011 Mortal Kombat game, an entry is shown of Sub-Zero which is the first time he is given a name which is Kuai Liang
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