Following on from the events of Mortal Kombat 11's Aftermath DLC, Mortal Kombat 1 takes players back to the beginning of the series once more, but this time things are a little different. Becoming both a fire god and a time god, Liu Kang has remade the universe to his liking, and this time he's ensured that a few things will go differently this time. But the story isn't the only thing Mortal Kombat 1 is shaking up.
Based on the brief glimpses of gameplay fans have seen so far, Mortal Kombat 1 might have a fairly controversial roster this time round. Though the exact number of playable fighters isn't known just yet, it does seem like there might be some notable cuts this time round, with some classic characters being relegated to the new Kameo Fighter system. But there's always a chance they'll make it on Mortal Kombat 1's DLC roster, right alongside heavily rumored characters like Invincible's Omni-Man.
Omni-Man's Potential Role in Mortal Kombat 1
Created by writer Robert Kirman and artists Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, Omni-Man is one of the primary characters in the comic book Invincible. A clear homage and play on Superman, Omni-Man was part of an alien species known as the Viltrumite, and was sent to Earth to be its protector, or at least that's what he tells people. Recent fans of the character will likely know him primarily from the Amazon adaptation of Invincible, and without spoiling too much, he would make for a perfect fit with Mortal Kombat 1's brutal and bloody action.
Just a day before Mortal Kombat 1 was officially revealed, an Amazon Italy listing for the Premium Edition of the game appeared online. This listing detailed the contents of the Premium Edition, with one of the rewards being access to the first Kombat Pack. This Kombat Pack would apparently contain six playable characters and five Kameo Fighters. These six playable characters included Mortal Kombat staples like Ermac and Quan Chi, as well as some guest characters like Peacemaker, Homelander, and, of course, Omni-Man.
While all leaks should always be taken with a big pinch of salt, this one does seem fairly credible, with the officially revealed Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition confirmed to be coming with a Kombat Pack containing six playable characters and five Kameo Fighters. So, if this leak does turn out to be true, then fans can expect Omni-Man to appear in Mortal Kombat 1 as a fully playable character, much like any other guest character in the franchise's history. Guest characters have become increasingly prevalent in Mortal Kombat over the last few years, with Mortal Kombat X having four and Mortal Kombat 11 having five. It seems like Mortal Kombat 1 will continue to lean into crossovers with characters like Omni-Man.
If Omni-Man is in Mortal Kombat 1, then fans can expect him to function just like other guest characters like the Terminator, Rambo, or RoboCop. Omni-Man will likely have a completely unique moveset, with special moves all inspired by the source material, such as a brutal overhead ground pound. It also seems likely that Omni-Man will have a unique set of voice lines, and hopefully NetherRealm could get J.K. Simmons to reprise his role from the animated show. If NetherRealm wanted to go above and beyond again, then Omni-Man could even have unique voice lines for each potential opponent in the game, just like previous Mortal Kombat guest characters. However, since he is coming after launch, players should not expect to see him in the main story mode for the latest NetherRealm release, as guest characters have never had a meaningful role in the series' narrative.
Mortal Kombat 1 will be released on September 19, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
