The Untold Connection: How a Spider-Man Reference in Mortal Kombat 1 Can Change Gaming History

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The Mortal Kombat franchise may not reach the same level of popularity as Fortnite, but it has had significant collaborations with pop culture in recent years. Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street made his debut in Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition in 2012, marking the start of many guest appearances. Characters like The Predator and Jason Vorhees joined the roster in Mortal Kombat X, while The Terminator, Rambo, and Spawn made their appearance in Mortal Kombat 11. Rumors suggest that Mortal Kombat 1 will also feature several crossover fighters.

According to these rumors, Mortal Kombat 1 is expected to have three crossover guest fighters in its first Kombat Pack. This includes Omni-Man from Invincible, Peacemaker's anti-hero, and Homelander from The Boys. While Mortal Kombat has a history of including superheroes, characters from Marvel are absent, likely due to licensing complications. Nonetheless, there is still a possibility for a reference to Spider-Man in Mortal Kombat 1.

Why Mortal Kombat 1 Might Have a Spider-Man Reference

Spider-Man may not be swinging into the Mortal Kombat 1 arena anytime soon, but there is a good chance that he could be referenced in the game. Yuri Lowenthal, who voices Peter Parker in Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man and its upcoming sequel, is a highly talented voice actor with a vast repertoire in video games, TV shows, and movies. He has already impressed audiences with his performance as Spider-Man, and it seems that he will continue to do so in the sequel, as seen in the trailer where he showcases his versatility with the gruff Symbiote Suit voice.

However, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is not the only major video game featuring Yuri Lowenthal this year. The latest trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 reveals the return of the gray ninja Smoke, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. Although Smoke's lines in the trailer are limited, Yuri's distinctive voice is easily recognizable, and his portrayal of Smoke appears to be unique, portraying the character as slightly younger and less confident than in previous versions.

The Mortal Kombat franchise is no stranger to incorporating clever nods and hidden gems, whether they are references to its own history or to popular culture in general. For instance, by obtaining Mortal Kombat 1's Premium Edition, players can unlock a Jean-Claude Van Damme skin for Johnny Cage, paying homage to the character's original inspiration. Thus, it wouldn't be far-fetched for Mortal Kombat 1 to include a lighthearted allusion to Yuri Lowenthal's portrayal of Spider-Man.

If Spider-Man were to be referenced in Mortal Kombat 1, it would most likely manifest through Smoke himself, possibly through a vocal remark during the game's story mode or, more fittingly, at the beginning of a match when characters taunt one another. A prime choice for a voiceline would be the iconic "With great power, comes great responsibility" quote, directly referencing the web-slinger. Adding an amusing twist, Smoke's opponent might even interrupt him midway through the sentence, playfully acknowledging how frequently fans have encountered that particular speech throughout the years. To take the Spider-Man reference in Mortal Kombat 1 to the next level, the game could even include a hidden Spidey Easter egg within Smoke's alternate outfits, offering a red, blue, and white color scheme reminiscent of Spidey's appearance in Insomniac's acclaimed series.

Mortal Kombat 1 releases September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.