Kung Jin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kung Jin | |
|---|---|
| Mortal Kombat character | |
 Kung Jin in Mortal Kombat X (2015) | |
| First appearance | Mortal Kombat X (2015) |
| Created by | NetherRealm Studios[1] |
| Designed by | Justin Murray[2] |
| Voiced by | Johnny Yong Bosch[3] |
| Portrayed by | Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat X: Generations)[4] |
| Motion capture | Lawrence Kern[5] |
| In-universe information | |
| Weapon | Bow and arrow |
| Origin | China |
Kung Jin is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in Mortal Kombat X (2015) as a Shaolin archer and relative of fellow Shaolin Kung Lao who joins a new generation of heroes defending Earth from evil otherworldly forces. Kung Jin wields a bow and arrow system for melee and projectile attacks.
The character is the first male LGBT fighter of the Mortal Kombat series, and has received significant media attention and discussion about the representation of LGBT characters in fighting games in general.
Kung Jin was introduced in Mortal Kombat X preview trailers and gameplay streams in March 2015.[6][7] According to developer NetherRealm Studios, his creation was the result of the company wanting both an archer character and a relative of Kung Lao in the series. His main costume was inspired by Mongolian nomadic archers, with him wearing it as a symbol of his acceptance of his role as a hero.[8][note 1]
Kung Jin was confirmed as the series' first gay character on social media by Dominic Cianciolo, NetherRealm Studios' story and voiceover director.[9][10] Although this was not explicitly stated in Mortal Kombat X, dialogue in the game's story mode alluded to Kung Jin's sexuality during a conversation between him and Raiden, where the latter convinces him to continue the legacy of his kinsmen who were Shaolin monks. Kung Jin expresses his fear of the Shaolin not accepting him for who he is, but Raiden reassures him by responding, "They care only about what is in your heart. Not whom your heart desires."[11][9] A pre-match introduction sequence between Kung Jin and Tanya also hinted at his lack of interest in members of the opposite sex.[12]
Evan Narcisse of Kotaku wrote of Kung Jin's gameplay, "His moveset favors the style I tend to enjoy most when playing fighting games: quick strikes with options for keeping opponents away."[13]
Appearances
In Mortal Kombat X (2015), Kung Jin is introduced as a descendant of the legendary Earth hero, the Great Kung Lao, and the cousin of Shaolin monk Kung Lao, who is an undead revenant corrupted by the evil Elder God Shinnok during the game's events. After Kung Lao's death, Kung Jin moved with his family to the United States and lived in poverty. He operates as a thief until Raiden convinces him to abandon his criminal activities and train with the Shaolin at their Wu Shi Academy in China.[11] As a member of the White Lotus Society, a faction co-founded by the Shaolin Order of Light and Raiden, thunder god and immortal protector of Earth, Kung Jin fights alongside Cassie Cage's military unit in order to repel the hostile forces of Outworld and the underworld Netherrealm. He has made no other series appearances to date, but is mentioned in passing in Mortal Kombat 11 where he is established through retroactive continuity as Kung Lao's nephew.[14]
Kung Jin appears in the twelfth and final issue of the 2015 Mortal Kombat X prequel comic miniseries published by DC Comics and set before the in-game storyline.[15][1]
Lewis Tan played the character in the unreleased web series Mortal Kombat X: Generations, which was intended as a 2015 follow-up to the 2011-13 web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy.[4]
