Mortal Kombat’s Hell Explained: How Scorpion Harnesses Netherrealm Powers

Scorpion is arguably the most iconic character in the entire Mortal Kombat franchise, due in large part to his status as a demon of rage, capable of harnessing the powers of the Netherrealm. Scorpion plays a major role in 2021’s Mortal Kombat, despite his sparse presence merely bookending the film, relinquishing the spotlight to newcomer Cole Young. And while Scorpion’s legendary powers are still displayed in all their glory in Simon McQuoid’s adaptation, the new film doesn’t go into much detail as to what exactly the Netherrealm is and the relationship it has with the former Hanzo Hasashi.

In the lore of Mortal Kombat, the Netherrealm is most easily understood as a variation on the Abrahamic concept of Hell, or the Underworld of various ancient mythologies. Designed to eternally punish the evilest of souls, it is an infinitely sprawling realm of lava and fire, and even though Hanzo Hasashi is depicted as a family man, it’s his soul’s boundless commitment to vengeance upon the slaying of his family that dooms Scorpion to an eternity in Mortal Kombat‘s Hell, the Netherrealm.

Once Hanzo Hasashi descends into the Netherrealm, however, it’s this thirst for revenge that allows him to master the Hellfire that surrounds him and become the wraith known as Scorpion. It’s from this mastery that Scorpion’s most iconic powers are born, like the ability to manipulate and weaponize Hellfire. Scorpion’s time in the Netherrealm also seems to have granted him some sort of temporal powers, with the ability to teleport and even drag his enemies into the Netherrealm with him, regardless of if they’re living or dead, good or evil.

These powers are part and parcel of what has made Mortal Kombat thrive for nearly 30 years. From Scorpion’s signature “Toasty!” fatality, to the unmistakably gruff cries of “Get over here!” upon impaling a hapless foe with his kunai, some of the most recognizable elements of the games and the films are associated with Scorpion and his various powers. Other characters are mercenaries or wizards with various goals and aspirations, but Scorpion’s quest to avenge his family is simple and relatable enough to make him the perfect antihero.

While other characters in Mortal Kombat 2021 were eventually granted their powers over time via Arcana, like Kano’s ability to shoot lasers out of his eye or Liu Kang’s ability to manipulate fireballs, Scorpion’s bloodlust for Bi-Han and his eternal thirst for revenge allowed him to master the domain of the Netherrealm and bring its Hellfire with him. Whereas others were unwitting recipients of powers, Scorpion essentially manifested his own, resulting in some of the most powerful scenes in Mortal Kombat, and hopefully, more to come as the series continues.

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