Liu Kang and Johnny Cage are both among Mortal Kombat's oldest fighters, debuting in the first game of the series in 1992. Each thrive on their own merits and fulfill niches in the story, accruing an illustrious history of triumphs and defeats in numerous continuities.
With each character showing promise as the main protagonist for the series, it makes one wonder which is best. It's time to break a leg and sound off five reasons Johnny Cage should have been the series's man protagonist and five why Liu Kang was a perfect fit.
10 Fatalities– Liu Kang
Liu Kang's fatalities are tailored to his station as the series' protagonist, specifically his Mortal Kombat 9 and Mortal Kombat 11 finishers. The former involves him turning into a gigantic dragon and ripping off his opponent's entire upper body, while the latter crushes them with an arcade machine.
Conversely, Johnny Cage's fatalities are awkward, severely at odds with his character. One includes splitting an opponent's head open with a karate chop before planting a trophy inside it; an odd choice, considering the character's open aversion to killing (as seen in Shang Tsung's tournament). While Cage enjoys comedy, he does not take killing lightly.
9 Comic Relief– Johnny Cage
In a world of marauding warlords and scheming fallen gods, it's easy to get lost in the seriousness of the game's story. Johnny Cage is often a refreshing reminder that not all situations must be dire; sometimes, the best way to make the most of things is by laughing them off.
Balancing violence with humor is congruent with the mentality of the Mortal Kombat series as a whole. It is observable through many character interactions, fatalities, and even the "Toasty" guy who occasionally pops up in the middle of a match.
8 Relationship With Kitana– Liu Kang
Liu Kang's relationship with Kitana is more important than merely an arbitrary romance between two characters. It is a pact which has literally transcended death, with the two poignantly ruling the Netherrealm side by side as they plot their revenge against Raiden.
Their restored iterations are equally significant. With Liu Kang as the champion of Earthrealm and KItana as the princess of Outworld and Edenia, their union poses an opportunity to finally unite the planets and bring an end to the bloodshed which has plagued their people for centuries.
7 Defeating Shinnok– Johnny Cage
While some might dismiss Johnny Cage as a joke, he has one accomplishment under his belt few can attest to: he was personally responsible for defeating the fallen Elder God, Shinnok.
When the villain threatened Sonya Blade, he swung into action, exchanging blows with his opponent and discovering his strange "green energy" in the process. Defeating him and sealing him within his amulet would purchase Earthrealm decades of peace and a necessary respite from Shao Kahn's relentless attacks. It would also provide enough time to raise a new generation to stave off the next wave of attackers.
6 Winning The Mortal Kombat Tournament– Liu Kang
One of the most classic moments in Mortal Kombat is Liu Kang's iconic defeat of Shang Tsung. Whether in the original trilogy of games, Mortal Kombat 9, or even the first movie, the shaolin monk has thwarted Outworld's merging with Earthrealm time and again.
It's worth mentioning that Johnny Cage also participated in these tournaments with less successful results. Should the mantle of protagonist have been entrusted to him rather than Liu, it's uncertain whether or not Tarkatans would roam New York's streets soon after.
5 The Underdog– Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage works with a considerable disadvantage to many other members of the Mortal Kombat roster. His "green energy" powers are selective and unreliable, he isn't able to produce ice like Sub-Zero or flames like Scorpion, and he does not even share the arsenal of Kano or Stryker.
His merits are entirely predicated on his creativity and tenacity, unwittingly being roped into rescuing Earthrealm from its invaders time and again. Given the nature of his abilities, it's easy to put ourselves in his shoes, between his winning personality and sheer determination.
4 Complexity– Liu Kang
Liu Kang's commendable critical thinking makes him an intelligent character, and it also creates potential for believable conflict with other members of the cast that might not inherently be villains. Specifically, the divided philosophies he and Raiden have for Earthrealm's protection has been a fantastic staple of the series.
Conversely, Johnny Cage takes everything at face value, blindly obeying Raiden even as Shao Kahn slowly ripped his way into their world. His station as an underling did not improve in the subsequent games, where he would become an operative like Sonya to the Special Forces.
3 Defeating Goro– Johnny Cage
While Liu Kang may have also defeated Goro, Johnny Cage's victory of the Shokan Prince was much more meaningful and memorable. In addition to avenging his friend, Art Lean, the actor was willing to fight dirty in front of an audience to achieve victory, demonstrating that there are more important things to him than vanity.
Additionally, his win would be one of the rare occasions in the series where a character would use their terrain to finish off an opponent. This would become especially appropriate in future games, where one could interact with stage objects to help them against their adversary.
2 Becoming The Fire God– Liu Kang
Liu Kang and Raiden's perpetual conflict was one by design of Kronokia; ultimately, the master of time feared that should the two of them join forces, even her seemingly limitless power would be threatened. At the end of Mortal Kombat 11, a union is precisely what was achieved, with Raiden designating his divine power to his most promising pupil.
While Johnny Cage was able to defeat Shinnok, it is because he was bred from a lineage of Mediterranean cultists specifically purposed to fight gods. That does not tacitly imply it wouldn't be effective against Kronika, but given she did not perceive him as a threat (and his capture by Quan Chi), it is unlikely it would be.
1 Carrying The Torch– Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage was not idle during the Earthrealm's peace. He and Sonya raised Cassie together, who would become one of the world's finest protectors. She was courageous enough to survive the rigors of Kotal Kahn's Outworld and strong enough to defeat Shinnok even after being empowered by the Jinsei.
Though Johnny's relationship with Sonya may be tentative, their love for their daughter is mutually shared. In the comparatively short span Cassie Cage has been in the Mortal Kombat universe, she has proven a worthy successor to two of the series' fan favorite characters.