Johnny Cage
Encyclopedia
Johnny Cage, whose real name is John Carlton, is a video game character
from the Mortal Kombat fighting game
series. Cage is portrayed as a film actor who enters the game's tournament, and provides the comic relief of the franchise.
. He enters into the titular tournament to prove he does not use special effects in the films he stars in. In the sequel Mortal Kombat II
, Cage goes to another tournament in the realm of Outworld after allying with the warriors who wish to protect Earth led by the thunder god Raiden
.
He does not reappear in the series until Mortal Kombat Trilogy
, where he was killed by Shao Kahn's forces invading Earth. He is shortly revived to help his former comrades defeat Shao Kahn. In the next game, Mortal Kombat 4
, Cage is allowed to continue his life after seeking Raiden's help to revive and joins friends once again to defeat the forces from the former god Shinnok who plans to initiate a war between the realms.
By Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
, Cage once again joins Raiden's group, in order to stop the menace from the alliance of sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung
. However, Cage is killed alongside most of his comrades and he is resurrected by the Dragon King Onaga to use him as a slave. He is freed from his mind control by the ninja Ermac and Liu Kang
's ghost. He returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
as a playable character, participating in the new tournament Armageddon that will decide mankind's fate. In the ensuing battle, Cage is decapitated by an unknown opponent.
He has also appeared in the spin off game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
that reprises the events from Mortal Kombat II. Besides being a supporting character across the game, he is also playable in the fighting mode.
He reappears in the 2011 Mortal Kombat game. As the game retells the events from the first tournaments, Cage joins Raiden's forces to save Earth. He and Sonya Blade
become the only Earthrealm warriors to survive the course of the game's plot.
comic book series. His portrayal in the comics is faithful to the games, keeping both his desire to prove his moves are real and his personality traits. He appears during the whole Blood & Thunder series, most of the time alongside Sonya, with whom he shares a relationship in the comics. His most serious moment is during issue 4 when he, under Raiden's advice, decides to not seek the power of the Tao Te Zhan, since he felt it would be like faking his moves in his films. During the second series, Battlewave, he is seen resuming his acting career when Sonya asks him to help with an investigation after Jax was brutally attacked. He initially refuses, but later reconsiders what's important and decides to follow with Jax into the Outworld. In the meantime, he sends his musclebound bodyguard, Bo, to protect Liu Kang.
In the first Mortal Kombat
film, Johnny Cage was played by Linden Ashby
, whose portrayal was faithful to the games in keeping with Cage's personality and his comic relief role. During the film, he fights both Scorpion
and Goro in Mortal Kombat, and manages to defeat both.
Johnny Cage reappears in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
. He was played by Chris Conrad
. In the opening scene, Shao Kahn takes Sonya Blade hostage, and Cage attempts to save her. He is killed when Kahn snaps his neck.
Matt Mullins
appears as Johnny Cage in the internet video, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
. He was an action movie star, whose career was dying. To allow his talents to still be used, he became an undercover agent for Jackson Briggs. However, Alan Zane / Baraka killed him shortly thereafter in battle. Mullins reprised his role in Mortal Kombat: Legacy
, in which he plays a career failing Johnny Cage.
. Cage's appearance in the first game was loosely based on Van Damme's portrayal of Dux Ryu Ninjutsu founder Frank Dux
in the 1988 movie Bloodsport
, from his outfit to his "Split Punch". Designed to be a Hollywood star, Cage is meant to be comic relief
character in contrast to more serious characters like Liu Kang and Raiden. Johnny Cage's real name came from Midway game artist John Carlton, who worked on the NBA Jam
series.
put him 23rd in their feature "Top 25 Gaming Hunks", stating "If you can't marry Brad Pitt, you can always settle for Mortal Kombat's Johnny Cage". 1UP.com
ranked him ninth in their "They Is Risen" feature, which covered the ten most notorious video game resurrections. The publication noted that one of the most remarkable part of his character was that he was one of the few ones who died during the storyline.
Cage's Split Punch was in GamesRadar
's article "Gaming’s most devastating genital attacks" with its author commenting that "It’s hardly Cage’s most impressive or most damaging move, but it’s inarguably his best." In another article, the split-punch was listed as his signature move with notes that while it is performed in a "decidedly un-Street Fighter
way", it was the first "silly" moment in the franchise. Johnny Cage's split-punch on Goro in the Mortal Kombat film was rated by UGO.com as one the top 11 Game Movie Moments. He was also ninth in Game Revolution
's "Top 10 Old School Mortal Kombat Characters" with praise on his special moves that made him stand out. IGN
listed him as a character they would like to see as downloadable content
for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
, stating Johnny "remains a favorite among MK heroes, even though he's spent a good portion of the series' life in a coffin".
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Mortal Kombat fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
series. Cage is portrayed as a film actor who enters the game's tournament, and provides the comic relief of the franchise.
In video games
Johnny Cage introduced as a playable character in the first Mortal Kombat gameMortal Kombat (video game)
Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat...
. He enters into the titular tournament to prove he does not use special effects in the films he stars in. In the sequel Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in . It is the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. Like its predecessor, various home versions were produced...
, Cage goes to another tournament in the realm of Outworld after allying with the warriors who wish to protect Earth led by the thunder god Raiden
Raiden (Mortal Kombat)
Raiden is a player character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. Raiden, also known as Lord Raiden, is a thunder god of the Mortal Kombat universe and protector of Earthrealm. He commands many supernatural abilities such as the ability to teleport, control over lightning, and flight...
.
He does not reappear in the series until Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat Trilogy is a fighting game developed and published by Midway in 1996. It is a compilation of content from the previous Mortal Kombat titles, based primarily upon the gameplay mechanics of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3...
, where he was killed by Shao Kahn's forces invading Earth. He is shortly revived to help his former comrades defeat Shao Kahn. In the next game, Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat 4 is the fourth main game in the Mortal Kombat series of fighting video games developed by Midway Games. Released to arcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title from the series to use 3D computer graphics as well as one of the first games that Midway made in 3D. Eurocom later...
, Cage is allowed to continue his life after seeking Raiden's help to revive and joins friends once again to defeat the forces from the former god Shinnok who plans to initiate a war between the realms.
By Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, originally known as Mortal Kombat V: Vengeance or simply Mortal Kombat 5, is a fighting game developed and published by Midway for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo GameCube, and Game Boy Advance...
, Cage once again joins Raiden's group, in order to stop the menace from the alliance of sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung is a boss and player character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. A powerful and deadly sorcerer and a primary antagonist in the Mortal Kombat series, Shang Tsung is a shapeshifter who absorbs the souls of those he slays in order to maintain his youth and power...
. However, Cage is killed alongside most of his comrades and he is resurrected by the Dragon King Onaga to use him as a slave. He is freed from his mind control by the ninja Ermac and Liu Kang
Liu Kang
Liu Kang is a video game character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. First appearing in the series' first title, Liu Kang is portrayed as a Shaolin monk who enters the Mortal Kombat tournament to save his world, Earthrealm, from being destroyed due to having lost nine consecutive...
's ghost. He returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is the seventh game in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. The PlayStation 2 version was released in stores on October 11, 2006 while the Xbox version was released on the October 16, with a Wii version released on May 29, 2007 in North America.The game was not released...
as a playable character, participating in the new tournament Armageddon that will decide mankind's fate. In the ensuing battle, Cage is decapitated by an unknown opponent.
He has also appeared in the spin off game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action/beat-em-up video game based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games. Shaolin Monks was developed by Midway LA and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox...
that reprises the events from Mortal Kombat II. Besides being a supporting character across the game, he is also playable in the fighting mode.
He reappears in the 2011 Mortal Kombat game. As the game retells the events from the first tournaments, Cage joins Raiden's forces to save Earth. He and Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade is a player character from the Mortal Kombat series. She is portrayed in the games as an officer of the United States Special Forces.-In video games:...
become the only Earthrealm warriors to survive the course of the game's plot.
In other media
Johnny Cage is one of the main characters in the Mortal KombatMortal Kombat comic books
The Mortal Kombat comic books series included the official comics by Midway and a licensed adaptation series by Malibu Comics, published between October 1994 and August 1995...
comic book series. His portrayal in the comics is faithful to the games, keeping both his desire to prove his moves are real and his personality traits. He appears during the whole Blood & Thunder series, most of the time alongside Sonya, with whom he shares a relationship in the comics. His most serious moment is during issue 4 when he, under Raiden's advice, decides to not seek the power of the Tao Te Zhan, since he felt it would be like faking his moves in his films. During the second series, Battlewave, he is seen resuming his acting career when Sonya asks him to help with an investigation after Jax was brutally attacked. He initially refuses, but later reconsiders what's important and decides to follow with Jax into the Outworld. In the meantime, he sends his musclebound bodyguard, Bo, to protect Liu Kang.
In the first Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
film, Johnny Cage was played by Linden Ashby
Linden Ashby
Clarence Linden Garnett Ashby III , best known as Linden Ashby, is an American actor and martial artist.-Early life:...
, whose portrayal was faithful to the games in keeping with Cage's personality and his comic relief role. During the film, he fights both Scorpion
Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
Scorpion is a recurring player and boss character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He has been a playable character in all the games, with the exception of the original version of Mortal Kombat 3.-In video games:...
and Goro in Mortal Kombat, and manages to defeat both.
Johnny Cage reappears in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts action film that was the sequel to 1995's Mortal Kombat, and was directed by John R. Leonetti, who had served as the cinematographer for the previous film...
. He was played by Chris Conrad
Chris Conrad
Christopher Andrew "Chris" Conrad is an American actor, known for playing Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. He should not be confused with fellow actor Christian Conrad ....
. In the opening scene, Shao Kahn takes Sonya Blade hostage, and Cage attempts to save her. He is killed when Kahn snaps his neck.
Matt Mullins
Matt Mullins
Matthew "Matt" Mullins is a 5-time martial arts world champion. At the age of 16 in 1997 he had won his first WKA title in Dublin, Ireland, this would be his first of 5 championships in the next 3 years in his career...
appears as Johnny Cage in the internet video, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth is a 2010 action short film directed by Kevin Tancharoen with fight choreography by Larnell Stovall who also choreographed Undisputed III: Redemption. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the short-film "actually was made by the director to sell Warner Bros...
. He was an action movie star, whose career was dying. To allow his talents to still be used, he became an undercover agent for Jackson Briggs. However, Alan Zane / Baraka killed him shortly thereafter in battle. Mullins reprised his role in Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Mortal Kombat: Legacy is an American web series anthology that debuted on Machinima.com's YouTube channel on April 11, 2011. The show is an adaptation of the fictional universe of the Mortal Kombat video game franchise...
, in which he plays a career failing Johnny Cage.
Creation and design
The character was modeled after Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
. Cage's appearance in the first game was loosely based on Van Damme's portrayal of Dux Ryu Ninjutsu founder Frank Dux
Frank Dux
Frank W. Dux is an American martial artist and fight choreographer. Dux established his own school of Ninjutsu in 1975, called "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu".He was the inspiration for the 1988 film Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.-Martial arts career:...
in the 1988 movie Bloodsport
Bloodsport (film)
Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb and Leah Ayres. The film is based on the claimed adventures of Frank Dux, and was followed by three sequels Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite , Bloodsport III and Bloodsport 4: The...
, from his outfit to his "Split Punch". Designed to be a Hollywood star, Cage is meant to be comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
character in contrast to more serious characters like Liu Kang and Raiden. Johnny Cage's real name came from Midway game artist John Carlton, who worked on the NBA Jam
NBA Jam
NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...
series.
Reception
UGO.com ranked Johnny Cage fourth on their "Top 11 Mortal Kombat Characters" list, praising his role as the comic relief of the series with the added statement that "there's nothing better than kicking somebody's ass with a fighter that's supposed to be a joke". GameDailyGameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
put him 23rd in their feature "Top 25 Gaming Hunks", stating "If you can't marry Brad Pitt, you can always settle for Mortal Kombat's Johnny Cage". 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
ranked him ninth in their "They Is Risen" feature, which covered the ten most notorious video game resurrections. The publication noted that one of the most remarkable part of his character was that he was one of the few ones who died during the storyline.
Cage's Split Punch was in GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
's article "Gaming’s most devastating genital attacks" with its author commenting that "It’s hardly Cage’s most impressive or most damaging move, but it’s inarguably his best." In another article, the split-punch was listed as his signature move with notes that while it is performed in a "decidedly un-Street Fighter
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
way", it was the first "silly" moment in the franchise. Johnny Cage's split-punch on Goro in the Mortal Kombat film was rated by UGO.com as one the top 11 Game Movie Moments. He was also ninth in Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
's "Top 10 Old School Mortal Kombat Characters" with praise on his special moves that made him stand out. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
listed him as a character they would like to see as downloadable content
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games. The eighth game in the Mortal Kombat series, MK vs. DC was released on November 16, . MK vs. DC contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe...
, stating Johnny "remains a favorite among MK heroes, even though he's spent a good portion of the series' life in a coffin".