Kamidogu: Kombat Lives Here

Joining us in this episode of the podcast is Johnny Tobias, son of legendary Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias. Born in 1997 during the slow decline of arcades around the globe, Johnny enjoyed gaming from an early age and fondly watched on as his father continued to excel at Studio Gigante, Zynga and now Warner Bros. San Diego. With his own hopes and dreams in tow, Johnny shares never-before-heard tales of growing up with such a famous father, and speaks about his hopes for the future. His father’s original concept notepad also makes an appearance, so be sure to also check out this episode on YouTube!

Jacob Craner is an American actor and voiceover artist who portrayed the reimagined Havik in Mortal Kombat 1. Following the suspenseful ending to the game’s original story, Jacob is set to reprise his role with the release of the Khaos Reigns expansion on September 24. Believed to be its main anarchist, Titan Havik sets out to envelop all of reality with the sweet embrace of anarchy and chaos. To celebrate the release of Khaos Reigns on September 24, we are excited to announce that we have two 8x10 signed artworks of Havik to giveaway! Entries close on September 23 at midnight AEST. For more information on how to enter, please check out the first few minutes of the episode. Mortal Kombat 1 aside Jacob has lent his talent to commercials, and is a keen hiker, climber, mountaineer, skier and fly fisherman.

NetherRealm Studios took to the stage at San Diego Comic Con in late July to announce content for the hotly anticipated Year 2 expansion of Mortal Kombat 1. Subtitled “Khaos Reigns,” the new expansion will feature additional story content and pick up in a world poisoned by chaos and anarchy thanks to Havik. Kombat Pack 2 has also been announced, and will include Noob Saibot, Sektor and Cyrax (both of whom are now female), as well as guest characters Ghostface, Conan and T-1000. As widely expected, Animalities also make a triumphant return to the series for the first time since their inception in 1995’s Mortal Kombat 3. Guests Justin McCollum and MadMike join Christopher and Toasty to share their thoughts on the current state of Mortal Kombat 1, as well as a full break down of these latest announcements.

A lover of games, movies and all things pop culture, Alan Lee delivered a standout performance as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 1. Drawing inspiration from Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa’s 1995 movie portrayal, Alan crafted his own unique depiction that cements him as one of the franchise’s all time greats. Performing on stage and in church from the age of 8 and discovering a love for voice over in his late teens, Alan’s talent has appeared across a variety platforms, from commercials to animation to video games. Most notably he has worked on Disney’s The Ghost and Molly McGee, Adult Swim’s Fena: Pirate Princess, Netflix’s Great Pretender and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Matt Yang King is an American actor, best known for his legendary portrayal of Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1. He also voiced Fujin in Mortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath expansion. Games aside, Matt provided talent to the Concierge in Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match, as well as Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms. Matt is also a highly accomplished actor, starring in TV shows such as 24, Riverdale and NCIS. His involvement in television also includes voiceover work, having worked on shows such as Family Guy and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Daniel Nelson is an Australian actor and stuntman, best known for his portrayal of Black Dragon henchman Kabal in 2021’s Mortal Kombat movie. Although born in New Zealand, Daniel took full advantage of the lifestyle in his adopted home country. After landing a prominent role at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, Daniel would go on to learn stunts and release his inner daredevil. Years later he has gone on to act, but most notably perform stunts, choreograph and even double for some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Recent projects he has worked on include the yet-to-be-released Mortal Kombat 2, along with The Fall Guy, Thor: Love and Thunder and Godzilla vs. Kong.

Stryker lives! Michael O’Brien, the enigmatic actor who famously portrayed NYPD officer Kurtis Stryker in Mortal Kombat 3, gives his first ever interview in 29 years. A native of Chicago, Michael left the area a few years later, and has since enjoyed a successful career in real estate.

Cage Match is the fourth entry in the popular Mortal Kombat Legends series from Warner Bros. Animation. Set in 1980s California, struggling actor and martial artist Johnny Cage gets more than he bargained for on a search for his missing co-star Jennifer. Resident cheeky boy Lew Orrow and talented artist Justin McCollum join Christopher and Toasty to discuss the film in depth.

Christopher Leps is an American stuntman, stunt actor and filmmaker who primarily served as Paolo Montalban’s stunt double in Mortal Kombat: Conquest. Having featured in twenty episodes of the popular series, he also played numerous minor characters and helped influence its many iconic fight scenes. Conquest aside, Leps has also worked on many noteworthy television series and movies, including The Mandalorian, The Walking Dead and Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge.

Christopher and Toasty are joined by cosplayer Christina Rose, Kamidogu writer Nicole Hidalgo and YouTuber TotalMK to discuss Mortal Kombat 1’s playable kombatants and Kameo fighters ahead of the game’s official release this week.

Born in New Orleans, Larnell Stovall is a gifted martial artist, stuntman and actor who has lent his talents to a number of big productions. His involvement in film is mainly behind the scenes, having worked on both Mortal Kombat: Rebirth and Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series as a fight choreographer and stunt coordinator alongside director Kevin Tancharoen.

Samantha Win is a Canadian actress and martial artist with rich Chinese heritage, best known for her portrayal of Kitana in 2013’s Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series. Samantha started training in martial arts at the age of 4, beginning with Jiu Jitsu and eventually moving on to Wushu. Her love of martial arts would see her compete and win multiple medals at national, pan-American and international levels, including a stint representing Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After spending some time as a stunt actress, Samantha’s aptitude saw her eventual casting in a number of television shows such as Lethal Weapon and Arrow. She has also starred in a number of blockbuster films, including Man of Steel, Wonder Woman, Justice League and Army of the Dead. Her newest project, The Dresden Sun, is currently in post-production.

Brian Glynn is an American bodybuilder and entrepreneur who famously portrayed Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3 and beyond. A man of many talents, Brian went on to play the Water God in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, as well as Warhead in Midway’s War Gods alongside Kerri Hoskins.

Born in the Philippines, Paolo Montalban’s family immigrated to the United States when he was just one year old. An incredibly gifted actor and singer, he has worked alongside some of the greatest names of our generation. Paolo starred as the main protagonist Kung Lao in all twenty-two episodes of 1998’s Mortal Kombat: Conquest television series alongside Daniel Bernhardt and Kristanna Loken. Just one year earlier he played the character of Prince Christopher in Disney’s Cinderella opposite Brandy, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg. He has since appeared on Broadway in a number of productions, released a self-titled album, and is set to grace our screens in the near future in Descendants: The Rise of Red on Disney+.

Deron McBee is an American actor and sportsman, best known for his iconic portrayal of Motaro in 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Mortal Kombat aside, his larger than life stature, bulging muscles and flowing blonde hair intimidated countless contestants on 1989’s American Gladiators where he starred as Malibu.

Christopher and Christina Rose sit down to discuss their initial thoughts surrounding the gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, which premiered at Summer Game Fest last week.

Following the recent unveiling of Mortal Kombat 1, many within the kommunity have begun advocating for the return of characters from the 3D era, some of whom haven’t been featured in a game since 2006. One such iconic kombatant is Shujinko, the main protagonist from Mortal Kombat: Deception’s Konquest mode. Voiced by former Midway and NetherRealm Studios staffer Max Crawford, his iconic dulcet tones invoke pleasant memories, and we couldn’t be happier to have him with us to celebrate our milestone 50th episode. In addition to Shujinko, Max also voiced Shang Tsung and the Dragon King himself, Onaga.

With over 40 years of experience as an actor, Ronald M. Banks provided the voice talent for Quan Chi in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat (2011) and Mortal Kombat X. His talent also permeates World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, where he played both Abedneum and Baron Sliver. Games aside, Banks has appeared in numerous opera and musical theatre productions, receiving multiple awards and accolades for his role as King Mongkut in The King and I, among others.

Christopher and Toasty are accompanied by four special guests to discuss their hopes and dreams for the yet to be announced Mortal Kombat 12. Joining us for our longest episode ever are cosplayers Christina Rose and Yeliz, as well as content creator DaIslandBoyz, and founder of the Netherkast: Cyborg.

Keith Cooke Hirabayashi is an American born martial artist, actor and fitness fanatic with Japanese heritage. Keith has been teaching martial arts for over 45 years, and is a former world champion and three-time Competitor of the Year. He is best known for portraying Reptile in 1995’s Mortal Kombat and Sub-Zero in its sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Martial arts aside, Keith is currently heavily invested in the world of fitness, pioneering a total physical training system dubbed The Ring Workout.