# Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
**Scorpion** is a fictional character and one of the original fighters of the 1992 arcade fighting game *Mortal Kombat*, created by [Ed Boon](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-boon) and [John Tobias](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-tobias) at [Midway Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/midway-games)[1](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/mortal-kombat-2-director-says-working-closely-with-video-game-co-creator-ed-boon-made-the-creative-process-this-time-around-a-lot-easier-more-satisfying/) • [2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). A yellow-clad undead ninja whose true name is Hanzo Hasashi, he is defined by his spear attack and his shouted catchphrase "Get over here!", and by his revenge feud against Sub-Zero[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). He has appeared in nearly every mainline game, in film and animation, and serves as the mascot of NetherRealm Studios, the franchise's current developer[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Original character of *Mortal Kombat* (1992), portrayed by actor Daniel Pesina as a digitized sprite[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) |
| Signature move | Roped spear (also called harpoon or kunai) that reels in the opponent for a free hit, with the lines "GET OVER HERE!" or "COME HERE!" voiced by Ed Boon[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) |
| True name and clan | Hanzo Hasashi of the Shirai Ryu clan, first named in *Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero* (1997)[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) |
| Defining rivalry | Killed the original Sub-Zero (Bi-Han) in the first game; the feud with the Lin Kuei clan runs through the series[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) |
| Absence from MK3 | Not featured in *Mortal Kombat 3* (1995); restored in *Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3* (1995), played by John Turk[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) |
| Creator favoritism | Ed Boon, who also voiced the character, has called Scorpion his favorite character and his favorite to design fatalities for[3](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/immortal-mystique-mortal-kombat-s-john-tobias-on-the-creation-and-evolution-of-a-franchise) • [4](https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/06/17/mortal-kombat-burning-questions.aspx) |
| Screen portrayals | Chris Casamassa in the 1995 film; Ian Anthony Dale in *Rebirth* and *Legacy*; Hiroyuki Sanada in the 2021 film and *Mortal Kombat 2*[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) • [5](https://www.criticalhit.net/entertainment/mortal-kombat-on-screen-scorpions-ranked/) |
## Creation and design
Scorpion was one of the seven original characters of the first *Mortal Kombat*. Because of limited resources, the developers at Midway created three ninja characters who were identical except for their color palette: [Reptile](https://www.edgepedia.org/reptile-mortal-kombat) in green, Sub-Zero in blue, and Scorpion in yellow. The three became among the most popular characters in the franchise[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). The first game took eight months to finish, and each character's moves were filmed in a single session of about seven hours, with one person filmed at a time for the digitized sprites[6](https://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/14826/udr_120_32.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1).
The character's popularity rested heavily on his spear attack, in which he tossed a roped spear at his opponent and reeled them in for a free hit while shouting "GET OVER HERE!" or "COME HERE!". Co-creator Ed Boon performed the voice work, and the move made the rogue ninja an overnight sensation at arcades[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). Boon has repeatedly described Scorpion as his favorite character; in a 2016 interview he said Scorpion remains his favorite character to design fatalities for[3](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/immortal-mystique-mortal-kombat-s-john-tobias-on-the-creation-and-evolution-of-a-franchise) • [4](https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/06/17/mortal-kombat-burning-questions.aspx).
## Story in the games
The first game's biography gave little detail: Sub-Zero belonged to the Lin Kuei ninja clan, and Scorpion hated him. The promotional comic was more direct, with Scorpion confronting Sub-Zero with the line "You killed me two years ago and now I have a flaming skull head!". Scorpion succeeded in killing Sub-Zero in the first game, and his classic fatality removed his mask to reveal a skull that spat fire[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
In *Mortal Kombat II* (1993), Midway resurrected Sub-Zero, explained in the promotional comic as the younger brother of the original. The series later named the older brother Bi-Han and the younger Kuai Liang. Scorpion realized Kuai Liang was not the man who killed him and became the new Sub-Zero's protector[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
*Mortal Kombat 3* (1995) omitted Scorpion entirely, along with the other male ninja characters who were not robots. The game received a lukewarm reception, attributed in part to the absence of Scorpion and other favorites such as [Johnny Cage](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-cage), [Raiden](https://www.edgepedia.org/raiden-mortal-kombat), Kitana, and Mileena; Midway responded within months with *Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3* (1995), which restored him[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) • [7](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/mortal-kombat-3-fue-la-oveja-negra-de-la-saga-y-la-ausencia-de-scorpion-fue-uno-de-sus-grandes-problemas-f202601-n/).
The 1997 prequel *Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero* finally gave Scorpion a name, Hanzo Hasashi, and named his clan the Shirai Ryu. It established his origin: the sorcerer Quan Chi hired representatives of the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu to hunt a map, then repaid the Lin Kuei by wiping out the Shirai Ryu and Scorpion's family, and groomed the undead Scorpion as a henchman by convincing him that Sub-Zero was responsible[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
In the 3D era, Scorpion's story shifted repeatedly. *Mortal Kombat 4* (1997) had Quan Chi reveal his own guilt, and Scorpion dragged him into the Netherrealm. *Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance* (2002) tore him apart in a soulnado, and *Mortal Kombat: Deception* (2004) promoted him as the new hero before revealing the game's actual protagonist was Shujinko[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). In *Mortal Kombat X* (2015) he was restored to mortal life, rebuilt the Shirai Ryu, and killed Quan Chi after Kuai Liang showed him proof that the sorcerer had orchestrated his family's destruction[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
*Mortal Kombat 11* (2019) featured two versions of the character: the present-day Scorpion and his past self from the *Mortal Kombat II* era, brought forward by the villain Kronika. The modern Scorpion died from a poison attack by D'Vorah, which prompted his younger self to switch sides and join the heroes[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
## Crossovers and other media
Scorpion appeared as a guest DLC character in *Injustice: Gods Among Us*, with a new design by comic artist [Jim Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-lee); in that game's story he killed the demon Trigon and took over his army[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) • [8](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-vs-injustice-series-creator-ed-boon-/1100-6448475/).
His screen history is varied. Chris Casamassa played him in the 1995 live-action film, where he and Sub-Zero were mute henchmen of [Shang Tsung](https://www.edgepedia.org/shang-tsung) and Scorpion was defeated by Johnny Cage; Casamassa reprised the role in the *Mortal Kombat: Conquest* television series[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). [Ian Anthony Dale](https://www.edgepedia.org/ian-anthony-dale) played a grounded, human version of the character in the 2010 short film *Mortal Kombat: Rebirth* and the two-season web series *Mortal Kombat: Legacy*[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/) • [5](https://www.criticalhit.net/entertainment/mortal-kombat-on-screen-scorpions-ranked/). The 2020 animated film *Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge* made his revenge story the backbone of the plot, retelling the first game's tournament around his rebirth and redemption[9](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-legends-scorpions-revenge-review-get/1900-6417450/). In the 2021 live-action reboot and its sequel *Mortal Kombat 2*, [Hiroyuki Sanada](https://www.edgepedia.org/hiroyuki-sanada) plays Scorpion, including a rematch with Joe Taslim's Bi-Han, reborn as Noob Saibot[10](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/mortal-kombat-2-review-a-chaotic-blast-of-fan-service-thats-hard-not-to-enjoy) • [11](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-movies/mortal-kombat-2-review/).
## Cultural standing
After Midway folded, Warner Bros. absorbed part of the studio and rebranded it as [NetherRealm Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/netherrealm-studios), and Scorpion went from main character to the studio's logo[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/). His popularity is such that it influenced the name and logo of NetherRealm, and he is described as a figure central to the identity and cultural impact of *Mortal Kombat*[7](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/mortal-kombat-3-fue-la-oveja-negra-de-la-saga-y-la-ausencia-de-scorpion-fue-uno-de-sus-grandes-problemas-f202601-n/). Commentators note that, unlike the central heroes of rival fighting games, Scorpion is neither the series' main hero nor its main villain but its most recognizable figure, a wildcard positioned on the sidelines of the main conflict[2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/).
## References
1. [Mortal Kombat 2 director on working with Ed Boon, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/mortal-kombat-2-director-says-working-closely-with-video-game-co-creator-ed-boon-made-the-creative-process-this-time-around-a-lot-easier-more-satisfying/)
2. [Mortal Kombat: The History of Scorpion, Den of Geek (Gavin Jasper, 2019)](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mortal-kombat-scorpion-history/)
3. [ImMortal Mystique: Mortal Kombat's John Tobias on the Creation and Evolution of a Franchise, Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/immortal-mystique-mortal-kombat-s-john-tobias-on-the-creation-and-evolution-of-a-franchise)
4. [Ed Boon Answers Mortal Kombat's Burningest Questions, Game Informer](https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/06/17/mortal-kombat-burning-questions.aspx)
5. [Mortal Kombat on-screen Scorpions, ranked, Critical Hit](https://www.criticalhit.net/entertainment/mortal-kombat-on-screen-scorpions-ranked/)
6. [The Review, University of Delaware student newspaper, January 28, 1994](https://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/14826/udr_120_32.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1)
7. [Mortal Kombat 3 y la ausencia de Scorpion, MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/mortal-kombat-3-fue-la-oveja-negra-de-la-saga-y-la-ausencia-de-scorpion-fue-uno-de-sus-grandes-problemas-f202601-n/)
8. [Mortal Kombat Vs. Injustice: Ed Boon Talks Design Differences, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-vs-injustice-series-creator-ed-boon-/1100-6448475/)
9. [Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-legends-scorpions-revenge-review-get/1900-6417450/)
10. [Mortal Kombat 2 review, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/mortal-kombat-2-review-a-chaotic-blast-of-fan-service-thats-hard-not-to-enjoy)
11. [Mortal Kombat 2 review, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-movies/mortal-kombat-2-review/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series › Fighting game franchises › Mortal Kombat franchise*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license