This is a list of playable and boss characters from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between various realms. Most characters fight on behalf of their realm, with the primary heroes defending Earthrealm against conquering villains from Outworld and the Netherrealm. Early installments feature the characters participating in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to decide their realm's fate. In later installments, Earthrealm is often invaded by force. A total of 77 playable fighters have been featured in the series, in addition to unplayable bosses and guest characters. Much of the franchise's mainstays were introduced during the first three games. Nearly all of the characters have been killed at a point in the story, but have rarely stayed dead. Introduced in Mortal Kombat (1992) Goro Johnny Cage Kano Liu Kang Raiden Reptile Scorpion Shang Tsung Sonya Blade Sub-Zero Introduced in Mortal Kombat II Baraka Jade Jax Kintaro Voiced by: Rhasaan Orange (MK 2011), Dave B. Mitchell (MKL:BOTR) Kintaro is the sub-boss of Mortal Kombat II and a sub-boss in the 2011 reboot. He is also the penultimate boss of Shaolin Monks. A Shokan, he shares his species' four arms and imposing size, but is distinguished by his tiger-like stripes. Kintaro participates in Shao Kahn's attempt to conquer Earthrealm during the second game's tournament, in which he is defeated by Liu Kang. In the reboot, he is defeated by Kung Lao during the tournament. The reboot also establishes him as being responsible for Kabal's injuries. In the 2015 Mortal Kombat X prequel comic, Kintaro is slain by Sonya Blade while she is under Havik's control. The character was a stop-motion clay figure whose design was inspired by the Japanese mythological character Kintarō. He was initially conceived for MKII as an anthropomorphic fur-lined bipedal tiger, but the concept was scrapped due to the difficulty of creating such a complicated outfit. According to series co-creator John Tobias, Kintaro was redesigned as a "Goro spinoff" who was possibly a Shokan general, but not royalty. Kintaro appears in the animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, voiced by Dave B. Mitchell. Kintaro has received a middling reception due to his minor role in the series and is often unfavorably compared to previous sub-boss Goro. UGO Networks opined in 2012 that Kintaro "serves no real purpose except