Bio:
- Kano
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 230 lbs
- Species: Human
- resides: Earthrealm
- Eye Color: Hazel
- Status: Mercenary/Head of the Black Dragon
- Alignment: Evil
- age: 55
Kano is a mercenary and leader of the international crime cartel known as the Black Dragon. He rises beyond mere brutality and aggression by also being sly and cunning. Originally from Australia, Kano is highly opportunistic and incredibly selfish. The mercenary is willing to betray his own realm and even his own allies for money or personal gain. As a result, he quickly became part of Shao Kahn’s inner circle, and eventually the general of Outworld’s armies. One of his more notable features is his twisted sense of humor, almost always making light of dire circumstances. He combines features of a cowardly minion, a lone survivor, a crazed madman, and a ruthless commander. His actions have made him the arch-enemy of Sonya Blade, who is obsessed with finding and bringing Kano to justice.
A portion of Kano’s face is covered with a metal plate, the result of a disfiguring injury he sustained at the hands of Major Jackson Briggs prior to the events of the series, with the plated eye being a glowing red orb capable of emitting laser beams
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces
Kano is the leader of the Black Dragon organization, a criminal empire of cut-throat madmen. He freed fellow Black Dragon cohorts No Face, Tasia, Jarek and Tremor from a U.S. Special Forces security facility. The brutal mercenary did so under the pretense that they would reform the Black Dragon organization. In reality, he intended to use them as pawns to slow down any Special Forces agents who might pursue him. Annihilating an entire squad at the site of the prison break, he and his cohorts escaped.
With his Black Dragon associates given their assigned tasks, Kano headed to Outworld where he recovered the Eye of Chitian, an artifact through which he would acquire incredible power. Unfortunately for him, Major Jackson Briggs had overcome his accomplices and caught up to him. The two fought, and Kano was defeated. Jax used the Eye to transport them back to Earthrealm, and proceeded to bring Kano into custody, though Kano escaped soon after.
Mortal Kombat
Kano entered Shang Tsung’s Mortal Kombat tournament after hearing rumors that Tsung’s palace was filled with gold and other riches. Kano intended to steal them for the Black Dragon. At that time, the Black Dragon was the primary target of the U.S. Special Forces and would remain so for a number of years. He was pursued by Lt. Sonya Blade, who held a personal grudge against Kano because he had killed her former partner. While Kano was free to take part in the tournament of his own accord, Sonya and her unit were captured by Shang Tsung’s minions. Tsung offered Sonya an ultimatum to compete in Mortal Kombat, or have her and her unit executed. If she won, they would all be free to go. Sonya and Kano survived the tournament but many others died, including Sonya’s men. After the final battle between Shang Tsung and Liu Kang, Kano teamed up with Sonya and Cage to fight Goro. During the battle, the island began to crumble because of Shang Tsung’s defeat and before they knew it, Kano and Sonya found themselves in a forest in Outworld. They were found and captured by Shang Tsung.
Mortal Kombat II
Kano and Sonya both spent the duration of the second tournament chained up on display in Shao Kahn’s Arena. They were forced to observe the battles that took place. Eventually, they were freed by Jax, who then took advantage of the opportunity to arrest Kano. As they cross the portal back to Earthrealm, Kano escapes and runs back into Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 3/Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3/Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Most Earthrealm warriors assumed Kano to be dead. He instead managed to save his own life by convincing Shao Kahn to accept him as a weapons instructor for his armies. As a man with knowledge of Earthrealm weaponry, he was the most suitable candidate. During the events leading up to the Kahn’s invasion, Sonya tossed Kano to his surmised death from the roof of a high building. Kano was found by Motaro later, who healed and imprisoned him. After Motaro was attacked and killed by Sheeva, Kano was freed from his prison. He and Sheeva hatched a plan to murder Shao Kahn, but Kano turned on Sheeva. In the decisive moments, Sheeva was left at the mercy of the emperor. Due to this, Kano was then hastily promoted to general of Outworld’s rapidly shrinking army.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Eventually Kahn’s forces were defeated. Earthrealm was free, and so was Edenia. Shao Kahn’s act of promoting Kano, proved to be a lucky shot, as Kano was a very competent general. Even in the face of overwhelming odds and the tactical mastership of Princess Kitana and her Edenian-Shokan army, Kano stood his ground and eventually managed to repel the invading army. He returned to Shao Kahn’s palace just in time to watch from the shadows as Shang Tsung and Quan Chi sprung their attack on the weakened emperor. As soon as the battle was finished, Kano declared his allegiance to the new rulers of Outworld, the Deadly Alliance. The two had Kano oversee the enslavement of a small village, who would construct a temple over Onaga’s tomb to house the Soulnado. During its construction, Kano was personally assaulted by Li Mei, but Quan Chi intervened.
His intervention was due in no part for any particular affinity for the criminal, however. The Alliance had made a deal with the Red Dragon member Mavado; he would eliminate the swordsman Kenshi in exchange for the opportunity to fight and defeat Kano. Mavado attacked and left Kenshi for dead, earning his battle.
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
It would seem that Mavado won the fight, as Kano is found by Taven to have been held prisoner by the Red Dragon Clan for quite some time. Before escaping their facilities, Kano explains to Taven that the Red Dragon had been experimenting on him, as well as their own clan members. They were trying to create real-life genetically engineered Dragons and Human-Dragon Hybrids. He went on to mention that they were trying something new on him, he leaves before elaborating on what that “something” was.
Kano then joins the Forces of Darkness during the Battle of Armageddon. He is later seen climbing the Pyramid of Argus where he strikes down Stryker and stabs Bo’ Rai Cho before falling down. He attempts to climb back up but is one of the many characters knocked off the Pyramid by Shao Kahn.
Mortal Kombat 9
Kano enters the first Mortal Kombat tournament, He is being pursued by Sonya. Not longer after this, he appears on a bridge high above the Pit and attacks Sonya, who is already in a weakened state from her fight with Johnny Cage. Kano approaches Johnny from behind and throws him from the bridge before moving in to kill Sonya. Before he can do so, Johnny leaps back onto the platform to face Kano, having narrowly avoided death by grabbing onto one of the edges jutting out from the bridge. Kano loses the fight, but makes his escape.
As Sonya frees Jax from Goro’s Lair, she attempts to call for an evacuation helicopter, but they are ambushed by Kano and Shang Tsung, who shoots the helicopter down. The criminal then challenges her to a fight, boasting that no one could save her this time. Sonya defeats Kano and attempts to arrest him, but Shang Tsung stops her and leaves with Kano.
Prior to the start of the second tournament, Kano accompanies Shang Tsung to the Living Forest and attempts to sell him some Black Dragon weaponry. They are interrupted by Smoke however, and Kano tells Shang Tsung that he will take care of him. Despite his claims, both Kano and Shang Tsung are defeated by the Lin Kuei ninja.
Kano finds a severely burnt Kabal and takes him back to Outworld, supplying him with breathing equipment. As Kabal awakens in his new form, Kano attempts to sway him back to the Black Dragon, but is instead berated for selling the Outworld warriors their firepower. Blaming Kano for his damaged state, the two former allies engage one another in combat. Kabal gains the upper hand and forces Kano to bring him to Outworld. Kano does so, and is knocked unconscious by Kabal.
After regaining consciousness, Kano accompanies Goro and Kintaro to the Bell Tower. They gleefully torment Earthrealm POWs while waiting for Cyber Sub-Zero. Unaware of Cyber Sub-Zero’s reprogramming, Kano is frozen while the prisoners are freed. Kano eventually thaws and warns Noob Saibot of Sub-Zero’s treachery. He is not seen or mentioned again after this.
Mortal Kombat X
Before the main events of the game’s story mode, Kano steals Shinnok’s amulet and leaves a duplicate in its place. The criminal left a trap as well for anyone who would discover it. The Black Dragon mercenary would then sell the amulet to Mileena to be used as a weapon against her usurper, Kotal Kahn. The deposed empress then pays Kano at least 100 million in gold to eliminate Kotal Kahn.
Kano meets with Kotal Kahn and D’Vorah, bargaining over weapons prices and information on Mileena’s location. Unbeknownst to Kotal Kahn, Kano had already been hired by Mileena to eliminate him, and makes his move after their carriage is attacked by Mileena’s Tarkatan hordes. Kotal manages to fend off Kano’s attack however. After defeating the criminal, Kahn attempts to finish him off, but is blasted away by Tanya, allowing Kano to escape with his life.
Kano is mentioned by Li Mei and thousands of Outworld refugees cross over into Earthrealm seeking asylum from the war. She alludes to “an Earthrealmer with a glowing red eye” as being among those who crossed the portal with them. Sonya instantly recognizes that this is Kano. She heads off to the refugee camp to intercept him before he can escape, and discovers the slain corpse of an Outworlder along the way. Sonya recognizes it as Kano’s work. Kano somehow sneaks into the Special Forces’ Refugee camp disguised as an Outworld refugee. Sonya spots him, and after being confronted by Sonya and Kenshi, Kano reveals himself and offers info in exchange for his freedom. Sonya refuses to negotiate, and Kano responds by threatening to go after Cassie, initiating a brawl between the two.
Kano is defeated, and an enraged Sonya nearly strangles him to death. As Kano begs for his life, Johnny Cage shows up and urges her to show restraint. He explains that they still need info on the amulet. Sonya complies with Cage, and demands the info out of Kano, which he agrees to. Kano is not seen again after this, presumably brought into custody for his crimes.
Powers and abilities
Although Kano only fights when it best suits him, he is extremely adept in combat and has proven to be a challenge for even the more skilled fighters. What differentiates him from his opponents, is his dependence on weapons rather than special powers. He very often uses his signature Butterfly Knives in combat, whether he throws them at the opponent or uses them in hand-to-hand combat. In addition, his eye laser is used often.
Another of Kano’s special moves is his ability to tuck into a cannonball and propel himself toward his opponents. Also, several of his finishers involve him ripping vital organs out of the opponent’s body. Along with the elder Sub-Zero’s Spine Rip Fatality, Kano’s Heart Rip helped Mortal Kombat garner significant controversy over its violence factor.
As of Mortal Kombat X, Kano’s cybernetics have been upgraded and extended through his entire body. This includes a cybernetic “heart” similar to Hsu Hao, which serves as a booster to his cybernetic enhancements. He now uses thermal grenades as part of his already deadly arsenal.