While the Mortal Kombat universe is filled with powerful warriors, Shaolin masters, Outworld warlords and divine Elder Gods, none of them can match the combined might of the Kamidogu, magical artifacts that were integral to the story of the 2015 Mortal Kombat X comic by Shawn Kittelsen, Dexter Soy, Daniel Sampere and Ivan Vitorino.
First appearing in the 2004 fighting game Mortal Kombat: Deception, the Kamidogu acted as the focal point for the game's main story. The fighter known as Shujinko is tasked to collect the six artifacts. As they were depicted in Deception, the Kamidogu were relics that were the physical embodiment of their respective realms: Earthrealm, Netherrealm, Chaosrealm, Outworld, Orderrealm and Edenia. When brought together, the Kamidogu contained enough power to alter the very fabric of reality. A twist in Deception's story was the revelation that the Amulet of Shinnok was in fact the final Kamidogu that Shujinko needed to obtain.
The Kamidogu were not seen in a Mortal Kombat story until the release of the 2015 comic series. Rather than being depicted as differently colored artifacts, the Kamidogu were now shown to be daggers. Despite having new forms, the Kamidogu still functioned as they did before. Each was an immensely powerful artifact in its own right, but when brought together, the total power of the Kamidogu was unmatched.
The 2015 Mortal Kombat X comic acted as both a prequel tale to its respective video game and also as a retelling of various plot points and characters from throughout the series. The Kamidogu, now as daggers, were tools used in the practice of Blood Magik. By possessing one of the daggers, a person could increase their raw power many times over. By cutting a person with one of the Kamidogu, the dagger's wielder could then control the person whom they cut.
After defeating and sealing away the mad Elder God Shinnok, the other Elder God's entrusted Raiden, the protector of Earthrealm, in safeguarding the keys to the amulet that contained Shinnok. These keys were the Kamidogu, and in order to better prevent Shinnok's return, Raiden entrusted each of the Kamidogu to worthy champions across both Earthrealm and Outworld.
Unfortunately, Raiden's plan was a failure, and the daggers eventually fell into the hands of a number of evil beings. Once brought together, the Kamidogu were used to summon the Amulet of Shinnok, but through the actions of the courageous heroes fighting to stop the evil cleric Havik, Shinnok remained sealed in his magical prison.
The Kamidogu were very similar to the Infinity Gems from Marvel Comics. Both sets of artifacts were representative of entire spheres of energy and power. When brought together, both sets of artifacts granted incalculable amounts of power, and both sets of artifacts were fought over fiercely. The Kamidogu in the Mortal Kombat X comics were not quite as analogous to the Infinity Gems as their previous incarnation in Deception, but the power they contained was still immense. Artifacts such as the Kamidogu add wonderful drama and excitement to the already action-packed stories their worlds contain. The Kamidogu act as equalizers that ensure that both the powers of good and evil may be able to tip the balance of power further in their favor.
0 Comments