The ultra-violent video game franchise Mortal Kombat has spun off into movies, comic books, a TV show, and more.

Now the latest sequel brings back more of the unforgettable characters you might have grown up eviscerating.

I'm Stephen Thompson.

Joining me today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is Jordan Morris.

He's a podcaster and co-writer of the Marvel comic series, The Amazing Spider-Man Spider-Versity.

Hey, Jordan.

Hi, just real quick, I told your producer that for this episode, I wanted to be introduced as

Jordan Morris.

So, anyways, if you just want to take that again, or we can do it in post if you want to.

If anyone, like, really, like, starts to lose an argument in this conversation,

I will, as host, be obligated to yell, finish him.

Also with us is Ronald Young Jr.

He's the host of the film and television review podcast leaving the theater.

Hey, Ronald.

Hello, Stephen.

I'm normal.

So trying to summarize a movie like Mortal Kombat 2 can take you in some very different directions.

You could go on and on about the lore of the outworld and the earth realm and the epic battles that determine who might rule various realms, which doesn't even begin to touch on the various fighters and their backstories and fighting styles.

But you could also sum up Mortal Kombat 2 in like three words.

There is fighting.

Because there is fighting, on top of fighting, on top of

fighting with finishing moves that evoke memories of the Final Destination movies. The stakes

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