With Mortal Kombat finally releasing this week (read our Mortal Kombat review), bringing back the joy of violently killing each other with our favorite characters, we thought it'd be nice to take a look at some of our favorite fighters and their unique looks and costume designs.

Gathered from a variety of talented artists online, below are some original portraits, concept art, sketches, colorizations and other such Mortal Kombat images featuring many of the franchise's key characters.

We're going to go page-by-page, showcasing one or two pieces of art for each character, then we want you to provide us with links to awesome art you'd like to see added for those characters, or for character's we've yet to include. Hopefully, most of these will be new to you.

So far, this collection features Baraka, Ermac, Frost, Jade, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kabal, Kano, Kenshi, Kitana, Kung Lao, Lio Kang, Mileena, Noob Saibot, Quan Chi, Raiden, Reptile, Scorpion, Sektor, Shang Tsung, Sheeva, Sindel, Smoke, Sonya Blade and Sub-Zero.

So, we've covered the entire roster of Mortal Kombat 9 with the exception of Cyrax, Nightwolf, Stryker, Goro, Kintaro and Shao Khan and that's where you come in! For now, browse through the pages and appreciate the characters, their art and their history.

Let's start with one of Mortal Kombat's most popular and coolest characters: Sub-Zero.

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Sub-Zero is the name used by two brothers (Bi-Han the elder, Kuai Liang the younger) in the Mortal Kombat storyline, both of which are Cryomancers with the ability to generate and manipulate ice.

Sub-Zero art by joshwmc.

Baraka (Origins: Outworld): A member of the Tarkata race, with blades extending from his forearm.

Baraka Mortal Kombat 9

Baraka art by ScorpionBlaze.

Ermac (Origins: Outworld): Red Ninja with powers of telekinesis.

Ermac art by salvation-series.

Frost (Origins: Earthrealm): Lin Kuei warrior and apprentice to Sub-Zero

Frost art by kostasishere.

Jade (Origins: Edenia): Friend of Princess Kitana

Jade Mortal Kombat 9

Jade art by ScorpionBlaze.

Jax (Origins: Earthrealm): Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs is a cybernetically-enhanced soldier.

Jax Mortal Kombat 9

Jax art by ScorpionBlaze.

Johnny Cage (Origins: Earthrealm): John Carlton (real name) is a movie action star and trained martial artist.

Johnny Cage Mortal Kombat 9

Johnny Cage art by ScorpionBlaze.

Kabal (Origins: Earthrealm): A human who escaped near death and a member of the Black Dragon.

Kabal art by kostasishere.

Kano (Origins: Earthrealm): Sports a metal faceplate courtesy of an injury from Jax.

Kano Mortal Kombat 9

Kano art by ScorpionBlaze.

Kenshi (Origins: Earthrealm): Blinded by the trickery of Shang Tsung, Kenshi survived and mastered his other sense with the help of his ancestral sword.

Kenshi Mortal Kombat 9

Kenshi art by ScorpionBlaze.

Kitana (Origins: Edenia): A 10,000 year-old princess.

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Kintana art (top) by Khaluow. Kitana (bottom) portrait by joshwmc.

Kung Lao (Origins: Earthrealm): A former Shaolin monk who sports a razor-rimmed hat.

Kung Lao Mortal Kombat 9

Kung-Lao art by ScorpionBlaze.

Liu Kang (Origins: Earthrealm): The main hero of the Mortal Kombat franchise, mentored by Raiden and love interest of Kitana.

Liu Kang art by Khaluow.

Mileena (Origins: Outworld): Evil clone of Kitana.

Mileena Portrait by Kergran.

Noob Saibot (Origins: Earthrealm, reborn in the Netherrealm): The original Sub-Zero (Bi-Han), now an evil Wraith after dying.

Noob Saibot art by kostasishere.

Quan Chi (Origins: Netherrealm): An immortal and powerful sorcerer and necromancer in the Netherrealm and primary villain of the series.

Quan Chi Mortal Kombat 9

Quan Chi art by ScorpionBlaze.

Raiden (Origins: Heaven): God of Thunder and former protector of Earthrealm.

Raiden Art Mortal Kombat

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Raiden art (top) by Soysaurus. Raiden (bottom) by art by kostasishere.

Reptile (Origins: Zaterra): Human-like reptilian creature and possibly last member of his species, the Saurians.

Human Reptile Mortal Kombat 9

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Human Reptile art (top) by Khaluow. Reptile (bottom) by kostasishere.

Scorpion (Origins: Earthrealm, reborn in Netherrealm): A master Ninja, murdered by the original Sub-Zero and betrayed by Quan Chi.

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Scorpion art (top) by mynando. Scorpion portrait (bottom) by joshwmc.

Sektor (Origins: Earthrealm): An evil cyborg Ninja who only expresses anger.

Sektor art by by kostasishere.

Sheeva (Origins: Outworld): A four-armed Shokan Warrior, once bodyguard of Queen Sindel.

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Sheeva Portrait (top) by Kergran. Sheeva art (bottom) by CODE-umb87.

Sindel (Origins: Edenia): Ruler of Edenia, mother of Princess Kitana.

Sindel Mortal Kombat 9

Sindel art by ScorpionBlaze.

Smoke (Origins: Earthrealm): Cyborg assassin who can teleport and turn invisible.

Smoke Mortal Kombat 9

Smoke art by ScorpionBlaze.

Sonya Blade (Origins: Earthrealm): Like Jax, another member of the Outer World Investigation Agency.

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Sonya Mortal Kombat 9

Sonya Blade portrait (top) by joshwmc. Sonya art (bottom) by ScorpionBlaze.

Shang Tsung (Origins: Earthrealm): A demonic shapeshifter and primary villain of the Mortal Kombat series.

Shang Tsung art by by kostasishere.

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If you're a  fan, be sure to check out our Mortal Kombat features:

Mortal Kombat is now available for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

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Follow me on Twitter @rob_keyes.