The Mortal Kombat series is brimming with wonderful characters bursting from the seams with personality. Few have been around as long or consistently as Raiden, the god of thunder and protector of Earthrealm. He often messes up on his quest to guard mankind's home, usually causing a bigger mess and further endangering those he was sworn to guard, but fans love him nonetheless.
Anybody who holds disdain for him must have been on the receiving end of his signature Torpedo special move too many times. To prove our infatuation with the character and show just how much everyone else appreciates him, we have scoured the Internet far and wide to find the ten funniest memes about the combatant.
10 A God Needs Permission?
Since when does a god need permission to do anything, especially if it is within his jurisdiction of protecting Earthrealm? We suppose it is par for the course when a hierarchy such as the one present in Mortal Kombat exists. Most modern religions are monotheistic, and most polytheistic ones of the past did not have relationships like the one between Raiden and the Elder Gods. It must be a real chip on Raiden's shoulder to have to ask them for permission to do anything. It is necessary, though, when the Elder Gods have the power to strip his abilities away.
9 Our First Savior
Raiden was far from the first one to have visions of the future. Even though the character appeared long before the television show That's So Raven, he was not trying to change destiny until 2011's Mortal Kombat. Raven-Symone's program started in 2003, a whole eight years prior. The character on the show had things a little easier, too. We're pretty sure she never killed several of her closest allies because she thought it might save the world one day. They're probably saving that for the gritty reboot.
8 This Is What Raiden Looks Like
The series is such a cultural phenomenon, people who never played a game or touched an arcade stick are aware of its existence and will shout out "finish him" at comically opportune moments. Of course, some fans get upset when some who do this cannot name several characters or even recognize Raiden, who is clearly pictured in the above photo.
Anyone who says Raiden isn't in the picture is clearly the fake fan who is feigning their love for the series. Maybe they keep this facade up because their parents don't let them play MK.
7 Probably Should Have Thought That One Through A Little Better
Raiden may be a supremely powerful being, but near omnipotence doesn't make him smart. He should have realized giving away his powers in the often lambasted Mortal Kombat: Annihilation would lead to his death. He was ultimately of more use as a god than as a corpse.
It all worked out for him in the end, fortunately, when he was given back his life and became an Elder God. One has to remember; the films are simply a dramatization of the real tournaments and events. We're sure Raiden was thrilled to be played by the incomparable James Remar, even if the film itself is a dumpster fire.
6 We All Have This Power
Everybody has done this at one time in their life. Is it a simple mistake, or the past and future coming together? If the latter is true, is this something one really wants? While a tempting thought, think of all the disastrous implications it has. Seeing one's future oR past self is neat, but not so much if one of you is driven mad by the encounter or tries to kill the other. Time travel, after all, never works out the way people intend.
5 Core Taylor Foresaw This
Rain's ending in Mortal Kombat from 2011 sees him destroying Shao Kahn, learning of his godly lineage, and starting a takeover of all the realms. It is fairly dark, and one which could have easily been prevented if only we listened to Corey Taylor all those years ago. "Psychosocial" wasn't just a hard-rocking track with a sick riff making great use of pinch harmonics, it was a prophecy. We should scour the rest of their lyrics just to make sure we don't miss anything else.
4 Shujinko Has Some Competition
Everybody gets jealous sometimes, and the scent of envy was coming strong from Raiden during Mortal Kombat Deception's conquest mode. If it is any consolation for the thunder god, Shujinko's victory was during one of the weaker moments in the franchise's history. Deception still has its fans, but the focus on long combos and three-dimensional movement felt like the series was straying away from its roots. They eventually brought it all back home in 2011, and Shujinko was nowhere to be found.
3 The Perfect Baby Name
What better way to send one's child onto a path of strength and honor than to name them after the one who saved Earthrealm time and time again?
Sure, some might think they are named after the protagonist from Metal Gear Solid 2, but that would also be fine for many, considering its status as one of the greatest games ever made. Even though not everyone believes in Raiden, everybody knows the story and will understand the meaning behind the name.
2 This Job Has No Vacancies
Why have Thor and Raiden not met yet? If they did, it would result in one of the most epic showdowns of all time. Either that, or it could be the start of a wonderful buddy cop adventure rivaling the likes of Lethal Weapon. They would constantly try to one-up each other with their abilities, fall in love with the same woman or date each other's sisters, argue, but then save each other's neck at the end of the day. Then, the credits would roll over the two sitting on a porch, cracking open a couple of cold ones, and teasing each other while the audio fades into a classic rock song.
1 Mama Liked The Roses
Naming children is always an opportunity to pay tribute to the things you love most. Raiden's child is in for a rude awakening when he gets named Elder Gods. Unless they go to school with the offspring of other MK characters, their moniker will stick out like a sore thumb. They'll no doubt get picked on like the protagonist from "A Boy Named Sue." At the end of the day, though, they'll probably develop similar powers to their father and take revenge on all the bullies who made their school years unbearable.