After numerous leaks and rumors, NetherRealm Studios has finally confirmed that Homelander and Peacemaker will be coming to Mortal Kombat 1 as special guest characters. They’re joined by Omni-Man, the Image Comics hero created by Robert Kirkman, who also stars in Invincible, and returning Mortal Kombat characters Quan Chi, Ermac, Takeda, Li Mei, Tanya, and Baraka.
NetherRealm Studios revealed Mortal Kombat 1’s new roster additions during its San Diego Comic-Con panel, which featured several members of the development team alongside series director Ed Boon.
Homelander and Peacemaker are ready for Kombat
Homelander and Peacemaker are the most notable additions to Mortal Kombat 1’s roster. They are part of an established tradition of guest characters that have previously included the Xenomorph, Predator, and other characters. An Amazon listing a few months back revealed that characters Homelander would be joined by Quan Chi, Omni-Man, Takeda, and Ermac in the first DLC Kombat Pack, but this is the first time that he’s been actually revealed.
Homelander found fame as the main antagonist of The Boys, and with Gen V now having a full release date, he’s been popping up in more games of late. His other appearances include a cameo in Call of Duty, where his heat vision has proven to be very powerful. Peacemaker, played by John Cena in the series written by James Gunn, has also proven popular since his well-received show in 2022. In a press release, NetherRealm parent company Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that Homelander won’t be available as a playable character until spring 2024.
Omni-Man isn’t as well-known as Homelander and Peacemaker, but he’ll be familiar to comics fans. Played by J.K. Simmons in Invincible, his reveal coincides with the impending release of that show’s second season.
Outside of six new playable characters, the first Kombat Pack will also include a Jean-Claude Van Damme skin for the character Johnny Cage, plus five new Kameo fighters: Ferra, Johnny Cage, Khameleon, Mavado & Tremor.
Li Mei returns with Tanya and Baraka
In addition to its DLC characters, NetherRealm Studios also confirmed that Li Mei will be joining Mortal Kombat 1’s roster. Previously played by Tara Strong, Li Mei last appeared as an NPC in Mortal Kombat X. Her addition is part of a broader effort to redefine the origins of Mortal Kombat’s familiar characters.
Elsewhere, Tanya and Baraka will also be playable. All three appear to be on the roster rather than appearing as Kameos — a somewhat controversial system that has turned some fan-favorite characters into unplayable assists. Baraka is a particularly well-known character with roots going back to Mortal Kombat II.
Mortal Kombat 1 was announced in May during a Warner Bros. Discovery earnings call. A sequel to 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11, the next major installment in the franchise, serves as a reboot for the series and “will introduce a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe.”
Mortal Kombat 1 arrives on September 19 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. For more information on Mortal Kombat 1, check out our interview with series creator Ed Boon on why NetherRealm chose to develop Mortal Kombat 1 over Injustice 3.
You can find all the rest of our San Diego Comic-Con coverage right here.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
