Mortal Kombat II and What’s Making Us Happy

Speaker 00:00

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Stephen Thompson· Host0:16

[upbeat music] 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.

Jordan Morris· Guest0:46

Hi, and just real quick, I, I don't know, I told your producer that for this episode I wanted to be introduced as Jordan Morris. Dun, dun, dun.

Stephen Thompson· Host0:56

Jordan Morris.

Jordan Morris· Guest0:56

So anyways, if you just wanna take that again. [laughs] Or we can do it in post if you want to.

Stephen Thompson· Host0:59

If anyone, like, really, like, starts to lose an argument in this conversation, I will, as host, be obligated to yell, "Finish him." [laughs] [laughs] Also with us is Ronald Young Jr. He's the host of the film and television review podcast, Leaving the Theater. Hey, Ronald.

Ronald Young Jr.· Guest1:15

Hello, Stephen. I'm normal.

Stephen Thompson· Host1:16

[laughs] [laughs] 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 Earthrealm and the epic battles that