Stryker (Mortal Kombat)

Stryker
Mortal Kombat character
Stryker in Mortal Kombat (2011)
First game	Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)
Created by	John Tobias
Designed by	John Tobias (early games) Steve Beran (MK:A) Atomhawk Design (MK2011) Lynell Forestall (MK:DotR) Allisa Swanson (Legacy s.1) Lisa Tomczeszyn (Legacy s.2)
Voiced by	Ron Perlman (DotR) Matthew Mercer (MK 2011)
Motion capture	Lawrence Kern (MK 2011)
Portrayed by	Michael O'Brien (MK3, UMK3, MKT) Tahmoh Penikett (Legacy s.1) Eric Jacobus (Legacy s.2)
Fictional profile
Origin	United States (Earthrealm)
Fighting styles	Hua Chuan (MK:A)
Weapon	Nightstick (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:A, MK 2011) Handgun (UMK3, MKT, MK 2011) Taser (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:A, MK 2011) Grenades (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:A, MK 2011) Machine Gun (MK:A)

Kurtis Stryker (regularly shortened to just Stryker) is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. Stryker was introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 in 1995, where he is a leader of the Special Riot Control division in the NYPD and a somewhat stout-looking man sporting an often-criticized "urban" design. The character received a lot of mostly negative attention regarding his attire and original special moves and Fatalities. Besides the game series, he has appeared in alternate series media such as Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

Stryker has the distinction of being the lone character in the Mortal Kombat franchise who does not possess any type of special powers. This, coupled with his normal appearance contrasting with the supernatural atmosphere of the series, has resulted in mostly negative reception for the character in addition to his being one of the few player characters from the first three games to not appear on any kind of official merchandise.

Kurtis Stryker is a former Marine who had served in the Gulf War. During the events of Mortal Kombat 3, he was the leader of the Riot Control Brigade when Outworld's portal opened over a large North American city (specified in later games as New York City). Stryker attempted to keep order among the populace in the ensuing chaos, but soon all human souls were taken by Shao Kahn with the exception of those that belonged to the chosen warriors. Initially ignorant as to why he was one of the few souls that were spared in the wake of the invasion, Stryker received a vision from Raiden, instructing him to head west in order to meet with the other chosen warriors and learn about the importance of his survival. He then entered the fray with the intention of avenging the lives of the innocent that he had vowed to protect and serve. Along with the other warriors, Stryker assisted in liberating Earthrealm from Shao Kahn's clutches.