Baraka is a vicious, savage warrior from the Mortal Kombat games. As a member of the Tarkatan race, he has a long, razor-sharp blade extending from each forearm. He serves Shao Kahn as one of the emperor's enforcers.
History[]
Original timeline[]
In the original MK timeline, Baraka first made his existence known to the warriors of Earthrealm when he led a Tarkatan attack on the temple of the White Lotus Society, prompting Liu Kang and Kung Lao into accepting Shao Kahn's challenge and entering the Outworld tournament. Baraka fought in the tournament and proved to be a most deadly adversary, but the Earthrealm warriors were nonetheless victorious.
Ever since Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm was thwarted, Baraka has wandered the wastelands of Outworld seeking battle. He would find himself in the employ of the necromancer Quan Chi during Shinnok's war against Edenia and would pledge his allegiance to Onaga years later when the Dragon King attempted to become the One Being. Finally, he sided with the Forces of Darkness during the Battle of Armageddon. He was killed after being split in half by the Shaolin monk Kung Lao.
Alternate timeline[]
In the story of MK (2011), Baraka was a participant in the Mortal Kombat tournament, fighting alongside other Outworld warriors such as Reptile and Goro. He fought against Johnny Cage early in the tournament but was defeated. Although Cage refused to kill him, Baraka's defeat eliminated him from the tournament.
Baraka would later participate in the Outworld tournament hosted by Shao Kahn just as he had done in the original timeline. Following that tournament, he would lead his fellow Tarkata during the invasion of Earthrealm.
Baraka is killed by D'Vorah
Five years following the failed invasion, Baraka served as a loyal warrior to Mileena, the new empress of Outworld. He joined her forces as they engaged in open battle with Ko'atal, but the Tarkatan was killed by D'Vorah, who used her stingers to rip out his heart and his brain.
Years later, when Kronika initiated her plan to create a new timeline, Baraka was one of several deceased warriors restored by the temporal merger. During the battle that ensued in the confusion, he fought against Kotal Kahn and learned that his future self had been killed. Baraka then retreated along with the other villains and was introduced to his new benefactor Kronika, who promised them all a New Era where they would have everything they wanted.
While Shao Kahn was using Tarkatan war camp as his temporary main base, Baraka and his troops were guarding the Tarkatan refugees against Kotal's army. Despite Baraka being defeated by Kotal and a time-displaced Jade, and almost being executed with his surviving Tarkatans, the argument between Jade and Kotal over changing the Tarkatans' future redemption caused them to be captured by Shao Kahn, with Jade being tortured by Skarlet while Kotal was to be executed at the Koliseum. The time-displaced Kitana, under a request of Kuatan's current queen Sheeva, gives Baraka a second chance to redeem himself and his people's future, finally joining her alongside his fellow Tarkata, the present-day Erron Black and all the loyal Shokan.
After Kitana bested Shao Kahn and became the new Empress of Outworld, Baraka volunteered to join the final battle with his new allies against Kronika's army. In the midst of the battle, he was one of the victims affected by Kronika's temporal reversion, along with the Outworlders.
Abilities[]
Baraka is a savage fighter who relies heavily on the long blades extending from his forearms. Though made of bone, the blades are as hard as steel and cannot be broken easily. As well as slicing his enemies apart, Baraka can slide his blades together to form a spark that he can fling at his opponent as a projectile.
Appearances in other media[]
Malibu Comics[]
In the Mortal Kombat comic book series published by Malibu, Baraka was portrayed as a dull-witted thug who frequently spoke in the third-person. He led a group of nomadic mutants that roamed the wastelands of Outworld, though none of the other mutants looked like him. He joined a group of warriors consisting of Kitana, Kung Lao and Sub-Zero, who plan to overthrow Shao Kahn. His savage nature often put him at odds with his comrades.
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation[]
Baraka briefly appears in one scene along with two other members of his race, guarding Kitana's cage when Liu Kang infiltrates Shao Kahn's castle. Baraka and his cohorts are all killed after being knocked into fiery pits around the chamber.
Mortal Kombat Legends[]
In the first Mortal Kombat Legends film, Scorpion's Revenge, a Tarkatan appears as a kontestant in the Mortal Kombat tournament, battling against Johnny Cage inside the basement of a tower. Inside one room are several barrels of gunpowder which get set on fire. Johnny manages to escape while the Tarkatan gets blown up. It is not clear in this film if the Tarkatan was Baraka or not.
In the second film, Battle of the Realms, it is confirmed that the Tarkatan from the first film was not Baraka as he is present during the Outworld army's siege of the Wu Shi Academy and is referred to by name. Johnny Cage even meets Baraka and asks "Didn't I kill you?" in reference to his Tarkatan opponent during the tournament.