The oldest of the two brothers who takes the name Sub-Zero, called Bi-Han was introduced in the first Mortal Kombat game where he participates in the titular tournament as he was ordered by the Lin Kuei to kill the host Shang Tsung and take his treasure. He fails to accomplish his mission, and is killed by the specter Scorpion, who sought to avenge his own death. Bi-Han then becomes the undead Noob Saibot.
In the direct sequel Mortal Kombat II, Bi-Han’s place is taken by his brother Kuai Liang. Upon his brother’s death in the first tournament and the survival of Shang Tsung, Kuai Liang is sent by the Lin Kuei to complete his brother’s unfinished task.In Mortal Kombat 3, the younger Sub-Zero escapes from the Lin Kuei who wanted to transform their warriors into cyborgs.They program three cyborg assassins to hunt and terminate Sub-Zero, who by this time had received a vision from Raiden and agreed to join the rebellion against a new threat.
In addition to the current Sub-Zero, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Mortal Kombat Trilogy included a playable character known as “Classic Sub-Zero”. His biography states that although he was believed to have died after the first Mortal Kombat, he returned to try again and assassinate Shang Tsung. However, his ending states that he is not Sub-Zero, but an unidentified warrior who was missing from the previous tournament. In Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, which serves as a prequel to the first Mortal Kombat, sorcerer Quan Chi hires the Lin Kuei to find an ancient amulet. After the first Sub-Zero delivers the amulet to Quan Chi, he is sent back to the Netherrealm by Raiden upon learning it is the key to releasing the god Shinnok.Sub-Zero regains the amulet while fighting Shinnok and returns it to Raiden.
In Mortal Kombat 4, Raiden once again summons Sub-Zero to assist in the defense of Earthrealm against the former Elder God Shinnok.[22] In the meantime, Sub-Zero fights Scorpion, who was told by Quan Chi that the Lin Kuei killed his family, but he leaves him upon discovering Quan Chi was the actual person responsible.[23] In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Sub-Zero defeats Sektor in a fight for leadership of the Lin Kuei Clan.[24] He also meets Frost, his apprentice, and takes her to fight alongside Earthrealm’s warriors against the alliance of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi.[25]
In Mortal Kombat: Deception, Sub-Zero joins Shujinko‘s group to defeat the new threat in Onaga. He also confronts his corrupted older brother, now the undead Noob Saibot, across these game.[26][27] In both Deadly Alliance and Mortal Kombat: Unchained, Sub-Zero comes to encounter Frost for the Lin Kuei’s leadership, but he remains victorious.[28][29] In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon‘s Konquest mode, Sub-Zero faces the warrior Taven, who invaded the Lin Kuei Palace. Both eventually decide to ally to stop the invading Noob Saibot and Smoke. After the invaders’ defeat, Sub-Zero stays with the unconscious Noob Saibot to find a way to save him.[30]
In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, which reprises the events from Mortal Kombat II, Sub-Zero first appears as a boss character, but then allies with the protagonists Liu Kang and Kung Lao for a short time during the search of his older brother. He is last seen pursuing Noob Saibot in the Netherrealm.[31]Mortal Kombat: Fire & Ice, which would star Scorpion and Sub-Zero in co-operative gameplay, was cancelled when Paradox Development, creators of Shaolin Monks, “couldn’t do it in time and under budget.”[32]
He is also playable in the crossover title Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe; in the storyline, Sub-Zero is involved in a war between the titular fictional universes and is the protagonist for one chapter of the story mode. In his ending he realises he is no longer the assassin he once was and leaves the Lin Kuei. Inspired by Batman he becomes a superhero donning a new costume with a cape, unknown to him the Lin Kuei are on his trail because they do not tolerate desertion.[33] Ed Boon notes that Sub-Zero’s counterpart from DC Comics is Batman as both are “dark, mysterious, brooding characters.”[34
Both incarnations of Sub-Zero appear in the 2011 Mortal Kombat game.[9] While Bi-Han is still killed by Scorpion and becomes Noob Saibot,[35] Kuai Liang’s fate changes in the first tournament due to Raiden’s interference; the timeline is altered and Sub-Zero is captured and turned into a cyborg instead of Smoke.[36] He is able to regain his mind and joins Raiden’s warriors to stop Shao Kahn.[37] However, he is killed by Kahn’s wife, Sindel, and he remains enslaved by Quan Chi in the Netherrealm.[38] Additionally, Sub-zero’s background is further clarified during this installment as well, as it is revealed that the two brothers were in fact abducted by the Lin Kuei as infants, after the Lin Kuei murdered their parents.
Sub-Zero - Biography
