The vast and violent world of Mortal Kombat was first introduced to fans through the popular arcade game, which spawned one of the most successful franchises in history - one which brought to life epic characters like Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero. These characters are some of the fiercest fighters in all of fiction, inflicting the most insanely brutal forms of violence imaginable on one another. Based on what has been displayed in the video games, movies, and comic books, it is hard to imagine any of the Mortal Kombat fighters being afraid of anything, especially when it comes to a warrior as fierce and bloodthirsty as Sub-Zero. However, in one comic book storyline, Mortal Kombat reveals the one thing that actually scares Sub-Zero.
In Mortal Kombat #1 by Charles Marshall and Patrick Rolo, all of the fan-favorite fighters are gearing up to compete in the tournament that decides the fate of every world in every realm. In preparation for Mortal Kombat, Sub-Zero sits with a fellow Lin Kuei clan member, Hydro, when suddenly the two are visited by an unwelcome guest. Sub-Zero’s arch rival, Scorpion, appears before them, stating that in this year’s tournament, he will eliminate Sub-Zero once and for all as payback for what Sub-Zero did to him a few years before.
When Scorpion paid Sub-Zero a visit before the fighting began, he brought with him the one thing that Sub-Zero feared. As it turns out, the thing Sub-Zero is most afraid of is Scorpion himself, a shocking revelation to Mortal Kombat fans as the two have always been viewed as equals in terms of fighting ability and sheer brutality. When Scorpion leaves Sub-Zero and Hydro, Sub-Zero becomes angry with himself, commenting to Hydro, “I should not have shown my fear to him. It was a mistake” indicating that it was Scorpion himself who Sub-Zero was afraid of.
The reason Sub-Zero shows fear when speaking with Scorpion is because of the state Scorpion is in when he arrives, one that is vastly more terrifying than the last time they encountered each other. In the established continuity of this particular comic series, Scorpion was killed by Sub-Zero two years prior to their meeting here. During their last encounter, Scorpion and Sub-Zero were dueling as two members of opposing clans, each representing their respective people, a fight that ended with Scorpion’s death. When Scorpion ambushed Sub-Zero two years later, he is an undead specter with demonic powers - the form fans are most familiar with. The image of Scorpion's living corpse shocked Sub-Zero and struck fear deep into the warrior’s heart.
Sub-Zero was clearly afraid of Scorpion and showed that fear to his opponent. However, when Mortal Kombat begins and Sub-Zero enters the ring opposite Scorpion, that fear is washed away by the will to survive and murderous intent. Though Sub-Zero conquers his fears by fighting Scorpion, he still exhibited sheer and unbridled terror upon meeting his opponent’s vengeful spirit for the first time before Mortal Kombat began - a brief yet powerful confrontation which confirms the one thing that actually scares Sub-Zero is Scorpion himself.
