That is how we first met him in August of 1992, the mysterious combatant whose weapon of choice was lighting itself. Since then we have learned that not only is he the God of Thunder but the Sworn Protector of Earthrealm as well. Game series shows us the leader of a special group of mortals that are Earth's best and perhaps only hope against the outside forces that seek to dominate or destroy this realm. In the movies, TV and animated series, we get to see the advisor who happens to have a caustic sense of humor.

Carlos Pesina , Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, James Remar , and Jeffrey Meek have all played the thunder god role. Each adding to how we see Lord Raiden/Rayden . Carlos Pesina is the original Raiden and who started it all in the original Mortal Kombat series. Christopher Lambert gave Rayden (he is spelled Rayden everywhere else but in the original game - there were some copyright issues with registering the name Raiden for the movie/animated productions) his now famous caustic humor and long white hair in first Mortal Kombat movie. Clancy Brown gave Rayden his stinging one-liners that were often at the cost of his own chosen in animated Mortal Kombat : Defenders of the Realm. James Remar showing us how much the Protector of Earthrealm was willing to give up to save this world. Last (up until now) but not least, Jeffrey Meek who gave us an imperfect thus more human deity who made mistakes but seem easier to relate to.

What is it about this particular character that has created such a following? This god has followers that never even played a Mortal Kombat game who create fan fiction and art in his honor. I myself am finding it difficult to answer this question. All that I can now say that he is what he is: THE GOD OF THUNDER!

LadyRaiden