As I played through the bloody and beautiful story mode of Mortal Kombat 1, my attention primarily focused on one character: Sindel. While witnessing her regal poise, potent confidence, and luxuriously deadly hair, I could only think, “Damn. Sindel is MOTHER!”
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PostsThis revelation sent me down a rabbit hole. Was I the only gamer that felt Sindel resonated with queer people like myself? According to Reddit and GameFAQs, I wasn’t alone:
“Bi guy here. I main the fuck out of Sindel.”
- TheToyHero [Reddit]
“Gay guy here as well as diehard Sindel fanatic.”
- Screamhbk24 [Reddit]
“Speaking as an LGBT person, most LGBT people love her.”
- Deanyzy [GameFAQs]
Granted, Sindel isn’t the only queer icon in Mortal Kombat (Mileena and Kun Jin are two often-cited examples). But she is a notable one. Why is that? It’s hard to pin down. The definition of ‘queer icon’ has morphed throughout history. And no two icons are alike.
Does a queer icon’s title stem from their aesthetics? Consider Cher, Elton John, and RuPaul. All three performers are known for their fantastic synergy of glamour and camp. Sindel nails the queer aesthetic. The matriarch pulls off chic purple bodysuits while dismembering foes with her hair. Glamour? Check. Camp? Check!
But what about attitude? Anyone worthy of iconism must have confidence, wit, or some nerve. Consider Liza Minelli’s larger-than-life energy, Lil Nas X’s rebellious spirit, or Mariah Carey’s wry digs toward J-Lo. All three icons have different personalities. But more importantly, they have personality. A dull queer icon will not do.
Sindel’s personality has flip-flopped drastically over the past few Mortal Kombat timelines. In the latest timeline, Sindel’s actions reflect maturity, wisdom, and tenacity. Her vibe in MK11 is a significant contrast (and a very unpopular retcon). Aftermath’s story campaign portrayed Sindel as an over-the-top diva with an appetite for power.
While Sindel’s evil retcon wasn’t a hit with fans, the reads and one-liners we got from it could open a library, borrow all the books, return them, and close the library forever. (Sindel’s also super horny in MK11, which I, a queer person, heavily identify with). So that’s a check for attitude. Talent is another factor we must consider. Does that talent need to be in the performing arts? Nope. You could be a gifted writer (James Baldwin), a star athlete (Billie Jean King), or a dedicated leader (Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera).
Sindel’s talents fall into the latter category. MK1’s story campaign brilliantly demonstrates the Queen of Outworld’s gift for diplomacy. But also, I’ll reiterate, magic hair. No matter Sindel’s timeline, she will always have the gift of lethal locks. Let’s recap. Sindel meets several surface-level ideas of what a queer icon may be. But is that enough? To answer that question, we turn to Judy Garland, arguably the template of the modern-day queer icon, who has one vital trait shared with every icon I’ve referenced: resilience.
Judy Garland’s story is a portrait of overcoming adversity. As a young starlet contracted with MGM, the adult men around her controlled her daily life. Studio execs pumped her with drugs, heavily restricted her diet, and made insidious comments about her body while simultaneously approaching her for sex. Years later, Garland recounted, “My life was a combination of absolute chaos and absolute solitude.”
Having gone through so much trauma and come out the other side, Garland shared a strong kinship with her gay fans. They shared the experience of surviving in a world controlled by straight white men. Garland embraced her gay fanbase, much to the chagrin of her critics. The press often called them “the boys in the balcony.” Some argue the queer community’s grief for her death partly fueled the events of the Stonewall Riots.
Sindel’s legacy embodies the same principle (evil retcon excluded). She and Jerrod led Edenia into prosperity. Then, Outworld invaded Edenia. Shao Kahn murdered Jerrod and claimed Sindel as his wife. Before Shao could invade Earthrealm, Sindel sacrificed her life to protect it under a magic ward. Unfortunately, Sindel was resurrected and brainwashed by Shao Kahn, thus lifting the ward and setting the stage for MK3’s events.
Sindel overcame Shao Kahn’s brainwashing at the end of MK3. Yet, her problems did not end there. Sindel fought hard for Edenia’s sovereignty, surviving multiple imprisonments by Shinnok and Onaga. In the latest timeline, even though Sindel is the sole Empress of Outworld, her judgment is constantly undermined and questioned by the men around her. Shang Tsung, General Shao, and their compatriots even attempt a coup to unseat her. While she overcomes the coup, Sindel loses her life defending Liu Kang’s timeline from Shang Tsung’s.
Queer revolutionaries throughout history exemplify a similar resilience, whether Marsha P Johnson throwing the “shot glass heard around the world” at Stonewall or Lady Gaga protesting the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy four decades later. Strength of characteris the most important trait that defines the queer icon, and Sindel has that in abundance.
Next: Mortal Kombat 1: Complete Guide
