Was the Scorpion King Evil? Yes, His Actions Show He Became a Villain

According to depictions throughout The Mummy franchise, the Scorpion King named Mathayus did ultimately become an evil antagonist based on his choices and allegiances. However, he started out as more of an antihero – his corruption into a villain makes for a fascinating character arc.

From Tragic Hero to Monstrous Villain: What Led to His Turn?

The Scorpion King was not always the villain he‘s known as from the Mummy Returns. Mathayus began as an Akkadian mercenary, losing his brother in battle against an evil ruler‘s forces. He sought vengeance, but lacked any supernatural powers – just exceptional combat skills honed while fighting as an assassin and warrior.

After seven long years battling the tyrannical king Memnon‘s formidable army, Mathayus found himself the last survivor of his rebellion. Facing bleak odds with no remaining allies or resources, he swore an oath to the dark god Anubis in exchange for the strength needed to defeat Memnon and his forces.

This bargain unlocked his fearful Scorpion King alter ego and ushered in a period of conquest under his rule. But what could have been a triumphant victory story took a cruel turn, as anger and vengeful obsessions consumed him into a monster fixated on domination.

The Key Sequence of Events in His Corruption Are:

• Family murdered when young, swears vengeance
• Years battling as rebel warrior against tyranny
• Last survivor against impossible odds
• Makes desperate pact with Anubis
• Gains mystical power as terrifying Scorpion King
• Conquers and slaughters mercilessly
• Loses any humanity/morality over time

While once an antihero of sorts, the pivotal pact with Anubis signaled his turn toward the evil path. The scorpion themes connect strongly to viciousness in Egyptian mythology – his rebirth clearly stripped away any redeeming qualities.

Contrasting The Scorpion King with Imhotep: Different Roads to Villainy

The Scorpion King has some strong contrasts with one of The Mummy franchise‘s other great villains – the mummy priest Imhotep. Both strike bargains with gods that transform them into terrifying creatures, but key distinctions exist:

Where Imhotep had ties to the priesthood of Osiris before mortal folly brought ruin, the Scorpion King‘s journey showcases a profane twist on a classical hero‘s arc.

Mathayus tried seeking justice through rebellion against tyranny. But desperation and vengeance ultimately corrupted his cause into something twisted. Imhotep was cursed against his will – Mathayus chose to embrace darkness, and so sealed his villainous fate.

Mortal Kombat‘s Scorpion: Another Vengeful Killer Reborn

The Scorpion King‘s name and scorpion motifs draw unavoidable connections to Scorpion, one of Mortal Kombat‘s original and most popular characters. This hellish assassin also deals with mystical rebirth and lethal retribution.

Both had ties to mortal assassination orders before occult forces transformed them into supernatural destroyers. But while Scorpion remains fixed to his vengeance quest, the Scorpion King‘s expanded powers brought grander ambitions.

Their rebirths through mystical entities fuel the relentless violence defining them. But with Scorpion retaining some tortured antihero qualities as Mortal Kombat evolves, Mathayus embraced only cruelty – any humanizing past cast away forever.

Conclusion: Villain By Choice and Transformation

Through his actions after horrific tragedy, his deliberate pact with Anubis, and subsequent embrace of merciless conquest, the Scorpion King Mathayus became fully, transforming into an evil mythical villain across The Mummy‘s horror-adventure mythos.

Once an elite assassin channeling lethal skills toward vengeance, his rebellion faced defeat. Faced with accepting failure, he instead chose a darker path granting renewed domination. This path sealed his villainous status in Egyptian mythology and his eventual downfall.