How to Draw Johnny Cage

Finished drawing of Johnny Cage throwing a punch with shaded muscles

We continue exploring the Mortal Kombat universe, and will learn how to draw Johnny Cage step by step.

Johnny is one of the classic characters from the Mortal Kombat universe. He appeared in the first game of the series, released in 1992, alongside Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Raiden, and Liu Kang.

He entered the Mortal Kombat tournament to prove himself and demonstrate his fighting skills to the public. Nevertheless, he is a warrior of light who fought alongside Raiden to protect the inhabitants of Earthrealm. So, let’s draw this classic character.

How to draw Johnny Cage step by step

Step 1: Sketch the basic figure guidelines

Begin with a stick figure made of lines and circles to establish Johnny Cage’s basic proportions, dynamic pose, and position on the paper. Sketch his head as an oval, then add the spine, shoulders, arms, and legs. Remember these basic human proportions:

Human height is approximately seven to eight head lengths.
The torso is about two head lengths tall.
The legs are approximately four head lengths long.
The arms are about three head lengths long.

Do not be intimidated by Johnny Cage’s unusual, dynamic pose. Its basic construction is fairly simple.

Sketching Johnny Cage's head, torso, arms, and legs in a punching pose

Step 2: Add the facial guidelines

Check the stick figure again because its proportions must be accurate. Once you are satisfied with the construction, mark the face. First, draw a vertical axis of facial symmetry and a horizontal eye guideline. Above the eye line, add guides for the eyebrows and hairline. Below it, mark the positions of the nose and mouth.

Adding Johnny Cage's facial symmetry, eye, eyebrow, nose, mouth, and hair guides

Step 3: Build Cage’s upper body

Now add volume to the torso and arms with simple geometric forms. Outline Johnny Cage’s torso so that it tapers toward the waist. Mark the shoulders with circles and construct the arms with cylinders. Sketch the fists. Johnny Cage should have an athletic build rather than excessive muscle mass, similar to the proportions used when drawing Spider-Man.

Building Johnny Cage's tapered torso, rounded shoulders, arms, and clenched fists

Step 4: Construct the legs and knees

Construct the legs with modified cylinders and mark the knees with circles. The complete silhouette is now ready for more detailed work.

Constructing Johnny Cage's bent legs, rounded knees, and rough feet

Step 5: Draw the facial features of Johnny Cage

Outline the hair using the guide from the second step, then add the ear, eyebrow, nose, and mouth. Remember these important facial proportions:

The upper edge of the ear should be approximately level with the eyebrows;
The lower edge should be level with the tip of the nose.

Outlining Johnny Cage's hair, ear, eyebrow, nose, and open mouth

Step 6: Refine the fighter’s face and hair

Refine Johnny Cage’s face. If the earlier construction is accurate, this stage should be straightforward. Add the nasolabial folds and wrinkles that convey the intense expression caused by the force of his punch. Draw the hair with strokes extending from the roots toward the tips.

Refining Johnny Cage's intense expression, wrinkles, facial contours, and swept hair

Step 7: Define the muscular body

Give Johnny Cage’s body the correct anatomical form. Define the following muscle groups:

The deltoids, biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles;
The large pectoral muscles on the chest;
The hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles.

Finish by drawing the hands tightly clenched into fists and refining the feet.

Defining Johnny Cage's chest, arm, leg muscles, fists, and feet

Step 8: Add the clothing details

Add the remaining costume details. Draw the spiked bracers on the wrists of Johnny Cage and the belt tied in a knot at the side. Then outline the shorts and shoes.

Adding Johnny Cage's spiked bracers, tied belt, shorts, and shoes

Step 9: Erase the guidelines and trace the outlines

Erase the construction lines added during the first stages. Trace the body with smooth, clean contours. Add several short lines to define the muscles and a few folds to the clothing.

Refining Johnny Cage's body, clothing folds, muscles, and clean final outlines

Step 10: Draw shadows on the fighter

Begin by determining the position of the light source. Control the darkness of the shadows by varying the pressure on the pencil and the density of the hatching.