Morlocks (comics)

"The Morlocks" are a group of several Fictional characterfictional comic book Mutant (Marvel Comics)mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics Marvel Universeuniverse. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith (comics)Paul Smith, they were named after the Morlocksubterranean race of the same name in H. G. Wells' novel 'The Time Machine'. They first appeared as a group in 'Uncanny X-Men' 169 (May 1983). (Caliban (comics)Caliban appeared prior to that (in 'Uncanny X-Men' 148), but he was not identified at that point as part of a larger Morlock civilization.)

Unable to pass as normal due to the external physical changes their mutations caused, the Morlocks squattingsquatted in a network of abandoned, interconnected tunnels beneath Manhattan, which had originally been built as Cold War bomb shelters and then forgotten. The Morlocks were largely a peaceful group but misguided attempts to gain something from the surface world occasionally brought them into conflicts. The most famous incident ended with Morlock leader Callisto (comics)Callisto losing a duel to Storm (Marvel Comics)Storm, who then was made their honorary leader.

Due to a series of tragedies, the original Morlocks no longer reside in subterranean New York (except Marrow who was one of the originals as a child), although a violent splinter cell Gene Nation and a comparable group called "Those Who Live in Darkness" have emerged. Similar groups, called Morlocks by readers and/or the X-Men themselves, have appeared under Chicago and London.

The Morlocks appeared occasionally in the X-Men (TV series)1990s 'X-Men' animated series and its successor 'X-Men: Evolution.'

History

The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks after Callisto, their leader, kidnapped the X-Man Warren Worthington IIIAngel and intended to make him her mate. The X-Men realized they could not rescue Angel without ruling over the numerous Morlocks. This brought Storm (Marvel Comics)Storm to challenge Callisto to a duel. The prize of the duel was to become the leader of the Morlocks.

Storm (Marvel Comics)Storm, feeling that she should be the one to duel Callisto (as leader of the X-Men) defeated her in hand-to-hand combat. She rescued Warren Worthington IIIAngel and became the de facto leader of the Morlocks. Against her wishes, the Morlocks later kidnapped the child superheroes Power Pack so that they could be raised by the Morlock Annalee (comics)Annalee, who had lost her own children. When Power Pack confronted Annalee, she let them go willingly. They promised to return in the future to keep her company.

A majority of the Morlocks were slaughtered by Mister Sinister's Marauders (comics)Marauders in the Mutant Massacre. Most of the few survivors moved on to join Gene Nation, having lived in a Parallel universe (fiction)pocket dimension led by Mikhail Rasputin. While other survivors of the massacre ended up elsewhere, such as Leech (comics)Leech and Artie MaddicksArtie - who became wards of Generation X; Erg (comics)Erg and Beautiful Dreamer (comics)Beautiful Dreamer - whose whereabouts was unknown until Decimation (comics)Decimation; Thornn - who would join X-Corporation and Caliban (comics)Caliban.

It is later revealed that many of the Morlocks were actually failed experiments of the Dark Beast, which is why Mr. Sinister sought to destroy them, seeing his handiwork in them.

Recently, a new group which calls itself 'Those Who Live in Darkness' have inhabited the sewer tunnels just below the surface of Mutant Town/District X. 'District X' writer David Hine claims to never have intended this group to have any ties to the original Morlocks.

Membership
Founding Members
Debuting along with the rest of the Morlocks'Uncanny X-Men' 169 (with the exception of Caliban it was revealed'Uncanny X-Men' 176 that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan.
'X-Men: Prime' - Creator of the Morlocks. Formerly from the Age of Apocalypse and the Brotherhood of MutantsBrotherhood. Infiltrated the X-Men for a time posing as the original Beast (comics)Beast. Although not classed as a Morlock, he sees himself as their creator and has been called the 'first one' by members of Gene Nation. Recently been recruited by Norman Osborn as scientist and member of Dark X-Men Team.
"Masque (comics)Masque" - Former leader after the Mutant Massacre. Led a splinter group for a time called the Tunnelers. Impaled by Shatterstar's sword'X-Force' 9 but was revealed alive'X-Treme X-Men' 38. Leader of the Morlocks once again.
- Former leader of the Morlocks. Arms were turned into tentacles by Masque. Aided Magneto (comics)Magneto and Professor X in Genosha. Depowered. Former member Of X-Cell; current whereabouts unknown; however, she is the current leader following M-Day.
- Caliban became "Death"'X-Factor' 50, and later "Pestilence". Served on the X-Force for a time. Joined the X-Men after Decimation; killed by the Purifiers saving James Proudstar. Resurrected by Eli Bard.
- Joined the impromptu Muir Island 'X-Men' team. Shot by Pretty Boy of the Reavers (comics)Reavers'Uncanny X-Men' 254

Pre-Mutant Massacre

- Became Pestilence (comics)Pestilence, one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse. Died after falling off her flying horse'X-Factor' 25.
'Uncanny X-Men' 170 - Defeated Callisto (comics)Callisto in a duel to become the Morlocks' leader, although not classed as one. Former X-Men and Fantastic Four member; current queen of Wakanda.
'Uncanny X-Men' 179 - Only appearance as a Morlock was her debut issue as Kitty Pryde's bridesmaid. Current whereabouts unknown.
- Has been in the first few incarnations of the Morlocks. Adopted son of Annalee (comics)Annalee. Formerly of X-Terminators and Generation X (comics)Generation X. Captured by the Weapon X program and used as the Neverland (comics)Neverland power damper, He is assumed to be one of X-Men: The 198the 198 who retain their mutant powers after the House of M; used by Masque because of the prophecies of Qwerty.
- He burned himself out to heal and restore Callisto'Uncanny X-Men' 291.
Annalee's four children'Uncanny X-Men' 193 - Shot by Scalphunter (Marvel Comics)Scalphunter. Only revealed that Scalphunter was the one who killed the four children'Uncanny X-Men' 211.
- Controlled animals using music. Killed by the Marauders.
"Erg (comics)Erg" - Electrical blaster. Erg was a paintingpainter before becoming a Morlock. He is one of the 198'X-Men: The 198X-Men: The 198 Files'; joined Masque's current incarnation.
- Shapeshifter. Captured by the Weapon X program and sent to the Neverland concentration camp and killed'Weapon X' vol. 2 5
- Secretes adhesive. Captured by the Weapon X program and sent to the Neverland concentration camp and killed
- Emotion projector. Adopts Leech. Shot by Scalphunter in the Mutant Massacre.
- Altered memories of those 'recruited' as Morlocks. Believed killed in the Mutant Massacre, but listed as alive and powered post-Decimation (comics)M-Day.
'X-Factor' 7 - Resented because she was seen as the prettiest of the Morlocks (her force field protected her from scars and Masque's powers). She left them and became a ward of X-Factor'X-Factor' 15. After M-Day, she became a follower of Apocalypse and is friends with Scalphunter. Was part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists, as a spy for SHIELD.

Mutant Massacre
The 'Mutant Massacre' was one of Marvel's annual crossovers events, centering on the Morlocks. The event resulted in the Marauders (comics)Marauders killing many of the Morlocks under orders of Mister SinisterMr. Sinister. Protected by the X-Men, X-Factor (comics)X-Factor, Power Pack and Thor (Marvel Comics)Thor, only few survived. The event spanned 'Uncanny X-Men' 210-212, 'X-Factor' vol. 1 9-11, 'New Mutants' vol. 1 46, 'Thor' vol. 1 373-374 and 'Power Pack' vol. 1 27. Many new Morlocks were also debuted, although many were killed in their first appearance.

'Uncanny X-Men' 210 - Shot by Scalphunter (Marvel Comics)Scalphunter, after she accidentally led the Marauders to the entrance to the Morlocks' home; however it was later revealed that this was Gambit (comics)Gambit's doing.
Cybelle - Acid-secreting The TunnelersTunneler killed by Harpoon (comics)Harpoon.
Zeek'X-Factor' 10 - Killed by Harpoon (comics)Harpoon.
'X-Factor' 11 - Formerly part of Masque's splinter group, the Tunnelers. Shot by the police in her reptile-form
- Formerly part of Masque's splinter group, the Tunnelers. Killed by electrocuting himself with his own powers
- Formerly part of Masque's splinter group, the Tunnelers. Shot by a local gang.

Post-Mutant Massacre
Most of the surviving Morlocks relocated themselves throughout New York City after the massacre. Few, however, returned to the Alley, their original home. There, Masque assumed leadership. Many new surviving Morlocks were introduced when Sabretooth (comics)Sabretooth decided to finish his original task'X-Factor' 51. He is stopped by a newly 'upgraded' Caliban. Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by "Pixie", is attempting to escape Masque.

- Killed in the Mutant Massacre. Astral essence survived and searches out a new form to inhabit. Her essence later perished
- Killed by Sabretooth.
- Could tunnel through solid matter. It is strongly implied that Mole was killed by Sabretooth'X-Factor' 53
'Uncanny X-Men' 261 - Has the power of a poisonous bite. Currently part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists.
- mass teleporter; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Samson - Killed by Sabretooth
- Shot by Cable
- Brute's brother; current whereabouts and status unknown.
- Led a splinter group of Morlocks on the run from Masque. Murdered by Blackout (comics)Blackout
- current whereabouts and status unknown.
- Left the Morlocks'X-Force' 41. She was depowered as a result of Decimation (comics)Decimation but recently she regained her physical mutation, only to be killed by Sabretooth.
'Web of Spider-Man' 77 - Daughter of Mother Inferior; current whereabouts and status unknown.
- current whereabouts and status unknown.
- Crushed by falling debris'Web of Spider-Man' 78
'X-Force' 6 - Left the Morlocks after the Great Flood. Depowered as a result of Decimation (comics)Decimation but regained her physical mutation again.

The Hill
With Masque presumed killed, an insane Mikhail Rasputin takes over as leader of the Morlocks in 'Uncanny X-Men' 293. As leader, he then floods the tunnels in order to destroy the remaining Morlocks. It is revealed later that he actually transported the Morlocks to another dimension dubbed the Hill, whose timeline moved faster than the Earth 616main Marvel Universe. There, he set himself up as their king and forced them to fight for the right to live.

- Former leader of the Morlocks. Transported them to the Hill dimension. Currently is in "The Dark Zone'.
'Uncanny X-Men' 292 - Mind shut down by Jean Grey to rescue humans he absorbed.
- current whereabouts and status unknown.
- current whereabouts and status unknown.
'X-Men Prime' - One of the Morlocks that were transported to the Hill dimension by Mikhail Rasputin. Returned to lead a terrorist faction known as Gene Nation. Seemingly killed by Storm'Uncanny X-Men' 325. Revealed to have survive with the help of a second heart. Formerly of the X-Men, SHIELD and Weapon X Program. Only Gene Nation member who was a real Morlock (not being born in The Hill). Depowered; later joined X-Cell.
- Killed by Mikhail Rasputin.

Africa/Gene Nation
With the Morlocks presumed dead by the floods caused by Mikhail Rasputin, some of the remaining Morlocks were relocated to Selima Oasis in North Africa. When attacked by Humanity's Last Stand, an emotional backlash caused D'Gard to assume control over Storm, who relinquished her leadership role. In 'X-Men: Prime' many of the Hill Morlocks returned to found Gene Nation. As the new group, they attacked the human oppressors of the past Morlocks under the leadership of Marrow (comics)Marrow. It is unknown whether the remaining Morlocks of Africa stayed there or relocated to New York. A few have been seen there since, as well as a few Morlocks who chose to remain in New York despite previous attempts on their lives.

'Uncanny X-Men Annual '97' - One of the many surviving Morlocks. Relocated to North Africa but defected to the Brotherhood. Depowered.
- One of the many surviving Morlocks relocated to North Africa. Defected to the Brotherhood. Depowered.
- Became leader of the Morlocks while in North Africa when he made Storm relinquish her leadership. Killed by Marrow (comics)Marrow as a sign of loyalty to the new Weapon X program'Weapon X: The Draft - Marrow'
Wolverine/Punisher Revelation 1 - Revealed to have been in suspended animation around the time of Storm's becoming the Morlock leader as a result of her death-powers. Died in the Punisher (comics)Punisher's arms'Wolverine/Punisher Revelation' 4
Wolverine/Punisher Revelation 2 - Revealed to be around at the time Storm (Marvel Comics)Storm became Morlock leader. Was the scientist that put Revelation in suspended animation. Appeared as a hologram'Wolverine/Punisher Revelation' 2 telling Wolverine and the Punisher she will die as a result of prolonged exposure to Revelation's powers
'Wolverine' vol. 2 157 - Leader of a splinter group of five Morlocks who survived the Massacres and the Flood and who still followed the old Morlock rules.
- Member of the splinter group of five who still follow the old Morlocks rule.

After M-Day
After M-Day, Some former Morlocks who lost their powers were Angel Dust (comics)Angel Dust, Boost (comics)Boost, Irving (comics)Irving, Qwerty (comics)Qwerty, Delphi (comics)Delphi, Callisto (comics)Callisto, Marrow (comics)Marrow, Postman (comics)Postman, Shatter (comics)Shatter, Tether (comics)Tether and the probability of Feral (comics)Feral and Thornn. However, Feral and Thornn were later seen re-powered; but this was later to be revealed in 'Wolverine' (vol. 3) 54-55 that only their physical mutations were restored, not their mutant powers, which led to Feral being killed by Sabretooth.

In one of Generation M's 'Ex-Mutants' Diaries,' Sally interviews Marrow (comics)Marrow about the Morlocks. Marrow reports that 80% of the remaining Morlocks (which was most likely already very small) are depowered now and look like humans. She states that most of them are still afraid about going out of the tunnels.

Currently, Marrow works as a watchmen of the Morlocks, as she is called by the remaining ones when problems occur. She explained this status in the aftermath of thirteen depowered Morlocks murder by Ghoul.

One character commented that, post-M-Day, the chance of meeting a Morlock in the tunnels under New York is now harder than meeting an alligator in the Floridian sewers.

Some former Morlocks who actually kept their powers sought refugee at Xavier's Institute and became known as "198 Files198." They are Beautiful Dreamer (Marvel Comics)Beautiful Dreamer, Caliban (comics)Caliban, Erg, Leech, and Skids.

Dark Beast and Mikhail Rasputin are also still powered, though Mikhail is in "The Dark Zone".

The Extremists
During Ed Brubaker's 'The Extremists' arc, the Morlocks reappear under the leadership of Masque (comics)Masque and now consisting of Bliss (Morlocks)Bliss, Erg (comics)Erg, Litterbug (comics)Litterbug, Skids (comics)Skids and a recently captured Leech (comics)Leech. Later in this story it was revealed Skids only joined the Morlocks to spy on them on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.

All Current Morlocks Shown After M-Day
All Powered
- currently with S.H.I.E.L.D.
- killed by new form of Legacy Virus
- presumably with X-Men in San Francisco
- was deceased, currently re-animated by Eli Bard and Selene
- arrested after riots in Utopia
- presumably in tunnels
- presumably in tunnels
- current whereabouts unknown
- current whereabouts unknown
- killed by new form of Legacy Virus

All Depowered
- depowered, currently in tunnels
- depowered, currently in tunnels
- depowered, physical mutations restored, current whereabouts unknown
- depowered, physical mutations restored, later killed by Sabretooth

All Powered Former Leaders Not Currently Involved With Group
- currently with X-Men
- trapped in other dimension
- currently with Dark X-Men

Other groups
Chicago Morlocks
In June 2002, Marvel comicsMarvel released a four-part limited series entitled 'Morlocks'. In it, a small group of mutants living in the sewers of Chicago help each other to fulfill their one last wish on the surface while trying to escape the mutant-hunting Sentinels (comics)Sentinels.

Angel Dust (comics)Angel Dust (Christine) - She ran away from home upon discovering she was a mutant, to protect her family from possible Sentinel attacks. Adrenaline gives her bursts of super-strength. Confirmed to be depowered by S.H.I.E.L.D..
Cell (comics)Cell - Robber and gang member whose body transformed into a giant, single-celled organismsingle-celled body capable of extending pseudopods and engulfing objects which then are digested. Executed by the Sentinels.
Electric EveElectric Eve (Eve) - Former heroin drug addictionaddict and prostitute whose body produces massive amounts of electrical energy that can be extended outward in bolts of electricity. As a side-effect of her powers, the synapses in her brain short-out from time to time, incapacitating her for several minutes; current whereabouts and status unknown..
"Litterbug (comics)Litterbug" - Former soldier who went AWOL upon his transformation into a giant, cockroach-like creature with massive strength, invulnerability, and a keen burrowing ability. He has difficulty speaking in this form. New member of the recent incarnation of New York Morlocks.
Postman (comics)Postman - Leader of the Chicago Morlocks. Can telepathytelepathically erase specific memories from targets (such as an event) or complex and deeply rooted facts or knowledge (such as gender). Depowered.
Shatter (comics)Shatter - His body is composed of a hard crystalline material that can regenerate lost body parts over time, and also can crystallize liquids upon contact. Depowered
Trader (comics)Trader - Former stock broker who has a chameleon-like ability to camouflage into his surroundings. Killed taking a bullet meant for Electric Eve.

London Tunnel Dwellers
In 'Uncanny X-Men 397-398', parts 3 and 4 of the 'Poptopia' story, a group of Morlocks living in the underground tunnels of London are introduced. They were being pursued by an agent of the "Church of Humanity (comics)Church of Humanity" named "Mr. Clean" a genetically engineered human who was stalking and killing mutants. This was their first and last appearance. It is unknown whether or not they survived the persecution of the Church of Humanity (comics)Church of Humanity.

Burning Puddle'Uncanny X-Men' 395 - Son of Miss Saccharine. Sweats acid; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Carla - Mole-like woman; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Double Helix - Two-headed man; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Harmony - Mother of Hope. Has gills; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Hope'Uncanny X-Men' 396 - Harmony's newborn baby; current whereabouts and status unknown.
Miss Saccharine - Elderly woman and mother of Burning Puddle whose sweat is a sugar-like substance; current whereabouts and status unknown.

Other versions
Ultimate Universe
The Morlocks in the Ultimate Marvel universe have a more sophisticated underground living situation that the mainstream Morlocks, including at least one mutant with energy-generating powers to provide electricity, hydroponic gardens to provide or supplement their food supply, and external air-exchange vents.

In Ultimate X-Men 80 Nightcrawler (comics)Ultimate NightcrawlerNightcrawler saves Morlocks member Pyro (comics)Pyro who was outnumbered while fighting the Friends of Humanity, as well as the Police. Other members shown as of issue 82 are Callisto (comics)Callisto, Sparks, Sunder (comics)Sunder (who was the leader) and Caliban (comics)Caliban.
After a fight with the X-Men (who were trying to rescue Toad), the Morlocks elected Nightcrawler (comics)Nightcrawler as their new leader. In 90 Mister Sinister finishes his 10 mutant kills at the Morlock base on of the kills includes Leech (comics)Leech and Warren Worthington IIIAngel.

In other media
Television
The Morlocks appear in 'X-Men (TV series)X-Men: The Animated Series'. Its members are Callisto (comics)Callisto, Leech (comics)Leech, Erg (comics)Erg, Masque (comics)Masque, Sunder (comics)Sunder, Plague (comics)Plague, Annalee (comics)Annalee, Ape (comics)Ape, Scaleface, Tommy (comics)Tommy, Tar Baby (comics)Tar Baby, Mole (comics)Mole, Glowworm (comics)Glowworm, and Caliban (comics)Caliban. They first appear in 'Captive Hearts' where the Morlocks captured Cyclops (comics)Cyclops and Jean Grey. The X-Men led by Storm then came to get Jean and Cyclops back. In the end after a duel between Storm and Callisto, not only did the X-Men get Cyclops and Jean back, Storm also gained leadership of the Morlocks. Several of the Morlocks would have subsequent cameos outside of the sewers (an example being 'Sanctuary'). They would have a major role to play in the episode 'Out of the Past' and were last seen in 'Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas'.
The Morlocks have appeared in the 'X-Men: Evolution' episode 'X-Treme Measures.' The members of the Morlocks represented include Callisto (comics)Callisto, Caliban (comics)Caliban, Cybelle (comics)Cybelle, and Scaleface. The series also invented the Morlocks Facade (a mutant with camouflage powers), Lucid (a mutant with X-Ray vision), and Torpid (a mutant with a paralyzing touch). They attacked a beverage factory because something in the drinks is poisonous to mutants. It leaked into the tunnels, causing some of the unnamed members to fall ill. Spyke later joined them to protect the weaker Morlocks. 'The Uprising', an episode in the fourth season, shows Spyke protecting the Morlocks and convincing them not to stay hidden.
In 'Wolverine and the X-Men', Vertigo refers to Bezerker as 'Little Morlock'. But the Morlocks have never made an official appearance.

Film
The Morlocks appear in 'X-Men: The Last Stand', though never mentioned by that name. Instead, they are referred to as "The Omegas". Callisto (comics)Callisto is still the leader (with different powers - Caliban (comics)Caliban's mutant sensory ability, and Quicksilver (comics)Quicksilver's speed), but other members (including Phat (comics)Phat, Quill (comics)Quill, Spike (comics)Spike, Anole (comics)Anole, Arclight (comics)Arclight, Psylocke, and Glob Herman) are pulled from other parts of The X-Men universe. Leech (comics)Leech also appears in the film, with no apparent connection to The Omegas.

Video games
In the video game 'X-Men Legends' the X-Men must go on a mission to rescue Gambit from the Morlocks. Marrow is the leader of the militant Gene Nation. It is represented as a faction of Morlocks. Healer also plays an important part in the game as he sells health and energy potions to the player. Aside from Marrow and Healer are a substantial number of unnamed Morlock Grunts, Morlock Claws, Morlock Goths, Morlock Lieutenants, Morlock Giants, Morlock Leviathans, and Morlock Blades.

In 'X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse', the Morlocks continue being violent to the X-Men, but Marrow has joined Moira McTaggert and others in helping rescue refugees.

References


External links



en.wikipedia.org