Morlocks (comics)

Morlocks

Callisto and the Morlocks.
Art by Jim Cheung.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Uncanny X-Men #169
Created by Chris Claremont
Paul Smith
In-story information
Base(s) formerly the Alley, New York sewer system
formerly the Hill dimension
Selima Oasis, North Africa.
Member(s) Masque
Callisto
Storm
Mikhail Rasputin
Leech
Marrow
Dark Beast
Caliban
Skids
Feral
Thornn
Healer
Erg
Tommy
Sunder

The Morlocks are a group of several fictional comic book mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, they were named after the subterranean 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 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 squatted 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 losing a duel to 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 1990s X-Men animated series and its successor X-Men: Evolution.

Contents

History

The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks after Callisto, their leader, kidnapped the X-Man Angel 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 to challenge Callisto to a duel. The prize of the duel was to become the leader of the Morlocks.

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 Angel 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, 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 in the Mutant Massacre. Most of the few survivors moved on to join Gene Nation, having lived in a pocket dimension led by Mikhail Rasputin. While other survivors of the massacre ended up elsewhere, such as Leech and Artie - who became wards of Generation X; Erg and Beautiful Dreamer - whose whereabouts was unknown until Decimation; Thornn - who would join X-Corporation and 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[1] (with the exception of Caliban)[2] it was revealed[3] that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan.

Pre-Mutant Massacre

Mutant Massacre

The Mutant Massacre was one of Marvel's annual crossovers events, centering on the Morlocks. The event resulted in the Marauders killing many of the Morlocks under orders of Mr. Sinister. Protected by the X-Men, X-Factor, Power Pack and 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.

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 decided to finish his original task.[27] He is stopped by a newly "upgraded" Caliban.[28] Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by Pixie, is attempting to escape Masque.[29]

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 main Marvel Universe. There, he set himself up as their king and forced them to fight for the right to live.

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. 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.

After M-Day

After M-Day, Some former Morlocks who lost their powers were Angel Dust, Boost, Irving, Qwerty, Delphi, Callisto, Marrow, Postman, Shatter, Tether and the probability of 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 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. They are Beautiful Dreamer, 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 and now consisting of Bliss, Erg, Litterbug, Skids and a recently captured 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

Powered:

Depowered:

All Powered Former Leaders Not Currently Involved With Group:

Other groups

Chicago Morlocks

In June 2002, Marvel 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.

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 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.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

In the 10th anniversary of the Age of Apocalypse event, which takes place after the nuclear attack in X-Men: Omega, several characters who were not in the original storyline are introduced, among them are the Morlocks which includes Feral, Leech, Marrow, Skids and Thornn among many others unnamed mutants.

The Morlocks were largely a peaceful group that refused to follow Apocalypse's regime and for that decision they were all captured and imprisoned in the Breeding Pens for gruesome experiments by Sinister and the Beast. One known Morlock member was Artemis.[62]

After the fall of Apocalypse, a trail of escaped mutants from the Breeding Pens lead the X-Men underground, they encountered a group of scared, orphaned children called the Morlocks. The X-Men offered to help bring them out of hiding in the sewers, but the Morlocks lashed out at them for fear of being locked up and thrown back into cages by the X-Men, now mutant hunting officers of the newly restored human government. The X-Men emerged victorious and the Morlocks were brought back to the Xavier Institute where they were detained.[63]

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

In other media

Television

Film

Music

Video games

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Uncanny X-Men #169
  2. ^ Chris Claremont (w), Dave Cockrum (p), Joe Rubinstein (i). "Cry, Mutant!" Uncanny X-Men 148 (August 1981), Marvel Comics
  3. ^ Uncanny X-Men #176
  4. ^ X-Men: Prime
  5. ^ X-Force #9
  6. ^ X-Treme X-Men #38
  7. ^ Chris Claremont (w), Igor Kordey (p), Scott Hanna (i). "The Arena" X-Treme X-Men 36 (February 2004), Marvel Comics
  8. ^ X-Factor #50
  9. ^ Joe Pruett (w), Rob Liefeld (p), Dan Fraga & Lary Stucker (i). "Pestilence" Cable vol. 2 73 (November 1999), Marvel Comics
  10. ^ Uncanny X-Men #254
  11. ^ X-Factor #25
  12. ^ a b Uncanny X-Men #170
  13. ^ a b Uncanny X-Men #179
  14. ^ a b Uncanny X-Men #291
  15. ^ a b c Uncanny X-Men #193
  16. ^ a b c d e Uncanny X-Men #211
  17. ^ Louise Simonson (w), June Brigman (p), Bob Wiacek (i). "Problems" Power Pack 11 (June 1985), Marvel Comics
  18. ^ a b c d Louise Simonson (w), June Brigman (p), Bob Wiacek (i). "Underground" Power Pack 12 (July 1985), Marvel Comics
  19. ^ X-Men: The 198 Files
  20. ^ a b Weapon X vol. 2 #5
  21. ^ Louise Simonson (w), Brent Eric Anderson & Scott Williams (p), Terry Austin, Sam DeLarosa & Scott Williams (i). "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" Power Pack 19 (February 1986), Marvel Comics
  22. ^ X-Factor #7
  23. ^ X-Factor #15
  24. ^ a b Uncanny X-Men #210
  25. ^ a b X-Factor #10
  26. ^ a b c d e f X-Factor #11
  27. ^ a b c d X-Factor #51
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  29. ^ a b c d Howard Mackie (w), Javier Saltares (p), Jimmy Palmiotti & Mark Texeira (i). "Pursuit" Ghost Rider vol. 3 9 (January 1991), Marvel Comics
  30. ^ a b Bobbie Chase (w), Dwayne Turner (p), Mike Gustovich (i). "The Madien Phoenix" Marvel Comics Presents 15 (March 1989), Marvel Comics
  31. ^ Lightning Bug at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  32. ^ X-Factor #53
  33. ^ a b Uncanny X-Men #261
  34. ^ a b Louise Simonson (w), Rob Liefeld (p), Hilary Barta (i). "To Hunt The Hunter" New Mutants 90 (June 1990), Marvel Comics
  35. ^ Fabian Nicieza & Rob Liefeld (w), Rob Liefeld (p), Rob Liefeld (i). "The End of the Beginning" New Mutants 100 (April 1991), Marvel Comics
  36. ^ Fabian Nicieza & Rob Liefeld (w), Rob Liefeld (p), Rob Liefeld (i). "The Beginning of the End Part 2" New Mutants 99 (March 1991), Marvel Comics
  37. ^ X-Force #41
  38. ^ a b c Web of Spider-Man #77
  39. ^ Web of Spider-Man #78
  40. ^ X-Force #6
  41. ^ Todd Dezago (w), Randy Green (p), Scott Hanna (i). "Tolerance" Cable vol. 2 42 (April 1997), Marvel Comics
  42. ^ a b c d Uncanny X-Men #292
  43. ^ Jeph Loeb (w), David Brewer (p), Kevin Conrad, Keith Champagne & Matt Banning (i). "Ceremonies of Light" Cable vol. 2 15 (September 1994), Marvel Comics
  44. ^ X-Men Prime
  45. ^ Uncanny X-Men #325
  46. ^ Warren Ellis (w), Terry Dodson (p), Karl Story (i). "She Will Destroy You" Storm 4 (May 1996), Marvel Comics
  47. ^ a b Warren Ellis (w), Terry Dodson (p), Karl Story (i). "Sunburst & Snowblind" Storm 1 (February 1996), Marvel Comics
  48. ^ a b c d e Uncanny X-Men Annual '97
  49. ^ Weapon X: The Draft - Marrow
  50. ^ Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #1
  51. ^ Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #4
  52. ^ Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #2
  53. ^ Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #2
  54. ^ a b Wolverine vol. 2 #157
  55. ^ X-Men/Spider-Man #4
  56. ^ a b c d e f g Geoff Johns (w), Shawn Martinbrough (p), Shawn Martinbrough (i). "Initiation" Morlocks 1 (June 2002), Marvel Comics
  57. ^ Brian Michael Bendis (w), Mike Deodato Jr. (p), Joe Pimentel (i). "The Collective Part 2" New Avengers 18 (June 2006), Marvel Comics
  58. ^ Geoff Johns (w), Shawn Martinbrough (p), Shawn Martinbrough (i). "Last Stop" Morlocks 4 (September 2002), Marvel Comics
  59. ^ Geoff Johns (w), Shawn Martinbrough (p), Shawn Martinbrough (i). "Sinners and Saviors" Morlocks 3 (August 2002), Marvel Comics
  60. ^ a b c d e Uncanny X-Men #395
  61. ^ Uncanny X-Men #396
  62. ^ Factor X #1
  63. ^ X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse #2

External links