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 (Writer)
Paul Smith (Artist)
In-story information
Base(s) formerly the Alley, New York sewer system
formerly the Hill Dimension
Selima Oasis, North Africa.
Member(s) Membership

The Morlocks are a group of mutant characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are usually depicted as being associated with the X-Men in the Marvel 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 yet a member of the Morlocks.)

The Morlocks were depicted as an underground society (both literally and figuratively) living as tunnel dwellers in the sewers and abandoned tunnels beneath New York City. The Morlocks were composed of mutant misfits, especially those mutants who, because of physical mutations or other conspicuous manifestations of their mutant genetics, were unable to pass as human in normal society. Subjected to hate, fear, and disgust from human society due to their "deformed" appearances, dangerous mutations, or otherwise outcast or misfit statuses, most of the Morlocks viewed humans (and even more mainstream mutants such as the X-Men) with distrust and anger, and they occasionally committed criminal or antisocial acts upon the above-ground human society.

Due to a series of tragedies, the original Morlocks no longer reside in subterranean New York City (except Marrow, who was one of the original Morlocks 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.

History

According to Callisto, she formed the Morlocks by first recruiting Caliban, and then using his power to track down other mutants who were unable to integrate into normal society. 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.[1]

The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks when their leader Callisto kidnapped Angel and intended to make him her mate.[2] This brought Storm to challenge Callisto to a duel for leadership of the Morlocks. Storm is victorious,[1] and orders an end to their attacks on normal humans,[3] but she does not assume leadership of the Morlocks full-time. Against her wishes, several Morlocks later kidnap the child superheroes Power Pack so that they could be raised by the Morlock Annalee, who had lost her own children. When Callisto discovers what was going on, she forces Annalee to let them go. They promise to return in the future to keep her company.[4]

A majority of the Morlocks are slaughtered by Mister Sinister's Marauders in the "Mutant Massacre". Most of the survivors move on to join Gene Nation, having lived in a pocket dimension led by Mikhail Rasputin. Leech instead becomes a ward of Generation X. Other survivors include Erg and Beautiful Dreamer (whose whereabouts were 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.

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[2] (with the exception of Caliban)[5] it was revealed[6] 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 a few survived. The event spanned Uncanny X-Men #210-212, X-Factor #9-11, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374 and Power Pack #27. Many new Morlocks 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.[29] He is stopped by a newly "upgraded" Caliban.[30] Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by Pixie, is attempting to escape Masque.[31]

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 from 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 City despite previous attempts on their lives.

After M-Day

After M-Day, some former Morlocks who lost their powers were Angel Dust, Boost, Callisto, Delphi, Irving, Marrow, Postman, Qwerty, 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 watchman 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 murdered 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 refuge at Xavier's Institute and became known as the 198. They are Beautiful Dreamer, Caliban, Erg, Leech, and Skids.

Dark Beast and Mikhail Rasputin are also still powered, though Mikhail is in Kapalan.

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

Former leaders not 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 other 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.[72]

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.[73]

Ultimate Marvel

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 the Morlock named Pyro, who was outnumbered while fighting the Friends of Humanity and the police. Other members shown as of issue #82 are Caliban, Callisto, Sparks and Sunder (who was the leader). 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. His kills include Leech and Angel.

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Music

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Uncanny X-Men #170 (June 1983)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Uncanny X-Men #169
  3. Uncanny X-Men #171
  4. Uncanny X-Men #195 (July 1985)
  5. Chris Claremont (w), Dave Cockrum (p), Joe Rubinstein (i). "Cry, Mutant!" Uncanny X-Men 148 (August 1981), Marvel Comics
  6. Uncanny X-Men #176
  7. X-Factor #50
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  11. X-Force #9
  12. X-Treme X-Men #38
  13. Uncanny X-Men #254
  14. 1 2 3 Uncanny X-Men #193
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  36. Chickenwings at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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  44. Mole at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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  46. Pester at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  47. Pixie at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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  67. Brian Michael Bendis (w), Mike Deodato Jr. (p), Joe Pimentel (i). "The Collective Part 2" New Avengers 18 (June 2006), Marvel Comics
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