Morlocks (comics)
| Morlocks | |
|---|---|
| File:Marvel Universe Super Heroes 001 -Callisto-.jpg Callisto of the Morlocks before her transformation. | |
| 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. |
In the X-Men comic books, the Morlocks were mutants unable to 'pass' as normal, who created a new society in a vast network of abandoned interconnected tunnels beneath New York City. These Morlocks were named after the Morlocks in H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks after their leader, Callisto, kidnapped the X-Man Angel, intending to make him her mate. The X-Men realised that that could not rescue Angel without ruling the numerous morlocks, hence Nightcrawler decided to challenge Callisto to a duel, where the victor rules the morlocks. However, Storm felt that she should be the one having the duel, as she was the leader of the X-Men. Storm defeated Callisto in hand-to-hand combat, rescuing Angel and becoming the de facto leader of the Morlocks. 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, and they promised to return in the future to keep her company.
Most of the Morlocks were slaughtered by Mister Sinister's henchmen, the Marauders, in the Mutant Massacre (or Morlock Massacre), and the survivors later moved to Gene Nation, located in a parallel dimension. (Callisto, Leech and Marrow are survivors of the massacre.) A later retcon made the Morlocks the failed creations of the Dark Beast.
Recently, a new group who call themselves "Those Who Live in Darkness" have been inhabiting the sewer tunnels just below the surface of Mutant Town/District X in that particular burrough of New York. However, District X writer David Hine never intended for this group to have any ties to the original Morlocks.
Founding members
Although debuting along with the rest of the Morlocks in Uncanny X-Men #169, apart from Caliban whose first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #148, it was revealed in issue #176 that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan which the Dark Beast being the creator.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Beast | Henry McCoy | X-Men: Alpha | Creator of the Morlocks; formerly from the Age of Apocalypse; formerly of the Brotherhood, X-Men; he is not classed as a Morlock, but sees himself as thier creator, and has been called the "first one" by members of Gene Nation. |
| Masque | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Former leader after the Mutant Massacre also led a splinter group called the Tunneler. He was impaled by Shatterstar's sword in X-Force vol. 1 #9 but was revealed alive in X-Treme X-Men #38 | |
| Callisto | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Former leader of the Morlocks; her arms have been turned into tentacles by Masque in X-Treme X-Men Arena storyarc; aided Magneto and Professor X in Genosha. | |
| Caliban | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Caliban became Death in X-Factor vol. 1 #50, and Pestilence in Cable vol. 2 #73; formerly of X-Force | |
| Sunder | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Shot by Pretty Boy in Uncanny X-Men #254 |
Pre-Mutant Massacre
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plague | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Became Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse; Died in X-Factor vol. 1 #25 after falling off her flying horse. | |
| Storm | Ororo Munroe | Uncanny X-Men #171 | Defeated Callisto and became the Morlocks' leader however is not classed as a Morlock. |
| Jo | Uncanny X-Men #179 | Only appearance as a Morlock was her debut issue as Kitty's bridesmaid; her fate is unknown. | |
| Leech | Uncanny X-Men #179 | Has been in the first few incarnations of the Morlocks and was adopted by Annalee; formerly of X-Terminators and Generation X; was captured by the Weapon X program and used as the Neverland power dampener; his fate is unknown at this time. | |
| Healer | Uncanny X-Men #170 (mentioned) 179 (seen) | He burned himself out in Uncanny X-Men #291 to heal and restore Callisto. | |
| Annalee's four children | Uncanny X-Men #193 (mentioned) | Uncanny X-Men #193 (shot by Scalphunter); it is only revealed in Uncanny X-Men #211 that Scalphunter was the one who killed the four children. | |
| Erg | Power Pack #12 | Erg was a painter before becoming a Morlock and is currently revealed to be on of the 198-Files. | |
| Ape | Power Pack #12 | Surviving Morlock who was captured by the Weapon X program and sent to the Neverland concentration camp where he was killed in Weapon X vol. 2 #5 | |
| Piper | Power Pack #11 | Former Savageland Mutate who followed Magneto to the USA. He ended up with the Morlocks and was killed by the Marauders in Uncanny X-Men #211 | |
| Tarbaby | Power Pack #12 | Surviving Morlock who was captured by the Weapon X program and sent to the Neverland concentration camp where he was killed in Weapon X vol. 2 #5 | |
| Annalee | Uncanny X-Men #193 (mentioned), Power Pack vol. 1 #12 (seen) | adopts Leech in Power Pack vol. 1 #19; was shot by Scalphunter in the Mutant Massacre in Uncanny X-Men #211 | |
| Beautiful Dreamer | Power Pack vol. 1 #12 | ||
| Skids | Sally Blevins | X-Factor vol. 1 #7 | Seen as the most pretty of the Morlocks she left them and became a ward of X-Factor in X-Factor vol. 1 #15 |
Mutant Massacre
In one of Marvel's annual crossover events, the Morlocks are at the centre of the Mutant Massacre. The Marauders are ordered by Mr. Sinister to erridicate the Morlocks who end up being defended by the X-Men, X-Factor, Power Pack and Thor. 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 and debuted many new Morlocks, some of which were killed in their only appearance.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy | Uncanny X-Men #210 | Shot by Scalphunter in Uncanny X-Men #210. | |
| Cybelle | Uncanny X-Men #211 | ||
| Zeek | X-Factor vol. 1 #10 | Killed by Harpoon in X-Factor vol. 1 #10 | |
| Scaleface | X-Factor vol. 1 #11 | Formerly part of Masque's splinter group known as the Tunnelers; He was shot by the police in X-Factor vol. 1 #11 | |
| Berzerker | X-Factor vol. 1 #11 | Formerly part of Masque's splinter group known as the Tunnelers; He was accidentally killed by Cyclops in X-Factor vol. 1 #11 | |
| Blow Hard | X-Factor vol. 1 #11 | Formerly part of Masque's splinter group known as the Tunnelers; He was shot by a local gang in X-Factor vol. 1 #11 |
Post-Mutant Massacre
After the massacre, many of the Morlocks relocated themselves throughout New York City, though some returned to the Alley, the original home of the Morlocks, with Masque assuming leadership. In X-Factor vol. 1 #51 many new surviving Morlocks were introduced as Sabretooth decided to finish the task he was given by Mr. Sinister until he is stopped by a newly "upgraded" Caliban in New Mutants vol. 1 #91. In Ghost Rider vol. 3 #9 a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced led by Pixie as they are trying to escape from Masque.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Bug | Marvel Comics Presents #15 | She was killed in the Mutant Massacre but her astral essence survived and search out a new form to inhabit however her essence perished in Marvel Comics Presents #15 | |
| Chicken Wings | X-Factor vol. 1 #51 | Killed by Sabretooth in X-Factor vol. 1 #51 | |
| Mole | X-Factor vol. 1 #51 | It is strongly implied that Mole was indeed killed by Sabretooth off-panel in X-Factor vol. 1 #53 | |
| Bliss | Uncanny X-Men #261 | ||
| Bouncer | Uncanny X-Men #261 (only his teleporting signature) | ||
| Samson | New Mutants vol. 1 #90 | Killed by Sabretooth in New Mutants vol. 1 #90 | |
| Brute | New Mutants vol. 1 #91 | Shot by Cable in New Mutants vol. 1 #100 | |
| Hump | New Mutants vol. 1 #91 | ||
| Pixie | Ghost Rider vol. 3 #9 | Led a splinter group of Morlocks who were on the run from Masque; She was murdered by Blackout in Ghost Rider vol. 3 #9 | |
| Bertram | Ghost Rider vol. 3 #9 | ||
| Feral | Maria Callasantos | New Mutants vol. 1 #99 | Left the Morlocks after X-Force vol. 1 #41; currently depowered as a result of Decimation. |
| Pester | Web of Spider-Man #77 | She is the daughter of Mother Inferior | |
| Ent | Web of Spider-Man #77 | ||
| Mother Inferior | Web of Spider-Man #77 | She was crushed by falling debris in Web of Spiderman #78 | |
| Thornn | Lucia Callasantos | X-Force vol. 1 #6 | Had no choice but to leave the Morlocks after the Great Flood in Cable vol. 2 #42; currently depowered as a result of Decimation. |
The Hill
With Masque presumed killed, an insane Mikhail Rasputin takes over as leader of the Morlocks as of Uncanny X-Men #293 where he then floods the tunnels to put the Morlocks out of their misery. 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. He set himself up as their king, making them fight for the right to live with him.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikhail Rasputin | Mikhail Rasputin | Uncanny X-Men #291 | former leader of the Morlocks; transported them to the Hill dimension. |
| Meme | Uncanny X-Men #292 | Had his mind shut down by Jean Grey in Uncanny X-Men #292 to rescue the humans he had absorbed. | |
| Monte | Uncanny X-Men #292 | ||
| Brain Cell | Kevin | Uncanny X-Men #292 | |
| Marrow | Sarah | Cable vol. 2 #15 (as Sarah); X-Men Prime (as Marrow) | She was one of the Morlocks that were transported to the Hill dimension by Mikhail Rasputin; returned and led a terrorist faction known as Gene Nation but was seemlingly killed by Storm in Uncanny X-Men #325; revealed to have survive through having a second heart in Storm #4; formerly of the X-Men, SHIELD and Weapon X Program. |
| Marilou | Storm #1 | Killed by Mikhail Rasputin in Storm #1 |
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 emotion backlash caused D'Gard to assume control over Storm, who relinqueshed her leadership role. In X-Men: Prime many of the Hill Morlocks returned to found Gene Nation and attacked the human oppressor of the past Morlocks, under the leadership of Marrow. It is unknown whether the remaining Morlocks in Africa stayed there or relocated back to New York, although few have been seen since as well as a few Morlocks who did in fact remain in New York despite the previous attempts on their lives.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boost | Uncanny X-Men Annual '97 | He was one of the many surviving Morlocks relocated to North Africa but defected to the Brotherhood by the end of Uncanny X-Men Annual '97 | |
| Tether | Uncanny X-Men Annual '97 | She was one of the many surviving Morlocks relocated to North Africa but defected to the Brotherhood by the end of Uncanny X-Men Annual '97 | |
| D'Gard | Uncanny X-Men Annual '97 | Became leader of the Morlocks while in North Afrrica when he made Storm reliquish her leadership; he was later killed by Marrow as a sign of loyalty to the new Weapon X program in Weapon X: The Draft - Marrow | |
| Revelation | Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #1 | Revealed to have been in suspended animation around the time of Storm first becoming the leader as a result of her death-powers; She died in the Punisher's arms in Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #4 | |
| Soteira | Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #2 (hologram) | Revealed to be around at the time Storm became Morlock leader and was the scientist that put Revelation in suspended animation; only appeared as a hologram but told Wolverine and the Punisher she will die as a result of prolonged exposure to Revelation powers in Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #2 | |
| Carver | Wolverine vol. 2 #157 | Leader of a splinter group of five Morlocks who survived the Massacres and the Flood and who still followed to old Morlocks rules. | |
| Fugue | Wolverine vol. 2 #157 | Member of the splinter group of five who still follow the old Morlocks rules. |
Other Groups
Chicago Morlocks
In June of 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.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel Dust | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | She ran away from home upon discovering she was a mutant to protect her family from possible Sentinel attacks. | |
| Cell | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | Robber whose body transformed into a giant, single-celled body capable of extending and engulfing objects where they are digested; He was executed by the Sentinels in Morlocks #4 | |
| Electric Eve | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | A former heroin addict 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. | |
| Litterbug | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | Former military soldier who went AWOL upon his transformation into a giant, cockroach-like creature with massive strength, invulnerability, and a keen burrowing ability | |
| Postman | David | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | Leader of the Chicago Morlocks; can telepathically erase specific memories from targets (such as an event) or complex and deeply rooted facts (such as gender). |
| Shatter | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | His body is composed of a crystalline material that can regenerate lost body parts over time, and also can crystallize liquids upon contact. | |
| Trader | Morlocks #1 (June 2002) | Former stock broker who has a chameleon-like ability to camoflage into his surroundings; killed taking a bullet meant for Electric Eve in Morlocks #3 |
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 and it is unknown whether or not they survived the persecution from the Church of Humanity.
| Character | Real Name | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Puddle | Uncanny X-Men #395 | Son of Miss Saccharine | |
| Carla | Uncanny X-Men #395 | Mole-like woman | |
| Double Helix | Uncanny X-Men #395 | Two-headed man | |
| Harmony | Uncanny X-Men #395 | Mother of Hope | |
| Hope | Uncanny X-Men #396 | Harmony's newborn baby | |
| Saccharine | Uncanny X-Men #395 | Elderly woman and mother of Burning Puddle whose sweat is a sugar-like substance |
List of appearances
- Cable vol. 2 #15
- Cable vol. 2 #17
- Cable vol. 2 #42
- Excalibur vol. 1 #4
- Excalibur vol. 1 #6
- Excalibur vol. 1 #9-11
- Ghost Rider vol. 3 #9
- Marvel Comics Present #15
- Marvel Comics Presents #20-24
- Morlocks #1-4 (June-September 2002) - Chicago Morlocks
- New Mutants vol. 1 #20
- New Mutants vol. 1 #46
- New Mutants vol. 1 #90-91
- New Mutants vol. 1 #99-100
- Power Pack vol. 1 #11-12
- Power Pack vol. 1 #19
- Power Pack vol. 1 #27
- Storm #1-4
- Thor vol. 1 #364-365
- Thor vol. 1 #373-374
- Uncanny X-Men #169-171
- Uncanny X-Men #176
- Uncanny X-Men #178-179
- Uncanny X-Men #190-193
- Uncanny X-Men #195
- Uncanny X-Men #210-217
- Uncanny X-Men #219
- Uncanny X-Men #253-254
- Uncanny X-Men #259-264
- Uncanny X-Men #291-293
- Uncanny X-Men #325
- Uncanny X-Men #346-347
- Uncanny X-Men #350
- Uncanny X-Men #373-374
- Uncanny X-Men #397-398 - London Tunnel Dwellers
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #18
- Uncanny X-Men Annual '97
- Weapon X: The Draft - Marrow
- Web of Spiderman #77-78
- Wolverine vol. 2 #41-43
- Wolverine vol. 2 #45-46
- Wolverine vol. 2 #51
- Wolverine vol. 2 #157
- Wolverine/Punisher Revelation #1-4
- X-Factor vol. 1 #7-11
- X-Factor vol. 1 #12-17
- X-Factor vol. 1 #25
- X-Factor vol. 1 #51-53
- X-Force vol. 1 #6-7
- X-Force vol. 1 #9
- X-Force vol. 1 #11
- X-Force vol. 1 #40-41
- X-Men vol. 2 #44
- X-Men vol. 2 #58
- X-Men vol. 2 #67
- X-Men vol. 2 #72
- X-Men vol. 2 #74
- X-Men vol. 2 #79
- X-Men Prime
- X-Men Unlimited #18
Other Media
The Morlocks have appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series where they capture Cyclops and Jean Gray.