| Mojo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Longshot #3 (Nov. 1985)[1] |
| Created by | Ann Nocenti Art Adams |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Spineless One |
| Team affiliations |
|
| Partnerships | Spiral Major Domo |
| Abilities | Superhuman physical attributes Mystical powers |
Mojo is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, usually those featuring theX-Men family of characters. Created by writerAnn Nocenti and artistArthur Adams, Mojo first appeared inLongshot #3 (Nov. 1985), as the titular hero'sarchenemy, and subsequently a villain to theX-Men and their various sub-groups as well.[2]
Mojo is one of the "Spineless Ones", analien race that is immobile without advanced technology. He is aslaver who rules theMojoverse, a dimension where all beings are addicted to hisgladiator-like television programs. The character is anabsurdistparody of network executives, and was inspired by Nocenti's reading of media criticsMarshall McLuhan,Noam Chomsky, andWalter Lippmann.[3]
At the time she wrote theLongshot miniseries, writerAnn Nocenti was pursuing herMaster's degree at theSchool of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, working at the magazineLies of Our Times, and reading the work of writers likeMarshall McLuhan,Noam Chomsky,Edward S. Herman andWalter Lippmann. Mojo, a slaver and dictator who rules his dimension through the television programs he produces, was created as a direct result of these influences[4] (a character named Manufactured Consent, after the Chomskybook of the same name, who appeared in Nocenti's 1990The New Mutants Summer Special, was also born of these works[3]). ArtistArt Adams designed the character per Nocenti's instructions that he be disgusting and unpleasant, and also tried to make him look frightening.[5] The wires that hold Mojo's eyelids open, thus preventing him from blinking, were inspired by an interview with actorMalcolm McDowell onLate Night with David Letterman, in which McDowell revealed that the similar apparatus he had to wear for the Ludovico technique scene inA Clockwork Orange had scarred his corneas. The rest of the equipment attached to Mojo's head controls his mechanized chair.[6]
Mojo first appeared inLongshot #3 (Nov. 1985), and was the main villain of the miniseries, appearing in the subsequent three issues.
The character subsequently appeared inThe New Mutants Annual #2 (1986). That same year, inThe Uncanny X-Men Annual #10, Mojo appeared as the villain in the story, which saw Longshot join the X-Men. In 1988, Mojo appeared in a backup story inThe Uncanny X-Men Annual #12. He was the main villain of the one-shot specialExcalibur: Mojo Mayhem (Dec. 1989). Subsequent appearances includeMarvel Comics Presents #89 (1991),The Uncanny X-Men Annual #15 (1991),Wolverine vol. 2 #52 (March 1992),X-Men #6 (March 1992),Wolverine vol. 2 #53 (April 1992),X-Men #7 (April 1992), #10-11 (July–Aug. 1992),The Uncanny X-Men Annual 16 (1992),Marvel Comics Presents #119 (1993),What If? vol. 2 #59 (March 1994),X-Men Adventures: Season Two #11 (Dec. 1994),Marvel: Portraits of the Universe #1 (March 1995),X-Men: Mutations #1 (1996),Youngblood/X-Force #1 (July 1996),X-Force/Youngblood #1 (Aug. 1996),X-Force #60-61 (Nov.–Dec. 1996),The Adventures of the X-Men #9-10 (1996-Jan. 1997),X-Babies: Murderama #1 (Jan. 1998),X-Force #76 (April 1998),X-Babies Reborn #1 (Jan. 2000),X-Men Unlimited #32 (Sept. 2001),Exiles #18-19 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2003),The Uncanny X-Men #460-461 (Aug. 2005), andExiles #73-74 (Feb. 2006).
Mojo was featured in an entry inThe Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #8, and in theAll-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #7 (2006).
Mojo appears inMs. Marvel: Mutant Menace #2 (2024).[7] Mojo is a major antagonist in the ongoing seriesNYX (vol. 2).[8] Kofi Outlaw ofComicBook.com commented that "Mojo has been a consistent villain in his design – fate, yellow, slug-like" but "NYX has given Mojo a more active-looking design, with his cybernetics, armor, leather wristbands and a long, spiked, cybernetic tail".[9]
Most of the denizens of what would come to be called theMojoverse were slowly driven insane by waves of energy from another dimension. They are unable to stand upright until the scientist Arize develops exoskeletons to assist them. Some members of the race refuse to use the exoskeletons and call themselves the Spineless Ones.[10] The Spineless Ones utilize motorized platforms to transport their bodies and take over their dimension. Arize is forced to create humanoid slaves to serve the Spineless Ones, but implants them with the capability to turn against their masters. Arize is later banished by the Spineless Ones after refusing to create weapons for them.[volume & issue needed]
Mojo, one of the Spineless Ones, assumes control of his dimension, calling it the Mojoverse. His followers, includingWarwolves (vaguely dog-like metallic beings with the ability to kill people and take over the remains of their bodies as skins), became known as Wildways. Mojo is served by the androidMajor Domo, who oversees his financial records and relays commands to his servants. Major Domo is himself assisted by Minor Domo, a hysterical young girl prone to imagining worst-case scenarios.[volume & issue needed]
One of Mojo's slaves,Longshot, Longshot attempts to lead a rebellion against him, but is captured and has his memories removed. Longshot escapes to Earth before returning to the Mojoverse alongside his friends Quark and Ricochet Rita to free Mojo's slaves. However, they are unsuccessful. Longshot is brainwashed again, while Rita is captured by Mojo, transformed into a six-armed warrior namedSpiral, and sent back in time to attack Longshot and facilitate the events that led to her creation.[11]
Mojo manipulates X-Men memberRachel Summers into working for him, but she escapes soon afterward. After the X-Men are killed by theAdversary, Mojo attempts to create versions of them who he can control. Mojo creates several versions of the X-Men, but he considers all of them failures and orders them to be killed. TheX-Babies, child versions of the X-Men, emerge the sole survivors. They rebel against Mojo and escape, taking Rita with them.[12]
Mojo is later demoted by the producers on Mojo World due to low ratings and moved to "Educational Broadcasting". He creates an agency named the Yellow Eye to spy on every single mutant alive. WhenCable sendsDomino to spy on this agency, she is captured and brainwashed by Mojo.[13] His organization is eventually brought down by theX-Force.[13][14]
In the 2016Howard the Duck run, Mojo is revealed to have used footage of Howard's adventure to create areality show for the Mojoverse. To fill in the gaps on Howard's life, Mojo films footage of a small alien in a duck costume interacting withLea Thompson performing asBeverly Switzler (referencing the1986 film adaptation of the character).[15]
During the "Age of Revelation" storyline, Mojo finds out from Major Domo that some of the shows have been cancelled because of the storyline in question as well as the fact that hisLord of the Flies remake starring the X-Babies has been rejected. According to Spiral, Longshot will not return unless his pay is raised. In response, Mojo plans a new show as the X-Babies help him and Major Domo plan it. They end up creatingLongshots, starring theAge of Revelation versions ofHellcat,Bishop,Rhino,Kraven the Hunter, andWonder Man. Mojo is unaware that Longshot and Spiral are in the audience.[16] Following the deaths of Bishop, Kraven, and Rhino, Mojo was displeased that aCelestial was inside the abandoned power plant instead of Galactus. Major Domo tells him that Galactus' agent turned down the deal. This causes Mojo to cave as he has Major Domo contact Spiral to tell her that they will accept Longshot's terms.[17]
Mojo's multi-legged flying platform is armed with various particle beam weapons. It also has a large artificial appendage that can be used as an arm or a slicing weapon and two smaller arms. He is strong enough to hold a human off of the ground with one arm easily. He has several powers derived from magic, like the projection of magical energy blasts, controlling the minds of others, and inter-dimensional teleportation. These magical powers are strengthened by the 'worship of his followers' and hence directly linked to the popularity of his TV programs. He cannot be harmed by the touch ofRogue, no matter how long she is in contact with him.
He is also a master manipulator and schemer, shown in his organization of his slaughter entertainment games. He can also call upon vast manpower to assist him in his endeavors and has access to vast technological resources.
Mojo is also a force of death and corruption, able to generate an anti-life field that makes his touch able to wither plants and age humans outside of his home dimension. According toDoctor Strange, his prolonged presence on Earth could cause storms and other natural disasters.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: more details from other comic appearances. You can help byadding to it.(April 2025) |
Both Chris Miller ofScreen Rant and Alex Schlesinger ofAIPT highlighted Mojo's villain role inNYX (vol. 2).[8][18] Miller commented that Mojo is "one of the X-Men's most terrifying villains, the master of multidimensional television called Mojo, has spent decades trying to forcefully conscript the X-Men into his trashy interdimensional shows, movies, and games".[8] Miller noted that inNYX, Mojo is seen with a "new puppeteering power" which grants "him a terrifying degree of leverage over Earth".[8] Schlesinger stated that he wished "Mojo was the main villain of the whole series" and he wanted "moreTikTok Mojo".[18] Schlesinger commented that Mojo "is horrifying in this comic. Mojo has often been seen as a silly, deranged… blob, that was always more ridiculous than he was terrifying. InNYX though, Mojo has been updated to our modernsocial media age, and Mortarino’s depiction of Mojo is monstrous and scary, including his new 'Mr. Friend' disguise".[18]
Mojo claims that he and the beings who populate Mojo World are "unique" in the sense that unlike the rest of the Marvel Universe, Mojo World has no parallel counterpart; this was documented inExiles #18-19. However, alternate versions of Longshot and Mojo exist in theUltimate Marvel continuity, and an alternate future reality of Mojo World, where the Spineless Ones were mistreated slaves, was featured in the "Shattershot" storyline.[volume & issue needed]
In the seriesUltimate X-Men, Mojo is not an alien but an ordinary human being namedMojo Adams.[19] He is a well-dressed, obesealbino television producer and political power in the nation ofGenosha. He trapped a young mutant fugitiveLongshot on anisland where humans hunt him as part of a popularreality show "Hunt for Justice". This Mojo also has a Major Domo, a young, fit, human man with a family of his own. Later on he was seen working with Augustus "Gus" Beezer and hiredDeadpool and hisMarauders to capture the X-Men and bring them back to Krakoa where they were to be executed on live television by theReavers. He keptProfessor X captive and forced him to watch the entire show a laClockwork Orange. His plans are foiled by the combined efforts of theX-Men andSpider-Man, who was also captured during his visit to theX-Mansion. It is unknown what happened to Mojo after this because Xavier seemed to have "taken care" of him during his escape.[20]
