| Changeling | |
|---|---|
 The Exiles incarnation of Morph as depicted inExiles #2 (September 2001). Art byMike McKone. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Changeling: The X-Men #35 (Aug. 1967) As Morph: First appearance: X-Men: The Animated Series "Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)" (Oct. 1992) First comic appearance: X-Men Adventures #1 (Nov. 1992) First appearance – new look: X-Men Alpha (Feb. 1995) |
| Created by | Changeling: Roy Thomas Werner Roth Morph: Mark Edward Edens |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men Factor Three X-Humed Exiles |
| Notable aliases | #2,Kevin MacTaggert, John Askegren, Jack Bolton, Martina Johanssen, Werner Reiman, Charles Sage, Francisco Zerilli,Professor Charles Xavier |
| Abilities |
|
Changeling (Kevin Sydney) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerRoy Thomas and artistWerner Roth, the character first appeared inThe X-Men #35 (Aug. 1967).[1]
Changeling is amutantshapeshifter and was a short-lived adversary for theX-Men who impersonatedProfessor X and died shortly after, making him the first member of the X-Men to die in action. The character was adapted asMorph in the 1990s forX-Men: The Animated Series. An alternate reality version of the character, also named Morph, appeared in the 2001 seriesExiles. The original Changeling was resurrected in the 2025 seriesAstonishing X-Men, where he takes on the name and blank white appearance of Morph.
Changeling was introduced inThe X-Men #37–42, part of theFactor Three storyline. Although dying at the end of this run, he was thought to have been seen as a ghost inExcalibur: The Possession (1991) and returned as a zombie inTheSensational She-Hulk #34–35 (1991–1992).
The character was later reintroduced as an easygoing comic-relief character forX-Men: The Animated Series. According to showrunner Eric Lewald's behind-the-scenes book,Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series, the creators (including writer Mark Edward Edens) had intended forThunderbird to be the series' early sacrifice, but they became uncomfortable with the idea of killing off a Native American character. After the creators searched the comics for a substitute, they found Changeling, who was repurposed for the series. Changeling's codename was changed to Morph becauseDC Comics owned the trademark to "Changeling" when the series debuted.[2]
Morph's first comic book appearance was 1992'sX-Men Adventures #1, which adapted the "Night of the Sentinels" TV pilot. Then in 1995, inspired by the character in the animated series, a new Morph was featured in the "Age of Apocalypse" crossover event, debuting in the one-shot comicX-Men Alpha. The character underwent a drastic change in appearance for this event, appearing white-skinned and hairless. Then in 2001, Marvel introduced an alternate-reality version of this Morph, fromEarth-1081. He first appeared inExiles #1.
The original Changeling was resurrected in the seriesAstonishing X-Men (2025), where he assumes the name and blank white appearance of Morph.
Kevin Sydney,[3] known as "Changeling", originally works for the villainous organizationFactor Three. He acts as theMutant Master's second-in-command in an effort to triggerWorld War III. After successfully capturing the heroicX-Men, the Mutant Master is exposed as an extraterrestrial and goes out of control. The mutants of Factor Three ultimately join with the X-Men to defeat the Mutant Master.[4]
Following that group's defeat, Changeling seeks to reform.[5] He divulges toProfessor X that he has an unspecified terminal illness with only a few months left to live and wishes to atone for his misdeeds. Professor X recruits Changeling to act as a stand-in, unbeknownst to the X-Men, while he isolates himself to prepare a defense against the alienZ'Nox's invasion.[6] Changeling, masquerading as Professor X,[7] leads the X-Men's efforts to defeat theSubterraneanGrotesk, who kills him in battle.[8] The X-Men mourn the loss of Professor X until they learn that he was an impostor.[6]
When the mysticalDarkhold is recreated, Changeling's spirit uses the opportunity to possessMeggan. Angry that he used his remaining time helping the X-Men instead of seeking a cure for himself, Changeling seeks revenge against Professor X.[9]Merlyn later admits that the encounter was merely fantasy, having orchestrated the event to prepareExcalibur.[10]
Changeling is later raised from the dead as a zombie byBlack Talon to form part of the team X-Humed alongsideHarry Leland,Living Diamond, andScaleface. He attacksShe-Hulk, but breaks from Black Talon's control of him long enough to allow She-Hulk to win and lay the zombies back to rest.[11][12]
In the seriesAstonishing X-Men, Changeling is revealed to have been resurrected onKrakoa and is reimagined as possessing the appearance and name of his alternate universe counterpart Morph. He acts as both a superhero and supervillain, being unaware of his dual identity.[13][14]
Morph is a hero fromEarth-1081 who is a member of theNew Mutants,X-Men, andAvengers. He was born with his mutant powers activated, causing him to resemble a humanoid white blob. Morph initially assumes a human appearance, only comfortable to be himself around his parents. Following his mother's death from lung cancer, Morph is enrolled in theXavier Institute. Promoted to the X-Men, Morph's sense of humor initially grates upon the much more serious team but eventually his humor and humility win them over. He is instrumental in many of the team's victories and is chosen to be part of a pilot program with the Avengers, along withBeast, as a public representative of mutants. Morph returns to his birth appearance as a pale, bald humanoid.[15]
While battling a threat known only as Stonehenge, Morph becomes unhinged from time. The mysteriousTimebroker appears to him, explaining that his unhinging is the result of a chain of events that caused his reality to change. In this new reality, Morph is unable to maintain his body and is rendered comatose. Hoping to save his own future, Morph joins theExiles, a group of universe-hopping heroes trying to save realities from ripples and alteration.[16] Morph is later possessed byProteus, but manages to convince Proteus to work together with him and share his body.[17] When the Exiles are trapped in the Crystal Palace, Proteus is absorbed in Morph's place, freeing Morph from him. Morph is later killed by Maniac Xavier, an alternate universe version of Charles Xavier from Earth-18136.[18]
Changeling is a mutant metamorph with the ability to alter his physical appearance and voice at will to resemble that of any person he chooses. His power can also transform the appearance of his costume as well, which was made of unstable molecules. Morph's mutation to shape-shift has also made it so that his body is aPlay-Doh-like substance and he can reattach limbs after they have been severed. He has limitedtelepathic abilities, which were enhanced by Professor X. As a side effect, he also gained limited telekinetic abilities.[citation needed]
Upon choosing to work together and share his body with the energy mutant Proteus, the Exiles version of Morph had his powers amplified, at least enough to defeat a self-proclaimed god. Whether the two have access to Proteus' reality changing abilities has yet to be determined.
Kevin Sydney is a skilled actor, and a highly trained and efficient organizer of subversive activities. He carried various advanced weaponry of alien Siri design belonging toFactor Three, including a ray gun carried in a holster at his side. Though Morph is a prankster who downplays his intelligence, he is deceptively smart. He has aMaster's degree incomputer engineering, which he earned at Xavier's Institute.
