The Morlocks were depicted as an underground society (bothliterally andfiguratively) ofoutcast mutants living astunnel dwellers in the sewers, abandoned tunnels, andabandoned subway lines beneathNew 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.[4] Subjected to hate, fear, and disgust from human society due to their "deformed" appearances, dangerous mutations, or otherwiseoutcast or misfit statuses, most of the Morlocks viewed humans (and even other more mainstream mutants such as the X-Men) with distrust and anger, and they occasionally committed criminal orantisocial acts upon the above-ground human society.
Due to a series of tragedies, the original Morlocks no longer resided in subterranean New York City (exceptMarrow, who was one of the original Morlocks as a child). However, a violent splinter cell, Gene Nation, and a comparable group, calledThose Who Live in Darkness, emerged in their absence. Similar groups, referred to as Morlocks by both readers and the X-Men, have appeared beneathChicago andLondon. In the post-Krakoan Age, the Morlocks have returned to New York City, reclaiming their place in the underground tunnels.
According toCallisto, she formed the Morlocks by first recruitingCaliban. She then used his power to track down other mutants who were unable to integrate into normal society. The Morlocks initiallysquatted in a network of abandoned, interconnected tunnels beneathManhattan, which had originally been built asCold Warbomb shelters and then forgotten, before expanding into sewers and abandoned subways. The Morlocks occasionally emerged to rob humans in Manhattan and would sometimes kidnap certain mutant children.[5]
The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks when their leader Callisto kidnappedAngel and intended to make him her mate.[6] This broughtStorm to challenge Callisto to a duel for leadership of the Morlocks. Victorious, Storm orders an end to their attacks on normal humans,[5][7] but she does not assume leadership of the Morlocks full-time. Against her wishes, several Morlocks later kidnap the child superheroesPower Pack so that they could be raised by the MorlockAnnalee, 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.[8]
It is later revealed that many of the Morlocks were actually failed experiments of theDark Beast, although he made certain that they did not remember being tampered with, which is why Mister Sinister sought to destroy them.
A new group called the Tunnel Rats which also calls itself "Those Who Live in Darkness" have inhabited the sewer tunnels just below the surface of Mutant Town/District X.District X writerDavid Hine claims to never have intended this group to have any ties to the original Morlocks.[9]
During the "Decimation" storyline, some of the remaining powered Morlocks seek asylum at the X-Mansion.[10] Some Morlocks remain underground under Marrow's protection.[11]
After Terrigen Mist is released across Earth and threatens the mutant population, many mutants seek refuge underground. In addition to these mutants, Callisto shows sympathy towards humans who sought refuge from the global landscape. This unified society of humans and mutants forms the New Morlocks.[12] The Morlock are further decimated by the Marauders, but Cyclops helps the Chechnyan government expel rebels in exchange for a Morlock sanctuary.[13]
WhenKrakoa is established as a mutant nation, several of the Morlocks begin living there, including Callisto,[14] Caliban,[15] Cybelle,[16] Erg,[16] a revivedHealer,[15] Leech,[17] Masque,[18] Marrow,[18]Mole,[19] a revived Piper,[16] Skids,[20] and a revived Tommy.[16] During the "Dawn of X" and "Reign of X" storylines, instead of relocating to Krakoa, some Morlocks went to a retirement and golf community inRio Verde, Arizona (paid for by theHellfire Trading Company) while others went to Lowtown inMadripoor.[21][22][23] During the "Fall of X" storyline, following the "global attack on Krakoa" byOrchis, "the X-Men used the Morlock Tunnels as a temporary base".[24]
In the post-Krakoan Age, the Morlocks have returned to New York City and maintain many Krakoan cultural practices while incorporating new practices, such as funerals. During the "From the Ashes" publishing initiative, Caliban attempts to persuadeAnole to join the Morlocks.[25][26][27][28]
Debuting along with the rest of the Morlocks[6] (with the exception of Caliban)[29] it was revealed that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan.[30]
Caliban[6] - Caliban becameDeath,[31] and laterPestilence[32] - Served onX-Force for a time. Joined the X-Men after "Decimation". He was killed by thePurifiers savingJames Proudstar, but later resurrected on Krakoa.
Callisto[6] - The former leader of the Morlocks.[33] She was depowered on M-Day, but regained her powers through The Crucible and Krakoan resurrection protocols.
Dark Beast[34] - An alternate universe variant of Beast from the "Age of Apocalypse" timeline. Although not classed as a Morlock, he sees himself as their creator and has been called the "first one" by members of Gene Nation. He was recruited byNorman Osborn as scientist and member ofDark X-Men. Dark Beast later gains control overClan Akkaba and returns to his own dimension.
Masque[6] - The former leader of the Morlocks following the "Mutant Massacre", Masque possesses the ability to transform others via physical contact. For a time, he led a splinter group called the Tunnelers.
Annalee[36] - A Morlock and Leech's adoptive mother who can manipulate emotions.[37] She is killed byScalphunter in "Mutant Massacre".[38]
Ape[39] - A Morlock who possesses an ape-like appearance and shapeshifting abilities. InWeapon X, Ape is captured and killed by Weapon X.[40]
Beautiful Dreamer[39] - Altered memories of those "recruited" as Morlocks. She was believed killed in "Mutant Massacre", but listed as alive and powered after "M-Day".
Healer[5] - A mutant whose healing powers only work on mutants. He burned himself out to heal and restore Callisto.[41] Healer was later revived when Krakoa was established as a mutant nation.[15]
Erg[39] - A Morlock who can absorb and redirect energy. Erg was a painter before becoming a Morlock. He was one of the 198.[42] He later resurfaced as part of the mutant community on the living islandKrakoa.[16]
Jo[43] - Only appearance as a Morlock was her debut issue asKitty Pryde's bridesmaid. Current whereabouts unknown.
Skids[46] - Resented because she was seen as the prettiest of the Morlocks (her force field protected her from scars and Masque's powers). She left them and became a ward ofX-Factor.[47] After "M-Day", she became a follower ofApocalypse and is friends withScalphunter. Was part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists, as a spy forS.H.I.E.L.D.
Storm[5] - X-Man who defeatedCallisto in a duel to become the Morlocks' leader, although not classified as a Morlock. FormerFantastic Four member and former Queen ofWakanda. Currently a member of the X-Men.
Tar Baby[39] - A Morlock who can generate a tar-like adhesive. InWeapon X, Tar Baby is captured and executed by Weapon X.[40]
The "Mutant Massacre" was one of Marvel's annual crossover events, centering on the Morlocks. The event resulted in theMarauders killing many of the Morlocks under orders ofMister Sinister. Only a few survived, with the protection of theX-Men,X-Factor,Power Pack, andThor. Many new Morlocks debuted, although many were killed in their first appearance.
Berzerker[48] - An mutant with electric abilities who was formerly part of Masque's splinter group, The Tunnelers. He was killed after accidentally electrocuting himself with his own powers.[48]
Blowhard[48] - A wind-exhaling mutant who was formerly part of Masque's splinter group The Tunnelers. Shot by the Savage Wolf Gang leader.[48]
Cybelle[38] - Acid-secreting Tunneler. Killed byHarpoon.[38] Years later, Cybelle is resurrected on Krakoa.[16]
Scaleface[48] - A former member of the Tunnelers who can transform into a reptilian creature. She was killed by the police.[48][49][50]
Tommy[51] - A young girl capable of adopting atwo-dimensional form. She is killed byScalphunter after accidentally leading the Marauders to the entrance to the Morlocks' home.[51] Tommy resurfaced years later as one of the many resurrected mutants on Krakoa.[16]
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 whenSabretooth decided to finish his original task.[53] He is stopped by a newly "upgraded"Caliban.[54] Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by Pixie, attempts to escape Masque.[55]
Alex[55] - Alex is an amorphous, blob-like creature, able to engulf and smother others. Current whereabouts and status unknown.[56]
Bertram[55] - Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Bliss[57] - Has the power of a poisonous bite. Was a part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists.
Bouncer[57] - Mass teleporter. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Brute[54] - A green-skinned mutant with super-strength. Shot byCable, but survived.[58][59]
Chickenwings[53] - A mutant with bird-like features. Killed by Sabretooth.[53][60]
Ent[61] - Superhuman strength. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Feral[62] - Left the Morlocks.[63] She was depowered as a result of "Decimation" but she regained her physical mutation, only to be killed by Sabretooth. Feral is later resurrected on Krakoa.
Hump[54] - Brute's brother with a similar appearance and super-strength. Current whereabouts and status unknown.[64]
Lightning Bug[65] - Killed in the "Mutant Massacre". Lightning Bug's spirit survived and sought a new body, but later died.[65][66]
Mole[53] - Could tunnel through solid matter. It is strongly implied that Mole was killed by Sabretooth.[67][68] However, he survived by digging to safety and laid low until Krakoa was established as a mutant nation.[19]
Mother Inferior[61] - Could communicate with rats, cockroaches, and other vermin. Crushed by falling debris.[69]
Pester[61] - Daughter-in-law of Mother Inferior. Possesses superhuman speed and fangs. Current whereabouts and status unknown.[70]
Pixie[55] - Led a splinter group of Morlocks on the run from Masque. Murdered byBlackout.[55][71]
Samson[72] - A mutant with super-strength and infrared vision. Killed by Sabretooth.[72]
Thornn[73] - Left the Morlocks after the Great Flood.[74] Depowered as a result of "Decimation", but she regained her physical mutation.
WithMasque presumed killed, an insaneMikhail Rasputin takes over as leader of the Morlocks inThe Uncanny X-Men #293. He floods the tunnels, attempting 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 themainMarvel Universe. There, he set himself up as their king and forced them to fight for the right to live.
Brain Cell[75] - A mutant with telepathy. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Marilou[76] - Killed by Mikhail Rasputin who also destroyed her face.[76]
Marrow[77][78] - One of the Morlocks who were transported to the Hill dimension by Mikhail Rasputin. Returned to lead a terrorist faction known as Gene Nation. Seemingly killed by Storm.[79] Revealed to have survived with the help of a second heart.[80] Formerly of theX-Men,S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Cell and theWeapon X program. Only Gene Nation member who was a real Morlock (not being born in The Hill). Depowered.
MeMe[75] - Mind shut down byJean Grey to rescue humans he absorbed with his lifeform fusion ability.[75]
Monte[75] - A mutant with bio-electric blasts. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Mikhail Rasputin[41] - Former leader of the Morlocks. Transported them to the Hill dimension. Banished himself to Kapalan.
With the Morlocks presumed dead from the floods caused byMikhail Rasputin, some of the remaining Morlocks were relocated toSelima Oasis inNorth Africa. When attacked byHumanity's Last Stand, an emotional backlash caused D'Gard to assume control over Storm, who relinquished her leadership role. InX-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 ofMarrow. 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 inNew York City despite previous attempts on their lives.
Boost[82] - One of the surviving Morlocks with power amplification abilities. Helped theBrotherhood of Mutants escape in exchange for being relocated to North Africa.[82] Depowered.
Carver[83] - Leader of a splinter group of five Morlocks with super-strength and osteokinesis. He survived the Massacre and the Flood and who still followed the old Morlock rules.
D'Gard[82] - An empathic mutant who became leader of the Morlocks while in North Africa when he made Storm relinquish her leadership. Killed by Marrow as a sign of loyalty to the newWeapon X program.[84]
Fever Pitch - A mutant whose body is composed of organic flames.[85]
Fugue[83] - An animalistic member of the splinter group of five with sharp claws and sharp teeth who still follow the old Morlocks rule.
Revelation[86] - Revealed to have been in suspended animation around the time of Storm's becoming the Morlock leader as a result of her death-powers. Killed by a Wolverine Skrull and died in thePunisher's arms.[87]
Soteira[88] - A mutant with unrevealed powers. Revealed to be around at the timeStorm became Morlock leader. Was the scientist that put Revelation in suspended animation. Appeared as ahologram telling theWolverine Skrull and thePunisher she will die as a result of prolonged exposure to Revelation's powers.
Tether[82] - A reptilian mutant with an electrified tail who is one of the surviving Morlocks. Helped theBrotherhood of Mutants escape in exchange for being relocated to North Africa.[82] Depowered.
Ever - Member of Gene Nation and later member of Havok's Brotherhood. His body was composed of brain matter, granting him telepathic abilities.
Reverb - Member of Gene Nation. Can focus his mental powers psychometrically, conducting clairvoyance and psychic bursts through the walls and floor of his surroundings. Killed by Storm.
Membrain - Member of Gene Nation. Composed of mucous membrane, allowing him to liquify himself and flow at will, mucous has psychic properties that allow him to view distant places and stun his opponents.
Vessel - Member of Gene Nation. Can drain the physical and psychic residue released from the recently deceased, increasing his physical size, strength, endurance, and resistance to injury. Killed by Agent Zero.
Integer - Member of Dark Beast's Gene Nation. Exists in a conceptual mathematical state, making him intangible and capable of scrambling the thought patterns of others.
Iron Maiden - Member of Dark Beast's Gene Nation. Body composed of a razor sharp metallic material.
Opsidian - Member of Dark Beast's Gene Nation. Exists in a state of pureDarkforce, which makes him intangible, invisible while in shadow, able to stretch in light, and allows him to cast a negative empathic effect over others.
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 ofFeral andThornn. However, Feral and Thornn were later seen re-powered; but this was later to be revealed inWolverine vol. 3 #54-55 that only their physical mutations were restored, not their mutant powers, which led to Feral being killed bySabretooth.
In one ofGeneration 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 byGhoul.
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.
The former Morlocks who retained their powers sought refuge atXavier's Institute and became known as the198. They are Beautiful Dreamer, Caliban, Erg, Leech, and Skids.
Dark Beast and Mikhail Rasputin are also still powered, though Mikhail is in Kapalan.
DuringEd 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 ofS.H.I.E.L.D.
In June 2002,Marvel released a four-part limited series,Morlocks. In it, a small group of mutants living in the sewers ofChicago help each other to fulfill their one last wish on the surface while trying to escape the mutant-huntingSentinels.
Angel Dust[91] - She ran away from home upon discovering she was a mutant, to protect her family from possible Sentinel attacks. Adrenaline gives her bursts of super-strength. Confirmed to be depowered byS.H.I.E.L.D.[92]
Cell[91] - Robber and gang member whose body transformed into a giant,single-celled body capable of extendingpseudopods and engulfing objects which then are digested. Executed by the Sentinels.[93]
Electric Eve[91] - Formerheroinaddict andprostitute whose body produces massive amounts of electrical energy that can be extended outward in bolts of electricity. As a side-effect of her powers, thesynapses in her brain short-out from time to time, incapacitating her for several minutes. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Litterbug[91] - Former soldier who wentAWOL upon his transformation into a giant, cockroach-like creature with massive strength, invulnerability, and a keen burrowing ability. He is a member of the recent incarnation of New York Morlocks.
Postman[91] - Leader of the Chicago Morlocks. Can telepathically erase specific memories from targets (such as an event) or complex and deeply rooted facts or knowledge. Depowered.
Shatter[91] - His body is composed of crystal that can regenerate lost body parts over time, and also can crystallize liquids upon contact. Depowered.
Trader[91] - Formerstockbroker who has a chameleon-like ability to camouflage into his surroundings. Killed taking a bullet meant for Electric Eve.[94]
InTheUncanny X-Men #397–398, parts 3 and 4 of thePoptopia story, a group of Morlocks living in the tunnels ofLondon are introduced. They were being pursued by an agent of theChurch of Humanity named Mr. Clean, a genetically engineered human who was stalking and killing mutants. This was their only appearance. It is unknown whether or not they survived the persecution of the Church of Humanity.
Burning Puddle[95] - Son of Miss Saccharine. Sweats acid. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Carla[95] - Amole-like woman. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Cyclops[95] - A one-eyed mutant with super-strength who is not to be confused with theX-Men member of the same name. He died buying his fellow London Tunnel Dwellers some time to get away from Mr. Clean.
Double Helix[95] - A two-headed man. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Harmony[95] - Mother of Hope who has gills. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Hope[96] - Harmony's newborn baby. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Miss Saccharine[95] - Elderly woman and mother of Burning Puddle whose sweat is a sugar-like substance. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
The Morlocks appear inX-Men '97, where they relocate to Genosha. In the episode "Remember It", Callisto, Leech, Ape, Erg, and Tommy are killed by theWild Sentinel.[100]
The Morlocks appear inX-Men: Evolution,[101] led by Callisto and consisting of Caliban, Cybelle, and Scaleface as well as series original characters Façade, a mutant boy with camouflage-based powers; Lucid, who possesses X-ray vision and is voiced byLee Tockar; Torpid, a mute girl with a paralyzing touch; andSpyke, a former member of the X-Men.
The Morlocks appear inThe Gifted, led by Erg.[102] This version of the group is a neutral faction who wish to live in peace.
The Morlocks serve as loose inspiration for a group called theOmegas, who appear inX-Men: The Last Stand.[citation needed] Similarly to the Morlocks, the Omegas are led by Callisto.[103] Additionally, Leech appears as an unaffiliated mutant.
The Morlocks were ranked #14 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters in 2015 byDen of Geek.[105]
Ashley Fields ofScreen Rant highlighted that the pre-Krakoan Age Morlocks were outcasts with "strange or grotesque mutations", while the X-Men offered a mutant sanctuary that required combat training.[26] She noted that Krakoa's sanctuary gave mutants a taste of "a different way of life", free from such demands, and in the post-Krakoan Age, it is the Morlocks who "offer a new kind of hope for mutants that the X-Men no longer capture" as it is "impossible" to live normally with the X-Men.[26] She commented that while the Morlocks are still "the most easily identifiable as 'mutant'", the post-Krakoan Age Morlocks have "a sense of peace and pride that even mutants with less identifiable abilities long for. The group is building and carrying on a culture" that started in Krakoa.[26] She opined that the Morlocks choose "to walk in the sun and inspire others like them to do the same" and "offer what the X-Men can't: unconditional acceptance and a life lived on every mutant's terms".[26]
^Fabian Nicieza & Rob Liefeld (w), Rob Liefeld (p), Rob Liefeld (i). "The Beginning of the End Part 2" The New Mutants, no. 99 (March 1991). Marvel Comics.
^Buxton, Marc (October 30, 2015)."Marvel's 31 Best Monsters".Den of Geek. Archived fromthe original on March 12, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2018.The Morlocks might seem like just another faction of mutants, but in the X-verse, homo superior just doesn't come more Halloweeny than this crew of sewer dwelling monstrosities.
