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Morlocks (comics)

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, but unlike in the Wells book, they are not a faceless, threatening mass of villains. They first appeared as a group in The Uncanny X-Men #169. Caliban appeared prior to that, but he was not yet a member of the Morlocks.

Fictional group history
According to Callisto, she formed the Morlocks by first recruiting Caliban. She then used his power to track down other mutants who were unable to integrate into normal society. The Morlocks initially squatted in a network of abandoned, interconnected tunnels beneath Manhattan, which had originally been built as Cold War bomb 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. The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks when their leader Callisto kidnapped Angel and intended to make him her mate. This brought Storm to challenge Callisto to a duel for leadership of the Morlocks. Victorious, Storm orders an end to their attacks on normal humans, 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. A majority of the Morlocks are killed by Mister Sinister's Marauders in the "Mutant Massacre". Most of the survivors 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 Dark 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 writer David Hine claims to never have intended this group to have any ties to the original Morlocks. During the "Decimation" storyline, some of the remaining powered Morlocks seek asylum at the X-Mansion. Some Morlocks remain underground under Marrow's protection. 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. When Krakoa is established as a mutant nation, several of the Morlocks begin living there, including Callisto, Caliban, Cybelle, Erg, Masque, Marrow, a revived Piper, and a revived Tommy. At one point in Madripoor, the Morlocks Bliss, a revived Brute, Hump, Masque, and Marrow fought the Reavers. During the "Fall of X" storyline, following the "global attack on Krakoa" by Orchis, "the X-Men used the Morlock Tunnels as a temporary base". 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 persuade Anole to join the Morlocks. ==Membership==
Membership
Founding members Debuting along with the rest of the Morlocks it was revealed that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan. • Caliban and later Pestilence - Served on X-Force for a time. Joined the X-Men after "Decimation". He was killed by the Purifiers saving James Proudstar, but later resurrected on Krakoa. • Callisto She was depowered on M-Day, but regained her powers through The Crucible and Krakoan resurrection protocols. • Dark Beast - An alternate universe version 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 by Norman Osborn as scientist and member of Dark X-Men. Dark Beast later gains control over Clan Akkaba and returns to his own dimension. • Masque Pre-Mutant MassacreAnnalee - A Morlock and Leech's adoptive mother who can manipulate emotions. She is killed by Scalphunter in "Mutant Massacre". • Beautiful Dreamer Healer was later revived when Krakoa was established as a mutant nation. - A Morlock who can absorb and redirect energy. Erg was a painter before becoming a Morlock. He was one of the 198. He later resurfaced as part of the mutant community on the living island Krakoa. - Only appearance as a Morlock was her debut issue as Kitty Pryde's bridesmaid. Current whereabouts unknown. • Leech - Controlled animals using music. Killed by the Marauders. • Skids - 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 of X-Factor. After "M-Day", she became a follower of Apocalypse and is friends with Scalphunter. Was part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists, as a spy for S.H.I.E.L.D.Storm Mutant Massacre The "Mutant Massacre" was one of Marvel's annual crossover events, centering on the Morlocks. The event resulted in the Marauders killing many of the Morlocks under orders of Mister Sinister. Only a few survived, with the protection of the X-Men, X-Factor, Power Pack, and Thor. Many new Morlocks debuted, although many were killed in their first appearance. • Berzerker - A former member of the Tunnelers who can transform into a reptilian creature. She was killed by the police. - A young girl capable of adopting a two-dimensional form. She is killed by Scalphunter after accidentally leading the Marauders to the entrance to the Morlocks' home. - Killed by Harpoon. He is stopped by a newly "upgraded" Caliban. Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by Pixie, attempts to escape Masque. • Alex - Has the power of a poisonous bite. Was a part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists. • BouncerChickenwings - Left the Morlocks. 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. • HumpLightning Bug - Killed in the "Mutant Massacre". Lightning Bug's spirit survived and sought a new body, but later died. However, he survived by digging to safety and laid low until Krakoa was established as a mutant nation. • Pester - Daughter-in-law of Mother Inferior. Possesses superhuman speed and fangs. Current whereabouts and status unknown. • Pixie - A mutant with super-strength and infrared vision. Killed by Sabretooth. - Left the Morlocks after the Great Flood. Depowered as a result of "Decimation", but she regained her physical mutation. Later seen on Krakoa. The Hill With Masque presumed killed, an insane Mikhail Rasputin takes over as leader of the Morlocks in The 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 the main Marvel Universe. There, he set himself up as their king and forced them to fight for the right to live. • Brain Cell - Killed by Mikhail Rasputin. - Mind shut down by Jean Grey to rescue humans he absorbed with his lifeform fusion ability. 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. • Boost - One of the surviving Morlocks with power amplification abilities. Helped the Brotherhood of Mutants escape in exchange for being relocated to North Africa. - 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''' • Fever Pitch - A mutant whose body is made of organic flames. • Fugue - Revealed to have been in suspended animation around the time of Storm's becoming the Morlock leader as a result of her death-powers. Revelation is killed by a Skrull posing as Wolverine. • Soteira - A mutant with unrevealed powers. Revealed to be around at the time Storm became Morlock leader. Was the scientist that put Revelation in suspended animation. Appeared as a hologram telling the Wolverine Skrull and the Punisher she will die as a result of prolonged exposure to Revelation's powers. • TetherCaliban - Killed by the Reavers during the events of Messiah ComplexErg - A resident of Utopia. • Feral - Originally depowered on M-Day; her physical mutations were restored by Romulus for unknown reasons before she was killed by Sabretooth. She was revived in Peter David's X-Factor run in exchange for her spirit finding Wolfsbane. After Krakoa she was apparently killed again in the first issue of X-Factor volume V despite her healing factor. • Fever Pitch - Killed by the Purifiers using the Legacy Virus. • Leech - A member of the Future Foundation. • Litterbug - A resident of Utopia. • Masque - Whereabouts are unknown. • Sack - Formerly a resident of Utopia; killed by a Nimrod Sentinel during the events of "Second Coming" • Skids - An agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Depowered: • Callisto - In the tunnels • Marrow - A member of X-Force. She has had a simulacrum of her powers reactivated through technological means. • Thornn - Her physical mutations were restored by Romulus. Former leaders not involved with group: • Dark Beast - The leader of Clan Akkaba. • Mikhail Rasputin - Banished himself to Kapalan. • Storm - Affiliated with the X-Men and the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning and Uncanny X-Force. ==Other groups==
Other groups
There are other groups that are related to the main Morlocks group: Chicago Morlocks In June 2002, Marvel released a four-part limited series, 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. • Angel Dust - 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 by S.H.I.E.L.D.CellElectric Eve London Tunnel Dwellers In The Uncanny X-Men #397–398, parts 3 and 4 of the Poptopia story, a group of Morlocks living in the 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 only appearance. It is unknown whether or not they survived the persecution of the Church of Humanity. • Burning Puddle - Son of Miss Saccharine. Sweats acid. Current whereabouts and status unknown. • Carla - Harmony's newborn baby. Current whereabouts and status unknown. • Miss Saccharine - Elderly woman and mother of Burning Puddle whose sweat is a sugar-like substance. Current whereabouts and status unknown. ==Other versions==
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse An alternate universe incarnation of the Morlocks from Earth-295 appear in Age of Apocalypse (2005), consisting of Feral, Leech, Marrow, Skids, Thornn, and Artemis. Ultimate Marvel An alternate universe incarnation of the Morlocks from Earth-1610 appear in the Ultimate Marvel imprint, consisting of Sunder, Caliban, Callisto, Sparks, Leech, Angel, and Nightcrawler. ==In other media==
In other media
Television • The Morlocks appear in X-Men: The Animated Series, initially led by Callisto and consisting of Annalee, Ape, Caliban, Erg, Glowworm, Leech, Masque, Mole, Marianna, Plague, Scaleface, Sunder, Tar Baby, and Tommy. • The Morlocks appear in ''X-Men '97'', where they relocate to Genosha. In the episode "Remember It", Callisto, Leech, Ape, Erg, and Tommy are killed by the Wild Sentinel. • The Morlocks appear in X-Men: Evolution, 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 by Lee Tockar; Torpid, a mute girl with a paralyzing touch; and Spyke, a former member of the X-Men. • The Morlocks appear in The Gifted, led by Erg. This version of the group is a neutral faction who wish to live in peace. Film The Morlocks serve as loose inspiration for a group called the Omegas, who appear in X-Men: The Last Stand. Similarly to the Morlocks, the Omegas are led by Callisto. Additionally, Leech appears as an unaffiliated mutant. Video games • The Morlocks and the Gene Nation appear in X-Men Legends, with the latter led by Marrow and Healer as a prominent member of the former. • The Morlocks appear in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, with the majority appearing as Apocalypse and Mister Sinister's brainwashed thralls and Marrow appearing as an ally of Moira MacTaggert. • The Morlock Tunnels appear in Marvel Heroes. • The Morlocks appear as non-playable characters (NPCs) in ''Marvel's Midnight Suns'' via the "Blood Storm" DLC. ==Reception==
Reception
The Morlocks were ranked #14 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters in 2015 by Den of Geek. Ashley Fields of Screen 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. 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. 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. 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". ==References==
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