Cerebra's Files
Morlocks
Founded by Callisto and named by her after the
subeterranean denizens of H.G. Wells' novel "The Time Machine," the Morlocks
were a large group of mutants who were disaffected with the outside world, and
who had gone to live underground to avoid being persecuted. As a display of
their disgust for the values of the outside world and their rejection of "topside,"
most of the Morlocks had their faces changed by Masque
when they entered the society. They lived in a huge network of tunnels under
New York City, the central one of which was called "The
Alley," buried a mile underground and running the length of Manhattan. The
tunnels also had a terminus near Xavier's Mansion,
bringing the X-Men into frequent contact with the
Morlocks. The X-Men's first encounter with the Morlocks occurred when Callisto
had Angel kidnapped, intending him to be her
husband. The X-Men enetered the tunnels, and upon finding the Morlocks were
captured. Worse yet, Kitty Pryde was infected
by Plague and hovered near death. Following
the rules of the Morlocks, Storm, although herself
suffering from Plague's touch, challenged Callisto to single combat. The winner
would get the lives of all the captives, and the right to lead the Morlocks.
The loser would die. Storm fought well, and stabbed Cal in the heart. Luckily,
the Morlock Healer was able to save her. Storm became the leader of the Morlocks,
and offered to take them up into the world, but they declined. Months later,
the tunnels were broken into by Gambit, and the
Marauders commenced a slaughter of those mutants
living there. The X-Men came to help, but were gravely injured, and only managed
to save a few Morlocks, most of whom were then transferred to Muir
Island. The remaining Morlocks fell under Masque's control, and his constant
manipulation of their bodies drove many insane. The Morlocks who went to Muir
were less lucky: the island was soon attacked by the Reavers,
and many more of them died. After Masque's death, the remaining New York Morlocks
went completely insane, and managed to escape the tunnels, wreaking havoc in
Times Square until the X-Men were able to subdue them. Unfortunately, upon their
return to the tunnels, Mikhail Rasputin, himself
crazy with grief over his lost family, flooded and collapsed the tunnels, apparently
killing himself and the Morlocks. In reality, however, Mikhail had used his
power to open a portal to a dimension called "The
Hill," where time flowed faster, and where the next generation of Morlocks
quickly grew up, each member vying for survival in that harsh climate. They
eventually returned to our world as Gene Nation.
Dark Beast also has some connection with the
Morlocks. Most likely he was using them for his genetic experiments.
Leaders
Key Members