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.[5]
The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks when their leader Callisto kidnapped Angel and intended to make him her mate.[6] 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,[5][7] 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.[8]
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.[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]
When Krakoa is established as a mutant nation, several of the Morlocks begin living there, including Callisto,[13] Caliban,[14] Cybelle,[15] Erg,[15] a revived Healer,[14] Leech,[16] Masque,[17] Marrow,[17] Mole,[18]
During the "Dawn of X" and "Reign of X" storylines, instead of relocating to Krakoa, some Morlocks went to a retirement and golf community in Rio Verde, Arizona (paid for by the Hellfire Trading Company) while others went to Lowtown in Madripoor.[20][21][22] At one point in Madripoor, the Morlocks Bliss, a revived Brute, Hump, Masque, and Marrow fought the Reavers.[23]
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".[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 persuade Anole to join the Morlocks.[25][26][27][28]
