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Morph
X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 character
Promotional art of Morph from X-Men '97
First appearance	"Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)" (October 31, 1992)
Based on	Changeling by Roy Thomas Werner Roth
Adapted by	Mark Edward Edens Eric Lewald
Voiced by	Ron Rubin (X-Men: The Animated Series) J. P. Karliak (X-Men '97)
In-universe information
Species	Mutant
Gender	Non-binary
Affiliation	X-Men
Powers and abilities	Shapeshifting

Morph is a fictional superhero appearing in the American animated superhero series X-Men: The Animated Series—which aired on Fox Kids from 1992 to 1997—and its revival X-Men '97, which has been streaming on Disney+ since 2024. Morph is introduced as an X-Men member who sacrificed themselves to protect Wolverine from a Sentinel in the show's premiere. The second season revealed that Mister Sinister resurrected and experimented on Morph, turning them into his minion. After the X-Men free Morph from Sinister's control, they are taken to Muir Island to recuperate. They briefly rejoin the X-Men in season four, but realizing they still suffer from mental trauma, leave once more. Morph permanently rejoins the X-Men in X-Men '97, which sees them dealing with the trauma of Sinister's experimentations and figuring out their identity. In the first season, Morph's place within the team as well as their romantic feelings for Wolverine are explored.

Loosely based on Marvel Comics' Changeling, during The Animated Series' development, the showrunners wanted an X-Man to die in the premiere to foreground the cartoon's serious tone. Initially choosing Thunderbird, upon realizing the racist implications of killing their only Native American character, he was replaced with Changeling. While Morph's death was supposed to be permanent, they were brought back due to their popularity with audiences. With limited storylines involving Changeling to draw from the comics, writing for Morph proved difficult for the writers. X-Men '97 sees Morph working through the trauma of Sinister's experimentations and discovering their identity as core aspects of their character arc. The character is also depicted as non-binary; a decision crew members of the original series described as aligning with their vision of the character.

Despite their few appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series, Morph became a fan favorite. Discussions regarding have focused on their death as unprecedented for a children's program of the time. Critics responded positively to Morph's storylines following their resurrection and the depiction of their mental trauma from these events. Their progression in X-Men '97, particularly their depiction as non-binary, has also achieved praise from critics.

Appearances

In X-Men: The Animated Series

Morph was introduced in the premiere as a member of the X-Men. Using their shapeshifting abilities, Morph acted as comic relief and had a close relationship with Wolverine, who appreciated their comedic talent. In the premiere's second part, Morph is killed while on mission with the X-Men, sacrificing themselves to save Wolverine from a Sentinel's laser blast.

In the second season's premiere, it is revealed that immediately after their death, Morph was recovered by Mister Sinister, who revived and brainwashed them by placing mind control implant in their brain. Due to Sinister's influence, Morph antagonizes the X-Men, blaming the team for their death and abandoning them, using their shapeshifting abilities to wreak havoc. In the season finale, thanks to Professor X's psychic assistance, Morph is able to break free from Sinister's control, turning a laser meant to kill Cyclops on Sinister instead. Following these events, Morph was taken to the X-Mansion, where they had the implant removed from their brain. Due to the traumas they experienced, Morph was taken to Muir Island and get therapy by Moira MacTaggert, which limited their appearances throughout the remained of the series.

In the season 4 episode "Courage", Morph rejoined the X-Men, having a significant role. Despite Moira believing they needed more time to recover, Morph goes back to the X-Mansion. Shortly after arriving, they and Wolverine go to investigate a robbery at a factory that, unbeknownst to them, manufactures Sentinels. After returning to the mansion, the team is attacked by Sentinels, causing Morph to freeze up and inadvertently let Professor X be captured. Hoping to make up for their mistake, Morph flies to the location of Professor X, helping the team, and destroying Master Mold. Despite overcoming their fears, Morph realizes they're not ready to permanently rejoin the X-Men and leaves once more.

Morph makes a final appearance in the series' finale, impersonating Professor X, who had been attacked by Henry Peter Gyrich and was dying. During these events, Morph permanently rejoins the X-Men.

In X-Men '97

Season 1

In the premiere, Magneto becomes the X-Men's new leader, and soon afterwards it is revealed that Sinister had switched Jean with a clone, Madelyne Pryor. Under Sinister's influence, Madelyne becomes the Goblin Queen and uses her psychic powers to attack the X-Men, giving Morph visions of Sinister taunting them. Despite still being afraid of him, Morph helps lead the X-Men to Sinister's lab where they fight Madelyne. During the fight, Madelyne hypnotizes Morph, causing them to fight against their teammates, until the team manages to break Sinister's hold over her.

Sometime later, the mutant nation of Genosha is attacked by Sentinels, leading to the death of Gambit and massacre of numerous other mutants. Following these events, Morph and the X-Men find Bolivar Trask about to commit suicide by jumping off a building, who reveals Sinister forced him to participate in the Genosha genocide. After Rogue lets Trask fall to his death, to Morph's shock, he transforms into a Prime Sentinel and attacks the team.

Realizing Bastion was the mastermind behind the creation of the Prime Sentinels and attack on Genosha, the X-Men split into two teams. While the Blue Team is handling a rogue Magneto, Storm leads Morph and the rest of Gold Team to Bastion's compound, successfully severing his hold over the Prime Sentinels. Going to Asteroid M, Bastion overpowers Blue Team, before Morph and the Gold Team arrive and defeat him. However, when American missiles strike the asteroid, it starts pummeling towards Earth.

While Jean, Storm, Rogue, and Magneto use their powers to halt Asteroid M's descent, Morph stays by Wolverine's side, who is comatose after the adamantium from his skeleton was removed by Magneto. Unsure of their fate, Morph takes on Jean's form to confesses their love toward him. The X-Men are able to use their powers and return Asteroid M to space, but it suddenly vanishes along with most of the team. While some of the X-Men are sent to either Ancient Egypt in 3000 BC or 3060 AD, Morph's whereabouts, along with Wolverine and Storm, remain unknown by the first-season finale.

Development

Creation and progression in X-Men: The Animated Series

The X-Men's sacrificial lamb

According to executive story editors Eric and Julia Lewald, during the development of X-Men: The Animated Series, the crew wanted an X-Men member to die in the pilot, in order to show that "there were stakes to their struggle". Series director and producer Larry Houston similarly described how early in the show's development, they wanted to kill off a character to "do something different unique" from other animated programmes of the period, and to show that "there are ramifications for things going on in ". Head writer Mark Edward Edens also stated that the show's writers "really wanted to kill somebody", describing it as "what animation writers always dream of"; concerning the decision to kill off a character early on, Edens further clarified that the crew "want there to be real danger and nothing is more real than that ", which also helps "ramp up the emotions".

Initially, this position was to be filled by John Proudstar / Thunderbird, who had joined the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men (1975) but died shortly thereafter in Uncanny X-Men #95 (1975). However, before the pilot's second draft, it was decided that killing off their only Native American character would have negative implications, so it was decided to replace him with another character. According to the Lewalds, they specifically looked for a "minor character" that "had actually died helping the X-Men". Searching through the comics for any X-Men members that had died, Eric Lewald describes how there were "only like, three or four" such characters, with Changeling being one of the few. Upon discovering Changeling, they opted to use them as the X-Men member that dies. It has been noted that the show's interpretation of the character was loosely based on their comic book counterpart, with Variety writer Jordan Moreau even describing them as "an original character, based partly on the comic-book hero Changeling".

Adapting Changeling

Changeling first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #35 (1967), by Roy Thomas and Werner Roth, as an adversary of the X-Men and member of Factor Three. In Uncanny X-Men #65 (1970) it was revealed that Changeling, suffering from a terminal illness and wanting to make amends for his past actions, had joined the X-Men under the guise of Professor X, in order to allow the latter to prepare for the Z'nox Invasion. This retcon established that Changeling had died in the form of Professor X in 1968, making him the first X-Men member to die in the line of duty, Unlike other characters from the X-Men franchise, Changeling has remained dead, only making sporadic appearances as a ghost or zombie.

According to Houston, the character's name was changed from Changeling to Morph due to the DC Comics character Beast Boy, who also has shape-shifting abilities. At the time of the show's development, Beast Boy had been a core member of The New Teen Titans under the codename Changeling, resulting in Marvel lawyers demanding that their character's codename being altered; eventually settling on Morph.

Regarding the use of Changeling / Morph as the X-Man that dies in the premiere of The Animated Series, Comic Book Resources writer Ryan Bradley argued that owing to the character's death more than 30 years prior to the show's premiere, using him as the sacrificial X-Men member ensured that he could be killed off "without upsetting the hardcore fans", while fellow Comic Book Resources writer Brandon Zachary recognized that his minor role in the comics made him "more or less a blank slate to play with".

Popularity and resurrection

Morph's death in the show's premiere was supposed to be permanent, but due to their popularity with audiences, Fox Kids demanded that the character be brought back. Specifically, according to a focus group that had viewed the first season, Morph was described as the younger viewers' favorite character, and they lamented that they had been "killed off early in episode two". Eric and Julia Lewald has stated that due to Morph's death initially being permanent, with their resurrection occurring due to the network's demands, they "may not have been thinking of as much for stories" in comparison to other X-Men characters. They further stated that due to the character's minor role in the comics, with none of the major story arcs featuring Morph, it was difficult to find any stories to adapt that featured them.

Return and evolution in X-Men '97

Appearance and personality

Morph's involvement in the revival series X-Men '97 was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) in July 2022. At the panel, it was revealed by creator Beau DeMayo that Morph would be depicted as non-binary and use they/them pronouns, as well as sporting an altered appearance, consisting of "a bald head, light gray skin, completely white eyes, and no nose"; this look was based on the appearance of Morph's counterpart from the Exiles universe. At SDCC 2023, it was confirmed that Morph would officially rejoin the X-Men and be part of the show's main cast. DeMayo, a fan of The Animated Series, described Morph's death as "really set the stakes" and acknowledged the character having a "very interesting relationship with the team because of trauma". DeMayo described the show's depiction of Morph as being a "lighter take on the character" compared to the original series, as well as having an "interesting buddy relationship with Wolverine".

For X-Men '97, J. P. Karliak replaces Ron Rubin as Morph's voice actor. Concerning his performance, Karliak stated that he didn't try to sound too familiar to Rubin; knowing during casting that Morph would be non-binary, he opted to use his own voice, in order to ground the character closer to reality. During voice recording, Karliak would going through multiple variations of his lines—"pure fury, wisecracking, bawling his eyes out, near-deadpan"—with voice director Meredith Layne to figure out which one fit Morph best.

Regarding Morph's position among the X-Men and their role at the beginning of the series, Karliak described the character as trying to figure out their relationship to the rest of their teammates, as well as themselves, following all the trauma they has endured. Karliak acknowledged that Morph as a character that has experienced much trauma, both physical and psychological, which they try to mask with humour. Regarding this, recognizing them as X-Men '97's comic relief, Karliak believes Morph is "burying a lot of things" and that having " say less was actually the smarter way to go for somebody who's internalizing a lot".

Gender identity

Although Morph is depicted as non-binary within X-Men '97, prior to the show's premiere it was announced that they are not identified as such on-screen, due to the series being set in the 1990s when the term "non-binary" wasn't very well known; Morph continues to use he/him pronouns within the series. Despite this announcement, Rogue does at one point refer to Morph using the proper pronouns. Regarding Morph's development in the series as a non-binary individual, director Jake Castorena described this approach to the character as "mak sense", given their shapeshifting abilities. Castorena also described Morph's altered physical appearance in the series as representing their attempt to move past the trauma, and that their "identity is to have multiple identities". Concerning Morph's depiction as non-binary, both Houston and Eric Lewald have stated that this portrayal aligns with their original intentions for the character. Karliak has stated that Morph is on a "gender journey that will unfold as time passes and he goes through the eras of terminology that we've lived through already".

Relationship with Wolverine

Following X-Men '97's third episode—"Fire Made Flesh"—it was speculated that Morph's feelings for Wolverine were not platonic. When Madelyne, as the Goblin Queen under Sinister's influence, causes the X-Men to experience various hallucinations, Morph sees Wolverine naked in the showers and playfully asks if he wants company. Wolverine's apparition criticizes Morph's constant joking, "as if I don't know. As if we all don't know". Comic Book Resources' Andrew Gladman argued that while this could be referring to Morph's trauma from Sinister's experiments, it could also be interpreted as inferring to Morph's romantic feelings for Wolverine.

After the season 1 finale, DeMayo confirmed Morph's feelings for Wolverine are romantic. By assuming Jean's form, Morph is able to safely express feelings for Wolverine without fear of rejection; DeMayo also clarified that Morph still hasn't fully admitted their feelings for Wolverine. According to DeMayo, Morph was always intended to have romantic feelings for Wolverine, as indicated in the show bible.

Karliak has stated that while he does want Morph to get a significant other as X-Men '97 progresses, he is against the character starting a relationship with Wolverine. Regarding this opposition, Karliak finds the trope of a queer individual being in love with a straight person overused, preferring for Morph and Wolverine to remain best friends.

Reception

X-Men: The Animated Series

Morph has often been acknowledged for being a "fan-favorite" character from X-Men: The Animated Series, being described as such by Nick Nafpliotis of AIPT Comics, as well as Variety's Jordan Moreau, who recognized that Morph's popularity with audiences is what led to their resurrection; Moreau also described their death in the premiere as a "shocking twist". James Whitbrook of Gizmodo described Morph's death in the series' premiere as helping them achieve popularity. Screen Rant's Shaurya Thapa notes that despite their brief tenure, Morph "emerged as one the most popular characters of X-Men: The Animated Series", primarily for their sense of humor and shapeshifting abilities, which made them popular with audiences. Writing for SlashFilm, Ethan Anderton, who grew up watching the cartoon, states that Morph was a popular character among fellow viewers of the series. Prior to the premiere of the revival series X-Men '97, Robert Curran of Comic Book Resources hoped that Morph would return, stating that it would "be a shame if Morph was completely persona non grata". GameRant writer Joshua Kristian McCoy similarly hoped Morph would have a role in X-Men '97, praising their presence as comic relief and friendship with Wolverine.

Thapa also praised Morph role as Mister Sinister's thrall during the show's second season, arguing that their more morally gray personality helped make them a more layered character, in contrast to their earlier humorous demeanor. Nafpliotis similarly recognized that Morph's death and resurrection under Sinister's control was a "dark" storyline. Concerning their storyline with Sinister, Polygon writer Carli Velocci noted that Morph had a "surprisingly complex arc throughout later seasons" following their resurrection, giving particular praise to their role in season 4, which displays the mental trauma they have experienced after their encounter with the Sentinels; Velocci describes it as a "pretty sensitive portrayal of trauma, especially for a 1990s kids' cartoon". Comic Book Resources's Renaldo Matadeen similarly commended Morph's "mental health arc", especially their dealing with PTSD in season 4, describing it as one that "many fans related to and sympathized with".

X-Men '97

Polygon's Velocci described the depiction of Morph as non-binary in X-Men '97 as logical, acknowledging that shapeshifters in fiction often change into various genders. While Gizmodo's Whitbrook was somewhat critical of the decision to make Morph, a character with "a visible mutation", non-binary instead of another more human-presenting character, did praise the inclusion of openly queer character within the cast of the series. Bill Desowitch of IndieWire responded positively to this development, praising the series' "greater celebration of queer diversity". Collider's Cameryn Barnett, while praising Morph's depiction as non-binary, argued the show's first season didn't adequately explore their identity.

Andrew Gladman of Comic Book Resources praised the series for highlighting Morph's friendship with Wolverine, lamenting that the original series didn't show it often. Barnett criticized Morph's role during X-Men '97's first season, believing the series didn't properly utilize their past history with Sinister; according to Barnett, as Morph is the only X-Man to have been killed by the Sentinels, they should have been more heavily involved following the Sentinel attack on Genosha.

Merchandise

As part of the Marvel Legends imprint "VHS/'90s X-Men Animated Series", Hasbro released an action figure of Morph in 2022. The figure came packaged with two separate heads, to portray both their good and evil counterparts. Diamond Select Toys released a bust of Morph as part of their line based on the original series in the third quarter of 2024. The figure, designed by Barry Bradfield and sculpted by Michelle Riley, features swappable head sculpts depicting Morph as both good and evil.

Notes

1. Morph uses both he/him and they/them pronouns. This article uses they/them pronouns in accordance with X-Men '97.

References

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• Animated characters introduced in 1992
• Fictional characters with dissociative identity disorder
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• Marvel Comics LGBTQ superheroes
• Marvel Comics mutants
• Marvel Comics television characters
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• Television characters introduced in 1992
• Television superheroes
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• X-Men: The Animated Series