| Morph | |
|---|---|
| X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 character | |
&sq=Albert Einstein&lang=en&file=File:Morph_-_X-Men_97.jpg) Promotional art of Morph from X-Men '97 | |
| First appearance |
|
| Based on | |
| 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[a] 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 in the team and 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 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.
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