DEEPER UNDERGROUND: THE MORLOCKS INTERVIEW

[Eric J. Moreels]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Morlocks_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Morlocks_1t.jpg" align=left alt="Morlocks #1 preview"></a>Upcoming Avengers writer Geoff Johns and Detective Comics artist Shawn Martinbrough are set to shine a spotlight into the dark corners of the Marvel Universe with the four-issue Morlocks mini-series that begins in April.

X-Fan recently caught up with Johns and Martinbrough to find out more about the return of the Morlocks.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p8t.jpg" align=right alt="Morlocks #1 Page 8 preview"></a>X-FAN: First up, Geoff, why the Morlocks? What is it about them that appeals to you?

JOHNS: I like the basic concept of the Morlocks. Mutants grouped together living underneath the city streets. A simple, and frightening, idea.

X-FAN: Could you please give an overview of the story?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p9t.jpg" align=left alt="Morlocks #1 Page 9 preview"></a>JOHNS: I won't say too much, except that it involved a group in Chicago - a group that has just gathered. They each make a pact with one another. Everyone has one last thing they want to do on the surface world before cutting all ties. Together, like it or not, they will act as a "team" to help one another out.

MARTINBROUGH: All I can say is, these Morlocks are different than {Chris} Claremonts. Their story is set in Chicago and the Sentinels are involved.

X-FAN: Shawn, how did you come to be involved with the Morlocks project?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p10.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p10t.jpg" align=right alt="Morlocks #1 Page 10 preview"></a>MARTINBROUGH: Editor Mark Powers offered it to me with the incentive of letting me ink my own work and having a say so in the coloring. That, coupled with creating "new mutants", I couldn't turn down.

X-FAN: How much input did you have into the creation of the new characters for the mini?

MARTINBROUGH: Geoff came up with the descriptions and I went from there. I had a lot of leeway to interpret and experiment. Thankfully, everyone, especially Geoff dug what I came up with and that was the most important thing.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/morlocks_litterbug.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/morlocks_litterbug-t.jpg" align=left alt="Morlocks Litterbug preliminary character design sketch"></a>X-FAN: What did you use for inspiration for their visual design?

MARTINBROUGH: Everyday fashion. They're a very diverse bunch so each character has his or her fashion traits. I also researched specific clothing.

X-FAN: Why was it decided to use an all-new group of characters rather than any of the existing Morlocks characters?

JOHNS: For me, I wanted to get out of New York first of all - and I wanted to re-introduce the core concept. The original Morlocks have gone to other dimensions, evolved thousands of years, I mean some really crazy stuff. I didn't want to spend the first half of every issue untying continuity.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/morlocks_shatter.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/morlocks_shatter-t.jpg" align=right alt="Morlocks Shatter preliminary character design sketch"></a>X-FAN: Could you please summarize the new characters and their powers/abilities briefly?

JOHNS: I don't want to get into the powers too much, let them be introduced in the book.

The Mailman - Postal worker. The leader because he's the oldest.
Litterbug - Army mechanic.
Angel Dust - High School Honor Student.
Electric Eve - A street walker.
Shatter - The biggest baseball fan in the world.
Cell - Member of the Vice Lords.
Trader - A stock broker on the Chicago Board of Trade.

X-FAN: What type of audience will this mini appeal to?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p11.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/MORLOCKS1p11t.jpg" align=left alt="Morlocks #1 Page 11 preview"></a>JOHNS: X-readers and non-X-readers. It's more about people than mutants. Shawn is doing an amazing job on the book and I look forward to hearing everyone's reactions.

MARTINBROUGH: {Working with Geoff has been} really cool. {He's} a really easy going, creative guy. We vibed on the project before I began work and once I started designing and drawing pages I've emailed him everything. And I'm also psyched to work with colorist Greg Wright. Truly one of the best in the business and doing amazing stuff on Morlocks.

For more preliminary character sketches from Morlocks, see "MORLOCKS UNCOVERED! (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57)".

Pre-order Morlocks #1 online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!

[Eric J. Moreels]

Originally posted by xpawn
An interesting cast. Let's hope these characters don't just appear in this miniseries and be forgotten thereafter.

I daresay that would depend on fan reaction to them.

[plaidchocobo]

This story sounds great. I like the idea of setting this story in Chicago (which has a very different stigma than NY).

[tyran80]

Looks very interesting so far.

Though it sorta reminds me of the pitch Quesada and Jemas made just around the time when the Brotherhood's cancellation was announced.

[spinarakboi]

Notice that Litterbug and Electric Eve are mentioned in the X-Men Millennal Vision.... interesting.

[Al Harahap]

I'm lining up for this one! I hope it can translate the dark and gritty feel of the Brotherhood, but with more congruent plots and characters. I'm already a big Johns freak following his stuff on JSA and Flash, so I have faith that he'll make the Morlocks shine. However, I wouldn't like him to do any retcons or touch up on the past like he does so well in JSA--I don't think that strategy would be good to the already convoluted Morlocks history.

[CPunkDude]

This mini looks really exciting. The lineup is very promising and with luck could produce somevery memorable characters. I am also excited about the location of the story, which is fairly unusua for a comic book.

[stormwatch]

Well This looks interesting, sort of a cross between Brotherhood and Muties. And they are mentioned in the Millenial Vision, thankx Spinarakboi, well this could be very interesting.

[NotSoHighLord]

I am gonna get this one. Geoff is great and Shawn draws goooood

[BoomBot]

Geoff is writing Avengers and so I wouldn't count on him getting on Uncanny or New X-Men since Morrison is doing a good job and Austen is coming up, which he will definitely do a good job.

[Grease]

ABOUT DAMN TIME

[Cosmo]

Definately looks good. Be interesting to see what everyones "last wish" is.

[stormwatch]

yeah, the last wish idea is cool, and I can just see this thread going into a wish list.

but to stay on topic, the characters are very neat, I am anxious for this to come out. The characters are definitely interesting.