Changeling (Marvel Comics character)

Template:Short description Template:Infobox comics character Changeling is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, the character first appeared in The X-Men #35 (Aug. 1967).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Changeling is a mutant shapeshifter and was a short-lived adversary for the X-Men who subsequently joined Professor X and died shortly after, making him the first member of the X-Men to die in action. The character was adapted as Morph in the 1990s for X-Men: The Animated Series. An alternate reality version of the character under the codename Morph reappeared in the comics as part of the Exiles in 2001.

Publication history

The first run of appearances occurred in 1967–1968 when he appeared in The X-Men #37–42 as Changeling. Although dying at the end of this run, he was thought to have been seen as a ghost in Excalibur: The Possession (1991) and returned as a zombie in The Sensational She-Hulk #34–35 (1991–1992).

The character was later reintroduced as an easygoing comic-relief character for X-Men: The Animated Series. According to showrunner Eric Lewald's behind-the-scenes book, Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series, the creators (including writer Mark Edward Edens) had intended for Thunderbird to be the series' early sacrifice, but they became uncomfortable with the idea of killing off a Native American character. Scanning the X-books for a substitute, the character Changeling was found and repurposed for the series. Changeling's codename was changed to Morph because DC Comics owned the trademark to "Changeling" when the series debuted.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Morph's first comic book appearance was 1992's X-Men Adventures #1, which adapted the "Night of the Sentinels" TV pilot. Then in 1995, inspired by the character in the animated series, a new Morph was featured in the "Age of Apocalypse" crossover event, debuting in the one-shot comic X-Men Alpha. The character underwent a drastic change in appearance for this event, appearing white-skinned and hairless. Then in 2001, Marvel introduced an alternate-reality version of this Morph, from Earth-1081. He first appeared in Exiles #1.

Fictional character biography

Earth-616 character

Kevin Sydney,<ref>The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004 #1</ref> known as "Changeling", originally works for the villainous organization Factor Three. He acts as the Mutant Master's second-in-command in an effort to trigger World War III. After successfully capturing the heroic X-Men, the Mutant Master is exposed as an extraterrestrial and goes out of control. The mutants of Factor Three ultimately join with the X-Men to defeat the Mutant Master.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Following that group's defeat, Changeling seeks to reform.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He divulges to Professor X that he has an unspecified terminal illness with only a few months left to live and wishes to atone for his misdeeds. Professor X recruits Changeling to act as a stand-in, unbeknownst to the X-Men, while he isolates himself to prepare a defense against the alien Z'Nox's invasion.<ref name="X-Men #65">Template:Cite comic</ref> Changeling, masquerading as Professor X,<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> leads the X-Men's efforts to defeat the Subterranean Grotesk, who kills him in battle.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> The X-Men mourn the loss of Professor X until they learn that he was an impostor.<ref name="X-Men #65" />

When the mystical Darkhold is recreated, Changeling's spirit uses the opportunity to possess Meggan. Angry that he used his remaining time helping the X-Men instead of seeking a cure for himself, Changeling seeks revenge against Professor X.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> Merlyn later admits that the encounter was merely fantasy, having orchestrated the event to prepare Excalibur.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Changeling is later raised from the dead as a zombie by Black Talon to form part of the team X-Humed alongside Harry Leland, Living Diamond, and Scaleface. He attacks She-Hulk, but breaks from Black Talon's control of him long enough to allow She-Hulk to win and lay the zombies back to rest.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref><ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

In the series Astonishing X-Men, Changeling is revealed to have been resurrected on Krakoa and is reimagined as possessing the appearance and name of his alternate universe counterpart Morph. He acts as both a superhero and supervillain, being unaware of his dual identity.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref><ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Earth-1081 character

Morph is a hero from Earth-1081 who is a member of the New Mutants, X-Men, and Avengers. He was born with his mutant powers activated, causing him to resemble a humanoid white blob. Morph initially assumes a human appearance, only comfortable to be himself around his parents. Following his mother's death from lung cancer, Morph is enrolled in the Xavier Institute. Promoted to the X-Men, Morph's sense of humor initially grates upon the much more serious team but eventually his humor and humility win them over. He is instrumental in many of the team's victories and is chosen to be part of a pilot program with the Avengers, along with Beast, as a public representative of mutants. Morph returns to his birth appearance as a pale, bald humanoid.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

While battling a threat known only as Stonehenge, Morph becomes unhinged from time. The mysterious Timebroker appears to him, explaining that his unhinging is the result of a chain of events that caused his reality to change. In this new reality, Morph is unable to maintain his body and is rendered comatose. Hoping to save his own future, Morph joins the Exiles, a group of universe-hopping heroes trying to save realities from ripples and alteration.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> Morph is later possessed by Proteus, but manages to convince Proteus to work together with him and share his body.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> When the Exiles are trapped in the Crystal Palace, Proteus is absorbed in Morph's place, freeing Morph from him. Morph is later killed by Maniac Xavier, an alternate universe version of Charles Xavier from Earth-18136.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Powers and abilities

Changeling is a mutant metamorph with the ability to alter his physical appearance and voice at will to resemble that of any person he chooses. His power could also transform the appearance of his costume as well, which was made of unstable molecules. Morph's mutation to shape-shift has also made it so that his body is a Play-Doh-like substance and he can reattach limbs after they have been severed. He has limited telepathic abilities, which (in the original timeline) were enhanced by Professor X. As a side effect, he also gained limited telekinetic abilities.Template:Citation needed Upon choosing to work together and share his body with the energy mutant Proteus, Morph's powers appear to be amplified, at least enough to defeat a self-proclaimed god. Whether the two have access to Proteus' reality changing abilities has yet to be determined.

He has also stated that his mutation gives him a high metabolism and makes him very hormonal. In Exiles #33 Sasquatch said she was never able to detect a scent on Morph and Sabretooth stated that while hunting Proteus in Morph's body, Morph stands out like a sore thumb in a crowd of "normal" people to Sabretooth's senses regardless of his form. It also appears he has the ability to fly as demonstrated in Exiles #27. Due to his shapeshifting ability he does not wear any actual clothing, and he takes joy in pointing this out.

Kevin Sydney is a skilled actor, and a highly trained and efficient organizer of subversive activities. He carried various advanced weaponry of alien Siri design belonging to Factor Three, including a ray gun carried in a holster at his side. Though Morph is a prankster who downplays his intelligence, he is deceptively smart. He has a Master's degree in computer engineering, which he earned at Xavier's Institute.

In other media

File:Morphanimted.png

Morph as they appear in X-Men: The Animated Series.

• Kevin Sydney / Morph appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Ron Rubin.<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web</ref> This version is a member of the X-Men and close friend of Wolverine. During production of the series, Sydney was originally going to appear under the original codename Changeling but was changed to his codename Morph due to trademark issues with DC Comics' character Beast Boy, who also went by Changeling.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Morph appears in X-Men '97, voiced by J. P. Karliak.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva" /> As of this series, they have taken on a featureless default form, having rejoined the X-Men once more. The series also depicts Morph as non-binary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Exiles incarnation of Morph appears in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Tom Kenny.<ref name="btva" />

External links

• Template:Marvelwiki
• Template:Marveldatabase
• UncannyXmen.net Character Profile on Changeling