The Tunnelers
Encyclopedia
The Tunnelers were a group of Marvel Comics
mutants
that is offshoot group of Morlocks
. Created by Chris Claremont
and Paul Smith
, Masque's first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men
#169 (May 1983). Created by Chris Claremont
, John Romita, Jr.
and Bret Blevins
, Cybelle's first and last appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #211 (November 1986).
Created by Louise
and Walter Simonson, Berzerker, Scaleface and Blowhard's first and last appearance were in X-Factor
#11 (December 1986).
's main group and dubbed them Drain Dwellers. Initially a group of ten, six of the Tunnelers were killed when the Marauders
were sent to kill the Morlocks. The casualties included Cybelle who was slain by Harpoon
. She managed to warn the Morlocks leader, Callisto
, before she was killed. The four others survived the attack, only to get in another battle with Beast
and Iceman
, thinking they were Marauders too. The battle ends when the Tunnelers figure out that the X-Factor
members are not their enemies.
Joining X-Factor at their base, the Tunnelers find out about their hosts' mock mutant hunter identities. The Tunnelers eventually leave hoping to find a new home in New Jersey
. They ran into a human street gang called the Savage Wolf gang who tried to rob them. The Tunnelers fought back, ending in the deaths of Blowhard and two of the three gang members and the wounding of Masque. They then got in a confrontation with the police where Berzerker's love interest, Scaleface, was shot dead. Cyclops
and Jean Grey
arrived to save the remaining two Tunnelers, but it was too late; Berzerker was enraged by the loss of Scaleface and vowed revenge on all humanity. Before Cyclops could reason with him Berzerker let out a giant energy attack at him, blaming X-Factor for the Tunnelers' destruction. Cyclops fired back, overpowering Berzerker's initial shot. The optic blast from Cyclops knocked Berzerker into a river, electrocuting himself with his own powers. Masque was the only Tunneler that survived.
Masque and Scaleface were part of the Morlocks led by Callisto.
In X-Men Evolution, Berzerker was a member of the New Mutants
. Unlike his one-issue semi-villainous comics counterpart, Berzerker was more developed. Unfortunately, this incarnation cannot fly or use his powers to listen to television or radio broadcasts. However, what he lacked in overall mutant powers he made up for in various areas. In Evolution, Berzerker's real name is Ray Crisp. He has a bad temper, but not bad enough to hate or willingly kill a human. Berzerker appeared in 21 episodes of the show, starting from season 2. Two of these episodes, "Day of Recovery" and "X-Treme Measures" even touch upon Berzerker's past with the Morlocks.
Berzerker was put into the show because the writing staff was looking for a bad boy with a mysterious past as well as characters with unique powers. Though an obscure character, Berzerker was exactly what they were looking for. Since then, Berzerker has developed a notable fanbase.
Scaleface and Cybelle were part of Evolution's version of the Morlocks. In this rendition, their powers remain the same, but Scaleface has the added ability to breathe fire.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
mutants
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
that is offshoot group of Morlocks
Morlocks (comics)
The Morlocks are a group of several fictional comic book mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, they were named after the subterranean race of the same name in H. G. Wells' novel The Time Machine. They first appeared...
. Created by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
and Paul Smith
Paul Smith (comics)
Paul Smith is an American comic book artist.-Early life:Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but only lived there three days. His father was a U.S. Naval aviator, and the family moved several times during his childhood...
, Masque's first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#169 (May 1983). Created by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
, John Romita, Jr.
John Romita, Jr.
John Salvatore Romita, Jr. is an American comic book artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2000s...
and Bret Blevins
Bret Blevins
Bret Blevins is an American comic book artist, animation storyboard artist, and painter. He is perhaps best known for his stint as the regular penciler of New Mutants.-Career:...
, Cybelle's first and last appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #211 (November 1986).
Created by Louise
Louise Simonson
Louise Simonson, born Mary Louise Alexander , is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman: The Man of Steel, and Steel...
and Walter Simonson, Berzerker, Scaleface and Blowhard's first and last appearance were in X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
#11 (December 1986).
Fictional character biography
The Tunnelers, were Morlocks who hated CallistoCallisto (comics)
Callisto is a Marvel Comics fictional character, associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169 ....
's main group and dubbed them Drain Dwellers. Initially a group of ten, six of the Tunnelers were killed when the Marauders
Marauders (comics)
The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr., the team first appear in Uncanny X-Men #210 The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by...
were sent to kill the Morlocks. The casualties included Cybelle who was slain by Harpoon
Harpoon (comics)
Harpoon is a fictional character created by Marvel Comics. He is a member of the mutant assassin team known as Marauders, who are employed by Mister Sinister...
. She managed to warn the Morlocks leader, Callisto
Callisto (comics)
Callisto is a Marvel Comics fictional character, associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169 ....
, before she was killed. The four others survived the attack, only to get in another battle with Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
and Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
, thinking they were Marauders too. The battle ends when the Tunnelers figure out that the X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
members are not their enemies.
Joining X-Factor at their base, the Tunnelers find out about their hosts' mock mutant hunter identities. The Tunnelers eventually leave hoping to find a new home in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. They ran into a human street gang called the Savage Wolf gang who tried to rob them. The Tunnelers fought back, ending in the deaths of Blowhard and two of the three gang members and the wounding of Masque. They then got in a confrontation with the police where Berzerker's love interest, Scaleface, was shot dead. Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
and Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
arrived to save the remaining two Tunnelers, but it was too late; Berzerker was enraged by the loss of Scaleface and vowed revenge on all humanity. Before Cyclops could reason with him Berzerker let out a giant energy attack at him, blaming X-Factor for the Tunnelers' destruction. Cyclops fired back, overpowering Berzerker's initial shot. The optic blast from Cyclops knocked Berzerker into a river, electrocuting himself with his own powers. Masque was the only Tunneler that survived.
Powers and abilities
- BerzerkerBerzerker (comics)Berzerker is a fictional character, a mutant from the Marvel Comics Universe. His first and last appearance was in X-Factor #11...
- Berzerker's mutantMutant (Marvel Comics)In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
powers allowed him to generate and control pulsing bolts of electrical energy. He did this by absorbing and manipulating the energies of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. He could also fly and tap into, absorb, observe or listen to television or radio broadcasts.
- MasqueMasque (comics)Masque is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Masque was originally a prominent member of the sewer-dwelling community of mutant outcasts called the Morlocks, led by Callisto.-Publication history:...
- Masque's powers allow him to change the physical appearance of any other person by touch, and currently, the ability to manipulate his own flesh.
- ScalefaceScalefaceScaleface is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Scaleface first appeared in X-Factor vol. 1 #11 , and was created by Louise Simonson and Walter Simonson....
- Scaleface's powers allowed her to transform into a giant, dragon-like reptile with superhuman strength and stamina. As a zombie, Scaleface's dragon form looked petrified.
- BlowhardBlowhard (comics)Blowhard is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in X-Factor vol. 1 #11 .-Publication history:Blowhard appeared in X-Factor vol...
- Blowhard's powers allowed him to use his pipe, called a wind pipe, to create powerful bursts of wind. He also possessed incredible physical strength. The character was killed by the Savage Wolf street gang.
- Cybelle - Cybelle's powers allow her to secrete a fast-acting acidic sweat from her pores. This mist dissolved any form of matter it came into contact with, including solid stone. Cybelle was slain by HarpoonHarpoon (comics)Harpoon is a fictional character created by Marvel Comics. He is a member of the mutant assassin team known as Marauders, who are employed by Mister Sinister...
, a member of the superhuman team of assassins known as the MaraudersMarauders (comics)The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr., the team first appear in Uncanny X-Men #210 The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by...
, during the villains' massacre of the Morlock community.
In other media
In X-Men animated seriesX-Men (TV series)
X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992, in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup...
Masque and Scaleface were part of the Morlocks led by Callisto.
In X-Men Evolution, Berzerker was a member of the New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
. Unlike his one-issue semi-villainous comics counterpart, Berzerker was more developed. Unfortunately, this incarnation cannot fly or use his powers to listen to television or radio broadcasts. However, what he lacked in overall mutant powers he made up for in various areas. In Evolution, Berzerker's real name is Ray Crisp. He has a bad temper, but not bad enough to hate or willingly kill a human. Berzerker appeared in 21 episodes of the show, starting from season 2. Two of these episodes, "Day of Recovery" and "X-Treme Measures" even touch upon Berzerker's past with the Morlocks.
Berzerker was put into the show because the writing staff was looking for a bad boy with a mysterious past as well as characters with unique powers. Though an obscure character, Berzerker was exactly what they were looking for. Since then, Berzerker has developed a notable fanbase.
Scaleface and Cybelle were part of Evolution's version of the Morlocks. In this rendition, their powers remain the same, but Scaleface has the added ability to breathe fire.