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Thanks to Marvel Studios' highly popular X-Men '97 revival series, Morph has gradually become a more popular X-Man than ever before. One of the team's funniest and most entertaining members, Morph was originally in X-Men: The Animated Series, and the shapeshifter has continued to be one of the team's most capable mutants in X-Men '97. However, they're not the most well-known shapeshifter in the X-Men mythos.
Comparatively, Raven Darkhölme's Mystique is still the more popular shapeshifter than Morph, and has been for decades thanks to the comics and Fox's live-action films. Likewise, the version of Mystique played by Rebecca Romijn is also set to return in the MCU's Avengers: Doomsday later this year.
Initially, it may seem as though the two mutant characters share identical shapeshifting abilities. However, that's not actually the case, as proven both in the comics and more recently in X-Men '97. As the series continues to showcase Morph's abilities, the important distinction between the two shapeshifters has become much clearer on-screen.
The X-Men's Morph & Mystique Are Both Shapeshifters (With One Key Difference)
Thanks to X-Men '97 and its ongoing second season, Morph is becoming far more prominent in the mainstream 30 years after the original animated series' release. Throughout the revival series, they've repeatedly shown the full extent of their impressive mutant abilities, with their transformations into well-known mutants and more heroes serving as some of the show's best surprise cameos.
Some of Morph's most exciting mutant transformations have been Blob, Psylocke, and Quicksilver. However, they've also transformed into major Avengers, including Thor and even the Incredible Hulk.
Unlike Mystique, Morph's transformations aren't merely cosmetic. When Mystique shapeshifts, only her voice and appearance change, allowing her to imitate another person as the perfect mutant infiltrator. In comparison, Morph is a full "omnimorph", allowing them to fully reshape their molecular structure to mimic a degree of physical attributes and powers as well. It's why Morph can become much larger and stronger by transforming into someone like Hulk or the Blob, and can even replicate weapons to a certain extent.
As seen in X-Men '97, Morph has manifested Psylocke's psychic blades, Magik's Soulsword, Quicksilver's super-speed, Angel's wings, Lady Deathstrike's claws, and even Thor's hammer during battle. That said, Morph's power still has limits, as they're unable to replicate more complex powers like weather manipulation or mind control. Likewise, Morph's version of Thor's hammer was just a physical construct without the typical Asgardian power attached.
Although Mystique remains one of Marvel's greatest undercover mutant agents, her shapeshifting isn't as physically oriented as Morph's.
Will Morph & Mystique Finally "Face-Off" In X-Men '97?
Looking forward to X-Men '97's future, it feels like only a matter of time before Marvel Studios finally brings these two greatest shapeshifters together. Even if it's not a physical showdown, it'd be pretty fun to see the duo interact, perhaps not even knowing who the other is actually dealing with. There are plenty of fun possibilities.
Although Mystique hasn't technically appeared in X-Men '97 yet, one of the biggest fan theories suggests she's secretly been in the show the entire time, posing as the government's Valerie Cooper. Not only do the two characters share significant comic history, where Raven posed as Cooper for some time, but the theory would also explain several suspicious moments surrounding Cooper in the revival series.
Additionally, it's also worth noting that Mystique served Apocalypse in the original X-Men: The Animated Series. Perhaps the same is true in X-Men '97, especially with the second season being so focused on En Sabah Nur. At any rate, pitting Mystique against Morph at some point in the new Marvel show's future would be the perfect opportunity for X-Men '97 to settle who Marvel's ultimate shapeshifter really is. While Morph may have the physical advantage, Mystique is far more cunning, with decades of experience thanks to her long lifespan.
New episodes of X-Men '97 season 2 release Wednesdays on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.
