Morlock 2001 was to say the least an incredibly bizarre comic book published by the short lived Atlas Seaboard comics company in the mid 1970’s. The basis for the story takes place in a then future (now the past) dystopia of 2001 when a scientist grows a plant man to battle government tyranny, let just say things didn’t work out to well as he may have planned. The character itself “borrows” heavily from other influences including (but not restricted to) Swamp Thing, Man Thing, 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Witten by Michael Fleisher, who wrote perhaps my favourite Spectre stories at DC (with the wonderful Jim Aparo) Morlock 2001 can only be described as simply weird and at times an unsavoury comic book character. The title character is a plant who in his human form turns people to vegetation by simply touching them and as a plant liquidises and then eats them something he/it is not averse in doing. For example in issue one Morlock kills and eats a young woman but worse is to come as in issue 2 he/it eats a young blind child who was trying to help him/it. Not exactly the actions of a hero (even an anti-hero).
The opening page from issue 2
Issue 2 featuring the death of the blind girl!
Issue 2 cover by Al Milgrom and Dick Giordano
As much as the first 2 issues of Morlock 2001 were freaky, issue 3 took it to another level of weirdness. Not only had they changed writer to Gary Friedrich, but this issue contained the strange art combo of Steve Ditko on pencils with Bernie Wrightson on inks (it didn’t really work) replacing Al Milgrom and Dan Atkins. As was the case with almost all of Atlas comics titles by the 3rd issue they decided to change the direction of the comic as can be seen by the above cover by Rich Buckler which now sports the moniker ”Morlock 2001 and the Midnight Men” no doubt in a plan to appeal to the superhero market. On the cover itself we see what seems to be a new version of Morlock bestridden by the Midnight Men who look to have killed him. This issue opens on Eugene Whitlock in his private library in a world where books are banned (Fahrenheit 451) - long story short the Thought Police arrest and execute him by flamethrower no lees, and he becomes the Midnight Man. In the last few pages the Midnight Man in an attempt to spare Morlock from turning into the plant creature for good, simply shoots him. Yes, the lead character in the comica giant evil plant was simply shot and killed. Of course soon after Atlas comics folded so there may have been some plan to bring him back in issue 4, but thankfully that didn’t happen.
The opening page from issue 3 - The only time the legendary Steve Ditko and Bernie Wrightson worked together.
Issue 3, The death of Morlock 2001 - never before has a plant deserved to have been shot!
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Morlock was a strange one indeed -- but memorable. The ups and downs of Atlas-Seaboard make your head spin. Characters are introduced and before you can say "excelsior" they get revised. So much promise so little follow through. A truly missed opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI still remember seeing the first issue of The Pheonix (the first Atlas comic I saw) in my then local newsagent and being very, very " fanboy excited" - a new comic company at that time was a rare thing. In general I liked most of their books especially Grim Ghost, Scorpion, Tarantula, Planet of the Vampires, Wulf and Son of Dracula. But some seemed very rushed ( Hands of the Dragon etc) and as you say they changed the direction of most of their comics suddenly and at times drastically like the Scorpion from a 1930s pulp type character to a 1970s superhero. Strange that one of the reasons cited for their failure was over poor distribution , yet in the Glasgow area at least we got almost every issue of every book.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember that the spinner racks in Portsmouth seemed to be overwhelmed with Atlas comics when they first appeared, and seemed to be squeezing out the DC comics. It seems strange to me that Atlas crashed and burned so quickly, almost before they had sales figures in for the first issues...it would be interesting to read the story of the rise and fall of the company.
DeleteReading your synopsis of the stories by Michael Fleisher, they seem very much in tune with the tenor of his Spectre stories over at DC....nasty deaths for villains and undeserving bystanders. I loved his stuff at the time. Also very interesting to see Berni Wrightson inking Ditko, although I suspect that Wrightson was so honoured to be inking such a major talent that he seems to have suppressed the Wrightson style in the inks.
It was the same in Glasgow with Atlas comics - they were everywhere even the black and white mags, which I thought were mostly excellent (especially Thrilling Adventure Stories). Morlock 2001 has its fans but for me it was just all over the place.Good point on the Spectre reference\ similarity but I think Aparo's art pulled that strip through plus from memory they didn't kill off innocent folk. I would have liked to have seen Wrightson draw Morlock now that might have changed my opinion on the character.
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to distribution, it was the same in Sheffield. They were everywhere. And, in Blackpool, where we went for our summer holidays, you could barely move for the things.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to suspect the reason no one could get them in America was that they'd all been sent to Britain.
I remember seeing them piled high in Blackpool as well Steve. Pity Marvel and DC at this time didn't have better distribution like Atlas.
ReplyDeleteI had this ish when it first came out, can't recall if I ever replaced it or not. I was never too impressed with most of the Atlas lot. The Grim Ghost was probably my favourite out of all of them.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'll have to reply to my own comment so as it doesn't get ignored. Funny that Grim Ghost should be your favourite Atlas comic, Kid, as it was also mine. Ain't that a coincidence?!
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