Highlights
- X-Men '97 actor J.P. Karliak stands firm on character Morph's nonbinary identity, in line with real-life activism.
- Understanding the importance of diversity, Karliak praises fans standing up for Morph's identity in the franchise.
- Use of nonbinary identity for character Morph is justified by historical context and understanding of identity beyond 90s language.
Certain viewers of the hit new throwback series X-Men '97 have really gotten something stuck in their craw over the existence of a nonbinary character. But the actor behind the character in question is having none of it.
X-Men '97 immediately became the talk of the nerdy town when it premiered on Disney+ to near universal acclaim. The animated series serves as a revival and continuation of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series which originally ran from 1992-1997. Despite the showrunner for X-Men '97 being fired by Disney for what many speculate to be dubious reasons, it hasn't tempered the show's momentum, and it's already got 2 more seasons planned even before the first one is finished airing. However, it seems some viewers are having a tough time reconciling with one aspect in particular.
X-Men '97 Episode 1 Review
The premiere episode of X-Men '97 delivers a nostalgic hit of action and exemplary comic book storytelling that will satisfy new and old fans.
That's where actor J.P. Karliak comes in. In an interview with CBR, Karliak finally spoke out about his feelings on fan anger over his character, Morph, being confirmed as nonbinary. Not only does he see it as perfectly in line with Morph's character to identify as nonbinary, but it actually lines up particularly well with his own real life activism. So if there's anyone involved with the show who would understand Morph's situation, it's Karliak, who unfortunately wasn't shocked even remotely at the backlash.
"I'm a queer activist. I run a nonprofit that advocates for queer representation. I also co-founded a voter registration organization. I know what's going on in the world, especially politically, so no, it didn't surprise me at all."
It's an unfortunate reality in this modern world that anything that makes the tiniest attempt to be more inclusive to its audience immediately draws hate from certain people for no discernible practical reason. But there are also plenty of fans who understand the importance of diversity and representation, particularly in a franchise that has always been about fighting the very injustices the first group wishes to continue perpetuating. Karliak went on to express his admiration for those who have been standing up for Morph's identity as well as the show's clear messages. X-Men '97 is only the latest entry in a long-running series of stories told as allegories for civil rights and social justice. The shapeshifting Morph is just one of countless characters furthering that goal.
"I think what I appreciated was how much counter-backlash there was, with people like 'Have you watched the X-Men? Are you familiar with why they were created and what they’re about? Did you forget that?' That was reassuring."
Some attempted to justify their hatred of the newly-confirmed development by stating that Morph never claimed to be nonbinary or used they/them pronouns in the original X-Men series or even X-Men '97. However, it's not that simple, as Karliak pointed out. For one, it's always worth noting that nonbinary people can be as masculine as James Bond if they'd like, and don't owe anyone androgyny. Use of they/them pronouns is not a requirement of being nonbinary. For another, much of this language simply wasn't widely known in the 90s, when the show is set. But that doesn't mean the identity itself didn't exist.
"Two things about that – one, as far as I know, we're never going to say the word 'non-binary' because nobody said the word 'non-binary' in the '90s. It's not that it didn't exist; it was just in no way a mainstream term at the time. Morph's understanding of who he is could equate to what a modern person would say is non-binary, but he just doesn’t have the terminology for it. At the same time, they/them wasn't a concept in terms of using it as a pronoun."
People outside of what's considered the "gender norm" have existed far longer than many might realize. Transgender and nonbinary figures (who technically fall under the trans umbrella) can be found throughout history, often described using ambiguous language due to the lack of understanding at the time. But the point is, the language of the time doesn't dictate someone's identity.
X-Men '97 drops new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.
8 Best DC Animated Series, Ranked
DC Comics has been prominent in movies and games, but their animated shows are where they really stand out amongst the rest.
Source: CBR
