Mark Hallett (Earth-616)

Sunder
Name	Mark Hallett
Current Alias	Sunder
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Formerly Morlocks; Muir Island X-Men
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	7′1″ (2.16 m)
Weight	245 lbs (111.13 kg)
Hair	Bald
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Mutant
Living Status	Deceased
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Death	Muir Island, Scotland
Cause of Death	Shot by Pretty Boy (resurrected by the Five) Killed by Archangel
Personal Information
Identity	Secret
Citizenship	American (Presumed), Krakoan
Occupation	Adventurer
Base of Operations	Formerly The Alley, New York City; Muir Island, Scotland,
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Chris Claremont, Paul Smith
First	Uncanny X-Men #169 (February, 1983)
First	Uncanny X-Men #169 (February, 1983)
Death	Dark X-Men (Vol. 2) #2 (September, 2023)
Death	Dark X-Men (Vol. 2) #2 (September, 2023)

History

Early Life

Mark Hallet's early years remain shrouded in mystery. However, his distinctive appearance led to his ostracism from society, his physical mutation causing him to be cast out. Sunder found kinship among other outcast mutants like Callisto, Caliban, and Masque. Together, they united to establish the Morlocks, a community of mutants dwelling in Manhattan's deserted sewer networks and 1950s-era atomic shelters. Callisto assumed leadership of the Morlocks, with Sunder serving as her trusted lieutenant. As part of their initiation into the Morlocks, each newcomer underwent transformative alterations to their face and body by Masque. This ritual symbolized their complete renunciation of their former lives and the world they once belonged to. At an undisclosed moment, the Morlocks acquired a strand of polymer cable of exceptional durability, so resilient that not even Sunder could break it.

Encounter with the X-Men

Upon discovering the presence of the Angel, Callisto felt a strong desire for the handsome X-Man and resolved to have him by her side. She commanded Sunder and an undisclosed number of Morlocks to the surface world to capture the affluent playboy. Overpowering Angel in his luxurious Manhattan penthouse, Sunder dispatched the others back to the Alley with their captive, while he lingered, awaiting the return of Warren's girlfriend, Candy Southern. When Candy arrived home, she was immediately alarmed by the sight of blood and scattered feathers. As she attempted to inform Charles Xavier of the attack, she was startled by Sunder tapping her shoulder, introducing himself with the chilling declaration of his intent to harm her. The sight of the imposing figure caused Southern to faint, satisfying Sunder before he returned to the Morlock tunnels. Meanwhile, as Sunder assisted Callisto in preparing for her marriage to Angel, the X-Men, accompanied by their ally Amanda Sefton, met with Candy. Utilizing a mini-Cerebro programmed with Angel's brainwaves, they ventured into the sewers. Sefton and Lockheed stayed behind to guard Southern. Guided by Cerebro, the team encountered fierce resistance from the Morlocks. From a distance, Sunder, Callisto, Plague, and Masque observed the struggle between the X-Men and the Morlocks. They were detected by Kitty Pryde, prompting Callisto to order Plague to confront her. Sunder impulsively tore through the wall as Kitty phased, allowing her to escape while earning Callisto's reprimand. Separated from her comrades and afflicted by Plague's touch, Kitty was discovered by Caliban, who nursed her back to health. During her recovery, Kitty implored Caliban to aid her and the X-Men, even offering to stay with him indefinitely in exchange for ensuring her teammates' safety. Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler eventually subdued the Morlocks and entered the Alley, where they found Angel restrained on a velvet cross, with Callisto tormenting him. When the mutants attempted to intervene, Callisto dispatched Sunder and her other followers to subdue them. The X-Men were overwhelmed, defeated, and bound before the altar Callisto intended to use for her wedding ceremony.

Appalled by Callisto's degrading treatment of Angel, Storm bravely raised her voice to disrupt the ceremony. In response, Sunder forcefully grabbed Storm's hair, demanding her silence and submission to Callisto's authority. Just as Colossus and Nightcrawler broke free from their restraints and launched a counterattack, Nightcrawler engaged Callisto in a fierce battle of teleportation while Colossus confronted Sunder. Their skirmish was interrupted when Nightcrawler triumphantly held Callisto's unconscious form, threatening her life unless Angel and the others were released. Sunder, pleading with the X-Men not to harm their leader, ordered the Morlocks to cease hostilities. Sensing an opportunity, Storm reminded Sunder of Nightcrawler's terms, only to be caught off guard by Plague, who incapacitated Storm with her diseased touch. With the odds now even, Plague compelled Nightcrawler to surrender, and the X-Men were bound using ropes, chains, and the unbreakable polymer cable. As Kitty Pryde's condition worsened, Caliban was compelled to seek help from Plague to restore the girl's health. Carrying the unconscious Kitty to the Alley, Caliban arrived just in time to interrupt the wedding ceremony. Pleading with Callisto to aid Kitty, Caliban's presence spurred Colossus and Nightcrawler to break free once more, with Colossus threatening dire consequences if Kitty were to perish. When Callisto refused to release them, Caliban proposed a challenge to her leadership as the only path to freedom. Sunder and the other Morlocks watched as Storm accepted the challenge and ultimately defeated Callisto, seizing leadership of the Morlocks.

Having leveraged her newfound authority as leader of the Morlocks to establish strict regulations prohibiting any harm to humans within the underground community, Storm found herself confronted by the deposed and still recovering Callisto. Asserting her determination to reclaim her title, Callisto pushed herself too far and collapsed. Taking charge, Storm instructed Sunder to assist Callisto back to bed and ensure she remained there this time.

Kitty Pryde

Noticing a shift in Caliban's demeanor, Sunder joined Callisto and Masque on a visit to their fellow Morlocks co-founder. Discovering Caliban's quarters empty, they lingered, hoping to uncover the source of his distress. Caliban, upon returning, was less than pleased to find the trio in his space. After some coaxing and with Masque revealing a picture of Kitty Pryde, Caliban confessed his shame for betraying his friends, recounting how Kitty had pledged to remain with him indefinitely in exchange for his aid. Sensing an opportunity to retaliate against Storm and, perhaps, reclaim her leadership role, Callisto assured Caliban that given time, she would ensure Kitty honored her promise. With the intent to stage Kitty's abduction through a fabricated demise, Callisto, Sunder, and Masque stumbled upon the lifeless form of a homeless girl in an alley on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Sunder observed as Masque skillfully molded the deceased's body into a replica of Kitty's. Leveraging Caliban's tracking skills, the Morlocks intercepted Kitty as she exited the Baxter Building. Subduing the young mutant, Sunder and his cohorts transported her to the tunnels, leaving behind the false Kitty corpse on the streets to deceive the authorities. As the Morlocks made preparations for Kitty's impending wedding, the counterfeit Kitty was transferred to the local coroner's office. Storm, Wolverine, and Rogue were summoned to identify the body. Utilizing his heightened senses, Wolverine swiftly discerned that the deceased bore only a resemblance to their teammate. Meanwhile, Sunder attended the wedding ceremony of Kitty Pryde and Caliban, which faced repeated disruptions. Initially, Kitty attempted to flee, and later, Storm, Rogue, and Wolverine arrived, causing further commotion. Amidst the chaos, complicated by the presence of the power-dampening Morlock Leech, Storm asserted her authority as leader to quell the conflict.

Kulan Gath

Sunder, like nearly all residents of Manhattan Island, succumbed to Kulan Gath's powerful spell, transforming the modern city into a Hyborian city-state under Gath's rule. To bolster his authority, Gath enlisted the Morlocks as his personal enforcers. Once denizens of the sewers, they now roamed the streets, executing those who violated even the slightest of Gath's laws. Leading this force was Captain Callisto, with Sunder serving as her trusted lieutenant. When Gath issued an arrest warrant for Lady Ororo, Sunder and his comrades accompanied Callisto in boarding the ship where she resided. Bursting into Lady Ororo's chamber, Sunder introduced himself before stepping aside for Callisto to make the arrest. Under Callisto's command, Sunder prepared to brand their captive with a scorching slave collar. However, Lady Ororo swiftly turned the tables, tossing Sunder aside and causing chaos that engulfed the ship in flames. Escaping the inferno unscathed, Sunder later joined forces with Colossus and the New Mutants in pursuing Spider-Man, the lone individual unaffected by Gath's magic. Their pursuit led them into conflict with a group of superpowered rebels, including Rogue, Nightcrawler, and members of the Avengers. Before the battle could escalate, Sunder seized Spider-Man, satisfying Gath's demands as he teleported them back to his palace. Sunder and the other enslaved followers witnessed the ancient wizard's torturous treatment of his nemesis, Spider-Man. Following this ordeal, Gath reprimanded Sunder and Moonstar, leader of the New Mutants, for their failure to apprehend the rebels, punishing them by petrifying them. Upon returning to their normal state, Sunder suddenly recollected that the rebels might be concealed within the secure confines of the Morlock catacombs, beyond detection. Acting on Gath's orders, Sunder and his compatriots embarked on a mission to locate and capture the rebels. Engaging in intense confrontations along the way, Sunder met his demise at the hands of his former superior, Callisto. The spell was eventually undone returning everyone to normal.

Power Pack

Sunder was among the Morlocks who discovered the tragic aftermath of Marauder Scalphunter's anonymous killings of several of Annalee's children. Together, they solemnly returned the bodies to the Alley. Sunder intercepted Callisto as she escorted Professor Xavier towards the subterranean train, following his rescue by the Morlock Healer from a near-fatal assault. Holding the lifeless bodies of the children, Sunder recounted the grim events to Callisto. Fueled by anger and grief, Callisto emphasized to Xavier the harsh reality faced by mutants in the outside world. She vowed that despite Storm's decree for peaceful coexistence with humanity, she was prepared to ignite a race war if that's what humans desired.

The empathic Annalee's profound grief over the loss of her children inadvertently affected the mood of her fellow Morlocks, including Ape, Erg, Tar Baby, and the Piper. Overwhelmed by guilt for the children's deaths, they felt compelled to replace them. Their encounter with Power Pack provided an opportunity, and they subdued the young heroes with the intention of offering them to Annalee. During Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, and Lockheed's visit to the Alley, bearing postcards from their leader Storm, Sunder was present. Kitty also presented Caliban with a gift—a sweater she had acquired during her recent journey to Japan. Sunder and the others observed as Caliban joyfully donned the garment. On their way back, Kitty, Lockheed, and Nightcrawler crossed paths with the Morlocks, who were escorting Power Pack. A fierce confrontation ensued, resulting in the children's liberation. Annalee and her allies implored the X-Men to keep their actions secret from Callisto, fearing the consequences. Despite assurances, Annalee continued to stalk Power Pack even after their return home.

Utilizing her dream-manipulating abilities, Morlock Beautiful Dreamer altered the memories of Professor Power, his spouse, and the inhabitants of their apartment complex, erasing all recollection of their children. Simultaneously, other Morlocks relocated the kids' beds, clothes, and personal effects to Annalee's quarters in the tunnels. Upon awakening, the Powers were perplexed to find unfamiliar children in their beds, terrifying the young members of Power Pack. Discovering their belongings missing, the children fled in distress. Suspecting the Morlocks' involvement, they ventured into the sewers but were swiftly overwhelmed. Captured and brought before Masque, who altered their appearances, the Powers children were subjected to mental conditioning, leaving only Katie Power to escape. Eventually, Katie encountered the authorities and was apprehended. Fortunately, Kitty Pryde noticed a news report about the incident and enlisted the X-Men's help in rescuing Katie from Bellevue Hospital. The mutants descended into the sewers, where they found the other Powers children mentally persuaded to believe they were Annalee's offspring. The intervention of Callisto and Sunder halted the crisis. Callisto instructed Beautiful Dreamer and Masque to restore the Powers children to their true forms and tasked Sunder with returning their belongings before sunrise.

Mutant Massacre

As the Marauders launched their assault on the Alley, Sunder rallied alongside Callisto and the X-Men to defend against them. Amidst the chaotic battle, Sunder bravely fought alongside the others despite sustaining severe injuries to his legs, likely from Riptide's barrage of razor-sharp throwing stars. Undeterred, Sunder persevered, aiding the X-Men in evacuating as many wounded Morlocks as possible onto the underground train bound for the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. After he arrived Sunder's wounds overwhelmed him, causing him to collapse. Colossus rushed to his aid, providing support until Moira MacTaggert could assess the severity of his injuries. After several hours of examination, Moira came to a grim conclusion: one of Sunder's legs was beyond saving. When she broke the news to him, Sunder's reaction was one of panic and despair, triggering a violent outburst. Driven by fear and anguish, Sunder's rampage knew no bounds, effortlessly breaking free from Magneto's hastily erected metal restraints. Despite attempts to calm him, including the intervention of the New Mutant Karma, Sunder's intense pain proved too much to handle. Eventually, Psylocke intervened, utilizing her psychic abilities to numb Sunder's mind and absorb his excruciating agony. With Sunder's pain subdued, Moira was finally able to proceed with the life-saving amputation. Through Psylocke's intervention, Sunder's life was spared, and he underwent the necessary surgery to remove his injured limb, marking the beginning of his journey toward recovery.

Muir Island X-Men

After Sabretooth's assault on the X-Men's mansion, Callisto and Storm determined that the safest haven for Sunder and the other injured Morlocks would be Moira MacTaggert's Mutant Research Center on Muir Island. To facilitate their transfer, the X-Men utilized the Blackbird as a transport service, ferrying the wounded to safety. During his stay on Muir Island, Sunder focused on recovering, while sadly, a significant number of his fellow Morlocks succumbed to their injuries. Meanwhile the X-Men arrived with the final group of evacuees, adding to the island's population. Employing a psi-probe, Charles Xavier merged his consciousness with that of the New Mutants, delving into their minds to access their recent memories. To his astonishment, Xavier discovered the harrowing account of the Marauders' assault on the Morlocks and Sunder's grievous injuries. Sunder remained hospitalized on Muir Island, confined to his bed for recovery. Among the injured Morlocks receiving treatment, Callisto, their former leader, was the sole patient able to move about freely.

After a while Sunder appeared to have made a complete recovery. He chose to remain on Muir Island, where he developed a special affection for Moira MacTaggert's other wards, Legion and the Warpies. The island came under attack by the Reavers, who were seeking the X-Men. As the nursery was breached, Sunder instinctively shielded the children with his own body. With Legion's assistance, who erected a psionic forcefield, Sunder managed to protect everyone. Sunder directed the Warpies to seek safety in the bunker while he confronted the Reavers. However, Legion, under the influence of the Shadow King, callously dropped the shield around Sunder, leaving him vulnerable to the Reavers' onslaught. Bonebreaker was poised to deliver a fatal blow when Tom Corsi and Polaris intervened, driving off the cyborgs. Despite being wounded, Sunder quickly recovered and pursued the Reavers alone, driven by a desire for revenge. He eventually confronted Skullbuster and engaged him in a fierce physical confrontation, relentlessly pummeling him into the ground. In the midst of his triumphant assault, Pretty Boy ambushed Sunder from behind, delivering a fatal blast with a massive energy blaster. Sunder's lifeless body collapsed on top of Skullbuster, who urgently implored his comrades to free him before the Morlock's weight became his demise. With their victory secured, the Reavers callously left Sunder's corpse behind as they continued their rampage.

Phoenix Force

As the Phoenix Force made its return to Earth, it ensnared Jean Grey within an illusory realm, fabricating multiple constructs of deceased X-Men, including Sunder. These constructs, adorned in crimson X-Men attire, engaged in combat against the genuine X-Men until a select group managed to breach the illusion and reach Jean. At that pivotal moment, the constructs dissolved into nothingness, allowing the real X-Men to reunite with Jean.

Krakoa

Following the Krakoan resurrection procedures, Sunder was among the many mutants revived by the Five. However, instead of residing on Krakoa, Sunder chose to relocate to Madripoor, where numerous Morlocks had embarked on a fresh start. During the third annual Hellfire Gala on Mykines island, Callisto initiated a new tradition for the Morlocks—a lively celebration. Sunder joined Beautiful Dreamer, Brute, Hump, and Shatter aboard a yacht in the South Asian Sea. That fateful night, as Orchis launched an attack on the Hellfire Gala and pressured Xavier into telepathically urging mutants worldwide to seek refuge through the nearest Krakoan Gateway, the Morlocks found themselves too distant at sea to reach a portal in time. Sunder remained aboard Callisto's yacht when they came under assault by Archangel, manipulated by the Goblin Queen of Earth-91240. In a single swift move, Archangel slew Brute, Hump, and Sunder. Simultaneously, a squadron of the newly formed Dark X-Men arrived to rescue the Morlocks.

Attributes

Power Grid

Powers

Sunder's mutation granted him various superhuman physical attributes.

• Superhuman Strength: Sunder possessed great superhuman strength. At his peak, he possesses Class 75 strength.
• Superhuman Stamina: Sunder's superhumanly enhanced musculature was much more efficient than that of a normal human. His muscles produced considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity. At his peak, he could exert himself for up to 24 hours before the build up of fatigue toxins in his blood began to impair him.
• Superhuman Durability: Sunder was tougher and much more resistant to physical injury than a normal human. He could withstand great impact forces, falls from great heights, exposure to high temperatures, and small caliber bullets without sustaining injury.
• Peak Human Speed: Despite his size Sunder could move surprisingly fast.

Abilities

• Hand-to-Hand Combat: Although he had little formal training, Sunder was a formidable hand to hand combatant. He primarily used street fighting techniques that allowed him to make full use of his strength.

See Also

• 15 appearance(s) of Mark Hallett (Earth-616)
• 5 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Mark Hallett (Earth-616)
• 4 minor appearance(s) of Mark Hallett (Earth-616)
• 2 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Mark Hallett (Earth-616)
• 14 image(s) of Mark Hallett (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Mark Hallett on Marvel.com
• uncannyxmen.net Character Profiles: Sunder