Mojo Adams

Mojo is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually those featuring the X-Men family of characters. Created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Arthur Adams, Mojo first appeared in '' Longshot'' #3 (Nov. 1985), as the titular hero's archenemy, and subsequently a villain to the X-Men and their various sub-groups as well.

Mojo is one of the "Spineless Ones", an alien race that is immobile without advanced technology. He is a slaver who rules the Mojoverse, a dimension where all beings are addicted to his gladiator-like television programs. The character is an absurdist parody of network executives, and was inspired by Nocenti's reading of media critics Marshall McLuhan, Noam Chomsky, and Walter Lippmann.Keller, Katherine (November 2, 2007)
"Writer, Creator, Journalist, and Uppity Woman: Ann Nocenti"
''Sequential Tart''.

Publication history

At the time she wrote the '' Longshot'' miniseries, writer Ann Nocenti was pursuing her Master's degree at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, working at the magazine ''Lies of Our Times'', and reading the work of writers like Marshall McLuhan, Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman and Walter Lippmann. Mojo, a slaver and dictator who rules his dimension through the television programs he produces, was created as a direct result of these influences. (A character named Manufactured Consent, after the Chomsky book of the same name, who appeared in Nocenti's 1990 ''The New Mutants Summer Special'', was also born of these works.) Artist Art Adams designed the character per Nocenti's instructions that he be disgusting and unpleasant, and also tried to make him look frightening. The wires that hold Mojo's eyelids open, thus preventing him from blinking, were inspired by an interview with actor Malcolm McDowell on ''Late Night with David Letterman'', in which McDowell revealed that the similar apparatus he had to wear for the Ludovico technique scene in ''A Clockwork Orange'' had scarred his corneas. The rest of the equipment attached to Mojo's head controls his mechanized chair."Art Adams interview". "The Mutant Report". vol. 3. ''Marvel Age'' #71 (Feb. 1989). Marvel Comics. pp. 12 - 15.

Mojo first appeared in ''Longshot'' #3 (Nov. 1985), and was the main villain of the miniseries, appearing in the subsequent three issues.

The character subsequently appeared in ''The New Mutants'' Annual #2 (1986). That same year, in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #10, Mojo appeared as the villain in the story, which saw Longshot join the X-Men. In 1988, Mojo appeared in a backup story in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #12. He was the main villain of the one-shot special ''Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem'' (Dec. 1989). Subsequent appearances include ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #89 (1991), ''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #15 (1991), ''Wolverine'' vol. 2 #52 (March 1992), ''X-Men'' #6 (March 1992), ''Wolverine'' vol. 2 #53 (April 1992), ''X-Men'' #7 (April 1992), #10-11 (July–Aug. 1992), ''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual 16 (1992), ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #119 (1993), ''What If?'' vol. 2 #59 (March 1994), ''X-Men Adventures: Season Two'' #11 (Dec. 1994), ''Marvel: Portraits of the Universe'' #1 (March 1995), ''X-Men: Mutations'' #1 (1996), ''Youngblood/X-Force'' #1 (July 1996), ''X-Force/Youngblood'' #1 (Aug. 1996), ''X-Force'' #60-61 (Nov.–Dec. 1996), ''The Adventures of the X-Men'' #9-10 (1996-Jan. 1997), ''X-Babies: Murderama'' #1 (Jan. 1998), ''X-Force'' #76 (April 1998), ''X-Babies Reborn'' #1 (Jan. 2000), ''X-Men Unlimited'' #32 (Sept. 2001), ''Exiles'' #18-19 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2003), ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #460-461 (Aug. 2005), and ''Exiles'' #73-74 (Feb. 2006).

Mojo was featured in an entry in '' The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition'' #8, and in the ''All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z'' #7 (2006).

Mojo appears in ''Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace'' #2 (2024). Mojo is a major antagonist in the ongoing series '' NYX'' (vol. 2). Kofi Outlaw of ''ComicBook.com'' commented that "Mojo has been a consistent villain in his design – fate, yellow, slug-like" but "''NYX'' has given Mojo a more active-looking design, with his cybernetics, armor, leather wristbands and a long, spiked, cybernetic tail".

Fictional character biography

Mojo is an alien from another dimension whose species lacks skeletons and were driven insane by otherdimensional energy. After the scientist Arize develops exoskeletons to allow them greater mobility, some choose not to use them and become known as the Spineless Ones. Instead, they use motorized platforms to transport their bodies and had Arize create artificial slaves for them. However, they ultimately banish Arize after he refuses to build weapons for them.

One of the Spineless Ones, Mojo, takes over the dimension and names it the Mojoverse, basing its culture on television. He is served by the android Major Domo, the multi-armed warrior Spiral, and the Warwolves, humanoid mechanical dogs who can take on the appearance of others by wearing their skin. Additionally, Longshot previously served him before leaving to become a rebel fighter.

In subsequent appearances, Mojo comes into conflict with the X-Men and creates diminutive clones of them dubbed the X-Babies. He also employs an alternate universe variant of Jubilee named Abcissa.New Mutants Annual (vol.1) #2 (1986) He is briefly overthrown by his clone Mojo II, who he later ousts.

Mojo later sends Spider-Man and Wolverine randomly shifting through time, the time-shifts being virtual creations generated by Mojo as a new idea.

Later, Mojo is demoted by the producers on Mojo World due to low ratings and moved to "Educational Broadcasting". He creates an agency named The Yellow Eye to spy on every single mutant alive. When Cable sends Domino to spy on this agency, she is captured and brainwashed by Mojo.''X-Force'' vol. 4 #12 His organization is eventually brought down by the X-Force.

In the 2016 ''Howard the Duck'' run, Mojo was revealed to have used footage of Howard's adventure to create a reality show for the Mojoverse. To fill in the gaps on Howard's life, Mojo filmed footage of a small alien in a duck costume interacting with Lea Thompson performing as Beverly Switzler (referencing the 1986 film adaptation of the character).

Powers and abilities

Mojo's multi-legged flying platform is armed with various particle beam weapons. It also has a large artificial appendage that can be used as an arm or a slicing weapon and two smaller arms. He is strong enough to hold a human off of the ground with one arm easily. He has several powers derived from magic, like the projection of magical energy blasts, controlling the minds of others, and inter-dimensional teleportation. These magical powers are strengthened by the 'worship of his followers' and hence directly linked to the popularity of his TV programs. He cannot be harmed by the touch of Rogue, no matter how long she is in contact with him.

He is also a master manipulator and schemer, shown in his organization of his slaughter entertainment games. He can also call upon vast manpower to assist him in his endeavors and has access to vast technological resources.

Mojo is also a force of death and corruption, able to generate an anti-life field that makes his touch able to wither plants and age humans outside of his home dimension. According to Doctor Strange, his prolonged presence on Earth could cause storms and other natural disasters.

Other versions

Mojo claims that he and the beings who populate Mojo World are "unique" in the sense that unlike the rest of the Marvel Universe, Mojo World has no parallel counterpart; this was documented in '' Exiles'' #18-19. However, alternate versions of Longshot and Mojo exist in the Ultimate Marvel continuity, and an alternate future reality of Mojo World, where the Spineless Ones were mistreated slaves, was featured in the "Shattershot" storyline.

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Mojo from Earth-1610 appears in ''Ultimate X-Men''. This version is Mojo Adams, a human albino television producer and politician on Genosha.

Reception

Both Chris Miller of ''Screen Rant'' and Alex Schlesinger of ''AIPT'' highlighted Mojo's villain role in '' NYX'' (vol. 2). Miller commented that Mojo is "one of the X-Men's most terrifying villains, the master of multidimensional television called Mojo, has spent decades trying to forcefully conscript the X-Men into his trashy interdimensional shows, movies, and games". Miller noted that in ''NYX'', Mojo is seen with a "new puppeteering power" which grants "him a terrifying degree of leverage over Earth". Schlesinger stated that he wished "Mojo was the main villain of the whole series" and he wanted "more TikTok Mojo". Schlesinger commented that Mojo "is horrifying in this comic. Mojo has often been seen as a silly, deranged… blob, that was always more ridiculous than he was terrifying. In ''NYX'' though, Mojo has been updated to our modern social media age, and Mortarino’s depiction of Mojo is monstrous and scary, including his new 'Mr. Friend' disguise".

In other media

Television

* Mojo appears in '' X-Men: The Animated Series'', voiced by Peter Wildman. This version possesses a mechanical tail tipped with a laser cannon.
** Mojo appears in the ''X-Men '97'' episode "Motendo", voiced by David Errigo Jr. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
* Mojo appears in '' Wolverine and the X-Men'', voiced by Charlie Adler.
* Mojo appears in the '' Avengers Assemble'' episode "Mojo World", voiced by Ralph Garman. This version possesses a holographic human disguise based on his Ultimate Marvel counterpart.

Video games

* Mojo appears as a boss in ''X-Men''.
* Mojo makes a cameo appearance in Spiral's ending in '' X-Men: Children of the Atom''.
* Mojo appears as the final boss of '' X-Men: Mojo World''.
* Mojo makes a cameo appearance in Viewtiful Joe's ending for '' Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds'' as a producer for a police procedural that he is starring in.
* Mojo appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Contest of Champions''.
* Mojo appears in '' Marvel Snap''.

Merchandise

* In 1994, Toy Biz produced a Mojo action figure for their wave of X-Men: X-Force toys. A smaller die-cast metal version of the mold was also available under the banner "Steel Mutants" packaged with a Longshot figure.
* In 2002, a Unique HeroClix figure of Mojo was released in the "Clobberin' Time" set.
* In 2006, a "Build-A-Figure" Mojo toy was produced by Toy Biz for Wave 14 of their Marvel Legends toyline.
* In 2014, Bowen Designs produced a 17.5" tall statue of Mojo, which was designed and sculpted by the Kucharek Brothers.

References

External links

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{{Marvel Multiverse

Characters created by Ann Nocenti
Characters created by Art Adams
Comics characters introduced in 1985
Fictional characters with albinism
Fictional mass media owners
Fictional slave owners
Fictional television personalities
Genoshans
Marvel Comics characters who use magic
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics cyborgs
Marvel Comics extraterrestrial supervillains
Marvel Comics male supervillains
X-Men supporting characters