I Took A Bite

Written by Kal-El

As we might know that vampires does exist or some had believe it to be only a myth, but in the Marvel Universe, Vampires does exist, who knows, they might live amongst us. Could be your neighbor or could be your average doctor. But I’m not here to tell a dark tale about the infamous Count Dracula, But today, I’m gonna be talking about a special person, a Hero or sometimes bad guy by mistake that goes by the name, Michael Morbius.

Morbius The Living Vampire a.k.a Michael Morbius , who is intended as a tragic anti-hero with vampire-like powers that actually had a biochemical origin. Self-tormented over his nature but wanting to live, he has appeared as both a villain and an ally in various Spider-Man comics. The Morbius comics kicked off as he initially appeared on Amazing Spider-Man #101, in which he is attacked by the Lizard and defeated when Spider-Man and the Lizard join forces. A flashback in the comic series, which had reveals that Morbius was actually a Nobel prize-winning biochemist, who had attempted to cure himself of a rare blood disease with an experimental treatment involving vampire bats and electroshock therapy. However, he instead became afflicted with a far worse condition that mimicked the powers and bloodthirst of legendary vampirism.

Morbius now had to digest blood in order to survive and had a strong aversion to light. He gained the ability to fly, as well as superhuman strength and healing abilities. His appearance became hideous and his canine teeth extended into fangs, his nose flattened to appear more like a bat's, and his skin became chalk-white. He also gained the ability to turn others into similar "living vampires" by biting them. Though he managed at one point to cure himself of his pseudo-vampirism, he eventually reverted back to his altered form.

He later received his own self-titled comic book series in 1992 in which had Morbius in a new altered costume, as part of the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover event between Marvel's supernatural horror themed comics. These later stories add to his repertoire of powers the ability to hypnotize others and describe his ability to fly as also psionic in nature. Michael Morbius possesses a variety of superhuman powers, some of which are similar to supernatural vampires within the Marvel Universe.

Morbius possesses an accelerated healing factor and can recover from mild to moderate injuries at a rate beyond that of ordinary humans. While not nearly as efficient as the healing powers possessed by the X-Men Wolverine, Morbius has proven able to heal from multiple gunshot wounds in less than an hour. More severe injuries, such as broken bones or severe burns, might take several days to heal, but once was shown to take minutes even though it left him as a near-mindless creature who must feed to replenish the energy that was used to do so. He is unable to regenerate missing limbs or organs, but Slaughter, another living vampire, has shown that a living vampire can reattach cut off parts of their body and survive a beheading if they have gained enough vitality from blood consumption.

Due to his vampire-like condition, Morbius is forced to ingest fresh blood on a regular basis to maintain his life and vitality. How much blood he requires and how often he must feed has not been specified in the comics.

Most of Morbius's victims die or are severely injured by his bite. Unlike supernatural vampires, Morbius's victims do not necessarily become vampires themselves. One interesting fact concerns the blood of Spider-Man. Apparently; the irradiated blood of the wall-crawler has a kind of reverse-effect on Morbius, causing his vampirism to go into remission. As a result, after drinking Spider-Man's blood, Morbius does not need to feed again for some time. Morbius once developed a serum based on Spider-Man's blood which would stave off his vampirism for short periods of time.

Morbius does not possess any of the mystical vulnerabilities that supernatural vampires are subject to, such as to garlic, holy water or silver. He is sensitive to sunlight, thanks to his photo-sensitive skin which prevents any protection from major sun burn, in contrast to "true" vampires that are incinerated by it. Morbius also lacks the shape-shifting and weather control powers of vampires, and the ability to control animals.

Like "true" vampires, Morbius does possess the ability to hypnotize others and bring them under his control, which can only be resisted by those possessing an extremely strong will. Theoreticaly, he could use this ability to control animals, very similiar to a supernatural vampire's control.

In the first issue, Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze, search for Morbius to form The Nine and stop Lilith and the Lilin from taking over the world. When they found Morbius, the vampire believed they would kill him but Ghost Rider and John Blaze successfully captured him. Dr. Langford, who tried to help Morbius's wounds, was actually trying to kill him and was working for Dr. Paine. He made a serum that would prove fatal to Morbius, but unknown to Dr. Langford, Fang, one of Lilith's children was also trying to kill Morbius by adding his own demonic blood to the serum, which would also be fatal to Morbius. When Dr. Langford injected the serum to Morbius, it did not kill him, but instead mutated him. Morbius's friend, Jacob was trying to look inside of him and see what he could do about Morbius's condition.

After Martine, Morbius's wife, found out Langford was trying to kill him, Langford shot her and she bled to death. Morbius found this out and was enraged to find his wife dead. He later killed Langford and took the beaker which contained the serum. Ghost Rider and John Blaze later found out Morbius's destruction. Ghost Rider confronted him and would not tolerate Morbius drinking anymore innocent blood. Morbius then vowed he would only drink the blood of the guilty. Ghost Rider accepted the vow, but warned him not to stray from it. Morbius soon became part of The Midnight Sons. I should know, I had these comics.

Much later, a new faction of Vampires led by Hunger, the next evolution of the super villain Crown, tried to destroy Morbius because he had been genetically manipulated to be the perfect weapon. The chest he was to be delivered in was intercepted by the Kingpin, Blade, and Spider-Man, and he attacked all three. Unfortunately, whatever unknown party manipulated him failed; he collapsed after one battle, possibly dying. With his last breath he warned Spider-Man to beware of his employer, Stuart Ward.

Most recently Morbius appeared in the newest Blade series, there it was revealed that Morbius had signed the Superhuman Registration Act and was cooperating with S.H.I.E.L.D. forces in an effort to capture Blade. He had also presumably survived his Genetic Manipulation, as Blade was able distinguish him as the same Morbius who 'Took a Bite out of him' in their previous encounter.

So true believers, there are Vampires out there, just make sure to bring a pack of garlic when you walk alone in the evening, but if you see a vampire looking pale wearing blue and red jacket uniform, I suggest you have Blade’s phone number, or just do the most simplest thing ever……Run!