The cinematic Spider-Verse is bursting at the seams, having been torn open during the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The possibilities are endless regarding what Sony's Spider-Man Universe will look like by 2022's end, and the upcoming film Morbius will heavily factor into those plans.
Starring Jared Leto in the title role, the film seeks to entice viewers with the tale of Dr. Michael Morbius, who first glided onto the pages as a villain of the webhead. Spider-Man is not expected to appear in Morbius, but his history with the titular vampire is certainly substantial: their history in the comics is as complicated as it is cavernous. Charting their encounters on Earth-616 over the years characterizes Morbius in a uniquely empathetic way, unveiling a contentious friendship tempered by the vampire's desire to be free of his affliction.
8 Morbius' Blood Cures The Spider
The first encounter between the two characters came about when both are wrestling with rather grotesque problems. Spider-Man has sprouted additional arms in a failed effort to rid himself of his powers. This serves as a pretty excellent setup for Morbius' introduction in Amazing Spider-Man #101-102, penned by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Gil Kane. Their confrontation acts as a grim reflection of what Peter Parker has turned himself into. A duel of monsters, yet one that holds the key to Spider-Man's return to normalcy. First coming across each other in a building where they sought refuge, Spider-Man and Morbius are more or less a nuisance to each other until Peter makes a shocking discovery: Morbius' blood can cure his multiple-limbs predicament. Morbius winds up sinking in a river after flying into an overpass, thanks to the excess weight provided by the trailing Spider-Man.
7 Spider-Man Enlists The Human Torch In His Fight Against The Vampire
Morbius' finance, Martine Bancroft, approaches the Fantastic Four with a request for aid: she desperately wants her love to be relinquished from his curse. The Human Torch, remembering his friend Spider-Man's earlier scuffle with the Living Vampire, seeks out the hero to seek answers in Gerry Conway and Ross Andru's Marvel Team-Up #3.
Morbius, meanwhile, surfaces in another part of the city and is discovered by Jefferson Bolt, whom he feeds on and turns into a vampire. Spider-Man and the Human Torch confront Morbius, but the story acts more as a heroic coming-of-age for the Living Vampire. During his fight with the heroes, Bolt begins fighting Morbius but the former perishes when the latter shoves him, sending his head crashing against a rock. The terror that Morbius unleashes ultimately proves to be the greatest danger to him.
6 Morbius Falls Under Empathoid's Control
A truly odd chapter of Morbius' evolution takes place when he crosses paths with the Empathoid, an android seeking the experience of emotions through the possession of sentient beings. Gerry Conway and Ross Andru once again lend their talents to the Living Vampire's tale in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #6-8.
Right on the heels of his rumble with Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and Jefferson Bolt, Morbius finds himself taken over by the Empathoid as the latter seeks to experience more violent emotions, hence his interest in the vampire. Driven to hunt the innocent by this destructive force, Morbius attempts to resist the being's control whilst also having to fight off the web-slinger, who obviously takes notice of Morbius' string of murders. Spider-Man knocks out his old foe and rids him of the Empathoid, but finds himself at the mercy of the being. Morbius and the webhead work together to overwhelm the Empathoid using the fans of a football stadium; afterward, Morbius is allowed to go free.
5 Morbius Is Cured
It's more likely for one to be struck by lightning than to find a cure for vampirism: at least, that's the angle Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema take when writing Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #38. Continuing his quest to satisfy his thirst, Morbius battles Spider-Man atop a mansion when the Living Vampire is miraculously struck by lightning.
The freak accident seemingly cures Morbius of his affliction as he reverts to his human appearance. This becomes the new status quo for the troubled doctor over the next decade: Morbius does not regain his vampiric abilities until 1989, nine years after that fateful night in the rain.
4 Morbius Stalks Empire State University
Spider-Man first attempts to understand the Living Vampire's predicament in Spider-Man #77-80, primarily told by Howard Mackie, Claudio Castellini, and John Romita Jr. Morbius' thirst for blood is back and has taken on a new vengeance in its quest for satiation: the consuming of blood is quenching his desire less and less and he's desperate for some understanding of it.
Morbius visits Empire State University and is immediately met by Spider-Man, who battles him thinking he's on the prowl. Morbius escapes but not without biting the web-slinger and managing to calm his hunger. He'd eventually approach Dr. Andrea Janson about his condition, and though Spider-Man continues to doubt the vampire's intentions, he's persuaded by Mary Jane Watson to help him. Further, Loxias Crown a.k.a. Hunger makes an appearance, granting Spider-Man and Morbius a legitimate reason to team up.
3 Collision At Horizon Labs
Peter Parker began working at Horizon Labs around the same time as Michael Morbius did, though the latter does so in secret. In Amazing Spider-Man #671-691, Morbius plans to find a cure for not only his condition but that of Dr. Curt Connors, a.k.a. the Lizard.
Spider-Man eventually discovers the plan and confronts the two, driving Morbius from his work at Horizon. Unfortunately, the Lizard has completely overtaken the personality of Connors and provokes Morbius by pumping blood through the ventilation system. This sends the vampire into a frenzy and forces Spider-Man to subdue him before he feeds on the other Horizon scientists; he's eventually locked up in the Raft.
2 A Brief Misunderstanding
Morbius' 2020 eponymous comic, written by Vita Ayala and drawn by Marcelo Ferreira and Paulo Siqueira, tracks the Living Vampire as his condition deteriorates thanks to another crack at a cure, causing further mutations in Michael's body.
Morbius starts to resemble the Man-Bat of DC canon as Spider-Man halts him from using a laboratory to seek out a cure. A brief fight ensues but the two come to an understanding once Spider-Man allows Morbius some blood, thereby calming him enough to explain himself. From there on, Spidey actually assists Morbius in his scientific endeavors and though they achieve a cure for his mutated state, Morbius is disappointed to learn that he remains a vampire.
1 Morbius Bites Spider-Man
The adventures told by Kelly Thompson and Sara Pichelli in Amazing Spider-Man #77-78 don't follow Peter Parker: this story is centered on Ben Reilly, the genetic clone of Parker. Morbius' intentions in this contemporary meeting with Spider-Man remain a mystery; nevertheless, the Living Vampire bites the web-head after the latter investigates a crime scene caused by the former. Reilly arrives and attempts to question Morbius but the vampire manages to escape the webbing restraining him. The spidey sense proves inadequate as the Living Vampire manages to accost Reilly from behind, plunging his fangs into the hero's neck. It's theorized by Reilly that Morbius is after another cure for his condition and somehow Spidey's blood factors into that. Comic readers eagerly await the resolution to Reilly's first encounter with the Living Vampire.