Sony once again makes an endeavor into their own cinematic universe based on Marvel properties. Much like how Marvel Entertainment built a cinematic universe based on iconic Marvel comic characters, Sony aims to do the same with Spider-Man characters.
In 2018, Sony released Venom, a movie based on the character of the same name, followed by its sequel, Venom: Let there be Carnage in the fall of 2021. The third installment in Sony’s growing “web” of Spider-Man related films premiered in American theaters on April 1. Focusing on the titular character, Morbius the film features Jared Leto as the vampire-esque Michael Morbius, a brilliant scientist who suffers from a rare blood disorder.
While Venom had name recognition among Marvel fans, Morbius is not as recognizable a character to many who are not avid readers of the comics. So let us sink our teeth into the comic book history of Marvel’s Living Vampire.
First appearing in 1971’s Amazing Spider-Man #101, Dr. Michael Morbius is a biochemist who was born with a rare blood disorder. Morbius gained his vampire-like powers while trying to develop a cure for his condition, developing super strength, speed, endurance, and reflexes, as well as a heightened healing factor. Other powers in his range of vampire-like abilities include mesmerism, the ability to glide like a bat, and retractable fangs and claws.
Initially introduced as an antagonist, Morbius in his first appearance fought Spider-Man while he was in Florida trying to cure himself of his mutated six additional arms. Morbius’s blood would later be used by the Lizard another member of Spider-man's rogues’ gallery to cure Spider-Man of his extra appendages (Amazing Spider-Man #102).
Aside from Spider-Man, Morbius would continue to be an antagonist to other heroes, including the Human Torch and the X-Men (Marvel Team-Up #3, Marvel Team-Up #4). Morbius would shed his villainous skin in later appearances, allying with other heroic characters like Blade and the West Coast Avengers (Fear #24, The West Coast Avengers #5).
By the modern age, Morbius has become more identified with heroism than villainy, working with the government to combat superhuman threats after the first superhero Civil War, including a stint as a scientist at A.R.M.O.R. where he helped fight off an invasion of super-powered zombies from a parallel Earth (Marvel Zombies #1-4).
While the film may not follow the exact comic book history of the character, Morbius has helped raise the profile of the Living Vampire among Marvel Cinematic Universe fans who have not read much of the comics. Morbius entered theaters in April 2022.
