While I wanted to produce a post for this blog that in some
way ties into Sony’s Morbius movie, I couldn’t find any direct
connections to the MC2. So, instead I present the next best thing: an in-direct
connection to Morbius’ first comic appearance within the MC2.
Some history for those who don’t know: In Amazing
Spider-Man #100, Stan Lee’s last regular issue, Peter Parker uses
a formula he had developed in an attempt to finally rid himself of his
spider-powers. Untested, Peter takes a chance and tests it on himself,
soon after becoming unwell and experiencing terrible nightmares. Upon waking, Peter
is horrified to discover he has grown four extra arms.
In shock and forced to hide this latest unexpected
development, Peter fobs off his then-girlfriend Gwen Stacy and an
offer of work at the Daily Bugle, and desperate to find a place to hide
and work on an antidote for his condition contacts Dr Curt Connors aka The Lizard.
Connors allows Spider-Man to use his secluded place in South
Hampton which included a fully-equipped laboratory in the basement, and
Peter stealthily makes his way there under cover of darkness and spends two days
frantically trying to cure himself to no avail (Amazing Spider-Man #101).
Meanwhile, another Doctor, Michael Morbius makes his debut aboard a nearby anchored ship. Having killed the ship’s captain, Morbius is turned upon by the crew until nightfall allows him to regain his strength and make short work of them before leaping from the vessel with some remorse. Morbius seeks shelter and rest in the nearby house owned by Curt Connors, and soon encounters Spider-Man when night falls. Their battle is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Curt Connors himself and the shock triggers his own transformation into his more monstrous Lizard form (Amazing Spider-Man #101).
Morbius and the Lizard fight over who may lay
claim to the Spider-Man until Morbius seizes an opportunity to bite
the Lizard but is interrupted before fully feeding by Spider-Man and
quickly departs. The bite causes the Lizard to partially revert to Connors,
including the loss of his right arm, which leads Spider-Man and Connors/the
Lizard to deduce they can utilize an enzyme from Morbius’ bite to
cure themselves. After an extended exploration of Morbius’ origins, we
pick up with Spider-Man and a Lizard who is quickly-reasserting
control of his mind and body. The pair track down and add some of Morbius’
blood to their serum which fortunately proves to be the cure they needed,
restoring Connors to human form and removing Spider-Man’s
addition limbs. Naturally, Morbius escapes and is believed to have perished
beneath the waves (Amazing Spider-Man #102).
Now, how does all this have any bearing on the MC2? Well,
we know for sure these events transpired in the past of the MC2’s Peter Parker
thanks to an unlikely source; Spider-Man Family Vol. 1 #1. Therein we
have a story (seemingly) set during the mostly unexplored point in time after Baby May
is rescued
and returned to Peter and Mary Jane Parker by Kaine
but before Peter loses his leg in his final battle
with Norman
Osborn aka the Green Goblin. Lured into a trap by the villain Jack O’ Lantern
aka Maguire Beck,
Spider-Man meets and teams-up with Araña and her *sidekick* Miguel
as they battle a variety of museum like room full of Spider-Man robot’s
designed to resemble various costumes and points in Peter’s career. Among
these we see a Six-Armed Spider-Man robot which should reaffirm for
anyone who may doubt the Main Marvel Universe and the MC2 share a
common history (up to a point) and by extension, the existence of the living
vampire Morbius.
Now for a little nit-pick! While I can understand how a
villain like Jack O’ Lantern would confuse Ben Reilly or Miguel
O’Hara with the original Spider-Man and include them when filling
out her museum of various Spidey robots, the very existence of a Six-Armed
Spider-Man was supposedly a secret. That said, I’d like to offer a No-Prize
explanation, if I may. During the so-call ‘Six-Armed Spider-Man’ story
arc, various phone calls are made to New York’s TV News Service and the Daily
Bugle about the events that are transpiring, including Morbius’
attacks and a sighting of the Lizard and the extra-limbed Spider-Man,
described as a ‘prowler’ with ‘the usual hundred arms.’ It’s conceivable
that one of these witnesses managed to snap a photo of the arachnid hero amid all
this confusion. Alternatively, any of the participants including Morbius
or Connors may have later relayed this information to others. In fact,
we know for certain that Spider-Man told the Human Torch about
his encounter with Morbius, including mention of how he cured himself of
his additional limbs (Marvel Team-Up #3). Problem patched?
Well, that’s the closest you’ll get to an MC2-related
Morbius tie-in post from me, I hope it was worth the read. Let me know
if you think I’ve missed some super-obvious connection!
Until I start producing my own unique enzyme that’s capable
of removing entire limbs while cursed to crave the blood of others, I remain
frogoat
