Morbius

Real Name
Doctor Michael Morbius

Occupation
Former biochemist, former hematologist

Citizenship
Greece; criminal record in the U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Unknown

Known Relatives
Martine Bancroft (ex-fiancée)

Group Affiliation
Midnight Sons, the Nine, Legion of Monsters

Education
Ph.D in Biochemistry

Height
5'10"

Weight
170 lbs.

Eyes
Red; formerly blue

Hair
Black

Powers
Morbius is a human mutate possessing a variety of powers akin to a supernatural vampire: he maintains super-human strength (the extent of which depends on the amount of blood he has ingested and the type of blood), speed, reflexes, agility, senses, and an accelerated healing factor; he has sharp claws and fangs, and the ability to glide on air currents via his hollow bones.

Abilities
Morbius is one of the world's foremost experts on biochemistry and blood-related diseases.

Other Info
Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Dr. Michael Morbius discovered he was dying of a rare disorder that was dissolving his blood cells. Not wanting to distress his fiancée Martine, Morbius began secretly working on a cure. With the aid of his partner, Emil Nikos, Morbius attempted using distilled fluids from bats to stay his disease. While experimenting with these serums on board his yacht, Morbius had Nikos run an electrical shock through his system. This combination changed Michael's body, transforming him into something resembling a vampire. He was now driven by a hunger for blood; therefore, Morbius slew Nikos, but stopped short of draining his friend's body. Fearful that he would strike at his fiancée Martine next, Morbius tried ending his life; however, he was unsuccessful. (Doctor Morbius in his human form is shown in the third picture posted.)

Later, Morbius' attacks on innocents brought him into conflicts with Spider-Man, the Lizard, and the Human Torch. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about the different characters.)

Afters sometime, Martine was able to find her fiancé and she convinced Morbius to return to her after he had encountered Jack Russell, the Werewolff. Using the last of his Nobel Prize money, Martine purchased the Mason House, located just outside Boston. Though reputedly haunted, Martine felt that it would afford them privacy while Morbius sought a cure. (To learn about the Werewolf, click on his name above.)

Eventually, CIA agent Simon Stroud (he was seeking a vampire killer in Boston) came to view Morbius as his prime suspect. While Morbius discovered that he had a psychological need to drink blood from living victims, Stroud invaded the Mason House and arrested Martine and had the police question her. During this time apart, Martine was attacked by the true vampire killer and transformed into a pseudo-vampire, much like Morbius. However, she was eventually cured of her condition when Morbius created an antidote that was a derivative of his own blood. Frustrated at both his inability to cure himself and the perpetual danger to Martine, Morbius ended their relationship. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about Simon Stroud.)

Now on his own again, Morbius "the Living Vampire" began a short-lived alliance with the Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, and Werewolf. However, this "Legion of Monsters" unintentionally slew the benevolent Starseed before going their separate ways. (To learn about the highlighted characters, click on their names above.)

Eventually, Morbius clashed with Spider-Man again atop a Long Island mansion. Morbius was struck by lightning while draining Spider-Man's blood, catalyzing its radioactive elements and reversing much of his vampiric condition. He no longer required the blood of others to survive, but he still retained a physiological need to drink it.

Fleeing to Los Angeles, Morbius found work in a neuroradiology lab at the University of California. While working on a serum to cure himself of his continued craving for blood, Morbius met Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk). Morbius gave Walters his serum, curing her of a degenerative disease and allowing her to control her transformations into the She-Hulk. Walters later served as Morbius' defense attorney during his trial for the murders he'd committed as a pseudo-vampire. The jury, convinced that Morbius had been unable to control his urges, convicted him only of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced him to five years in prison, to be served after completing his cure. After succeeding, Morbius went to prison willingly and was soon paroled for good behavior. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about the She-Hulk. Note: Beware the very skin-tight outfit on the She Hulk's bio page.)

Unfortunately, the urges returned and Morbius slowly regressed into pseudo-vampirism. Failing to get the help he desired from Doctor Strange, Morbius began feeding on people again. Sickened to discover that the victims upon whom he'd fed were innocents, Morbius once more fled into the night. (To learn about Doctor Strange, click on his name above.)

Later, Morbius was reunited with Martine, who had also decided to help Morbius once more. She had contacted Dr. David Langford, who had created a new serum from Morbius' notes. (Unbeknownst to Martine, Langford was employed by Dr. Paine who wanted to kill Morbius so that he might lay claim to and profit from his research). One of the Lilin named Fang added his own blood to the serum, which ended up altering Morbius on the cellular level. Unfortunately, soon after, Martine was slain by Langford after she discovered his plans. Morbius went berserk and slew Langford in turn. Realizing that he felt no guilt for this murder, Morbius swore that he would only drink the blood of the guilty in the future. (To learn about the characters above, click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit worn by one on the Lilin's bio page.)

Morbius later joined the Midnight Sons and fought against Lilith and her Lilin. In the fight, Morbius drained the life out of Fang. After the battle, Morbius asked Nightstalker Frank Drake to use his necrotechnology on him, hoping it would cure his condition, but it failed. Demoralized over this failure, Morbius was easy prey for Lilith's control during the so-called Midnight Massacre. In the aftermath, Morbius was slain by a Darkhold-empowered Blade. However, he was soon resurrected. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the characters and/or team. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit on Lilith's bio page.)

Even though he was now resurrected, Dr. Strange informed him that he was now a soulless being, which brought about further depression. Being tricked by the Dwarf into using a page of the Darkhold, Morbius revived Martine, but found she was now the host for a Lilin named Parasite. Soon after, the dark part of Morbius' soul (which was tainted by Fang's blood) began to emerge, calling itself "Bloodthirst." Bloodthirst attempted to alter Morbius in both body and mind. The Werewolf and the Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch) both sought to capture him, but in the end it was Morbius himself who drove the demon out. Unfortunately, later, Martine was slain yet again. However, an immortal Blood named Embyrre resurrected her spirit. But, the couple was denied happiness, as Martine was now emotionless and increasingly frustrated with the fact that Morbius would not allow her the peace of death. (To learn about the characters/item/race above, click on their highlighted names.)

After battles with Deathlok, the Wraith, and Bloodthirst (now in his own body), Morbius met the young Lena Ivana. Rescuing her from a life of forced prostitution, the two began a rocky romance. Still distraught over his failed relationship with Martine and his ongoing existence as a living vampire, Morbius killed himself. However, Morbius was revived with a serum by an old friend, Dr. Jacob Weisenthal. (To learn about Deathlok, click on the highlighted name above.)

After this, Morbius began a period of wandering, leaving behind his life as Morgan Michaels. He crossed paths with Blade in New Orleans, during Ulysses Sojourner's plot to unite the East Coast vampires under his rule. Morbius also later fought X-Man and Spider-Man. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about X-Man.)

Sometime later, Morbius sought out Dr. Andrea Jansen's help in finding a cure, only to discover that she was in league with HYDRA and the villain named Crown. Morbius later seemingly sacrificed himself to destroy Crown, but was actually taken prisoner and experimented upon. After Crown's transformation into the vampiric Hunger, Morbius was freed by Blade and Spider-Man. Nearly mindless with bloodlust, Morbius bit Blade and fled the scene. (To learn about HYDRA, click on their name above.)

Morbius "The Living Vampire" continues to search for a cure, hoping to somehow regain the humanity he lost so long ago. Most recently, Morbius registered according to the Superhuman Registration Act and worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. to set up and capture Blade in Long Beach, California to use against the mutant Wolverine. (To learn about S.H.I.E.L.D. and/or Wolverine, click on the highlighted names above.)

To learn more about Morbius, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Morbius.

In the bonus features of the Blade DVD, apparently there is an alternate ending where Blade sees a figure on top of a building whose identity is concealed behind a cloth mask. (This can be seen in the second picture posted above.) The film's writer stated that he originally intended Morbius to be the villain in Blade II; however they scratched that idea for something else.