Cold Blooded

Spider-Man, Morbius the Living Vampire, and Max Modell believe they have cured Curt Connors of being the Lizard. However, as they run tests on him they are unaware that the Lizard’s mind is still in control and waiting for the right time to strike. Fooling them into thinking Curt Connors is back, the Lizard begins tempting Morbius’ blood lust. With their tests done, Morbius then insists that they use the cure on him. Spider-Man has his reservations, reminding Max about how Morbius went on a rampage last time he tried.[1]

Spider-Man forgets Curt is right in front of them when he also mentions that Morbius dug up Billy Connors’ body.[2] At first it appears that Curt isn’t reacting and Max chalks it up to Curt being in a state of shock. Realizing they might discover the truth, the Lizard then begins pretends to get upset and asks to see his son. They show him Billy’s body which is being kept in a freezer. Morbius insists that it was necessary before admitting that he did it in the hopes of curing himself. Connors asks to have a moment alone with his son, but this is only to give the Lizard time to figure out a way to create a distraction. Looking in the fridge he finds just what he needs, blood samples.

Outside, Horizon Lab’s lawyer Hector Beaz and the rest of their staff have come to express their displeasure that Morbius is back on the premises, particularly since he recently robbed a grave. Making matters worse is the fact that Sajani Jaffrey called Carlie Cooper about it.[3] While everyone argues outside, “Curt Connors” begins pouring the blood samples into the ventilation system in order to agitate Morbius. That’s when Cooper arrives and wants to know why Spider-Man hasn’t apprehended the vampire. While Spider-Man tries to explain himself, Sajani gets in Morbius’ face. Because of the blood in the air, Morbius loses control and bites her neck. When Spider-Man sees this he attacks Morbius right away.

Morbius tries to explain himself but things are getting out of control. When Uatu Jackson tries to help Spider-Man with his vampire hunting gear, Spider-Man breaks off from the attack to disarm the boy, telling him to stay out of this. Regaining some control, Morbius apologizes for what happened and asks Max to forgive him before leaping out a window. Spider-Man heads out after him, refusing any further aid, as he wants to take down Morbius on his own. Hector Beaz then offers Horizon Lab’s full cooperation to Officer Cooper. That’s when Curt Connors emerges from the lab and tells them that he can develop a cure for Morbius the Living Vampire. Carlie points out that Connors is still a wanted felon, but Curt points out that he is the only one with knowledge on the would be cure, citing how he worked on a version of it in the past.[4] Max insists on helping since he also worked on the Spider-Island cure.[5] Although Connors resigns to Max helping, he refuses to allow Uatu to help. For a brief moment, he sees his son, Billy, in the young scientist before dismissing the thought.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man continues to chase Morbius who is continuing to flee even though the sunlight will weaken him. When Spider-Man finally catches up he ignores the vampire’s attempts to explain himself and lays into him, ending to end the life of Michael Morbius once and for all.

While in Astoria, Julia Carpenter walks her daughter out of their building for the first day of summer school. Rachel complains that her mother didn’t use her clairvoyant powers to warn her about failing three courses. Julie tells her daughter that sometimes people need to go down the wrong path in order to learn something. After her daughter is gone, Julia is suddenly struck with a powerful vision. She sees a series of images warning her that the web of fate is starting to unravel and races back up to her apartment to put on her Madame Web costume so she can find Peter Parker and warn him of what is to come.[6]

While back at Horizon Labs, Curt Connors and Max Modell begin working on a cure for Morbius. To learn more, Max intends on injecting lab rats with the Lizard formula. However, Curt injects himself with one of the doses and while this allows him to grow back his lost arm, the Lizard is annoyed that the cure has prevented him from fully transforming. Overpowering Max Modell, he decides to test on him to learn a way of counteracting the cure by injecting him with the formula. As Max turns into a lizard creature, Connors vows to become the Lizard again in both body and mind.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, the Lizard, Max Modell, Morbius the Living Vampire, Hector Beaz, Sajani Jaffrey, Grady Scraps, Uatu Jackson, Bella Fishbach, Tiberius Stone, Carlie Cooper, Madame Web, Rachel Carpenter, Billy Connors (corpse)

Continuity Notes

1. Morbius attempted to cure himself previously in Amazing Spider-Man #679.1

2. Billy Connors was murdered by his own father when he was the Lizard in Amazing Spider-Man #631. Morbius dug up the boy’s corpse last issue.

3. Sajani refers to Carlie as Peter Parker’s girlfriend. Spider-Man tries to correct her before stopping himself. Peter and Carlie dated from Amazing Spider-Man #647 to 673. They broke up after she found out that Peter was secretly Spider-Man.

4. Connors is referring to the time he helped cure Spider-Man when he accidentally gave himself six arms. See Amazing Spider-Man #101.

5. You remember Spider-Island right? Amazing Spider-Man #666-673.

6. The images Madame Web sees center around the Hobgoblin, the Kingpin, Norah Winters, and Tiberius Stone, foretelling the events of Amazing Spider-Man #695-697.