Morbius gets spotlight in Amazing Spider-Man 699.1, written by Joe Keatinge

Joe Keatinge and Dan Slott write today’s “Amazing Spider-Man” 699.1, which gives background on the character of Morbius, who will star in a new series from Marvel starting in 2013.

Today’s issue, with art by Valentine Delandro and Marco Checchetto, follows Morbius after the Raft prison break-out from “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 699, and looks back to Morbius’ origin.   The character of Michael Morbius, the Living Vampire, first appeared in “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 101, as an antagonist to Peter Parker.  Though Morbius’ vampirism has a more science-based origin, his placement in the comics came shortly after the Comics Code loosened to allow vampires and other supernatural elements.

He’s since appeared in multiple arcs of “Amazing Spider-Man” and other comics, most recently in Dan Slott’s run on the title.  The character previously had an ongoing series as part of the “Midnight Sons” horror brand of Marvel titles in 1992.