Issue(s): Morbius #13
Cover Date: Sep 93
Title: "Better off dead"
Credits:
Gregory Wright - Writer
Ron Wagner & Henry Martinez - Penciler
Andrew Pepoy & Sam DeLaRosa - Inker
James Felder - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
In the aftermath of the Midnight Massacre, something is wrong with Morbius, and Werewolf By Night has asked Dr. Strange to examine him. Strange says that Morbius no longer has a body temperature or heartbeat, and also no soul. The first two seem to indicate that Morbius is no longer a "living" vampire. Morbius bursts out of the room in despair. Dr. Strange teleports away, saying that he's going to study the ramifications of recent Darkhold related events.

It turns out that Morbius only went as far as a ledge outside the building, to brood. Werewolf By Night joins him, still convinced that he can help Morbius embrace and overcome his monster side. They are approached by the Darkhold Dwarf, who tells Morbius about a Darkhold page that will grant his "fondest desire". It's being held by the Darkhold Redeemers.

The Dwarf also says that once Morbius acquires the page, he should read it over the grave of his love, Martine Bancroft.

At this point you'd think anyone familiar with the Darkhold pages would have to be insane to use them, and i still think that's true, but Morbius' reasoning is that he already doesn't have a soul so he has nothing to lose. Even with that, though there's also the fact that Morbius is upset about his increased vampirism. The fact that the Dwarf is directing him to Martine's grave should tell him that whatever the page will do won't be a solution to his current problems. Even if he doesn't have a soul to lose he's got to realize that whatever is going to happen is just going to be introducing more complications. But i guess he's stricken with grief and isn't thinking rationally.

I've complained that the Darkhold book hasn't focused enough on them actually performing their mission of retrieving Darkhold pages. It turns out that must be happening behind the scenes, because when Morbius gets to their place, he pulls the page he wants from a huge collection almost as big as the actual Darkhold.

Morbius takes the page to Martine's grave and, yeah, he's just really dumb.

Oh, i thought i was sent to Martine's grave for something completely unrelated. But you're telling me that it'll raise Martine from the dead? Ok, sounds legit. And never mind that i'm turning more and more into an uncontrollable killer. Even if Martine's resurrection comes without the inevitable Monkey's Paw clause, what's going to stop me from sucking her blood the minute i get hungry? Oh well, i'm sure it'll be fine.

Anyway, Monkey's Paw clause.

I'm sorry i got this out late for Valentine's Day, because that "Our mating will be legendary" line would make a great card. "How I look forward to the pleasures of human flesh" might be a bit much, though.

Meanwhile, the Darkhold Redeemers become aware that someone has stolen and used a Darkhold page, and we also see that Lilith is keeping track of events thanks to her demon Nakota (and note her line about "Parasite").

Morbius fights off the Hellhounds, even eating one, while talking in the plural.

Morbius reverts to the singular when he realizes that the remaining Hellhounds are attacking civilians.

He attacks the Hellhounds, but Martine wipes them out with magic. And then leaves him for now.

The Redeemers catch up with Morbius at the end.

Morbius tells them that an unseen force is tugging at him, and that's how this issue ends.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: There's nothing specifically indicating it, but you'd think that this would begin not too long after Midnight Massacre, since Morbius must have immediately been suffering from the effects of it and you'd therefore think Dr. Strange would be called in right away. But Lilith is up and about in this story, so it really has to take place after at least the start of Road To Vengeance (Ghost Rider #41), when Lilith's return is finalized. I'll be placing this after the entire Road To Vengeance story, with the assumption that it did take a while for Morbius to decide to do something about his problem (it is Morbius, after all).

When Werewolf By Night locates Morbius at the beginning of next issue, he says that he's been searching for "over a week". So i'll place issues #14-15 in a separate entry further ahead.

References:

• Strange says that the Darkhold Page used to bring back the dead who had been killed by the "Demigorge" [sic] in Spirits of Vengeance #13 "has produced unwelcome side effects for us all".
  
• Morbius was infected with Lilan blood in Morbius #1, and that's also the issue where Martine Bancroft was killed.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Shouldn't Bloodthirst be listed as a Character Appearing?
Note that Strange says that Morbius doesn't have a heartbeat anymore but in Fall from Grace, Stone says that Morbius DOES have a heartbeat.

I made my decision about Bloodthirst while reviewing this issue and then forget to add him here. ;-)

I've also pushed Fall From Grace back before Midnight Massacre. That's a great catch. Thanks.