Issue(s): Morbius #5, Morbius #6
Cover Date: Jan-Feb 93
Title: "Here there be dragons" / "Tooth and nail"
Credits:
Len Kaminski - Writer
Ron Wagner - Penciler
Mike Witherby - Inker
Matthew Morra - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Morbius and his doctor friend Jacob Weisenthal have worked out a cure for Morbius' vampirism.

But it's only temporary, and it wears off after Morbius is beaten up by some muggers.

Meanwhile, a man named Wayne Gifford, who has a variety of grievances against life, allows a demon to transform him into a Basilisk so that he can seek vengeance.

Morbius goes back after the muggers, stopping them from raping a woman (and drinking their blood, of course). But the woman flees Morbius and runs into the Basilisk. The woman is killed, but Morbius fights the Basilisk.

This Basilisk has nothing to do with previous Marvel characters with that name (although i suppose it wouldn't be impossible to relate it to Satana's version), but it does have a paralytic stare like its namesake. However, Morbius has also recently learned that he has hypnotic powers. So the two pit their stares against each other, resulting in mindlock for both of them. So they see into each other's minds, and they get to compare and contrast. Morbius seeks to regain his humanity, while Basilisk willing gave his up. Neither approves of the other's choices. Morbius defeats Basilisk by confusing him about whether he's really still Wayne Gifford or if he's been entirely replaced by a demon.

Morbius and Weisenthal then administer another cure to Morbius, which works for now.

At the end of this arc, we see that Simon Straud has recruited someone named Vic Slaughter.

I like Ron Wagner's art. The story is a bit inconsequential but i guess this is a good time in the series to do some generic monster of the month stories.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Victor Slaughter

Chronological Placement Considerations: The opening narration helpfully tells us that "last issue was six weeks ago". This has to take place before Doctor Strange #48-51, since Doctor Strange #52-53 is a crossover with the next two issues of this series.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I guess Vic Slaughter is yet another proof of Linkara's axiom for superhero comics: if you're a character who's last name means something, you will become a supervillain.