"Morbius" is the title to the first story featured in the premiere issue of the Vampire Tales illustrated magazine published by Marvel Comics under their Curtis Magazines imprint. The story was written by Steve Gerber with artwork by Pablo Marcos. This issue also reprints the five-page "To Kill a Werewolf" story by Bill Everett from Menace #9 as well as "Satan Can Wait!" by Paul Reinman, which was originally printed in Journey Into Mystery #15. The third story is "Revenge of the Unliving" by Gardner Fox. All original stories were edited by Roy Thomas. This issue shipped in August, 1973 and carries a cover price of .75 cents per copy.
The character of Morbius was created by writer Roy Thomas, artist Gil Kane and inker Frank Giacoia. He first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #101 in October, 1971 in a story titled "A Monster Called... Morbius!" The character has since headlined his own serial in Adventure Into Fear, had two of his own ongoing titles as well as a reprint series and has made appearances in numerous other books such as Vampire Tales.
All stories from this issue are reprinted in the Vampire Tales, Volume 1 trade paperback collection from 2010.
"The Vampyre!" is an adaptation of a short story written in 1819 by John William Polidori. It was written as part of a contest and literary experiment between friends at Lord Byron's estate in 1819. It is considered one of the earliest examples of vampire prose. Its main character, Lord Ruthven, is presented as a suave British nobleman; a loose parody of Lord Byron himself.
Michael Morbius chronologically appeared last in Adventure Into Fear #20. He appears next in the "Man-Wolf at Midnight!" story from Giant-Size Super-Heroes Featuring Spider-Man #1.
This is the first, and to date, only known appearance of the Children of Satan. Ostensibly, it is the only appearance of its two named members, Madame Laera and Carolyn.
