Appearing in "The Power to Purge!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Morbius ⏵ (Main story and flashback)
- Jefferson Bolt (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- ⏴ Martine Bancroft ⏵ (Appears in flashback)
- Jacob Bolt (First appearance)
- Hans Jorgenson ⏵ (First appearance)
- ⏴ Emil Nikos ⏵ (Only in flashback)
- Paul
- Bert Tacker
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- North America
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Midtown
- Harlem
- Harlem River Drive (First appearance)
- Queens
- Bayside (First appearance)
- Empire State University, Queens Campus (First appearance)
- Long Island City (First appearance)
- Bayside (First appearance)
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York
- United States of America
- Atlantic Ocean (Only in flashback)
- North America
Items:
Synopsis for "The Power to Purge!"
When Jefferson Bolt spends a night arguing with his brother Jacob about the merits of getting an education in a "white man's world", Hans leaves the argument. Jefferson then comes across the body of Morbius the Living Vampire washed ashore who revives and tries to feed on him. Meanwhile, Spider-Man swings through the city, when a sudden bout of illness causes him almost lose consciousness.
Meanwhile, at the Baxter Building, the Fantastic Four are visited by Martine Bancroft, who has come seeking Reed's help dealing with her fiancé, Michael Morbius. Johnny, remembering Spider-Man's earlier battle against Morbius, leaves on his own to find Spider-Man and seek his help, and to find Morbius' former partner, Hans Jorgenson. Meanwhile, Jefferson Bolt has been turned into a vampire by being bitten by Morbius and seeks to use his newfound power for crime.
Meanwhile, a worsening Spider-Man decides to go and seek out Jorgenson himself. The two end up arriving at the same time interrupting Jorgenson's lecture, Jorgenson, however, takes them in and tells them all he knows about Michael Morbius. When Morbius next strikes, Spider-Man and the Torch are there to try and stop him, however, things are complicated when Jefferson Bolt and members of Bert Tacker's gang intervene. However, during the fight, Morbius tries to feed on Jacob Bolt, forcing Jefferson to defend his brother.
Jefferson is killed when Morbius pushes him away, the shove causing him to strike his head on a rock. Morbius flees and the gang quickly disperses, while Jacob mourns the loss of his brother.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- The beginning of this story starts shortly after Spider-Man's first battle with Morbius in Amazing Spider-Man #102, before skipping ahead a few weeks.
- This story has multiple references to Spider-Man's battle with Morbius and the origins of the Living Vampire as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #101-102.
Chronology Notes[]
Events in this story happen behind the scenes or in a flashback that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 1-3 ⏵ - Spider-Man away following his first battle with Morbius.
- ⏴ Page 4-21 ⏵ - Spider-Man battles Morbius.
Martine Bancroft:
Publication Notes[]
- This issue contains its first letters page, debuting as Mail It To Team-Up. Letters are published from Barry Zee Zlachower, David McDonnell, and Bob Rozakis.
- As seen on page one, this issue is Story#914-Z.
Trivia
- Ben Grimm is shown watching All in the Family on television with Carroll O'Connor depicted playing his classic role of Archie Bunker. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.