This was a good issue, but it maybe would have been better to have shown Morbius escape the Raft at the end of 699, or the start of 700, and have a point one issue for the Morbius ongoing series to tell his origin. Other than that this was a very good issue, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Morbius, but will warn that it doesn't really connect much with the upcoming 700th issue. Read Full Review

I will say this, the art is something different. Punisher artist Mark Checchetto steps in for the first two pages involving the prison break (spinning out of issue #699) and, while his work is still great, it loses some of the Punisher edge once colors get involved. The big story here is Valentine Delandro, who pencils the rest of the book. Delandro has been using is noir style over in X-Factor to great success. Now the artist for Morbius, Delandro takes that noir and filters it through a Silver Age look that I’m impressed with. If Morbius sucks writing wise, we now know it’ll be pretty to look at. Read Full Review

All in all, this issue doesn't really serve the current “Dying Wish” storyline in Amazing Spider-Man, but it is a good start point for readers looking forward to the new Morbius series and should satisfy fans of the character, even if they don't plan on picking up his new book. We all win. 8/10 Read Full Review

Do you think you know who Morbius is? Whether you're a fan of the character or unsure what to think of him, this issue will win you over. Set as a bit of a prelude to his upcoming solo series, the focus is placed on who he is and what the story of his past is. Joe Keatinge writes the story as he lays out the groundwork for his series. Dan Slott is on hand as well to help bridge the gap between last issue and issue #700. We have some great art to showcase Morbius' past but it would have been nice to have a little more Spider-Man in this Spider-Man comic.Note: Be sure to read AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 before reading AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15.1 on December 26. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #699.1 might as well have been called Morbius: The Living Vampire #0.1, nonetheless it was still an incredibly engaging read that succeeded in showing off the inherent strength of this forthcoming property. Recommended. Read Full Review

This issue achieves exactly what it sets out to do to get you excited for the new Morbius series. It seems like Marvel wants to cash in on the current vampire trend or perhaps catch up with DCs Dark books. Whatever the reason, this point one definitely shows off both a character and a writer with some real potential. Read Full Review

This Morbius story makes for a great tragic romance comic, a very good horror comic or even a decent science fiction comic, but as a Spider-Man comic, it simply falls flat. I completely understand Marvel's marketing ploy to hitch Morbius' star to the Spider-Man wagon, but truth in advertising would have labeled this comic book "Morbius the Living Vampire" #0.1. Would it have been more enjoyable with that label? Not necessarily, as "Amazing Spider-Man" #699.1 is a pretty darn good Morbius comic, good enough to change my mind about the character. For now. Read Full Review

As an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, this issue fails on almost all accounts. But if you treat it as a Morbius #0.1, then you'll likely get more out of it instead of wondering where Spider-Man is all the time. This issue sets things up for Morbius' new series pretty well, and has me confident in Keatinge's ability to write the lead character. If you don't know the origin of Morbius, then feel free to add a full point to my final rating. Read Full Review

More than anything, I'm reminded of ‘The Gauntlet' storyline that “Amazing Spider-Man had a few years ago. It was a villain showcase, in which all of Spider-Man's classic villains came back in one form or another to put him through the ringer. That story features a lot of great and dynamic tales of villains and why they do what they do, and Morbius was included in it with a one-off story (#622) where Spider-Man hunts him down for the wrong reasons. It was a great little story, and it gave perfect reason to like Morbius and to want to see more about the character. Unfortunately, #699.1 is not #622, nor is it #654.1. It simply is what it is: a book that came out at the wrong time as part of a long legacy when it really should've been released assomething else. I wouldn't give up on the idea of a Morbius-led title yet, but this issue is certainly otherwise skippable. Read Full Review

I definitely won't be picking up Morbius in January. However, for people who will be, this is a good place to start if you don't want to dig through old issues of Legion of Monsters or the first volume of the Morbius ongoing from the '90s. This is probably Marvel's delayed answer to DC's I, Vampire title, which was launched during its New 52 company-wide reboot. Read Full Review

The initial bait-and-switch aside " because honestly, this should have been covered in Morbius #1, not in Amazing Spider-Man, particularly not on the cliffhanger we're on now " the overall aim of this comic feels thwarted here. Are we supposed to care about Michael Morbius? Is Marvel trying to take a new spin on him? There is a ton of potential for new story angles and new artistic takes on the Living Vampire, but if this preview is any indication, this comic is no bark and even less bite. Read Full Review