Dr. Mariah Crawford has developed a cure for Spider-Man's disease, but she is reluctant to give an untested serum to him that may result in permanent loss of his powers or worse. After an angry outburst from Spider-Man, however, she hands it over. Peter, at the ESU lab, is secretly observed by Michael Morbius, who then swipes the infected blood sample after Peter leaves for the night. Working alone in the campus bell tower with borrowed equipment, Morbius has an accident which will change him forever.