THE SHOCKING DOCS -- Part 4 in a series of Comix Mania Ramblings!!! From E.C.'s Tales From the Crypt to Marvel's Tomb of Dracula to DC's Haunted Love (Hiya Crazy Cuz!), comic books have had a long flirtation with horror. However, comix which featured continuing characters in a horror genre were another matter. Of course, Alan Moore's Swamp Thing and Neil Gaiman's Sandman are both pinacles of the genre. DC'S Night Force was another gem. As a matter of fact, I even have a soft spot for Andrew (I...Vampire!) Bennett. But my 2 favouritest continuing horror characters in comix were both doctors and were fairly low on the radar. One had a comic of his own but it was from Gold Key/Whitman Publishing, of all places: the haven of kiddie comics. The other character was from Marvel's House of Ideas but was either a guest star in more established books or had scattered continuing series in anthology titles. Of course, the two horror gentlemen to which I refer are Dr. Adam Spektor and Dr. Michael Morbius. Both flourished during the "horror boom" of the early 70's. Spektor has his own series ("The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor") which ended before the decade was out. Morbius (The Living Vampire) debuted opposite Spider-Man and then has scattered continuing series in titles such as "Adventures Into Fear" and "Vampire Tales" before belatedly getting his own (largely forgettable) title in the 90's as part of Marvel's so-called "Midnight Sons" line of titles also featuring a revived Ghost Rider. Let's take a look at the living vampire. Dr. Michael Morbius was experimenting in his lab to help his fellow man. As all well-intentioned (but naive) scientists do, he used himself as a guinea pig and became a "living vampire" that needed to drink blood to survive, wasn't too fond of getting a tan and could fly due to his now-hollow bones. Morbius was a great tragic figure; all his attempts to regain his humanity were doomed to failure and even those who fought him found themselves feeling sorry for the poor bloodsucker. He also had a boss outfit! His run in "Adventures Into Fear" was great and his series appearing in the black and white large format "Vampire Tales" was absolutely amazing! Plus there was a terrific guest appearance in a Giant-Size Werewolf By Night tale utilizing the La Brea tar pits (Plap!) In the 90's, I was glad to see Marvel give Morbius his own title but it never recaptured the old magic. All in all, though, I love this character. Now onto Dr. Spektor. Not much is known about the good doctor's origins but he's got this terrific old mansion in the middle of nowhere and a boss frock coat and string tie. Dr. Spektor runs around investigating supernatural activity (shades of Scooby-Doo or The Night Stalker but without the humor). With his love interest Lakota Rainflower (who can be seen right down there in bed being menaced by Count Dracula. . .nice to know she's ready for action; sleeping in her Lakota headband), Adam Spektor fought everything from Frankenstein's Monster, Lovecraftian Old Gods and Nessie-like sea serpents to the vampiric Baron Tibor (who was sometimes his enemy and sometimes his ally). That's Tibor in the background up there in the "Brain of Xorkon" cover! The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor was frankly the best thing Gold Key ever published. Which isn't going out on too much of a limb. The series was created and written by horror vet Donald F. Glut and superbly illustrated (in every single issue) by Jesse Santos. If only they would gather THIS series into a bound hardcover edition, I'd give my left bat!!! In my youth, I greedily sought after every issue of "Spektor" and every scattered appearance of Morbius. If you've never read them, seek them out. It'll be worth it! Trust me! They're personal fiends of mine.