In a recent interview with Fandango for Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland stated that he’d love to see a face-off between Spider-Man and Marvel’s new doctor-turned-vampire-turned-superhero, Morbius. Coincidentally, Jared Leto, star of the upcoming Morbius movie, retweeted a Fandom tweet that stated that very same sentiment. With No Way Home upon us and Morbius just around the corner, we thought we would happily oblige both wonderful actors. Let’s pit these two legendary heroes against each other and see who will walk away victorious! (This one’s for Jared and Tom.)
Powers
Right out of the gate, Spidey has iconic powers and abilities we’re all very well versed with. His super-strength is no joke, being able to lift thousands of pounds and jump nearly 30 feet into the air. His Spider-Sense allows him to permanently stay one step ahead of his opponent at all times, and his agility, teamed with his wall-crawling and fast reflexes, make him ridiculously speedy and thoroughly prepared for any fight. As a teenager though, he wouldn’t have fully developed his powers to their fullest extent.
But let’s not discount the raw power Morbius has at his disposal. Imbued with the traits of a vampire, Morbius is incredibly strong, unbelievably fast, possesses superhuman stamina, and able to regenerate his health rapidly. He’s also fitted with immense fangs and razor sharp claws, which are easily lethal in close combat. He is limited, however, by the drawbacks of his vampirism.
When comparing powers in a fight, Morbius could certainly keep up with Spider-Man on several levels, but Peter’s insane strength and spidey-sense give him the edge to overpower and anticipate Dr. Morbius’s brutal attempts. Point Peter.
Intelligence
Peter Parker is, without a doubt, a gifted intellect. His prowess as student, scientist, and inventor on a whole other level, earning him spots with impressive teams of scientists and scholars. Additionally, the web-shooters he invented elevate his ability as a superhero to stratospheric heights. But, Spidey is still a young man. Though he’s as noble and brave as they come, we wouldn’t consider him an expert tactician or strategist. We also don’t think he possesses the profound brilliance that might set him apart from someone like Morbius.
Dr. Michael Morbius is, for all intents and purposes, a genius. A Nobel Prize winner in biochemistry, his intelligence is both broad and deep. Having struggled with his rare blood condition his whole life and as a doctor, he’s dedicated his life to studying and mastering his field. His studies ultimately led him to his enhanced abilities and has found ways to effectively use them to overpower and outwit countless opponents.
In a battle of strategy, wit, and wisdom, Morbius has the upperhand. Spider-Man is no fool and he’s definitely a creative fighter, but Morbius’ intelligence surpasses Peter’s. His brilliance undoubtedly bleeds into knowing how to gain tactical and strategic advantage. Point Morbius.
Combat
If we imagine this playing out, Morbius would undoubtedly go for a series of fast, brutal melee attacks with his claws and fangs, looking to catch Spider-Man off guard and trying to keep him on the ropes. As he usually does, Spider-Man would take an avoid, evade, and immobilize approach. Though Morbius has raw, animal-like power on his side, Spider-Man is no stranger to this kind of violent barrage. He’d definitely take some damage and get sliced up in the process, but his reliance on his Spider-Sense and his web-shooters would keep Morbius at bay long enough to render him inert and out of options.
Morbius has definite fighting chops, but Spider-Man is clearly the superior combatant. Morbius is deadly up close, and his powers make him a serious threat, but without any formal combat training and his weakness for blood, he could be readily dispatched by Peter. He possesses next-level acrobatic skills and his strength has lethal potential if fully unleashed. Even Morbius’s brilliant mind can’t win him a fight against Spider-Man. Point Peter.
Conclusion
It’s definitely not a blow out, and Morbius is a rare type of dangerous, but Spidey’s got the victory on this one. His powers are unmatched and he’s a man built for the fight. These two icons have such distinct styles and insane abilities in the world of Marvel that it almost feels like a crime not to see everyone’s favorite web-slinger take on a brilliant vampire! What do you think? Chime in on Fandom’s Marvel wiki page and let us know who you think would win!
