Marvel Tales #109
In "When the Vampire Strikes," a desperate burglar's mistaken break-in sets off a chain of eerie events that spiral into a terrifying transformation. After a failed robbery and a chance encounter with a scientist's experimental serum, he discovers the truth: the cure wasn't meant for humans. The story, illustrated by Don Perlin with inks by Abe Simon, unfolds with a chilling blend of pulp horror and early Marvel atmosphere. The cover, a striking piece by Bill Everett, captures the moment of dread with a haunting, shadowed figure looming over a cityscape.
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A nearsighted burglar breaks into a woman's apartment and awakens her when he stumbles over some boxes lying on the floor. Scared, the burglar takes his leave. Later, he learns of a local scientist who has invented a serum that cures nearsightedness. He breaks into the laboratory and shoots two scientists. He injects himself with the serum, only to discover that it was designed to cure the eyesight of bats. The man begins slowly changing into a man/bat hybrid.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).