The Brain of Xorkon (25 pages)
Dr. Adam Spektor, his secretary Lakota Rainflower, and psychic Elliott Kane greet vampire Baron Tibor as he disembarks from a ship in America. Tibor confides to Spektor that the serum Spektor had created which takes away Tibor's thirst for blood (see The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor #1) is no longer working. Further, Tibor says that he has been driven to visit Spektor Manor by some strange mental force. He says that he hopes the Doctor can make a more potent version of his formula, and also help him to discover and confront the source of the mental power attacking him.
Spektor labors in his laboratory to find a cure for Tibor, instead creating an artificial blood substitute, which satisfies the Baron's unholy thirst. Spektor continues to work in his lab, while Tibor traces the mysterious mental force to Riverside Park and asks Lakota to take him there. Lakota phones both Kane and Spektor to tell them she is at the park with Tibor. Spektor is alarmed that Lakota is out alone with the vampire, but the Doctor has troubles of his own as he is attacked in his lab by a giant man wielding a scimitar, who knocks Spektor unconcious and steals Baron Tibor's coffin.
Tibor and Lakota take the Spooktown ride at the amusement park, but the ride stops at a side track, and they discover a strange laboratory-type setting with the Baron's coffin in the middle. There they encounter a living brain in a glass globe, which reveals that it wants Baron Tibor's body. They attempt to leave, but are intercepted by the giant, called only the Silent One. Tibor viciously attacks the big man, but is stopped by a dazzling display of crosses that suddenly lights up. Lakota realizes that Tibor has returned to his vampiric nature, but still tries to save him from the trap only to fall under the powerful will of the living brain.
Meanwhile, Dr. Spektor and Elliott Kane have rushed to Riverside Park, and Kane uses his psychic abilities to search for their friends. They arrive in time to "listen" to the brain's telepathic explanation of its origins. Thousands of years ago, it had been the evil sorcerer Xorkon, who had been cast into the sea and drowned by the barbarian warrior Durak. Calling on the Dark Gods to save him, Xorkon had kept his brain alive in a mystic globe for thousands of years, until he had been found by the Silent One. He now planned to have himself transplanted into the body of Baron Tibor and live forever as a vampire.
Spektor and Kane leap into action, Kane turning off the neon crosses that restrain Tibor, while Spektor tries to destroy the loathesome brain of Xorkon. The two men fight with the Silent One, and the brain is destroyed in the struggle. Their victory is short-lived, however, as they see Baron Tibor, now a full-fledged vampire once more, intending to claim Lakota as his undead bride. Spektor manages to overcome Tibor with a makeshift cross, but cannot bring himself to destroy his friend. Tibor takes flight to a roller coaster, from which he falls to his doom on a wooden fence post.
Spektor and his friends discover that the Silent One has vanished with the damaged brain in the confusion, and wonder if the brain of Xorkon might be somehow still alive. Dr. Spektor and Lakota place the remains of Baron Tibor in his coffin and next morning inter him in the Spektor family crypt.
Note: Durak cameos in one panel when Xorkon is describing the fate he was dealt in Mystery Comics Digest #15.
Death: Baron Tibor
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