Summary

• Marvel's new Werewolf by Night #1 brings a brutal and blood-soaked reinvention of the beloved anti-hero Jack Russell.
• Written by Jason Loo and drawn by Sergio Davila, this comic dives deep into Russell's struggle against his dark side.
• With intense gore, bone-chilling horror, and a visually appealing style, this series is a must-read for both new and old fans.

Warning: contains spoilers for Werewolf by Night #1!

Werewolf by Night #1 gives the savage anti-hero the brutal and blood-soaked reinvention he needs. Jack Russell, also known as the Werewolf, has been a part of the Marvel Universe for over 50 years, and has even made the leap to the MCU, introducing him to a new generation of fans. Marvel’s new Werewolf by Night is the perfect starting point for new readers and will satisfy long-time fans as well.

Werewolf by Night #1 is written by Jason Loo and drawn by Sergio Davila. The book picks up shortly after the events of Blood Hunt. Jack Russell has always struggled with controlling his bestial side, but now he is fighting harder against it than ever before–and every sign says Russell is losing. People near and dear to him are turning up dead, some of them shredded to bits, and it all confirms Russell’s worst fears.

Elsa Bloodstone reaches out to help, but it may be too late for the Werewolf.

Werewolf By Night's Comic Book Origins, Explained

Werewolf by Night Went From Cult Favorite to MCU Hero

Werewolf by Night was bleak and infused with dread, and a change of pace from Captain America, Thor and Spider-Man.

Werewolves returned to comics after a nearly 20-year exile in 1972’s Marvel Spotlight #2, the first appearance of Jack Russell. The Comics Code Authority prohibited werewolves, vampires and other such monsters, but the rules were significantly loosened in the early 1970s. After his appearances in Marvel Spotlight, the Werewolf spun off into his own title, which ran for 43 issues. Alongside its contemporary Tomb of Dracula, Werewolf by Night was unlike anything else Marvel was publishing at the time. Werewolf by Night was bleak and infused with dread, and a change of pace from Captain America, Thor and Spider-Man.

Although Jack Russell (the Werewolf by Night) shares a name with the popular type of dog, co-creator Gerry Conway has said repeatedly he was unaware of the breed when he concevied the character.

After decades as a cult favorite, the Werewolf slashed his way to the MCU in an hour-long television film airing on Disney +. The movie leaned heavily into the mythology and the lore surrounding werewolves in the Marvel Universe, and it recreated the character’s dark and violent world in a visually appealing fashion. The film also perfectly captured Russell’s constant conflict with the monster within. Finally, it introduced to the MCU perhaps the most important person in Russell’s life: Elsa Bloodstone. Elsa and Russell have fought alongside each other several times, with even a hint of romance.

Marvel's New Werewolf by Night Series Is Off to a Bloody and Violent Start

Werewolf by Night Earns Its Red Band Status

All of these elements come together in Marvel’s new Werewolf by Night. Russell’s battle against his darker self maybe coming to a close, with Russell on the losing end. People around him are dying in horrible fashions, and it slowly eats away at his sanity. Loo and Davila mix this pathos with gore, blood and bone, taking full advantage of the freedom afforded them in the “Red Band” editions. The new Werewolf by Night takes everything great about the concept and pushes it to its extreme, giving the character the reinvention he needed.

Werewolf by Night #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!