Werewolf By Night

In the 1970s, capitalizing on the monster craze, Marvel introduced Werewolf by Night, offering a reimagined take on a classic creature as an anti-hero – a move that played perfectly to the company’s strengths. Unlike previous cinematic versions of the Wolfman, this character was a fresh, unique creation with no direct ties to earlier incarnations.

Stan Lee suggested the series title, while Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog developed the story and art, based on a plot by Roy and Jean Thomas for the first issue. The character made his debut in Marvel Spotlight issues #2 to #4 in 1971, and due to his growing popularity, Werewolf by Night received its own title in 1972.

The werewolf, Jacob “Jack” Russell (yes, like the dog breed), hails from a long line of werewolves. His father, Gregor Russoff, moved the family from Transylvania to Los Angeles, giving Jack an anglicized surname and a modern American backdrop. Jack transforms into a werewolf during the full moon and surrounding nights, becoming a powerful hybrid of human and wolf, with his human intellect stripped away. Eventually, Jack learns to control his transformations beyond the full moon, retaining his consciousness during his monstrous form.

As a werewolf, Jack stands nearly seven feet tall and gains superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes. He possesses razor-sharp teeth and claws capable of cutting through light metals, and his enhanced sense of smell remains even in his human form. He heals rapidly from non-fatal wounds but is vulnerable to magical attacks and can be killed by silver weapons due to their mystical properties.

Gerry Conway, reflecting on his work, described the series as a refreshing change from traditional superhero stories, saying it was “a lot of fun.”

Werewolf by Night ran for 43 issues, concluding in March 1977. Notably, issues #32 and #33 are highly sought after by collectors, as they feature the introduction and early appearances of the popular hero Moon Knight. If you’re looking to sell comic books that capture a unique chapter of Marvel’s history, Werewolf by Night with its dark and thrilling tone is a must-have for any collector.