History ComicBook / WerewolfByNight

''Werewolf by Night'' is a comic book series, created by writer Creator/GerryConway and artist Mike Ploog as a direct response to UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Authority's 1971 rule revision that allowed werewolves to be portrayed. The character debuted in ''[[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] Spotlight'' vol. 1 #2 in February of 1972 and was granted his own title which ran for 43 issues (September, 1972 - March, 1977). In 1998 ''Werewolf by Night'' was given a short-lived {{revival}}, which [[CutShort sadly was]] {{cancelled}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork before it could]] [[LeftHanging reach a conclusion]].

On his eighteenth birthday [[StevenUlyssesPerHero Jack Russell]] finds he has inherited the curse of the werewolf, and has to battle an [[MonsterMash array of villains]], ranging from vampires to gorgons to circus folk, most of which need him in some way or another for the execution of their EvilPlan. During UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, he turned into a bit of an anti-hero, WalkingTheEarth and fighting rogue supernatural creatures who give the rest of them a bad name. As of the 2010s Jack mainly serves as a member of the Legion of Monsters, protecting other monsters from being killed and providing a safe haven for them.

* FurAgainstFang: Played straight with his battle against Dracula in ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula. Otherwise mostly averted: while Jack does occasionally fight them, his best friend is a vampire(-ish), and his niece is a half-vampire.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The spelling of Jack's father's first name alternates between Philip and Phillip. Buck Cowan's last name is misspelled as Cohen in one issue.

* NewAgeRetroHippie: Hippies pop up here and there in volume 1 as AcceptableTargets.

* WhoWritesThisCrap / SelfDeprecation: Jack takes a jab at ComicBook/{{Morbius}}, another comic book character owned by Creator/MarvelComics: "Ha! You're such a cliché. So emo all the time about the tragedy of bloodlust like some bad ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' fanfic."

* WeAllLiveInAmerica: Inverted in volume 2. Jack is shown to have a bidet in the bathroom of in his small New York apartment. The issues were penciled by Leonardo Manco, an Argentine artist. In Argentina bidets are a standard feature of homes but they are rare in North America.

The werewolf appears in the Super Hero Squad universe: in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' season 2 episode "This Man-Thing, This Monster", and as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroSquadOnline''. He is also seen in Jill Valentine's ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and appears in the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'' TV-show as the leader of the Howling Commandos. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaptation]] was [[http://web.archive.org/web/20121004232940/http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/89825-werewolf-by-night-movie-update in the works in 2005]] with cast and crew to be announced "shortly" and filming to start somewhere in 2006, but for reasons unknown nothing was heard from it again. Until 2022, when [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLEFqhS5WmI Marvel announced]] a [[Film/WerewolfByNight2022 “Special Presentation”]] for October 7 exclusively on Disney+.

* KindRestraints: Buck locks up Jack on several occasions to keep both him and everyone else safe, but it's usually to little avail: either the werewolf breaks out or [[WhatAnIdiot Buck opens the door to check on him]]. Later Jack takes to locking himself up, but sometimes still requests others' help -- like Bruce Banner's.

The werewolf appears in the Super Hero Squad universe: in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' season 2 episode "This Man-Thing, This Monster", and as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroSquadOnline''. He is also seen in Jill Valentine's ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and appears in the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'' TV-show as the leader of the Howling Commandos. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaptation]] was [[http://web.archive.org/web/20121004232940/http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/89825-werewolf-by-night-movie-update in the works in 2005]] with cast and crew to be announced "shortly" and filming to start somewhere in 2006, but for reasons unknown nothing was heard from it again. Until 2022, when [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLEFqhS5WmI a Special Presentation was announced for October 7]] exclusively on Disney+.

The werewolf appears in the Super Hero Squad universe: in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' season 2 episode "This Man-Thing, This Monster", and as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroSquadOnline''. He is also seen in Jill Valentine's ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and appears in the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'' TV-show as the leader of the Howling Commandos. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaptation]] was [[http://web.archive.org/web/20121004232940/http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/89825-werewolf-by-night-movie-update in the works in 2005]] with cast and crew to be announced "shortly" and filming to start somewhere in 2006, but for reasons unknown nothing was heard from it again.

* ShoutOut: To some of the Hollywood horror greats, like Lon Chaney Jr., Creator/BorisKarloff and Maria Ouspenskaya, as well as the Creator/MarxBrothers, Creator/ErrolFlynn, Creator/MarlonBrando, Creator/HumphreyBogart and Music/TheRollingStones. In ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' vol.2 #55 Jack wears a shirt of ''Film/TheHowling''.

Outside of his own titles, Jack has weaved his way through a number of other Marvel comic books over the years, such as ''ComicBook/SpiderWoman'', ''Comicbook/MoonKnight'', ''ComicBook/WestCoastAvengers'', ''ComicBook/XFactor'', ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies'' and ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: Sorcerer Supreme''. In 2009 there was the the four-part ''Dead of Night Featuring Werewolf by Night'' as part of Marvel's [[Creator/MarvelMAX MAX]] imprint, providing an [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] and [[DarkerAndEdgier mature]] take on the character.

See [[http://web.archive.org/web/20081203131717/http://www.geocities.com/mailittomarvell/wwbn.htm this page]] for a full list of Werewolf by Night’s comic book appearances in chronological order, up to 2008.

The werewolf appears in the Super Hero Squad universe: in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' season 2 episode "This Man-Thing, This Monster", and as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroSquadOnline''. He is also seen in Jill Valentine's ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and appears in the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' TV-show as the leader of the Howling Commandos. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaptation]] was [[http://web.archive.org/web/20121004232940/http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/89825-werewolf-by-night-movie-update in the works in 2005]] with cast and crew to be announced "shortly" and filming to start somewhere in 2006, but for reasons unknown nothing was heard from it again.

* AndIMustScream: Being turned into a stone statue for all eternity, but still being able to think. “The agony of life was over… the nightmare of hell was just begun!”

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Jack’s girlfriend Terri last appears in ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 #2, and is then never seen again. Most characters from volume 1 are never mentioned after the series' end, like Buck, Philip and Raymond Coker.

* CoolOldGuy: Buck, although he is only ‘old’ in comparison to the other characters.

* CrossOver: Many, most frequently with ''ComicBook/{{Morbius}}'', ''[[ComicBook/SpiderWoman Spider-Woman]]'', ''ComicBook/MoonKnight'' and ''Comicbook/GhostRider''. The werewolf has fought the [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]] on at least two occasions.

* DeathbedConfession: Jack’s mother tells him the truth about his father right before she dies.
* DeathIsCheap: [[spoiler:Jack dies in ''Morbius'' #12; by #13 he’s already been resurrected.]]

** Jack’s hair is stated to be a light red, but it’s frequently shown as blond, dark red, auburn, brown or even black. Likewise, his eyes are blue in writing, but frequently green or brown in print.
** How good-looking Jack is varies wildly as well. In ''Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night'' he could pass for a male model, while in ''Marvel Zombies 4'' he looks like a ragged bum you wouldn’t want to run in to after dark. Put them together and they're hardly recognizable as the same character, even though the issues are only two years apart.

** Two storylines published near-simultaneously feature two very different versions of Jack: in ''[[Comicbook/ThePunisher Punisher]]'' v7 #11-14 and ''Legion of Monsters'' #1-4 he’s a [[FieryRedhead hotheaded]] JerkAss who’s usually in for a fight; in ''ComicBook/XFactor'' #222-224 he’s a mildly funny, well-mannered guy protecting others.
** Jack speaks without an accent up until ''Morbius the Living Vampire'' #12, where he suddenly start using colloquialisms like the contraction “ain’t” and dropping g’s at the end of words. From there on out his accent fluctuates between ‘school book’ and ‘street thug’.

* DestinationDefenestration / SuperWindowJump: “[[LampshadeHanging Window smashing is [the werewolf’s] specialty]].”

* EldritchAbomination: Topaz’ soul; the creature near Devil’s Grotto.

* FriendOrIdolDecision: In ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 #5 Jack is promised a cure that may prevent his sister from becoming a werewolf too – but he’ll have to kill a [[spoiler:senile old]] man for it.

* GlowingEyesOfDoom: The werewolf’s eyes are usually a glowy [[DependingOnTheArtist red or yellow]], but sometimes a combination of the two or pure white as well. (According to the Marvel Handbook they should red.)

* HybridMonster: [[spoiler:Lissa]] is transformed into a were-demon after being simultaneously hit by the light of the full moon and Glitternight’s light.

* LikeFatherLikeSon: “Ah, Jacob—you’re a big lad, eh? Big like your father—bright like your mother!”

* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: After being run through with several silver katanas in ''[[ComicBook/ThePunisher Punisher]]'' vol.7 #13: “Acupuncture. Tickles.”

* NameOfCain: Joshua Kane, hunter of big game who decides it’ll be fun to hunt Jack, and his brother Luther.

* NotUsingTheZWord: The zuvembies are very obviously zombies, but due to the Comic Code’s restrictions they couldn’t be called that.
--> '''Jack''': “You mean they’re zo—” '''[[SoundEffectBleep SKRASH]]'''

* OurSoulsAreDifferent: Souls pop up regularly in the series. They can be transformed, for example into chains or {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. [[spoiler:Topaz]] lost part of her soul, but it doesn’t seem to change her at all. [[spoiler:Lissa]] loses her soul as well, but it is replaced with the soul of [[spoiler:Taboo]], again seemingly without consequences. In ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 #42 it’s implied [[spoiler:Fire-Eyes]] now inhabits Jack’s soul.

* ParentalAbandonment: Jack’s biological father died when he was a child; his mother dies in the very first issue.

* RapeAndRevenge: In ''Shadows & Light'' #3 it’s revealed Jack was molested as a boy; he goes after a pedophile partly out of revenge.

* SeriesContinuityError: In ''Spider-Woman'' vol.1 #49 it’s said six years have passed since Jack’s inherited the curse, meaning he’s 24. But in ''Comicbook/MarvelComicsPresents'' #57, which takes place later in the continuity, it’s said ''Werewolf by Night'' vol. 1 #6 was only 2 years ago, which would make him 20.

* SpeechBubbles: Occur in many variations, changing from series to series. For example, in ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 #42-43, Jack’s speech bubbles get thick, jagged edges when in werewolf form (a police officer describes it as "Mercedes [=McCambridge=] in ''Film/TheExorcist''"). In ''ComicBook/XFactor'' his speech bubbles are black with white lettering.

* StockShoutOuts: A poster reading "See you next Wednesday" appears in Jack’s room in ''Characters/MidnightSons Unlimited'' #7, which is director John Landis’ CreatorThumbprint. Landis directed ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon''.

* SuicideMission: It’s implied the risk was one of the reasons Jack joined Morbius’ Characters/MidnightSons mission in ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies 4'' in the first place.

* TomeOfEldritchLore: The Darkhold, originally Satanic scrolls that Jack’s father had bound into a book. [[spoiler:Reading it was the catalyst that awakened the werewolf curse in his blood.]]

* {{Uberwald}}: Transylvania, Jack’s birthplace, visited on several occasions.

* VoodooZombie: Although in volume 1 they’re called Zuvembies due to the CCA’s restrictions of that time.

* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Mother]]: Jack suspects Philip Russell is responsible for his mother’s death. [[spoiler:He’s not.]]

* DreamWithinADream: [[spoiler:''ComicBook/MidnightSons Unlimited'' #7 is this.]]

* RescueSex: Subverted in ''ComicBook/MidnightSons Unlimited'' #7. Jack steps in during a robbery on a grocery store; afterwards the girl behind the register asks how she can ever repay him. He gets free groceries.

* StockShoutOuts: A poster reading "See you next Wednesday" appears in Jack’s room in ''ComicBook/MidnightSons Unlimited'' #7, which is director John Landis’ CreatorThumbprint. Landis directed ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon''.

* SuicideMission: It’s implied the risk was one of the reasons Jack joined Morbius’ ComicBook/MidnightSons mission in ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies 4'' in the first place.

''Werewolf by Night'' (Jack Russell, birthname Jacob Russoff) is a comic book character and star of the series by the same name, created by writer Creator/GerryConway and artist Mike Ploog as a direct response to UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Authority's 1971 rule revision that allowed werewolves to be portrayed. The character debuted in ''[[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] Spotlight'' vol. 1 #2 in February of 1972 and was granted his own title which ran for 43 issues (September, 1972 - March, 1977). In 1998 ''Werewolf by Night'' was given a short-lived {{revival}}, which [[CutShort sadly was]] {{cancelled}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork before it could]] [[LeftHanging reach a conclusion]].

* MoralDilemma: In ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 #5 Jack is promised a cure that may prevent his sister from becoming a werewolf too – but he’ll have to kill a [[spoiler:senile old]] man for it.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/werewolfbynight.jpg]]

!! ''Werewolf by Night'' provides examples of the following tropes:

* [[spoiler:DreamWithinADream]]: ''ComicBook/MidnightSons Unlimited'' #7 is this.

* [[spoiler:{{Nephewism}}]]: [[spoiler:Jack's mother remarried her late husband's brother, meaning Jack's stepfather is also his uncle.]]

* [[spoiler:DreamWithinADream]]: ''Midnight Sons Unlimited'' #7 is this.

* RescueSex: Subverted in ''Midnight Sons Unlimited'' #7. Jack steps in during a robbery on a grocery store; afterwards the girl behind the register asks how she can ever repay him. He gets free groceries.

* StockShoutOuts: A poster reading “See you next Wednesday” appears in Jack’s room in ''Midnight Sons Unlimited'' #7, which is director John Landis’ CreatorThumbprint. Landis directed ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon''.

* SuicideMission: It’s implied the risk was one of the reasons Jack joined Morbius’ Midnight Sons mission in ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies 4'' in the first place.

->''"In most every way but one, I’m just your average Californian teenager—but it’s that one way in which I’m not that’s the kicker. Some fellows are shy with chicks; others have trouble with trig and senior-year calculus. Me, I’m a werewolf… A bona-fide werewolf-by-night.''"

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ced15a6959930779decdf513f44cbe48.jpg]]

Outside of his own titles, Jack has weaved his way through a number of other Marvel comic books over the years, such as ''ComicBook/SpiderWoman'', ''Comicbook/MoonKnight'', ''West Coast [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'', ''ComicBook/XFactor'', ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies'' and ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: Sorcerer Supreme''. In 2009 there was the the four-part ''Dead of Night Featuring Werewolf by Night'' as part of Marvel's [[Creator/MarvelMAX MAX]] imprint, providing an [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] and [[DarkerAndEdgier mature]] take on the character.