History ComicBook / WerewolfByNight

* TheAlcoholic: In ''[=WbN=]'' volume 2 Jack drowns his sorrows about the curse in large quantities of booze. He even drinks while ''driving a car''.

* {{Angst}}: After [[spoiler:nearly killing Buck]] Jack’s mood progressively edges towards suicidal. Things start to look up again, until he hits absolute rock-bottom in ''[=WbN=]'' volume 2.

* BaldOfEvil:
** Dr. Glitternight.
** Justified in the case of Atlas, as his hair burned away during the accident which drove him mad.

* BreakTheCutie: In the time between volumes 1 and 2 the curse breaks Jack beyond recognition.

* CharacterDevelopment: Jack has been around since 1972 and has changed quite dramatically over the years. A wide-eyed teenager dragged into all kinds of supernatural mayhem against his will (1970s) → a leather-clad motorcycle riding AntiHero living life to the fullest (late 80s-early 90s) → a downtrodden alcoholic doing everything in his power not to have to face reality (late 90s) → a suicidal hotheaded JerkAss looking for a fight (late 2000s) → a pleasant guy looking after monsters when the rest of the world would rather kill them (early 2010s).

* DeadpanSnarker: Jack is one, usually in combination with SelfDeprecation.

* TheDrifter: Though his home base is UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, Jack never stays in one place for very long.

* EnemyWithin: As mentioned in ''[[{{ComicBook/X-Factor}} X-Factor]]'' #224, human Jack vs werewolf Jack is a constant struggle.

* GoshDangItToHeck: Jack mostly uses "stinking" to express displeasure. Possibly justified by his heightened senses, particularly smell, and his human mores remaining in effect. "Stinking" could well become quite the pejorative term if you really know how foul something smells.

* IAmAMonster: It varies, but Jack occasionally sees himself as this. Other times he is more accepting of himself, crossing over into IAmWhatIAm; often he fluctuates between the two.

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Finding a cure for his condition is what drives Jack in most of his adventures. Even though in ''Tomb of Terror'' #1 he admits he sees his werewolf side as his true self and loves the freedom it comes with, he still wants it to end.

* InformedAbility: Many of Jack's powers and abilities as described in the Official Marvel Handbooks are never shown in-story. For example, it's said Jack is a practiced magic user who often casts spells, yet he is only shown doing so one single time (in ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #54).

* JekyllAndHyde: The plot of ''[=WbN=]'' v1 #24.

* KnightTemplar: The Hangman wants to rid the world of evil, but doesn’t believe in that pesky thing called ‘the law’. He was even court-martialed because he killed Nazis a little too gleefully during WorldWarII.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: When Jack runs into Comicbook/IronMan, he mistakes him for a criminal and they start to fight.

* LimitedWardrobe: While the shirt or jacket he wears (''[[WalkingShirtlessScene if]]'' [[ShirtlessScene he wears one]]) may differ, it seems Jack has stocked his wardrobe to the brink with green pants.

* MagicPants: Jack manages to ruin his clothes with alarming regularity, but in the majority of cases his pants stay firmly on.

* TheNicknamer: Especially Morbius is on the receiving end of this in later years: Morb, Mikey-boy, M., Dracubilly... Ironically, in ''{{Morbius}}'' v2, Morbius responds to someone else calling him 'Mike' with "I prefer Michael."
* NinetiesAntiHero: Jack developed shades of this after ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #54-59 in 1990. He sported longer hair, rode a motorcycle, [[WalkingShirtlessScene wore a leather jacket with nothing under it]], and suddenly started using colloquialisms. His attitude changed accordingly, from a guy suffering under his curse to reveling in it. After volume 2 he kept the hair and the motorcycle, but TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks was shed.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Jack inherited the curse from his father, and is forced to change [[WeirdMoon during the three nights a month the moon is full]]. His werewolf self grows progressively more violent over time, and the pain that accompanies the transformation increases with each full moon. He eventually gains some control over the change with the help of [[spoiler:The Three Who Are All]], enabling him to transform outside the full moon as well. For a while this control extends to no longer having to change at all during the full moon and retaining his mind at all times, but those days don’t last. \\
\\
Initially the werewolf looks like a typical wolfman à la Lon Chaney Jr. Starting with ''Moon Knight'' #29 (1982), his appearance becomes more wolfish, still standing on two legs but with a fully lupine head. This change is explained as his werewolf self regressing ever further after an experiment to gain more control went badly.
** InvoluntaryShapeshifting: On the nights of the full moon, with the exception of a brief respite during the 1990s.
** VoluntaryShapeshifting: Jack learns how to transform any time he wants, completely or partially, and keep his mind in the process. It comes in handy.

* PainfulTransformation: Until he is helped [[spoiler:by The Three Who Are All]], each transformation is more painful than the last. And it’s not just on a physical level: Jack describes part of the transformation as if ''his soul is being ripped apart''. After he gains control of, the changes become more bearable. But then the full moons come with the added side-effect of [[spoiler:glimpsing hell]].

* ProfessorGuineaPig: Winston Redditch, who develops a formula that can either suppress or enhance aggression. When deciding to test it out he picks the wrong one.

* PunnyName: A jack russell is a kind of terrier. But Jack is a nickname for Jacob and Russell is the name of his step-father, so it’s not like his parents intentionally named him after a dog.

* RedheadInGreen: The red-furred werewolf runs around in torn-up green pants a lot.
* RedHeadedHero: One of Jack’s most striking and recognizable features, especially when his hair is long ([[DependingOnTheArtist and the artist remembers it’s supposed to be red]]).

* ResistTheBeast: Jack often tries this while subject to [[InvoluntaryTransformation involuntary transformations]] brought on by the full moon; sometimes it works, usually it doesn't.

* SelfDeprecation: A habit of Jack’s. Upon changing into a werewolf through the sheer force of will for the first time: “It might’ve been the ugliest one on record, but it was still a miracle.”

* SeventiesHair: Jack (logically) sports it in his appearances during the 70s, but sometimes goes back to it in later years, notably in ''Witches'' #1 (2004) and ''X-Factor'' #242 (2012).

* SlasherSmile: Jack is quite capable of them, especially in ''[=WbN=]'' volume 2. Even more so if he couples it with a couple of razor-sharp teeth.

* StagesOfMonsterGrief: Jack goes from denial to anger to acceptance to seeing his condition as a blessing to self-destruction and back again. In ''Marvel Zombies 4'' #3 he claims he’s gone through all five stages of grief and has finally reached acceptance. Team mate Morbius thinks he simply no longer cares whether he lives or dies.

* StockSuperpowers:
** HealingFactor: As long as it’s not silver through the heart, it’s likely Jack can heal from it.
** InnateNightVision: According to the Marvel handbook, but never seen in-universe.
** TheNoseKnows: Jack has a heightened sense of smell even in human form, being able to track people and judge their emotions. Once he uses it to sniff out a pedophile purely by the scent he gives off around children, seeing right through the man's feigned disinterest.
** {{Shapeshifting}}
** SuperStrength: When transformed Jack is capable of lifting sewer grilles "that weigh as much as your mother in law" and flipping over cars.
** SuperToughness: Bullets sting, injuries hurt and "acupuncture tickles", but Jack usually stays upright throughout it all.

* WalkingShirtlessScene: Jack wearing a shirt is pretty rare.
* WalkingTheEarth: Jack mostly rides his motorbike across North America, but ends up in Italy on at least one occasion.

* WolfMan: How wolf-like Jack's werewolf form looks fluctuates, but he always retains somewhat human proportions, and walks on two legs. Other werewolves, even those subject to the same curse such as Jack's niece Nina, may look much more wolf-like.

* AbortedArc: ''[=WbN=]'' vol.1 ends with [[spoiler:Buck]] being attacked and his house burning down. It’s never made clear what exactly was going on.
* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: In ''[=WbN=]'' vol.2 Jack uses them to lock himself up during the full moon. May be justified in that Jack works as a sanitation engineer and thus has knowledge of where to go, along with the access to it. Still, it means he stands knee-deep in GrimyWater for three nights a month but doesn't experience any drawbacks. [[SuperSenses Not even]] [[SensoryOverload with that]] [[TheNoseKnows nose of his]].

* CoolBike: Jack rides one.

* IHateYouVampireDad: Averted. Jack loves his father, even if he passed the curse onto him.

* AnArmAndALeg: In ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #54, werewolf Jack attempts to chew his arm off in an attempt to escape the chains he locked himself up in.

* BaldOfEvil: Dr. Glitternight.
* BeneathTheEarth: Crawl down through the mist near Devil’s Grotto and you’ll end up [[spoiler:in space]].

* GentleGiant: Elmo.

* NebulousEvilOrganisation: The Committee.

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

'''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 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. In 1998 ''Werewolf By Night'' was given a short-lived {{revival}}, which [[CutShort sadly was]] {{cancelled}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork before it could]] [[LeftHanging reach a conclusion]].

'''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 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. In 1998 ''Werewolf By Night'' was was given a short-lived {{revival}}, which [[CutShort sadly was]] {{cancelled}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork before it could]] [[LeftHanging reach a conclusion]].

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''. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaption]] 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.

* PragmaticAdaptation: What the intended movie adaption was going to be. Robert Nelson Jacobs' (writer of ''Film/{{Chocolat}}'') script was about Jack "[[DatingCatwoman falling in love]] with a beautiful but deadly BountyHunter".
* PrecisionFStrike: Jack uses "stinking" for the longest time, and ''if'' he swears, it's mostly SymbolSwearing. So when finally drops his first all-out F-bombs (albeit in the AlternateUniverse of ''Dead of Night featuring Werewolf by Night''), it's pretty significant: "[[ClusterFBomb You fuckers. You lousy, lousy fuckers.]]"

** TheNoseKnows: Jack has a heigtened sense of smell even in human form, being able to track people and judge their emotions. Once he uses it to sniff out a pedophile purely by the scent he gives off around children, seeing right through the man's feigned disinterest.

* OurSoulsAreDifferent: Souls pop up regularly in the series. They can be transformed, for example into chains or EldritchAbominations. [[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. In ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #54-59 it’s said Jack has two souls (one wolf and one human) [[spoiler:which he manages to merge together]].

'''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 GerryConway and artist Mike Ploog as a direct response to the [[ComicsCode Comics Code 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. In 1998 ''Werewolf By Night'' was was given a short-lived {{revival}}, which [[CutShort sadly was]] {{cancelled}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork before it could]] [[LeftHanging reach a conclusion]].

* BadassLonghair: When Jack turns into more of an AntiHero, his hair grows accordingly.

Outside of his own titles, Jack has weaved his way through a number of other Marvel comic books over the years, such ''ComicBook/{{Spider-Woman}}'', ''{{Moon Knight}}'', ''West Coast [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'', ''ComicBook/{{X-Factor}}'', ''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 [=MAX=] imprint, providing an [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] and [[DarkerAndEdgier mature]] take on the character.

* TheNicknamer: Especially Morbius is on the receiving end of this in later years: Morb, Mikey-boy, M., Dracubilly... Ironically, in ''{{Morbius}}'' v2, responds to someone else calling him 'Mike' with "I prefer Michael."

* GoshDangItToHeck: Jack mostly uses "stinking" to express displeasure.
** Possibly justified by his heightened senses, particularly smell, and his human mores remaining in effect. "Stinking" could well become quite the pejorative term if you really know how foul something smells.

'''Werewolf by Night''' is a comic book character and star of the series by the same name, created by writer GerryConway and artist Mike Ploog as a direct response to the [[ComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] revising their rules in 1971 that allowed werewolves to be portrayed.

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. Later he becomes more anti-heroic, making it his mission to stop rogue supernatural creatures, as well as helping those who struggle with their affliction.

The character debuted in ''[[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] Spotlight'' vol. 1 #2 in February of 1972, and was granted his own title after three issues there. A total of 43 issues of ''Werewolf by Night Volume 1'' were produced, occasionally crossing over with other titles, before wrapping up in March of 1977.

After the main series ended, the titular werewolf more or less disappeared, during the 1980s sporadically popping up in other comics such as ''[[{{ComicBook/Spider-Woman}} Spider-Woman]]'', ''{{Moon Knight}}'', ''West Coast [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' and ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: Sorcerer Supreme''. Jack had a good amount of cameos in the early 1990s, as well as two solo issues in ''Marvel Comics Presents'', before [[{{Revival}} finally moving back to his own title]]. Sadly, ''Werewolf By Night Volume 2'' (1998) only ran for six issues before being [[{{Cancellation}} canceled]], but the story was continued in ''Strange Tales'' – which was [[CutShort canceled as well]] after only two issues. Ironically, four issues of ''Strange Tales'' were originally commissioned to tie up [[LeftHanging unresolved plot lines]] the first cancelation caused; the last two not seeing print [[ScrewedByTheNetwork made sure they never were]].

In the early 2000s Jack went off the grid again, until in 2007 the one-shot ''Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night'' was published. In 2009 there was the four-part ''Dead of Night Featuring Werewolf by Night'' as part of Marvel’s [=MAX=] imprint, providing an [[AlternateUniverse alternate]] and [[DarkerAndEdgier mature]] take on the character. In the same year, Jack Russell was a main character in ''MarvelZombies Volume 4''.

As of the 2010s Jack mainly serves as a member of the Legion of Monsters, turning up in popular titles such as ''[[ComicBook/ThePunisher Punisher]]'' and ''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]]'' to protect other monsters from being killed and providing a safe haven for them. One of these is [[spoiler:Rahne Sinclair’s lupine son whom he vows to take care of after she denounces the child.]]

The werewolf also 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''. A [[ComicBookAdaptation film adaption]] 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.

* HealingFactor: As long as it’s not silver through the heart, it’s likely Jack can heal from it.

* TheNoseKnows: Jack has a heigtened sense of smell even in human form, being able to track people and judge their emotions. Once he uses it to sniff out a pedophile purely by the scent he gives off around children, seeing right through the man's feigned disinterest.

* SuperStrength: When transformed Jack is capable of lifting 600-pound sewer grilles (''[=WbN=] v2'' #4).

* AFriendInNeed: Jack toward Morbius, and vice versa. Very notably in ''Morbius, the Living Vampire'' #12-15, when Morbius is [[spoiler:resurreced without his soul]].

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 appearances in chronological order, up to 2008.

A film adaption [[http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/89825-werewolf-by-night-movie-update was announced in 2005]] with cast and crew to be announced "shortly" and filming intended to start somewhere in 2006, but for reasons unknown nothing was heard from it again.

* FunetikAksent: Many characters have them in volume 1, most notably Joshua Kane, who speaks with a southern drawl. Jack develops one after ''Morbius, the Living Vampire'' #12.

* InformedAbility: Many of Jack's powers and abilities as described in the Official Marvel Handbooks are never shown in story. For example, it's said Jack is a practiced magic user who often casts spells, yet he is only shown doing so one single time (in ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #54).

* JekyllAndHyde: The plot of [=WbN=] v1 #24.

* BadassNormal: Even though he's regularly tied up or knocked unconscious, Buck Cowan deserves credit for regularly going against super-powered beings and generally not being bothered by them in the slightest.

* BloodOnTheseHands: Waking up with these [[spoiler:triggers Jack’s descent into madness in ''[=WbN=]'' volume 2.]]

* ImHavingSoulPains: Part of the transformation; see PainfulTransformation below.

The character debuted in ''[[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]]'' Spotlight vol. 1'' #2 in February of 1972, and was granted his own title after three issues there. A total of 43 issues of ''Werewolf by Night Volume 1'' were produced, occasionally crossing over with other titles, before wrapping up in March of 1977.

* HumansAreMorons: For a while Jack sees normal people as monkeys and going to places as bars as going to the zoo. At least he admits it sounds egoistical.

The character debuted in ''{{Marvel}} Spotlight vol. 1'' #2 in February of 1972, and was granted his own title after three issues there. A total of 43 issues of ''Werewolf by Night Volume 1'' were produced, occasionally crossing over with other titles, before wrapping up in March of 1977.

After the main series ended, the titular werewolf more or less disappeared, during the 1980s sporadically popping up in other comics such as ''{{Spider-Woman}}'', ''{{Moon Knight}}'', ''West Coast [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' and ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: Sorcerer Supreme''. Jack had a good amount of cameos in the early 1990s, as well as two solo issues in ''Marvel Comics Presents'', before [[{{Revival}} finally moving back to his own title]]. Sadly, ''Werewolf By Night Volume 2'' (1998) only ran for six issues before being [[{{Cancellation}} canceled]], but the story was continued in ''Strange Tales'' – which was [[CutShort canceled as well]] after only two issues. Ironically, four issues of ''Strange Tales'' were originally commissioned to tie up [[LeftHanging unresolved plot lines]] the first cancelation caused; the last two not seeing print [[ScrewedByTheNetwork made sure they never were]].

As of the 2010s Jack mainly serves as a member of the Legion of Monsters, turning up in popular titles such as ''{{Punisher}}'' and ''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]]'' to protect other monsters from being killed and providing a safe haven for them. One of these is [[spoiler:Rahne Sinclair’s lupine son whom he vows to take care of after she denounces the child.]]

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

** Two storylines published near-simultaneously feature two very different versions of Jack: in ''Punisher'' v7 #11-14 and ''Legion of Monsters'' #1-4 he’s a [[FieryRedhead hotheaded]] JerkAss who’s usually in for a fight; in ''X-factor'' #222-224 he’s a mildly funny, well-mannered guy protecting others.

* TheDrifter: Though his home base is LosAngeles, Jack never stays in one place for very long.

* EnemyWithin: As mentioned in ''XFactor'' #224, human Jack vs werewolf Jack is a constant struggle.

* FullyEmbracedFiend: Jack is this to Morbius in ''{{Morbius}}'' #12, going so far as to say [[WhatTheHellHero the vampire should just go with the hunger, not against it]]. Morbius shoots back ''Jack'' is the one who needs help, not he. Several years later, it seems Morbius was right.
* FunetikAksent: Many characters have them in volume 1, most notably Joshua Kane, who speaks with a southern accent. Jack develops one after ''Morbius, the Living Vampire'' #12.

* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: After being run through with several silver katanas in ''{{Punisher}}'' vol.7 #13: “Acupuncture. Tickles.”

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

* 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 ''TheExorcist''"). In ''X-factor'' his speech bubbles are black with white lettering.

* StealthPun: Jack is said to own a place on Landon Road. The late Michael Landon starred in ''IWasATeenageWerewolf''.

* 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 ''AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon''.

* TheAlcoholic: In ''[=WbN=]'' vol.2 Jack drowns his sorrows about the curse in large quantities of booze.

* BadassLongcoat

* BadassNormal: Buck Cowan.

* CouldntFindALighter: Downplayed in volume 2. Jack asks ComicBook/GhostRider if he's got a light and it looks like he's going to use the other's flaming head -- but then lights his cigarette with the candle on the bar table.

* DamselInDistress: Lissa.
* [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday Dangerous Eighteenth Birthday]]

* DisabledSnarker: Freddie in ''[=WbN=]'' v2.

* DrowningMySorrows: Jack has a habit of this in ''[=WbN=] v2''.

* EnemyWithin
* EveryCarIsAPinto

* FetalPositionRebirth: In ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #58 [[spoiler:as the werewolf lies dying]].

* FunetikAksent

* HealingFactor: As long as it’s not silver through the heart, it’s likely Jack can heal from it.

* IAmAMonster

--> How do you live with it? With—being what you are? How can you stand it?
--> What’s the other option? Trying to be something I’m not?
* IJustWantToBeNormal

* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter: Marlene.
* MagicalLand: Biphasia.

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

* TheNoseKnows: Jack has a heigtened sense of smell even in human form, being able to track people and judge their emotions.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Jack inherited the curse from his father, and is forced to change [[WeirdMoon during the three nights a month the moon is full]]. His werewolf self grows progressively more violent over time, and the pain that accompanies the transformation increases with each full moon. He eventually gains some control over the change with the help of [[spoiler:The Three Who Are All]], enabling him to transform outside the full moon as well. For a while this control extends to no longer having to change at all during the full moon and retaining his mind at all times, but those days didn’t last. \\

Initially the werewolf looked like a typical wolfman à la Lon Chaney Jr. Starting with ''Moon Knight'' #29 (1982), his appearance became more wolfish, still standing on two legs but with a fully lupine head. This change is explained as his werewolf self regressing ever further after an experiment to gain more control went badly.

* ProfessorGuineaPig: Winston Redditch.

* ResistTheBeast

* ShoutOut: To some of the Hollywood horror greats, like Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff and Maria Ouspenskaya, as well as the Marx brothers, Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart and the Rolling Stones. In ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' vol.2 #55 Jack wears a shirt of ''TheHowling''.

* SpeechBubbles: 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 ''TheExorcist''.” In ''X-factor'' his speech bubbles are black with white lettering.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Sarnak turns out to be this, in a rather hilarious example. He has gathered an army of mind-controlled beings and has been after a werewolf for years… [[spoiler:to fix the economy.]]

* WolfMan

* IWillProtectHer: Jack toward his sister Lissa.

* PrecisionFStrike: Jack uses "stinking" for the longest time, and ''if'' he swears, it's mostly SymbolSwearing. But when he finally drops his first all-out F-bomb (albeit in the AlternateUniverse of ''Dead of Night featuring Werewolf by Night''), it's a good one: "[[ClusterFBomb You fuckers. You fuckin' fuckers.]]"

As of the 2010s Jack mainly serves as a member of the Legion of Monsters, turning up in popular titles such as ''{{Punisher}}'' and ''{{Hulk}}'' to protect other monsters from being killed and providing a safe haven for them. One of these is [[spoiler:Rahne Sinclair’s lupine son whom he vows to take care of after she denounces the child.]]

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

After the main series ended, the titular werewolf more or less disappeared, during the 1980s sporadically popping up in other comics such as ''{{Spider-Woman}}'', ''{{Moon Knight}}'', ''West Coast {{Avengers}}'' and ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: Sorcerer Supreme''. Jack had a good amount of cameos in the early 1990s, as well as two solo issues in ''Marvel Comics Presents'', before [[{{Revival}} finally moving back to his own title]]. Sadly, ''Werewolf By Night Volume 2'' (1998) only ran for six issues before being [[{{Cancellation}} canceled]], but the story was continued in ''Strange Tales'' – which was [[CutShort canceled as well]] after only two issues. Ironically, four issues of ''Strange Tales'' were originally commissioned to tie up [[LeftHanging unresolved plot lines]] the first cancelation caused; the last two not seeing print [[ScrewedByTheNetwork made sure they never were]].

* HybridMonster:
** [[spoiler:Lissa]] is transformed into a were-demon after being simultaneously hit by the light of the full moon and Glitternight’s light.
** Either played straight or subverted (depending on how you look at it) when Jack [[spoiler:gets infected with the zombie virus.]] Only his human form shows the effects; his werewolf self remains [[spoiler:zombie-]]free.

* MonsterMash: The werewolf has fought vampires, the Hunchback of the Notre Dame, gorgons, zombies, golems, the monster of Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde and more. Jack is part of the Legion of Monsters; taken up to eleven when the Legion governs Monster City.

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

* ShoutOut: To some of the Hollywood horror greats, like Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff and Maria Ouspenskaya, as well as the Marx brothers, Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart and the Rolling Stones. In ''GhostRider'' vol.2 #55 Jack wears a shirt of ''TheHowling''.

After the main series ended, the titular werewolf more or less disappeared, during the 1980s sporadically popping up in other comics such as ''{{Spider-Woman}}'', ''{{Moon Knight}}'', ''West Coast {{Avengers}}'' and ''{{Doctor Strange}}: Sorcerer Supreme''. Jack had a good amount of cameos in the early 1990s, as well as two solo issues in ''Marvel Comics Presents'', before [[{{Revival}} finally moving back to his own title]]. Sadly, ''Werewolf By Night Volume 2'' (1998) only ran for six issues before being [[{{Cancellation}} canceled]], but the story was continued in ''Strange Tales'' – which was [[CutShort canceled as well]] after only two issues. Ironically, four issues of ''Strange Tales'' were originally commissioned to tie up [[LeftHanging unresolved plot lines]] the first cancelation caused; the last two not seeing print [[ScrewedByTheNetwork made sure they never were]].

* JerkassWoobie / JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Raymond Coker seems like an antisocial loner with a personal vendetta against Jack, but it turns out he has a good reason for it: [[spoiler:he’s a werewolf as well. After he has been cured, the very first thing he thinks is wanting to be turned into a werewolf again, just so Jack would be able to kill him and be cured as well.]]

* SlasherSmile: Jack is quite capable of them, especially in ''[=WbN=]'' volume 2. Even more so if he couples it with a couple of razor-sharp teeth.