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Werewolf by Night
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Werewolf by Night (birth name Jacob Russoff, legal name Jack Russell) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The Werewolf by Night (usually referred to by other characters simply as the Werewolf) is an anti-heroic werewolf. He first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol. 1 #2.
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Werewolf by Night, Volume 1 ran for 43 issues during the 1970s. Issue #32 is notable for containing the first appearance of Moon Knight. Five 'Giant-Size' editions were also published during this time. Jack Russell also co-starred with Tigra in Giant Size Creatures #1, which was Tigra's first appearance.
Jack Russell was dormant for most of the 1980s. The character's appearance was radically revamped in Moon Knight, Volume 1 #29. He guest-starred in various issues of Spider-Woman, Volume 1, West Coast Avengers and Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme.
Werewolf by Night was later revived in the pages of Marvel Comics Presents, where he appeared irregularly from 1991-1993. He also made regular appearances as a supporting cast member in the pages of Morbius the Living Vampire from 1993-1995. A letters page in an issue of Morbius mentioned that a Werewolf by Night mini-series by Len Kaminski and James Fry was in the works, but the mini-series was never published.
Werewolf by Night, Volume 2 ran for 6 issues in the late 1990's. The series was written by Paul Jenkins and penciled by Leonardo Manco. After the book's cancellation, the story was continued in the pages of Strange Tales, which also featured the Man-Thing. That volume of Strange Tales was canceled after only two issues due to poor sales.
In early 2007, Marvel published a one-shot entitled Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night, with art by Greg Land.
Jack Russell was born Jacob Russoff in Romania to Gregor and Laura Russoff. Gregor was himself a werewolf who had inherited the family curse of lycanthropy. This curse had originated with their 18th century ancestor Grigori, who had been tainted by the Darkhold, a grimoire of black magic, and was subsequently bitten by a werewolf who served Dracula. Gregor himself was killed by an angry mob while Jacob was less than two years old. Soon after, Laura took Jacob and his sister, Lissa, to the United States, where Laura married Gregor's brother Philip. The family adopted the last name of Russell, and Jacob's first name was changed to Jack.
Unfortunately for Jack, he would go on to inherit his father's curse on his eighteenth birthday. Under the light of a full moon, Jack would transform into the Werewolf: a ferocious monster who would prowl the area searching for victims. He would hunt down and maim or kill evildoers as he encountered them, although he would often attack others when threatened or panicked. A number of these victims returned as werewolves themselves, only to be killed by Jack when he learned of his creations' bloodlust. Most of Jack's adventures revolved around him searching for a way to control or cure his lycanthropy. During this time he formed an on-again off-again relationship with the empathic sorceress Topaz. He eventually came to grips with his nature and is currently able to exercise a large degree of control over his actions while in werewolf form, to the point that he can usually think and act normally while transformed.
There was a point in Jack's life where his werewolf form became advanced by a scientist named Dr. Karl Malus whose treatment caused Jack to more closely resemble an actual wolf by having the head of a wolf and a small tail.
Throughout the years, the Werewolf would encounter a variety of superhero and supernatural opponents and allies, including Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the West Coast Avengers, and the Midnight Sons. During the encounter with the Midnight Sons, the vampire hunter Blade was possessed by the Darkhold and killed the Werewolf; when the spell was reversed, both Blade and Jack were returned to normal. More recently, Jack's niece was introduced as the Vampire by Night, whose hereditary curse had been modified by the bite of a vampire.
In 2007's "Legion of Monsters: Werewolf By Night" special, Jack Russell came to Salvage, Alabama to save the Pynchon family from townsfolk led by Cal Escher. Young Rhonda Pynchon was the only one left after her mother and twin sister Suzie chose death by gun or knife. The girl was drowning her sorrows in Sullivan's bar right next to the cemetery when the gang attacked her, triggering a transformation in her with tarot cards and then trying to kill her. Russell interfered, transforming into Werewolf while Rhonda decided to do the same. After killing the violent gang, Russell and Rhonda left the town, determined to control their affliction and live their lives without fear.
Jack possesses the power of lycanthropy, the power to become a werewolf. In his wolfen form, he still resembles a human, albeit with fur and canine features. As a werewolf, Jack is superhumanly stong and fast, with animal-like senses of smell and hearing. His claws and fangs can rip most enemies to shreds, even other werewolves. Unlike most werewolves, Jack can become a werewolf whenever it is dark, and doesn't need the full moon to change. If Jack bites or scratches a human, he can infect them with lycanthropy, and make them werewolves as well. Note:upon integration of his wolf and human souls in Marvel Comic Presents, his ability to infect another became optional and he could choose who would receive the curse. His wolfen powers enable him to quickly heal from most injuries, but he is still vulnerable to weapons made of silver (such as stakes and bullets).
In Earth-666, a version of Werewolf appeared in Supernatural Tourbook and Supernaturals #1-4
There have been a few other characters known as Werewolf. These include:
- A Hungarian who developed the bloodlust when he was exposed to a drop of water in Uncanny Tales vol. 1 #23 was known as Werewolf.
- In Marvel Tales vol. 1 #108, there is a werewolf who was married to a vampire.
- There are rings known as the Werewolf rings that were obtained along with other magic items by Joshua Kane that were allegedly from Aelfric. After Kane’s death, his executor Geraldo Kabal gave one of the rings to Lou Hackett who used it to become an intelligent werewolf; it was apparently destroyed along with him. The second ring was taken from Kabal by Jack Russell, and it allowed him to retain his intellect (but not speak) until he lost it in Baron Thunder's building. The rings appeared in Werewolf by Night vol. 1 #20-21.
The character's name may be a reference to the Jack Russell Terrier breed of dog.
- Amazing Fantasy vol. 2 #12
- Avengers vol. 1 #240
- Captain America vol. 1 #330-331, 402-407
- Dr. Strange vol. 3 #26-27
- Ghost Rider vol. 2 #55
- Ghost Rider vol. 3 #55
- Giant-Size Creature #1
- Giant-Size Werewolf by Night #2-5
- Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #362
- Iron Man vol. 1 #209
- Marvel Comics Presents #54-59, 98, 107-113, 143-144
- Marvel Premiere #28, 59
- Marvel Spotlight vol. 1 #2-4
- Marvel Super Heroes: Contest of Champions #1-3
- Marvel Team-Up vol. 1 #12, 93
- Midnight Sons Unlimited #7
- Moon Knight vol. 1 #29-30
- Morbius #26-31
- Nick Fury's Howling Commandos #1
- Nick Fury's Howling Commandos: Director's Cut
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005
- Solo Avengers #3
- Spider-Woman vol. 1 #19, 32, 48-50
- Strange Tales vol. 4 #1-3
- Tomb of Dracula vol. 1 #18
- Werewolf by Night vol. 1 #1-43
- Werewolf by Night vol. 2 #1-6
- West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #5, 40
- Witches #1
- Werewolf by Night: California Gothic - Photon Torpedoes
- Werewolf by Night bio at Marvel Appendix