1972 was a year of transition for Marvel Comics. Stan Lee was promoted and started handing over his management responsibilities to his protégé, Roy Thomas, who became the new editor-in-chief of the company. This was also the year that Marvel finally surpassed DC Comics in terms of overall sales. Superheroes were not that widely popular at the time. Their popularity was waning, so Marvel diversified to stay relevant.
Taking advantage of the loosening of the Comics Code, Marvel launched new horror titles like The Tomb of Dracula, Ghost Rider, The Man-Thing, and Werewolf by Night, of course. Back then, Roy Thomas was trying a lot of new concepts.
The title Werewolf by Night was not entirely new when it debuted as an ongoing series in the 1970s. Marvel Comics had previously used the title in 1953 for a short horror story published in Marvel Tales #116, during the company’s Atlas Comics era. However, the 1970s Werewolf by Night introduced an original character and mythology, marking a significant departure from the earlier standalone tale. Conceived by Roy Thomas and co-plotted with Jean Thomas, the series was scripted by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Mike Ploog.
As was common practice at the time, the new Werewolf by Night character was first introduced through an anthology title—Marvel Spotlight #2 (February 1972). The initial storyline unfolded over three issues, concluding with Marvel Spotlight #4. Following a positive reception, the character was given his own ongoing comic book series, launching with Werewolf by Night #1 in September 1972. This not only solidified the presence of supernatural horror within Marvel’s publishing line but also paved the way for the introduction of other monster-themed characters and series throughout the 1970s.
The Origin of Werewolf by Night
Roy Thomas originally conceived Werewolf by Night as a hybrid concept, combining elements of Spider-Man, particularly the theme of a young protagonist grappling with newfound powers, with the 1957 B-movie “I Was a Teenage Werewolf.” Thomas also envisioned the story being narrated in the first person by the protagonist, enhancing the introspective tone.
His initial title for the comics was “I, Werewolf,” but Stan Lee didn’t like it and proposed “Werewolf by Night instead, “the title that was ultimately adopted. Thomas then collaborated with Jean Thomas to develop the character’s origin, before passing the concept to writer Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog, who would form the initial creative team for the series.
The origin story of Werewolf by Night centers on Jack Russell, who, upon turning eighteen, learns that he has inherited a hereditary curse of lycanthropy from his father, transforming into a werewolf with each full moon. The condition is tied to a supernatural affliction dating back generations. Jack’s mother, Laura, had met and married his father during her time studying abroad in Transylvania, unaware of the dark legacy she was joining. As the curse begins to manifest in Jack, he embarks on a quest to find a cure, not only for himself but also to protect his younger sister, Lissa, from succumbing to the same fate.
Over the following years, Jack Russell became a wanderer, pursuing both a cure for his lycanthropy and an understanding of its origins. His search eventually led him to the Darkhold, an ancient tome of dark magic believed to contain the knowledge necessary to end his curse. Along the way, Jack encountered a wide array of adversaries, including biker gangs, demons, organized criminals, and a shadowy consortium known as “the Committee.” His path frequently crossed with other figures from the Marvel Universe, including Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Tigra, Moon Knight, and even Frankenstein’s Monster. At one point, he became affiliated with the Legion of Monsters, aligning himself with other supernatural beings in the Marvel mythos.
Werewolf by Night Publication History
After his short run in Marvel Spotlight, Jack Russell came back with the first volume of Werewolf by Night. This ongoing series lasted for 43 issues, the last one being published in 1977.
After that, the Werewolf guest-starred in Moon Knight, Spider-Woman, West Coast Avengers, and Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme, before getting a storyline in the pages of the comic book anthology Marvel Comics Presents. He later became a supporting character in Morbius: The Living Vampire during the 1990s.
The second volume of Werewolf by Night was published in 1998. It only lasted 6 issues before being canceled. The story continued in Strange Tales, which was also quickly canceled. After a one-shot titled “Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night” in 2007, Jack Russell came back in 2009 with the four-issue limited series Dead of Night Featuring Werewolf by Night, and later did a storyline in Franken-Castle as a member of the Legion of Monsters—as we see it again in the Legion of Monsters 2011 miniseries and other series as a guest star.
In 2020, Marvel launched the third volume of Werewolf by Night, introducing a new protagonist, Jake Gomez. Unlike previous iterations, this series was entirely disconnected from the character of Jack Russell. Created by Taboo (of the Black Eyed Peas), Benjamin Jackendoff, and artist Scot Eaton, Jake Gomez is a Native American teenager who inherits the werewolf curse through his family line.
Jack Russell appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) through a self-titled television special released in 2022. The character is portrayed by Gael García Bernal. The special, presented in a black-and-white, horror-inspired aesthetic, pays homage to classic monster films and marks the MCU’s formal introduction of its supernatural horror elements. This adaptation reimagines the character while retaining core aspects of his transformation and mythological background.
A significant evolution for Marvel’s horror line, launched in August 2024, Werewolf by Night: Red Band is a new series penned by Jason Loo with artwork by Sergio Dávila and cover art by E.M. Gist. Designed for adult readers, each issue is polybagged to denote its explicit content, featuring intense violence and horror elements that push the boundaries of traditional superhero narratives. Set in the aftermath of the Blood Hunt event, the story follows Jack Russell as he grapples with the consequences of the vampire invasion. Haunted by guilt and seeking redemption, Jack ventures into the Savage Land, confronting both external threats and his inner demons.
Werewolf by Night Reading Order: Collected Editions
This is not a detailed or even complete Werewolf by Night Reading Order, but a selection of the essential books to read with the character.
- Werewolf By Night: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects Marvel Spotlight (1971) #2–4, Werewolf By Night (1972) #1–15, Marvel Team-Up (1972) #12, Tomb of Dracula (1972) #18. Also available in Marvel Masterworks: Werewolf by Night Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. - Werewolf By Night: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects Werewolf By Night (1972) #16–30, Giant-Size Creatures #1, Giant-Size Werewolf #2–4, and material from Monsters Unleashed (1973) #6–7. Also available in Marvel Masterworks: Werewolf by Night Vol. 2. - Werewolf By Night: The Complete Collection Vol. 3
Collects Giant-Size Werewolf #5; Werewolf By Night (1972) #31–43; Marvel Premiere #28; Spider-Woman (1978) #6, #19 And #32; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #93; Ghost Rider (1973) #55; Moon Knight (1980) #29 (A Story) And #30; And Material From Marvel Premiere #59. - Legion Of Monsters
Collects Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night #1 and Legion of Monsters: Morbius #1, Legion of Monsters: Man-Thing #1, Legion of Monsters: Satana #1 - Dead of Night Featuring Werewolf by Night
Collects Dead Of Night Featuring Werewolf By Night #1–4, Tomb Of Dracula #18, and Werewolf By Night #15. - Punisher, Vol. 3: Franken-Castle
Collects Dark Reign: The List—Punisher, Punisher (2009) #11–16, Franken-Castle #17–21, Dark Wolverine #88–89 - Legion of Monsters
Collects Legion of Monsters (2011) #1–4. - Werewolf By Night – Unholy Alliance new
Collects Werewolf By Night (2023) #1, Moon Knight Annual (2022) #1, Crypt Of Shadows (2022) #1, and Crypt Of Shadows (2023) #1. - Werewolf By Night: Red Band new
Collects Werewolf By Night: Red Band #1-10, Werewolf By Night: Blood Hunt, and Werewolf By Night: Blood Moon Rise.