Warning: contains spoilers forWerewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise#1!
53 years later,Marvelbreaks the rules by giving one of their classic supernatural characters a game-changing upgrade. Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, has long sought to control his transformations, to no avail. Now, inWerewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise#1,Russell finally gets his wish, with the help of a fellow monster.
Blood Moon Risewriter Michael Giacchino is a composer for films and TV. His credits includeLostas well as theWerewolf by NightDisney + special.
Werewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise#1 was written by Michael Giacchino and drawn by David Messina. The Werewolf has been taken prisoner by Dracula, for unknown reasons. In his cell, his transformation into the Werewolf begins,but pauses mid-way through, allowing Russell to retain his humanity, while still having wolf powers.
Werewolf by Night’s Struggle to Contain His Dark Impulses Has Made for Great Marvel Comics
Jack Russell’s Dilemma Is Just Like Bruce Banner and the Hulk
TheWerewolf by Night has been a fixture of Marvel’s supernatural sidefor over 50 years, his struggle to contain the raging beast within him resonating with generations of fans. Jack Russell was a part of a “supernatural explosion” in the early 1970s, in the same movement that gave the Marvel Universe Dracula, Ghost Rider and the Son of Satan.
Since his first appearance inMarvel Spotlight#2, the Werewolf has fought to keep his dark impulses in check. Up untilWerewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise, Jack had no luck in this area. Once a month, Jack would morph into a savage killing machine. A definite parallel can be drawn between Jack and the Hulk.
Man-Thing Just Did the Werewolf by Night a Huge Favor
The Werewolf’s New Ability Comes at the Right Time
Jack Russell’s odyssey has seemingly come to an end, as he found it in him to “pause” his transformation for the first time ever. In doing so, Jack got the best of both worlds: his humanity was left intact, and he still had access to the super-strength and endurance of the Werewolf.
The key element in stalling Jack’s transformation was the Man-Thing, a fellow monster. Long considered Marvel’sanswer to DC’s Swamp Thing, the Man-Thing is a mystical creature of undefined power. Traditionally, the Man-Thing does not speak out loud, but inBlood Moon Rise,he calls out to Jack telepathically, which unlocks the ability to halt the transformation.
This is a huge deal for the Werewolf, and it comes at an appropriate time. InBlood Moon Rise’sconclusion, fans learn Dracula abducted the Werewolf and Man-Thing to help build an army against an unknown threat that is not revealed in this issue. If it scares Dracula, then it must be terrifying.
How Long Will Jack Be Able to Control His Transformation Into the Werewolf?
Man-Thing and the Werewolf Are Marvel’s Best New Combo
The Werewolf’s new ability is a game-changer for him, but it comes with a cost: he must seemingly stay in contact with Man-Thing. Man-Thing’s powers, as noted earlier, vary depending on the story. Giacchino and Messina give Man-Thing psychic powers, strong enough to pause Jack’s transformations. Not only did Jack unlock a new ability, but Man-Thing did as well.
Not only did Jack unlock a new ability, but Man-Thing did as well.
The Werewolf and Man-Thing areMarvel’sbest new duo, and one the MCU presaged. When the Werewolf made the leap to television in 2023’sWerewolf by Nightspecial, Man-Thing was crucial in helping him defeat the monster hunters. The special ended with the two hanging out, implying they would become good friends, and now that has carried over into the comics.
Werewolf by Night: Blood Moon Riseis on sale now from Marvel Comics!
