Werewolf by Night History, from Jack Russell to Jake Gomez

Even among the bright panels and technicolor spandex of Marvel Comics, things do go bump in the night. More specifically, they tend to bump on moonlit nights when the supernatural beings come out to play. Back in 1971, in Marvel Spotlight #2, one such moonlit night introduced readers to a hirsute hero at the mercy of a curse.

With a howl and a roar, Werewolf by Night ripped his way into Marvel panels. Since then he has been a protector of the paranormal and on the periphery of Marvel’s most powerful objects. But who is Marvel’s foremost werewolf? Roll back that moonroof and hop in. We’re riding down memory lane with Werewolf by Night.

Jack Russell Is the First Werewolf by Night

Over time, there have been multiple Werewolves by Night. But Jack Russell is the first hero to go by the name of Werewolf by Night. In fact, Jack’s family has a cursed history of lycanthropy. That story brings us to the far off lands of Transylvania. Cue thunder and lightning as the spooky mists part, revealing the Russof family estate. Oh, that nearby mountain? None other than Wundagore Mountain.

The Russof’s castle became a nexus of paranormal trouble. It all began with Jack’s ancestor, Grigori Russof, who defied Dracula and was turned into a werewolf. Thus, the curse was passed down to Gregor Russof, who decided to transcribe the infamous Darkhold under a full moon. That choice triggered the werewolf’s curse to awaken once again, and Gregor passed it down to his son, Gregory, and his grandson, Jacob Russof. However, the curse notably skipped Gregory’s brother Philip.

A Curse Runs Amok

Family can be so complicated, especially when curses are involved. The Russofs tried to escape their lycanthropy by selling part of their estate to Jonathan Drew (the future father of Spider-Woman) and Herbert Wyndham. Though Wyndham, who later became the High Evolutionary, helped the Russofs keep the curse in check, nothing stays hidden for long. Chthon emerged to claim the family’s Darkhold copy, which led to a werewolf escape. The wolf was killed at the hands of an angry village mob, and young Jacob had to flee with his mother and sister.

They escaped to Los Angeles, where Jacob’s uncle Philip lived. Now semi-safe with Uncle Philip, Jacob’s mother Laura married the man, whom she once dated before Jacob’s father. Jacob’s name is changed to Jack Russell. Philip and Laura kept the man’s true identity a secret. However, the secret came out when Laura was mortally wounded in a car crash. On her deathbed, she urged Jack to forgive his uncle. To make matters even worse, Jack’s werewolf curse had kicked in the night before.

How Did Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight Meet?

Both heroes are connected to the ever-changing, ever-shifting moon. Their powers derive from the same celestial symbol and both are channeled through ancient conduits. Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight were all but fated to be at each other’s throats. But how did they meet?

Actually, Moon Knight made his debut in Werewolf By Night #32. At first, these two men were bitter rivals. After all, they both worked for a mysterious crime syndicate known as The Committee. However, both men eventually stopped working for The Committee since its sole purpose is to enforce capitalism through horribly violent means. For example, The Committee was actually behind Jack’s mother’s car crash. With time, Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight would become reluctant allies. Enemies really can become friends — once in a blue moon.

Who Are Werewolf by Night’s Allies & Enemies?

Like Moon Knight, the Werewolf by Night straddles that line between super hero and supernatural. In the Marvel Multiverse, that can be a precarious situation. You’ll find yourself with an interesting squad of allies as well as lethal leagues of arcane enemies. For the most part, Werewolf by Night’s enemies are those who seek to control the Darkhold’s insidious power. That has included a revolving roster of sorcerers, such as Taboo (no, not the member of the Black Eyed Peas and co-creator of Jake Gomez), as well as the original vampire himself, Dracula.

On the other hand, operating in the shadows among outcasts creates a tight sense of camaraderie. Werewolf by Night’s allies include his sister Lissa, the monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, Doctor Strange, and even street level heroes like Daredevil and Spider-Man. Jake’s niece, Nina Price, has also helped him over the years since she is a werewolf-vampire hybrid known as the Vampire by Night. Though he’s mostly a lone wolf, Jack has worked with the Howling Commandos as well as a supernatural team called the Legion of Monsters (which included Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, and Morbius).

Jake Gomez Is the Second Werewolf by Night

While the Russof family curse is the stuff of legends, Jack Russell isn’t the only howling hero. In 2020, Jake Gomez also inherited the title of Werewolf by Night, in a series co-created by Taboo, Benjamin Jackendoff, and Scot Eaton. Jake is a 17-year-old from the Hopi Reservation and his ancestral curse operates a little differently than Jack’s. At the start of his story, Jake had already been shifting for four years. But his transformations aren’t ruled by the moon.

Instead, Jake Gomez transforms according to his volatile emotions. Deep rage can trigger Jake’s shift into werewolf form and he has struggled to find ways to control it. Fortunately, Elsa Bloodstone and Avengers Academy-alum Reptíl have helped Jake tame his lycanthropy. But his sister, Molly, is the one who discovered music is the best cure for his curse. Jake’s initial enemy was Life Pharmaceuticals, which conducted teen trafficking on Jake’s reservation. More recently, Jake went up against The Structure, a vampire cult responsible for possessing Blade and starting the massive Blood Hunt event.

These days, Jack Russell and Moon Knight still cross paths, though their lunacy has recently taken a tense turn — especially since Jack is now the King of All Wolves. Currently, Elsa Bloodstone has brought together the two Werewolves by Night against the growing threat of the Darkholders. You can follow these adventures in Werewolf By Night: Red Band.

What are your favorite Werewolf by Night stories? Join the conversation with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!