Around this time, Marvel had a tendency to try new characters out in titles like Marvel Spotlight or Marvel Premiere, then give them their own series if they proved to be popular. However, the characters' first issues often carried on the story from those other books, so you'd pick up issue 1 only to find yourself in the middle of an ongoing tale (for other examples, see Captain Marvel in THE COMING OF CAPTAIN MARVEL or Adam Warlock in COUNT-DOWN FOR COUNTER-EARTH). In the Werewolf By Night's case, this little two-parter featuring his search for the Darkhold would flow from Marvel Spotlight into his very own ongoing series.
Jack Russell has only recently discovered his true family legacy and that Phillip Russell, the man he believed to be his father, is actually his uncle. His biological father, Baron Gregory Russoff (Phillip's brother), was a magic user and werewolf. Jack inherited his father's curse on his 18th birthday and needs to find the Darkhold to prevent the curse from passing to his sister, Lissa Russell, when she too turns 18.
The Darkhold is contained in the Russoff Castle which is now owned by Miles Blackgar who had the castle shipped, brick by brick from Europe, to an island off the coast of California. But what's Blackgar up to in there...?
- Marvel Spotlight #4
- Werewolf By Night #1
Buck Cowan, a writer investigating the existence of the Book of the Darkhold, finds Jack Russell and tells him the whereabouts of the Russoff Castle. With help from Cowan, Jack steals his step-father's boat and heads to find the castle on an island off the coast of California. A gun for hire called Garth shoots up the boat and takes Jack to Miles Blackgar's island. Blackgar's daughter, Marlene Blackgar, tries to warn Jack that something strange is going on. That night, Jack sneaks out of his room, turns into the Werewolf, finds the Darkhold and learns Blackgar has been using the book to turn men into monsters. He allows the monsters to kill Garth and hurls Miles Blackgar out of a window, only to discover Marlene is the real villain...
Werewolf By Night #1
Having been turned to stone by the mutant Marlene Blackgar's gaze, Jack is able to break free when he transforms back to human form at sunrise and escapes the island. Marlene and the wheelchair-bound Miles kidnap Jack's sister, Lissa Russell, and Buck Cowan to barter for the return of the Darkhold in the hope she can use it to cure her of her mutant powers. Transforming back into the Werewolf when the moon rises, Jack confronts Marlene and tricks her into looking into a mirror, making her turn herself and her father into stone. Buck arranges for the statues to be displayed in an art gallery.
Jack Russell moves into Buck Cowan's home as they try to learn the mysteries of the Russoff family.
Werewolf By Night #22-23 (1974)
Buck Cowan becomes a close friend to Jack Russell and eventually learns of his curse; Back refuses to shoot Jack with a silver bullet to end the curse, but does kill the villain Atlas when he tries to kill Jack.
Werewolf by Night #27-30 (1975)
Lissa Russell finally succumbs to the family's lycanthropy curse, combined with exposure to the dark powers of Doctor Glitternight, and transforms into a 'were-demon'; with help from Topaz and Taboo, Jack Russell is able to cure Lissa of the curse.
Werewolf By Night #31 (1975)
As the Werewolf, Jack Russell almost kills Buck Cowan when he tries to protect a little girl.
Doctor Strange #60-62 (1983)
Doctor Strange obtains the Darkhold and uses it to end the threat of all vampires on Earth, including Dracula, during THE MONTESI FORMULA.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #9-13 (1989-1990)
The origins of the Darkhold are explained.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #26-27 (1991)
Gregory Russoff's origins are expanded.
Darkhold #1 (1991)
Victoria Montesi is charged with locating the missing pages of the Darkhold during RISE OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS.
Darkhold #16 (1994)
Victoria Montesi's Darkhold Redeemers disband when a sufficient number of pages have been recovered during SIEGE OF DARKNESS.
Amazing Fantasy #10 (2005)
Lissa Russell's daughter, Nina Price, succumbs to the werewolf curse when she's 18 and is also the victim of a vampire bite, turning her into the hybrid Vampire By Night during HOWLING COMMANDOS.
Essential Werewolf By Night vol.1
Werewolf By Night Omnibus
Werewolf By Night: The Complete Collection vol.1
Includes Marvel Spotlight #4 and Werewolf By Night #1
Mrs Deadpool and the Howling Commandos
Includes Werewolf By Night #1
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