Werewolf by Night's dark corner of the Marvel Universe is one of the most exciting – something fans can look forward to in the upcoming special.

With Marvel's Werewolf By Night set to serve as the eponymous hero's MCU debut, Marvel's favorite lycanthrope is in the spotlight like never before. Debuting in 1972, Werewolf has largely kept a low profile since his initial series of solo adventures ceased publication in March 1977.

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Though never an A-lister, Jack Russell has been kept alive by a series of continuity- and horror-loving creators. Ties to black magic, the pathos of his monstrous condition, and his striking silhouette make Werewolf by Night's dark corner of the Marvel Universe one of the most exciting, which is something fans can look forward to in the upcoming special.

One thing that's critical to understanding Werewolf by Night is understanding his powers. However, like many superheroes, there's more to Werewolf by Night than meets the eye. When he's in his transformed state, Jack Russell possesses basic powers of enhanced senses, speed, strength, and agility.

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Various mystic machinations have complicated these simple abilities. Russell boasts regenerative powers on par with the Hulk and is even able to regenerate his own destroyed head. His transformations also change. Russell typically morphs under full moons, though his appearance is variously more humanoid and more lupine. Russell can also change by his volition, though he must contend with his alter form's violent instincts.

Though a werewolf bite is a transformative factor for many, Russell's own lycanthropy is hereditary. Russell's ancestor, Grigori Russoff, contracted the curse in 1795 when, in an attempt to kill Dracula, he was bitten by a werewolf in the Vampire Lord's service.

The curse stayed dormant until May 1930 when Gregor Russoff read from the mystic Darkhold and restored the curse to his family. The curse has since passed generationally, with Jack Russell's lycanthropy manifesting on his eighteenth birthday. Interestingly, Russell's sister, Lissa, was able to escape her latent wolfishness by passing the curse onto the sorcerer Topaz.

The name "Jack Russell" may seem a little on the nose for such a canine-adjacent character. Jack Russell terriers are a breed of dog known for their energy and athleticism. However, despite that, co-creator Gerry Conway insisted he didn't have a conscious aim to give the feral hero such an ironic name.

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In-universe, "Jack Russell" is an adopted name. Werewolf changed his name from "Jacob Russoff" when his mother married Philip Russell, secretly the brother of Werewolf's father, Gregory. Despite the name change, Russell has been continuously hounded by those seeking his power.

Jack Russell is not Marvel's only lycanthrope, nor is he the only character to bear the name "Werewolf by Night." Hopi teenager Jake Gomez took up the mantle in 2020 when he discovered he could transform into a werewolf at will, though his abilities were dictated by his emotional state. Gomez would then star in a four-issue limited series.

Gomez first used his powers to battle the malevolent corporation, Life Pharmaceutical. The organization had been kidnapping people from Gomez's home reservation. After saving those captured, Gomez joined with the hero Red Wolf to learn to better control his powers.

Surprisingly, Jack Russell won't be the first character from Werewolf by Night comics to debut in the MCU. Instead, that honor goes to Mark Spector, aka Moon Knight. A violent vigilante tied to the Egyptian God of the Moon, Moon Knight's own TV show premiered in March 2022.

Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 written by Doug Moench and drawn by Ron Perlin. Hired to eliminate the lycanthrope, Spector's humanity shines through when he teams with Russell to destroy the villainous Committee that hired him. Though never close friends, Moon Knight and Russell have continuously wound through each other's lives.

Moon Knight isn't the only Marvel hero Jack Russell has tangled with. While working with vampire doctor Michael Morbius to find a cure for his condition, the West Coast Avengers came knocking for help with Tigra's similar state. Unfortunately, Werewolf was enraged by Tigra's presence and attacked the Wackos.

The assemblage of Hawkeye, Iron Man, Mockingbird, Wonder Man, Firebird, Iron Man, and the Thing battled Russell in the streets, defeating him with a barrage of flames and fists. Though Russell is unable to provide the Avengers with any help, Morbius provides the team with advice.

Often a loner, Jack Russell has nevertheless teamed up with plenty of heroes. Typically interacting with Marvel's horror characters, Werewolf has been a member of the Midnight Sons and helped Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, and Morbius found the Legion of Monsters.

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For the majority of Marvel's publishing history, the Legion hasn't referred to themselves as a team. This changed when they reorganized in 2011, minus Ghost Rider and with new recruits Manphibian, the Living Mummy, and the recently-resurrected Frankencastle (aka the Punisher). The team sought to protect those deemed by 616 society to be monsters, using their power to create the underground Monster Metropolis.

The protection of Monster Metropolis was the greatest legacy of the Legion of Monsters. It was a haven for everything from amphibian people to zombies. The Legion worked to protect the city from the Hunter of Monster Special Force, a Japanese group of warriors who mercilessly killed anything non-human.

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The group teamed with Frankencastle to eliminate the threat, the latter of whom left the Monster Special Force's leader trapped in Limbo. Morbius would become the city's leader, using Werewolf and the rest of the Legion as street-level protectors to help keep order in the underground mecca.

After Morbius stepped down, the succubus Shiklah took over ruling Monster Metropolis. Dracula intended to marry Shiklah to cement his rule over the city, but he was foiled when Deadpool married her instead. The decision resulted in war throughout both New York City and Monster Metropolis.

After fighting alongside Shiklah in the battle against Dracula, Werewolf became close with the city's leader. Russell and Shiklah slept together, an act that resulted in the naked mercenary blowing Werewolf's head off with a blunderbuss. Fortunately, Russell survived, though Deadpool and Shiklah's marriage was fractured.

Though many may find it hard to believe, Gael García Bernal's upcoming portrayal of the character isn't the first live-action appearance of Werewolf by Night. Jack Russell first appeared on the silver screen in Blade: Trinity.

Russell appears in one of the movie's deleted scenes, where Wesley Snipes's Blade and Ryan Reynolds's Hannibal King track him down at a casino. Russell is portrayed as a violent monster and is subsequently killed by the movie's heroes. The MCU's upcoming special will presumably reverse this, presenting Russell as a sympathetic figure and his enemies as the true monsters of the film.

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Peter has had a love of comic books and superheroes since he was a child in Vermont. Now living in Utah, Peter is excited and determined to share this love via articles here on CBR. He holds a special place in his heart for the X-Men, Thor, and the Flash. When not reading comics, he enjoys writing, hiking, and camping.

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