My Rating
“Eye of the Beholder”
The passing hours feel like decades to Jack Russell as he stands motionless in the garden of Miles Blackgar. It is not by choice, for when one is turned to stone, being a statue leaves very few options. Yet somehow, Jack can still form thoughts. How is that possible?
In those old sword-and-sandal movies, the Gorgon named Medusa always finished the job. Marlene Blackgar, on the other hand, must have limits to her mutant powers. As night turns to day and wolf turns back to man, Jack’s stone prison begins to crack. Cold rock gives way to living flesh, and Jack Russell is free once again. Now is the time to recover what was stolen!
Will Jack retrieve his father’s mysterious book, or will the return of the full moon get in his way? Does the Darkhold contain enough forbidden knowledge to cure Marlene’s father before it is too late? Is a box of corn flakes really the best place to hide one’s valuables in case of an emergency? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
October is here, and it is time to review some classic Marvel horror! What better place to start than 1972’s Werewolf by Night #1? I would like to note up front that the story continues a storyline that began in Marvel Spotlight #2. Reading the previous issue is not required, but it does provide a little extra background on Jack Russell and his unusual family curse.
Werewolf by Night is a quintessential example of the Marvel Comics art and writing style that defined the 1960s and continued well into the 1980s. Mike Ploog remains one of my favorite horror artists, even today. His work on Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night alone has made him a legend of Marvel horror. In my opinion, of course!
The writing also holds up surprisingly well for today’s audience. Just ignore the bell-bottom jeans and mood ring references. Remember, this was 1972! The combination of supernatural horror, classic Marvel storytelling, and Mike Ploog’s wonderfully eerie artwork makes Werewolf by Night #1 an easy four out of five stars. Now for the important question: Which team are you on—Team Blade or Team Jack?