Werewolf By Night #1 Review

Written by: Derek Landy
Art by: Fran Galán
Colors by: Fran Galán
Letters by: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover art by: Corin Howell, Rachelle Rosenberg (cover A)
Cover price: $5.99
Release date: September 13, 2023

Werewolf By Night #1 finds Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone intersecting on an overlapping mission to stop a black magic scientist from opening the Gates to Hell.

Is Werewolf By Night #1 Good?

Werewolf By Night#1 kicks off the Halloween season with a howling good (*groan) one-shot that brings the King of the Wolves and a famous Monster Hunter back together to stop the diabolical Doktor Nekromantix. If you’re in the mood for a straightforward horror adventure with plenty of monsters, fights, charm, and wit, you’re in for a treat.

Derek Landy’s script centers on Jack Russell, aka Werewolf By Night, and Elsa Bloodstone running into each other in Bavaria with competing missions to rescue a kidnapped girl who’s destined to be the central sacrifice in Doktor Nekromantik’s world-ending ritual. When the supernatural heroes clash, they decide to partner up, reminiscing about their romantic past while they slash, bite, and shoot their way through a spooky castle full of monsters. Unfortunately, the Doktor’s timetable is much sooner than expected, which leads to Demon Kings, invading darkness, and so many tentacles.

If you’re unsure about which version of Werewolf By Night you’re getting here, this issue goes back to the original version. Partly because Jack Russell is still the best version, and likely to synergize the comics with the well-received Werewolf By Night special on Disney+ last year.

Check out our Werewolf by Night #1 Video Review

What’s great about Werewolf By Night #1? Honestly, the entire issue is pretty great. You get plenty of werewolf-on-monster action, a large-scale threat worthy of the team of Russell and Bloodstone, and an entertaining tonal mix of mostly humor with a charming wit. The tone isn’t jokey, but Landy injects humor in just the right spots to create an endearing quality between Russell and Bloodstone.

What’s not so great about Werewolf By Night #1? In terms of writing execution and the overall premise, nothing. This is a fun Halloween-themed tale from start to finish.

How’s the art? The art is where some readers may pause. Fran Galán’s brushed technique is fine for what it is, the layouts and compositions are solid, and the character designs are memorable. That said, Fran Galán’s style has a storybook quality, which adds a whimsical vibe to the story but lacks scariness and drama. The art is good but safe.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Werewolf By Night #1 brings the chills, thrills, and monsterific fun in time to kick off the Halloween season. Derek Landy’s story is solid from front to back, and Fran Galán’s art style adds a storybook charm to the visuals.