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| Jack Russell | |
| Aliases: | Jacob Russoff Werewolf by Night Billy Deegan [1] |
| Continuity: | Marvel Universe |
| Notability: | Main character |
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | Werewolf |
| Location: | Charmington, Colorado [2] |
| Associations: | A.R.M.O.R. Legion of Monsters |
| Status: | Alive |
| First: | Marvel Spotlight #2 |
| Actor: | Gael García Bernal |
Jack Russell is a werewolf and the central character from the Werewolf by Night family of titles. The phrase "Werewolf by Night" has also been used as a metonym to describe the character, though neither he, nor anyone else in the Marvel Universe has ever referred to him as Werewolf by Night. The character was created by writers Roy Thomas, his then-wife Jean Thomas, Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog and was introduced as the main featurette in Marvel Spotlight #2. Following a three-issue story-arc in Marvel Spotlight, the character then spun out into his own ongoing comic book series that lasted from September, 1972 to March, 1977, spanning a total of 43 issues.
Biography[]
Origin[]
Jack Russell was born Jacob Russoff, the son of Romanian nobleman Baron Gregory Russoff and an American student Laura. Baron Russoff had the misfortune of being cursed with lycanthropy and transformed into a werewolf on the nights of the full moon. Due to the nature of the curse itself, the condition was passed down to his children, Jacob and his younger sister Lissa. Shortly after he was born, Laura brought the children out of Romania and back to the United States where they settled in Los Angeles, California. Desperately praying that her children would not suffer the same fate as their father, Laura hid the truth from them about their heritage and they both grew up unaware that their father was a werewolf. Laura eventually remarried to a man named Philip Russell, and Jacob's name was legally changed to Jack Russell.
First transformation.
The night of Jack's eighteenth birthday happened to coincide with the night of the full moon and the family curse took effect. Jack transformed into a werewolf and stalked off into the darkened streets of Los Angeles. His first victim was a random mugger, but his actions were quickly noticed by two passing policemen, one of whom fired off two shots, grazing Jack's arm. When Jack awakened the following day, he had dim memories of his time as a werewolf, but believed that it was only a dream. That evening, Jack turned into a werewolf for the second time and went off skulking about the streets for prey. His mother, fearing the worst, went off after him, but was involved in a severe automobile accident that put her into the hospital. The following day, Jack was found passed out on the beach. His surly stepfather discovered him and told him about his mother's condition. Jack went to visit her in the hospital and Laura, knowing that she had little time left, finally confessed the truth about the family curse. Aware of the great enmity that existed between Jack and his stepfather, Laura made Jack swear a deathbed promise that he would never take any violent action against Philip Russell.
Laura died, but Jack soon discovered that the collision that took her life was no mere automobile accident. Philip Russell had hired his chauffeur Max Grant to sabotage the brakes on Laura's car. With Laura gone, Philip stood to inherit her fortune. When Jack turned into the werewolf for the third time, he found himself squaring off against Grant. Instinctively aware that the man was evil, the werewolf killed him by tearing out his throat. Even though he was a monster with little cognitive memory, something inside the werewolf's brain remembered his promise to Laura and he let Philip Russell live. (Marvel Spotlight 2)
An American Werewolf in L.A.[]
The werewolf vs. Strug.
The werewolf later tore his way through a motorcycle gang that had chased Lissa back towards the Russell beach house. Philip Russell reported the incident to the police as well as a man named Nathan Timly. Timly later met Jack on the road and brought him to his home where his wife Agatha and he began pressing him about the location of the Darkhold. Jack had never heard of the strange book of black mysticism, but the Timlys insisted that it was part of his inheritance. When he refused to cooperate, they had him chained up in the cellar of their home and tortured by a deformed brute named Kraig. Jack escaped captivity and fought with Kraig as the werewolf. Kraig was killed when a lightning bolt struck his metal prosthetic hand, electrocuting him. (Marvel Spotlight 3)
Armed with the knowledge of what the Darkhold was and the fact that it was his birthright, Jack set out to find it. He met a writer named Buck Cowan who likewise was researching the Darkhold. Jack believed that this book might hold the key towards curing his condition, but did not tell Buck the true reason that he wanted it.
Jack learned that Philip had sold his birth father's estate to a man named Miles Blackgar who had it shipped over and reassembled on his own private island off the coast of Monterey. Buck and he took Philip's yacht to the island in search of the book. There, the werewolf fought up against a deformed brute named Strug and crippled Miles Blackgar by throwing him out of a tower window. (Marvel Spotlight 4)
Jack found that Miles' daughter, Marlene Blackgar, was a mutant who had the power to turn any living being into stone with but a gaze from her eyes. She used her powers against the werewolf, temporarily turning him into a statue. Fortunately for him, the metamorphosis that transforms him from beast to man also cancelled out the effects of Marlene's power.
Jack sneaked back into Blackgar Castle until he found the Darkhold. Buck and he escaped the island and brought it back to Buck's home in Venice Beach. Marlene Blackgar and Strug followed them back to the mainland and burst into Buck's house. Strug grappled with Jack, knocking him out with a sleeper hold. When he came to, he transformed into the werewolf and fought with Strug again. Marlene tried to shoot Jack, but her bullet missed, hitting her own henchman instead. She then tried to freeze the werewolf with her powers, but Jack turned away and her gaze reflected off a tall, standing mirror, turning both her father and she into stone statues. (Werewolf by Night 1)
Tensions between Jack Russell and his stepfather worsened, so he began living with Buck Cowan. Together, they analyzed his father's journals, but Jack was careful not to tell Buck the true reason behind his interest. They brought the book to a former University professor named Father Ramon Joquez.
A man named Mark Cephalos had discovered that Jack Russell was a werewolf and believed that the primal power of the creature could cure him of his own debilitating illness. He captured Jack Russell, knocking him out with gas and brought him back to his secret laboratory. He attached him to a machine that drained his life energy away and channeled it into Cephalos, turning him into a veritible power house. The werewolf escaped from the machinery as Cephalos exited the lab for his helicopter. The werewolf dove into the cabin of the chopper, destroying the controls and sending it veering off course. He dove free just as the helicopter crashed into the Hollywood hills. (Werewolf by Night 2)
The Night Shift[]
Section not yet written.
Modern years[]
Moon Knight pursued the werewolf across the rooftops of New York City. A witness recounted the affair to an officer of the New York City Police Department, claiming that they had seen a man chasing after his dog on the roof. (Code of Honor 1)
Jack Russell began living in a rundown apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and was dating a woman named Roxanna at the time. It was during this period that Jack learned about a mysterious wolf cult known as the Third Moon. (Werewolf by Night Vol 2 1)
Powers[]
Note: The following list are the general abilities commonly associated with being a werewolf. Not all abilities or vulnerabilities necessarily apply to every character.
- Lycanthropy: Lycanthropy is the condition under which one becomes a werewolf. It is often perceived as a curse and is usually developed through supernatural processes. Some werewolves however, may inherit lycanthropy at birth as a result of genetic lineage. Other origins may include scientific experimentation or mutation. Lycanthropy is usually spread by way of suffering a bite or a scratch from another lycanthrope. As such, affected individual can in turn spread the condition to another through a bite or a scratch. This of course assumes that the person who is bitten or scratched survives the initial encounter.
- Transformation: The most basic sub-application of lycanthropy is the ability to transform, either partially or fully, from a human being into a werewolf. In many cases, this ability is restricted to the nights of the full moon, though some werewolves might possess the ability to change whenever they please.
- Enhanced senses: While in full werewolf form, the lycanthrope may possess increased senses, similar to that of an animal. Some werewolves may possess this ability even when they are not in werewolf form. In some instances, a werewolf's senses may intensify the closer it gets to a full moon.
- Enhanced hearing: A werewolf's sense of hearing is greatly increased, particularly on the nights of the full moon.
- Enhanced smell: A werewolf has an extremely acute sense of smell. They can often track prey by scent, or identify what type of prey is present in their immediate surroundings.
- Accelerated healing: While in full werewolf form, a werewolf can often regenerate lost or damaged tissue.
- Claws: While in full werewolf form, their fingernails and toenails extend into sharpened claws.
- Fangs: A werewolf possesses sharpened canines, ideal for tearing and rending flesh.
- Physical prowess
- Superhuman strength: A werewolf's strength level is usually several times greater than that of the average human being.
- Superhuman durability: A werewolf's ability to resist pain or fatigue is usually several times greater than that of the average human being.
- Superhuman stamina: A werewolf can remain physically active without tiring during nights of the full moon.
- Superhuman reflexes: A werewolf's reflex action is usually several times greater than that of the average human being.
- Superhuman agility: A werewolf's agility level is usually several times greater than that of the average human being.
Skills[]
- Motorcycle riding: Jack has moderate experience with riding a motorcycle and can conduct himself with enough skill and confidence that he does not feel the need to wear a helmet. Ghost Rider would completely leave him in the dust however.
- Occult lore: Jack has some knowledge of the occult due to his condition as well as his family's connection to the Darkhold. He is by no means an expert on the subject however, though he can participate in a conversation relating to the occult with a respectable degree of familiarity.
Weaknesses[]
Conventional weaponry and methods of attack will eventually cause harm to Jack in his werewolf form, but he can endure sustained injuries with greater resiliency than normal human beings.
- Vulnerability to silver: All werewolves are vulnerable to weapons made of silver. A weapon that provides sufficient force or damage such as a silver bullet can prove fatal.
- Diminished intellect: While in werewolf form, Jack Russell has the preternatural instincts of an animal with little to no cognitive function outside of a basic need for survival. Like the moon, this has waxed and waned over the years, and there have been instances where Jack has exerted a greater amount of self control over his werewolf persona.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Jack Russell was created by writers Roy Thomas, his then-wife Jean Thomas, Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog.
- Mexican actor Gael García Bernal portrayed a version of Jack Russell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Werewolf by Night film short in 2022.
- Jack Russell was featured as Marvel Value Stamp #7 in comic book issues dated October, 1974.
Body Count[]
- Morning Star, Schuyler Belial - Pitches his ass off a rooftop. [3]
- Scratcher Martin - Slashes the drunk outside of an inn in Transylvania. [4]
See also[]
External Links[]
- Jack Russell at MDP
- Jack Russell at Comic Vine
- Jack Russell at the Horror House
- Jack Russell at the Marvel Horror Wiki
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Werewolf by Night Vol 2 2; Jack once posed as someone named Billy Deegan from Fort Worth, Texas in order to gain entrance to the Third Moon cult's lair.
- ↑ Werewolf by Night Vol 4 1
- ↑ Moon Knight 30
- ↑ Tomb of Dracula 18