- "You don't scream? How refreshing -- other humans beg as my shadow falls on theirs -- others cringe, fall back in fright or whimper at my very presence... yet in your eyes, there is no fear... no fright..."
- ―Dracula
| "Enter: Werewolf by Night" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tomb of Dracula | |
| Title: | "Enter: Werewolf by Night" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 18 |
| Cover price: | .20 |
| Cover date: | March, 1974 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Roy Thomas |
| Writers: | Marv Wolfman |
| Pencilers: | Gene Colan |
| Inkers: | Tom Palmer |
| Cover artists: | Gil Kane |
| Cover inker: | Tom Palmer |
| Colorists: | Linda Lessmann |
| Letterers: | John Costanza |
| Editors: | Roy Thomas |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Tomb of Dracula #17 |
| Next: | Tomb of Dracula #19 |
"Enter: Werewolf by Night" is the title to the eighteenth issue of the Tomb of Dracula ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Marv Wolfman with artwork by Gene Colan and inks by Tom Palmer. It was colored by Linda Lessmann and lettered by John Costanza. The story was edited by Roy Thomas. This issue shipped with a March, 1974 cover date and carries a cover price of .20 cents per copy.
Synopsis[]
Jack Russell and his lover Topaz are on their way to Transylvania in the hopes that there they can find a cure for Jack's werewolf curse. They are completely unaware that fate has intended that they cross paths with Dracula, lord of the vampires, who has returned to Transylvania that very night after an extended stay in London. Dracula has just returned to his castle where he looks upon old paintings of himself and his long dead wife Maria and reflects over the events that found him transformed into a vampire.
Meanwhile, in catacombs beneath Paris, Quincy Harker comes across the body of Blade the vampire hunter. Seeing that Blade has been bitten by Dracula, and assuming his ally to be dead, Quincy Harker gets a wooden stake out and prepares to ram it through Blade's heart.
While back in Transylvania, Jack and Topaz stop at the Olde Boot Inn to get rooms for the night. There Topaz is approached by a drunk man named Scratcher, who makes a sloppy pass at the girl. Scratcher gets a punch in the mouth from Jack for his trouble, and although he doesn't cause anymore trouble, he vows to get revenge against Jack for that hit. In their rooms, Jack warns Topaz to lock up tight because there will be a full moon and Jack will transform into the Werewolf. Topaz tries to reassure Jack that she can control him like she did last time. Scratcher, meanwhile decides to go up into the room and try and stab Jack. Entering Topaz's room he is horrified to find that Jack has transformed into the Werewolf.
The Werewolf attacks Scratcher, knocking him down into the bar below, and beats the man out of the bar. With Scratcher dead, Topaz arrives and convinces the Werewolf that they must leave before someone finds out that they killed the sailor. They are then confronted by Dracula, who has witnessed the fight. When Dracula attempts to feed on Topaz, he finds that looking into her eyes causes him great pain. Trying to get her to stop looking at him prompts the Werewolf to attack Dracula. The vampire king easily tosses the beast aside, but finds that Topaz's gaze is too strong and flees the scene to find a fresh victim elsewhere.
The next day, Jack (back in human form) and Topaz travel to Russoff manor where they go looking for clues on how to cure himself of the werewolf curse. He reflects back on how his father was similarly cursed and killed by a mob firing silver bullets. They find a locked diary, and when they move it's page marker, they set off a mechanism that opens a secret passage way behind a bookshelf. Following the passage they find it leads to a cavern tunnel that opens up in front of Castle Dracula. Noting a telescope, Jack realizes that his father had an observational interest in the home of Dracula, and is determined to investigate it.
That night when Dracula rises, he finishes his preparation of coffins to be shipped out to new hideouts in London. Furious at having to constantly hide from humanity, Dracula vows to no longer do so an openly wage war against humanity. Spotting Jack Russell and Topaz coming toward his castle, Dracula sweeps down to attack. Just then the full moon rises causing Jack to transform into the Werewolf once again. This however, does not stop Dracula from taking Topaz and flying her into his castle. Inside, Dracula demands to know how Topaz's powers work, however the girl can provide him with no answers as she knows not how they work either.
Just then the enraged Werewolf bursts in and attacks Dracula, as the two battle Topaz attempts to stop the fight when Dracula gains the upper hand. Dracula swats the girl away and then prepares to feast upon the Werewolf.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Scratcher Martin (Only appearance; dies)
Minor characters
- Gregory Russoff (In flashback only)
- Laura Russell (In flashback only)
- Maria Dracula (In a painting only)
- Otto
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
- Coffins
- Darkhold
- Diary of Grigory Russoff
- Knife
- Quincy Harker's wheelchair
- Rifle (In flashback only)
- Wooden stake
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- Dracula was created by Irish author Bram Stoker. He is the titular antagonist of Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, which was inspired by an actual Wallachian nobleman known as Vlad II, aka Vlad the Impaler.
- The character of Jack Russell was created by writers Roy Thomas, his then-wife Jean Thomas, Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog. He first appeared in the "Night of Full Moon... Night of Fear!" story from Marvel Spotlight #2 in February, 1972.
- This issue is reprinted in black and white in the Essential Werewolf by Night, Volume 1 trade paperback collection & the Essential Tomb of Dracula, Volume 1 trade paperback collection, and in full color in the Tomb of Dracula Omnibus, Volume 1, which was released in October, 2008. This issue is also reprinted in full color in the Marvel Masterworks: The Tomb of Dracula, Volume 2 hardcover collection published in November, 2022.
- This issue includes Marvel Value Stamp #7, the Werewolf.
- The events of this issue continue in Werewolf by Night #15.
- Topaz makes reference to her and Jack's recent encounter with Taboo. This took place in Werewolf by Night #14.
- Reference is made to when Dracula first became a vampire. This was chronicled in Dracula Lives! #4.
- In one scene, Dracula is mourning over a portrait of his late wife, Maria. The cause of her untimely demise was revealed in Dracula Lives! #2.
- Frank Drake and Topaz meet for the first time. This event is later referenced in Tomb of Dracula #63.
- Dracula will meet Topaz again in Tomb of Dracula #62.