- "The moon rose as always, a great, unblinking orb filled the sky with frosted light -- and my soul with utter darkness... and, in that darkness, something was torn out of me... a howl of indignation -- at the celestial midwife who had birthed such a shaggy monstrosity..."
- ―Jack Russell
| "A Life for a Death!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Werewolf by Night | |
| Title: | "A Life for a Death!" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 5 |
| Cover price: | .20 |
| Cover date: | May, 1973 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Roy Thomas |
| Writers: | Len Wein |
| Pencilers: | Mike Ploog |
| Inkers: | Mike Ploog |
| Cover artists: | Mike Ploog |
| Cover inker: | Mike Ploog |
| Colorists: | Glynis Oliver |
| Letterers: | John Costanza |
| Editors: | Roy Thomas |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Werewolf by Night #4 |
| Next: | Werewolf by Night #6 |
"A Life for a Death!" is the fifth issue of the first Werewolf by Night ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was written by Len Wein with artwork and inks by Mike Ploog. Ploog also rendered the cover art illustration for this issue. It was colored by Glynis Oliver and lettered by John Costanza. The story was edited by Roy Thomas. This issue shipped with a May, 1973 cover date and carries a cover price of .20 cents per copy.
"A Life for a Death!"[]
After dealing with Joshua Kane, Jack Russell goes to his adversary's lair to free his sister, Lissa, who has been encased in a glass cage. Entering the house, he finds Joshua's older brother, Luther Kane, and his stout henchman, Desmond, waiting for him. Luther brokers a deal with Jack. He will provide her with a cure to prevent the curse of lycanthropy, and in exchange, Jack must agree to use his werewolf form to murder a reclusive rival named Judson Hemp. Jack is sickened by the prospect, but desperation forces him to agree to the deal.
Jack makes it to Judson's fortified estate just as the full moon rises. He tangles with some guard dogs, and even throws a few armed guards around. He gets inside the house and finds Judson and his colleague, Mister Evans. The werewolf leaps upon Evans, who then passes out from fright.
Miraculously, the full moon happens to fall upon a lunar eclipse. As the moon slips into shadow, the werewolf turns back into Jack Russell. He observes Judson Hemp, who is little more than a dottering, senile old man. Refusing to kill him, Jack makes his way back to Kane's cottage.
Jack confronts Luther Kane and Desmond and demands the cure. Luther refuses to surrender it, as Jack did not fulfill his end of the deal. As the lunar eclipse ends, Jack turns into the werewolf once again. He fights with Desmond, breaking his back across a sturdy oak desk. He then turns towards Luther who promptly dies of a heart attack.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Judson Hemp
- Lissa Russell
Villains
- Desmond
- Joshua Kane (In flashback only)
- Luther Kane
Minor characters
- Louie
- Mister Evans
Organizations
Races & Animals
- Dogs
- Horses (In flashback only)
- Humans
- Werewolves
Locations
- Tugunga Canyon
- Hemp's Haven
Items
- Knife
- Machine guns
- Rifles
- Shotgun (In flashback only)
- Spears
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Broken back
- Flashbacks
- Full moon
- Gunshot victims (In flashback only)
- Smoking
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Jack Russell was created by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas & Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog. He first appeared in the "Night of Full Moon... Night of Fear!" story from Marvel Spotlight #2 from February, 1972.
- "WBN 5" and "WBN: 5" both serve as shortcuts to this page.
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- This issue is cover copy job number 02155.
- According to Comic Reader #93, this issue shipped to retailers on February 27th, 1973.
- The events of this story continue from issue #4. Includes flashbacks of scenes taken from that issue.
- The events of this story take place during a lunar eclipse. Because of this, the werewolf shifted back into Jack Russell's form while the moon was in shadow.
- This is the first and only appearance of Luther Kane; dies in this issue. Luther Kane is the older sibling of Joshua Kane.
- This is the first and only appearance to date of Judson Hemp.
- This is the first and only appearance to date of Desmond, who is Luther Kane's bodyguard. The final fate of Desmond is unclear. The werewolf breaks his back, which likely crippled him, but assuming he received medical treatment in a timely manner, he might have survived.
- This is the first and only appearance to date of Mister Evans, who appears to be Judson Hemp's handler.
- Lissa Russell remains unconscious throughout the entirety of this issue.
- It is never made clear whether Luther Kane's promise of a werewolf cure for Lissa Russell was legitimate or not. With his passing, this remains a mystery.
Reprints[]
The story from this issue is reprinted in the following volumes:
- Essential Werewolf by Night 1
- Werewolf by Night Omnibus 1
- Werewolf by Night: The Complete Collection 1