BLOOD OF THE WOLF MAN #1: Killer Party!

Adam Jaeger is a college kid who is just looking for friends and decides to attend a party and put himself out there one night. However, things go wrong, and everyone at the party is left dead. All except Adam. Something lies within him, clawing its way out, and he must do whatever it takes to stop himself from becoming.. THE WOLF MAN!

Creative Team: Joshua Williamson, Pip Martin, Leomacs, and D.C. Hopkins.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story

Wolf Man has always been one of my favorite Universal Monsters, and we’ve been long overdue for a good Werewolf story. This first issue is full of mystery and terror as Joshua paints a horrifying picture. Adam is an 18-year-old kid looking to move on from his past trauma as Williamson gives us hints and clues as to something tragic that has befallen his mother and brother Felix. We’re able to bond with Adam as he seems like an innocent and out-of-place kid who just wants to make friends at school, which is something people can relate to.

I loved how quickly the lighthearted party went into chaotic horror as Adam’s father arrives at the hospital with his son being the lone survivor of something tragic. Blending the story between a POV of the attack and Adam being distraught was an excellent narrative direction. We get a taste of the power and rage that Adam feels as he transforms, and then the morning after when he describes the feeling. This storytelling puts us in Adam’s shoes, and Williamson mixes it with a dad who tries to push his son in a direction he doesn’t want to go. This first issue hints at a deeper tragedy, and I am in for the ride!

The Art

There is a lot of artistic decision-making in this issue that nails the tone of confusion and blood-soaked terror so excellently. Martin’s coloring when we see the first-person POV from Adam as the wolf uses a red, allowing the reader to feel the blind rage as throats are slashed and blood flies across panels. Leomacs does an incredible job in a collection of panels that turn from confused looks into pure fear as Adam transforms. I love the decision to show it from others’ points of view instead of showing the transformation of Adam. Other artistic details made me fall in love, such as the reflection in the wolf’s eyes as Adam and his father arrive at their house and the shocking scene of Adam throwing up last night’s dinner. Hopkins’ lettering switches between confusion and pain so excellently, which nails the tone of this issue and sucked me into this story.

Final Thoughts

Blood of the Wolf Man #1 is a horrifying introduction back into one of my personal favorite Universal Monster worlds. It’s full of rage, confusion, sadness, and violence that crafts the perfect horror story and sets the scene for what’s on the horizon. Be sure to sink your teeth into this issue, as it is perhaps the strongest entry from Skybound and Image’s foray into the world of monsters.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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