Werewolf by Night #7

Werewolf by Night #7 was published by Marvel Comics in 1973, arriving during a period when the Comics Code Authority had recently relaxed its restrictions on supernatural entities. This shift allowed for the direct portrayal of classic horror tropes, including werewolves, vampires, and ghouls, which had been effectively banned for nearly two decades. The issue is part of a series that centers on Jack Russell, a man struggling with his ancestral curse, and reflects the era's growing fascination with darker, gothic-inspired narratives within mainstream superhero comic books.

The issue features artwork by Mike Ploog, whose gritty and atmospheric style became synonymous with the series. Ploog was known for his ability to emphasize the emotional torment of the lycanthrope, moving away from simple monster-of-the-week stories toward a character-driven study of isolation and tragedy. His work on this title is frequently cited by collectors as a high point of 1970s horror comics, praised for its kinetic layouts and the visceral quality of the transformation sequences that defined the character’s aesthetic.