History Characters / WerewolfByNight

* NinetiesAntiHero: Jack developed shades of this after ''Comicbook/MarvelComicsPresents'' #54-59 in 1990. He sported longer hair, rode a motorcycle, [[NoShirtLongJacket wore a leather jacket with nothing under it]], and suddenly started using colloquialisms. His attitude changed accordingly, from a guy suffering under his curse to reveling in it. After volume 2 he kept the hair and the motorcycle, but UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks was shed.

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him by the government after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in unexplained tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others who somehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding[[note]](it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]")[[/note]] when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* GodzillaThreshold: He lets the Babylon Group's two most dangerous patients, a Frankenstein's Monster-like being and a vampire-like man, out of their rooms to try and stop Jack, because they were only ones who stood any chance at all of stopping or slowing down "that unholy thing" (Jack).

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him by the government after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in unexplained tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others who somehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* GreyAndGrayMorality: His methods are extreme, but have led to revolutionary medical breakthroughs, and while Jack is the protagonist, his werewolf alter-ego is a monster who has slaughtered dozens of innocent people all over the country, and a few of the Babylon Group's patient-prisoners included obviously very dangerous superhumans like a psychotic who responded to any noise with gruesome violence, a man who EatsBabies, and Jack's sister, Jenny, who, despite being portrayed sympathetically, still murdered literally everyone in her hometown (from babies to the elderly, many of whom she "sampled" while they were still alive) when her powers manifested for the first time in 1983.
* IndyPloy: Jack having a fiancée and Jenny killing her when she was let loose to find Jack was an unexpected development, but Kalbfleisch decided to roll with it and make the best of a bad situation by having his agents scour the city for Jack, follow him, and then just call 911 as soon as Jack got home, with the expectation being that Jack would be too distraught over his lover's death to resist being arrested, at which point the Babylon Group could just swoop in and take custody of Jack, with Kalbfleisch noting, "No one wonders about a murderer once he disappears into the legal system." This did not work out, as Jack did resist arrest and flee the scene, attracting unwanted attention and forcing Kalbfleisch's agents to resort to finding and dismantling Jack's saferoom to force Jack to turn himself over to the Babylon Group.

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him by the government after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in nebulous tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others who somehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* PlayingWithSyringes: He keeps "inter-species" people in either medically-induced comas (though he claims that most of them have little in the way of consciousness to speak of anyway due to their warped physiologies, which causes most of them to die in the womb) or cells, and experiments on them ForScience.

** He did not expect the Russoffs to become as attached to Jack as they did, so when he informed them that he would have to take Jack once Jack started showing definitive symptoms of lycanthropy, the Russoffs tried to run away with Jack, which gave the Werewolf the time and the stressor (it thought that the Russoffs were going to kill it) that it needed to manifest for the first time and, unfortunately, kill the Russoffs.

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in nebulous tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others who somehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: He keeps "inter-species" people either locked up or catatonic, but the Babylon Group's studying of them has led to revolutions like treatments for Polio and Diphtheria, and he believes that continued research will help them achieve "so much more."

[[folder: Phillip Russell]]
!!Phillip Russell
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/philip_russell.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #2 (1972)
Jack's stepfather whom he barely gets along with, and the feeling seemed mutual. Later, revealed to be the younger brother of Jack's birth father and their relationship rapidly improved.

* ParentalSubstitute: After he comes clean to his stepchildren about how he's their parental uncle their relationship noticably improves to the point Jack calls him "Dad".
* [[WickedStepmother Wicked Stepfather]]: How Jack's view of him started off but eventually they moved past it.

[[folder:Buck Cowan]]
!!Buck Cowan
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6642480_cowan_buck.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #4 (1972)

Best friend of Jack Russell. A reporter and former screen play writer.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: He's in his forties while Jack is eighteen when they first meet.
* IntrepidReporter: His job. He met Jack while he was researching the Darkhold for an article on the occult.
* TokenHuman: The only normal human in the main group.

[[folder:Topaz]]
!!Topaz
[[quoteright:116:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/topaz_6.jpg]]

!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf By Night'' #13 (1974)

A young woman born with incredible magical powers. She becomes Jack's companion and lover.

* {{Familiar}}: Was one for her adoptive father Taboo and later forced to be one for Maria Russoff.
* HorrifyingTheHorror: Her power is so great ''Dracula'' is scared of her.
* TheKidWithTheLeash: She can calm Jack in his wolf form and keep him somewhat under control.
* {{Telepathy}}: One of her main powers.

[[folder:Raymond Coker]]
!!Raymond Coker
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6642585_cokerwerewolf.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #1 (1973)

Raymond Coker is a Jamaican immigrant once cursed with lycanthropy.

* BashBrothers: His and Jack's wolf forms view each other in a much friendlier light then their human forms after fighting a pair of vampires together.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: His werewolf status was hinted at from his first appearance with him carrying books on the subject, sitting cross-legged in his apartment in his underwear with incense burning to perform the spell that keeps him form changing and getting angry at Jack for simply asking him about werewolves.
* PaletteSwap: His wolf form is essentially Jack's but with red eyes and black fur.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: With Werewolf Jack against a pair of vampires, made harder that the former's wolf form works on simple instinct while Raymond retains some control of his transformed state or at least for a brief time.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: His shirts had a habit of being torn during his transformation, and his preferred spell for some reason always had to be performed while he was shirtless.

[[folder:Nina Price/Vampire By Night]]
!!Nina Price
[[quoteright:161:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nina_price.jpg]]
!!! '''First Appearance:''' '''Amazing Fantasy''' Vol 2 #10 (2005)

Werewolf By Night's niece, like her uncle she inherited the Russoff family curse on her eighteenth year, but she was also attacked by a vampire transforming into a hybrid of the two kinds of monster. She is a recurring member of the monster team of Howling Commandos.
----
* BadassLongcoat: Wears one made of red leather.
* MissingReflection: Her vampire powers make her unable to cast a reflection (which makes it impossible for people to take her picture at night).
* VampiricWerewolf: Nina is a hybrid of a vampire and a werewolf, and possesses a combination of all vampire and werewolf powers and abilities after sunset.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Maxwell Grant]]
!!Maxwell Grant
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maxwell_grant_earth_616_from_marvel_spotlight_vol_1_2_001.png]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #2 (1972)

The chauffeur of Jack's step-father, who blackmailed him and his wife on orders from The Committee.

* TheBrute: Grant is one head taller than everyone else, and Jack thinks that he is probably strong enough to kill a man with his bare fists. He even manages to give the Werewolf a good thrashing before losing his composure upon realizing that he isn't fighting someone in a costume.
* StarterVillain: Even with his strength, Maxwell is just a human bully squeezing money out of his employer. He ends up dying in his introductory issue.

[[folder:Kraig]]
!!Kraig
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kraig03.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #3 (1972)

Agatha's misshapen right-hand man, who obeys her every order.

* ArtificialLimbs: He lost his right hand due to an unknown incident, and had it replaced with an artificial one with sharp metal talons.
* BerserkButton: If he thinks he's being laughed at, he'll lash out at the supposed perpetrator.
* TheDragon: To Agatha, since she provided him with his new right hand and doesn't "laugh" at him.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: He is killed by an errant lightning bolt striking his metallic hand, which he had raised to slay the Werewolf.
* ThirdPersonPerson: He refers to himself by his own name.

[[folder:Miles Blackgar]]
!!Miles Blackgar
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/miles_blackgar_earth_616_from_werewolf_by_night_vol_1_1_0001.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #4 (1972)

A scientist who bought Castle Russoff from Jack's step-father and moved it to an island in his possession to do his research in peace.

* AndIMustScream: The fate of both him and his daughter after her gorgon like gaze is cast back at them trapping them as statues.
* EvilCripple: He's confined to a wheelchair after the Werewolf throws him out of a window.
* MadScientist: He experiments on people in his castle laboratory on an isolated island transforming them into monstruous, deformed freaks.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Combines a color and an old English word for spear.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: In order to perfect the ray that he believes will turn his daughter into a normal human one day, he keeps testing it on unwilling test subjects that keep turning into freaks.

[[folder:Marlene Blackgar]]
!!Marlene Blackgar
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marlene_blackgar_earth_616_from_werewolf_by_night_vol_1_11.png]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Marvel Spotlight'' #4 (1972)

Miles's daughter who was born a Mutant.

* AndIMustScream: Victims of her gorgon like gaze remain conscious within their stone prisons, this is the fate that befalls her and her father.
* DaddysLittleVillain: She became much more devoted to her father after he almost died in the hands of the Werewolf.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: When she tries to turn the Werewolf into stone the second time, she doesn't realize that he's standing on front of a mirror until it is too late and she and her father are turned into stone instead.
* MonochromaticEyes: She has blank white eyes.
* {{Mutant}}: Of the rare variety whose powers are active from birth.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Inherited from her father.
* SinisterShades: She hides her deadly eyes behind a pair of sunglasses.
* TakenForGranite: She has the power to turn people into stone with her gaze and they're still conscious within the stone.

[[folder:Sarnak]]
!!Sarnak
[[quoteright:234:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sidney_sarnak.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Sidney Sarnak
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #9 (1973)

Sarnak was a former sound engineer who became a villain for hire when his counterfeit production was discovered and he almost burned to death. He was hired by The Committee to cause chaos in Los Angeles. Created the Tatterdemalion, one of his former pawns.

* AlliterativeName: '''S'''idney '''S'''arnak.
* DigitalPiracyIsEvil: A pre-digital example, no less! His origin story involves pirating music albums and almost dying in an accident while fleeing the police.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: His face is covered with scars, which he hides with his mask. [[spoiler:Or at least he ''thinks'' he's scarred.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: He is eventually defeated when he loses his hold on his minions, who then unmask him and are implied to kill him.
* KilledOffForReal: Possibly; His death is implied rather than actually shown, but he hasn't shown up again since it happened.
* KingOfTheHomeless: In this case, via his sonic MindControlDevice.
* MalevolentMaskedMan: Used a mask to hide his scarred face.
* MindControlDevice: He uses a special "control whistle" to force derelicts, and even the Werewolf, to do his bidding.

[[folder:The Committee]]
!!The Committee
[[quoteright:624:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/committee_earth_616_from_werewolf_by_night_vol_1_10_0001.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #10 (1973)

A group of Los Angeles-area business people who support various menaces and engage in criminal activity for their own benefit.

* ArcWelding: They're used to explain away the {{Cliffhanger}} at the end of the original ''Comicbook/WerewolfByNight'' series when some of the characters turn up in ''[[Comicbook/SpiderWoman Spider-Woman]].''
* ArtisticLicenseEconomics: Their initial motivation was stated as promoting supervillains and supernatural creatures, with the rational that the resulting fear and terror in order to somehow induce higher levels of consumer spending. It's a ZigZaggedTrope, as some of their appearances present this as a MotivationalLie by their leaders, who actually want supernatural power for themselves, [[DependingOnTheWriter but most of their appearances treat the economic motivation as the real one]].
* BigBad: They serve as this across the original ''Werewolf by Night'' series, since they're blackmailing Jack's stepfather, sponsor a number of the villains, and repeatedly send various mercenaries to capture the Werewolf for their own purposes.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Most of the members are apparently local businesspeople who believe their criminal activities will drive up spending.
* DependingOnTheWriter: Even within the original ''Werewolf by Night'' series, their stated leaderhsip and motivations changed several times.
* TheManBehindTheMan:
** They serve as this for Sarnak, Tatterdemalion, the Enforcer, and Moon Knight, [[spoiler:though the latter is really infiltrating them to destroy them.]]
** At one point, Baron Thunder is introduced as the Man Behind the Man to the whole Committee, but after he dies, the Committee continues to turn up.
* TheMole: They were eventually infiltrated and destroyed by Comicbook/MoonKnight and his partner Frenchie, who made them think Moon Knight was their newest [[TheDragon henchman]] in their quest to capture the Werewolf.
* NebulousEvilOrganization: A shadowy cabal of businessmen and assorted maniacs who terrorize Los Angeles for shifting reasons.
* {{Retcon}}: When Moon Knight first shows up, he's presented at face value, as a mercenary named Marc Spector who turns against the Committee. When Moon Knight was spun off into his own series, this was revised so that his ally Frenchie tricked the Committee into thinking they'd created the Moon Knight identity, which he had already adopted, as party of his scheme to infiltrate them.
* RoguesGalleryTransplant: Thanks to their role in Moon Knight's [[spoiler:fake]] origin and first appearances in ''Comicbook/WerewolfByNight'', they carried over to Moon Knight's own SpinOff series.

[[folder:Hangman]]
!!Hangman
[[quoteright:196:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f9f4185857ce124a25f99e046e14b523.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Harlan Krueger
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #11 (1973)

As a kid, Harlan grew to idolize silver screen heroes, and wanted to fight evil just like them. He however developed an extremely black-and-white view of the world, and became a vigilante when no law-enforcement agency wanted to hire him.

[[folder:Atlas]]
!!Atlas
[[quoteright:188:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d62d3b58ec1c60b53578be47c48782b9.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Steve Rand
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #22 (1974)

Rand was an actor in [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Hercules]]-esque movies who is now out of touch with reality, confusing himself and others with the roles from his last movie, and is out to get those he thinks is responsible for the accident that left him scarred.

* BadassNormal: He proves to be so strong that the Werewolf has to actually run away from him.
* BadWithTheBone: His character used a jawbone of an ass as a weapon, and so does he.
* BaldOfEvil: Justified because all of his hair has burned away.
* TheBrute: Tall, strong and [[AxeCrazy out of his mind]].
* NightmareFace: His face burned badly, leaving him with no lips, a left MadEye and strips of flesh covering his right one.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: He's essentially an insane, disfigured version of Creator/SteveReeves, the star of a series of 1950s ''Hercules'' movies.
* PhysicalScarsPsychologicalScars: He went insane after a botched stunt took away his handsome features.

[[folder:[=DePrayve=]]]
!![=DePrayve=]
[[quoteright:311:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/724b797f6d2bbf28257f5c1a7fd5d36f.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Dr. Winston Redditch
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #24 (1974)

Dr. Redditch was a scientist who sought create a way to suppress the aggressive portions of human brain. When he tries the mixture of his creation for that purpose, he chooses the wrong beaker that does the exact opposite and is turned into hulking brute who names himself [=DePrayve=].

* TheBrute: [=DePrayve=] is a big brute who likes to brutalize.
* CardCarryingVillain: "[=DePrayve=] is evil!"
%%zce* {{Expy}}: Of ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' villain Mr. Hyde, though [=DePrayve=] is a more "bad guy in a body of a good guy" character than him.
* ForTheEvulz: [=DePrayve=] rants about two things: revelling in evil is fun and how sickening his good side is.
* JekyllAndHyde: Winston, a nice guy scientist who seeks to make the world a better place and [=DePrayve=], all the evil in Winston unleashed who seeks to spread misery and destruction for fun.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: [=DePrayve=] chose to call himself that because he "is depraved". Simple as that.
* ProfessorGuineaPig: Deciding that testing on animals is not enough, Winston decided to test his findings with himself unfortunatly his wife had moved the chemicals he was using around while he was distracted.
* SuperpoweredEvilSide: [=DePrayve=] is physically stronger than his good side Winston.

[[folder:Dr. Glitternight]]
!!Dr. Glitternight
[[quoteright:231:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/14997b1e328e9974d7819e37f356a5f6.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #27 (1975)

An evil sorcerer who seeks to kill everyone in the world and turn their souls into a personal demon army. [[spoiler:He was formerly a member of the Five-Who-Are-All, a group of mystical cosmic beings who banished him from their ranks]].

* BaldOfEvil: And he has a slightly larger chranium than a normal human's, [[spoiler:since he is actually a former cosmic being]].
* BigBad: Of ''Werewolf by Night'' vol. 1, as his plans pose a threat to the entire humanity.
* ChestBlaster: He shoots beams of "black light" out of his chest to harm his opponents.
* EntertaininglyWrong: He thinks the Werewolf was a demon created and sent by Taboo to kill him.
* EvilSorcerer: He is a practitioner of dark mystic arts.
* MonochromaticEyes: His eyes constantly alternate between [[BlackEyesOfEvil black]] and white.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: He calls himself doctor. Doctor of what, nobody knows.
* SatanicArchetype: He's eventually revealed to be a corrupted member of [[spoiler:the cosmic entities the Five-Who-Are-All]], tossed out for his evil, and he extracts and corrupts souls.
* YourSoulIsMine: He has an ability to steal souls, which he uses to bind their owners to his will and create demons.

[[folder:Belaric Marcosa]]
!!Belaric Marcosa
[[quoteright:316:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b820e2eb366c8e733986f213fa906a02.jpg]]
!!!'''First Appearance:''' ''Werewolf by Night'' #34 (1975)

Marcosa was an evil aristocrat who used his status to hold parties that would end in a slaughter, and steal his victims' souls afterwards. His soul still resides in his old house, and torments anyone who steps inside.

* ArtificialLimbs: He has a wooden right leg with talons on it.
* CaptainErsatz: He is a thinly-veiled version of Emeric Belasco, the villain of the novel ''Literature/HellHouse'' by Creator/RichardMatheson. The story [[WholePlotReference plays out rather similarly]], too, with the exception that there is now a werewolf in it and the novel's anti-psychic machine is replaced by Topaz's powers.
* CombatTentacles: He turns his hands into tentacles when he is finally forced into physical combat with Jack.
* GhostlyGoals: To be a dick even after death.
* ManipulativeBastard: He uses illusions of his victims' loved ones to torment them further.
* YourSoulIsMine: He steals the souls of his victims to gain more power.

[[folder:Tatterdemalion]]
!!Tatterdemalion
[[quoteright:255:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4fc91a8382f0ff731b41ed199d121eae.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Arnold Paffenroth

One of Sarnak's [[CrazyHomelessPeople vagrant army]], he later strikes out on his own and wages war on the wealthy by destroying their stuff.

* AscendedExtra: He starts out as Sarnak's unnamed but memorable main henchman in volume one before returning with his own codename and gimmicks in Jack's post-series appearances.
* EatTheRich: This is his motivation; he doesn't steal money, jewelry, and expensive things; he just destroys luxury goods and cash and brutalizes the wealthy.
* ExpansionPackPast: When he turned up in ''Comicbook/{{Dazzler}}'', he got a sympathetic backstory as a failed stage entertainer.
* ThePigPen: He has weaponized it; rather disgustingly, he takes advantage of his poor hygiene by throwing his filthy, reeking cloak over people in battle.
* ScarfOfAsskicking: Wears one to hide his face.

[[folder:Aelfric the Mad Monk]]
!!Aelfric the Mad Monk
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6642578_monkaekfrik.jpg]]
!!!'''Alter Ego:''' Aelfric
!!!'''First Appearance:''' Werewolf by Night #3 (1973)

A twelfth century monk who turned his back on God to devote himself to Satan, and author of the arcane scrolls that became the Darkhold. Burned at the stake in 1149, his spirit lived on to wreak havok in the twetieth century.

* {{Expy}}: Of Abdul Alhazred, author of the ''Necronomicon'' in the Lovecraft Mythos.
* GrandTheftMe: His spirit possesses the body of Ramón Jóquez, a priest Jack Russell asked to help translate the ''Darkhold''.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: A VillainOfTheWeek but his actions resulted in most of the events of the series. He wrote the scrolls of black magic that centuries later amateur warlock Baron Gregor Russoff would bind together into the ''Darkhold''. An action that would result in the awakening of the dormant lycanthropy curse in his bloodline that he would pass on to his son and daughter. He also created other magical artifacts including a pair of rings that would allow their wearer to transform into a werewolf at will.

[[folder:Doctor Kalbfleisch]]

!!! '''First Appearance:''' ''Dead of Night Featuring: Werewolf by Night'' #1

The leader of the Babylon Group, and the BigBad of the non-canonical Creator/MarvelMax title ''Dead of Night Featuring: Werewolf by Night.'' A scientist who captures and studies "inter-species" people, like the werewolf Jack Russell and his sister, Jenny.

----

* FatalFlaw: His shortsightedness, at least when it came to the Russells. His leniency and simple carelessness due to desperation and scientific curiosity basically caused one big line of DisasterDominoes.
* GildedCage: His offer to Jack and Jack's daughter, and presumably any other animal people who could be reasoned with, as he mentions that some of them are with the Babylon Group simply because they "have nowhere else to go."
* GodzillaThreshold: He lets the Babylon Group's two most dangerous patients, a Frankenstein's Monster-like being and a vampire-like man, out of their rooms to try and stop Jack, because they were only ones who stood any chance at all of stopping or slowing down "that unholy thing" (Jack).
* GreyAndGrayMorality: His methods are extreme, but have led to revolutionary medical breakthroughs, and while Jack is the protagonist, his werewolf alter-ego is a monster who has slaughtered dozens of innocent people all over the country, and a few of the Babylon Group's patient-prisoners included obviously very dangerous superhumans like a psychotic who responded to any noise with gruesome violence, a man who EatsBabies, and Jack's sister, Jenny, who, despite being portrayed sympathetically, still murdered literally everyone in her hometown (from babies to the elderly, many of whom she "sampled" while they were still alive) when her powers manifested for the first time in 1983.
* IndyPloy: Jack having a fiancée and Jenny killing her when she was let loose to find Jack was an unexpected development, but Kalbfleisch decided to roll with it and make the best of a bad situation by having his agents scour the city for Jack, follow him, and then just call 911 as soon as Jack got home, with the expectation being that Jack would be too distraught over his lover's death to resist being arrested, at which point the Babylon Group could just swoop in and take custody of Jack, with Kalbfleisch noting, "No one wonders about a murderer once he disappears into the legal system." This did not work out, as Jack did resist arrest and flee the scene, attracting unwanted attention and forcing Kalbfleisch's agents to resort to finding and dismantling Jack's saferoom to force Jack to turn himself over to the Babylon Group.
* MortonsFork: One of his agents, acting of her own accord, gave Jack the choice of turning himself in peacefully, but also dismantled Jack's saferoom, so Jack would have no choice but to turn himself in or risk people being hurt or killed by the Werewolf.
* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in nebulous tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others who somehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.
--> '''Kalbfleisch:''' When we found your parents, we were heartbroken. All of those years watching you grow into a young man, unaware of your capabilities, only to have them manifest like this... well, we could have helped you.
** Later:
--> '''Jack:''' You lied to me, Doc. All of you. You should have told me the truth about--\\
'''Kalbfleisch:''' You're right. We should have. And we're going to make up for it now.
* PlayingWithSyringes: He keeps "inter-species" people in either medically-induced comas (though he claims that most of them have little in the way of consciousness to speak of anyway due to their warped physiologies, which causes most of them to die in the womb) or cells, and experiments on them ForScience.
* SpannerInTheWorks:
** He did not expect the Russoffs to become as attached to Jack as they did, so when he informed them that he would have to take Jack once Jack started showing definitive symptoms of lycanthropy, the Russoffs tried to run away with Jack, which gave the Werewolf the time and the stressor (it thought that the Russoffs were going to kill it) that it needed to manifest for the first time and, unfortunately, kill the Russoffs.
** He let Jenny loose in a desperate attempt to find Jack, but did not expect her to instead go after Jack's pregnant fiancée, Cassandra (since he had no way of knowing that she even existed). His team subdued the frenzied Jenny, but failed to save Cassandra, and only just barely managed to save her and Jack's daughter.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He keeps "inter-species" people either locked up or catatonic, but the Babylon Group's studying of them has led to revolutions like treatments for Polio and Diphtheria, and he believes that continued research will help them achieve "so much more."
[[/folder]]

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in nebulous tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs (among many others whosomehow pissed it off) due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack after he and Jenny were handed over to him after Jenny's massacre of their hometown, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every month or so to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive after her battle with the authorities) and partake in nebulous tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs due to a misunderstanding (it thought that they were going to kill it because it had overheard that the next visit to the Babylon Group would "[[NoLongerWithUs be the last]]") when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

* PlayingWithSyringes: He keeps "inter-species" people in either medically-induced comas (though he claims that most of them have little in the way of consciousness to speak of anyway due to their warped physiologies) or cells, and experiments on them ForScience.

* GreyAndGrayMorality: His methods are unethical, but have led to revolutionary medical breakthroughs, and while Jack is the protagonist, his werewolf alter-ego is a monster who has slaughtered dozens of innocent people all over the country, and a few of the Babylon Group's patient-prisoners included obviously very dangerous superhumans like a psychotic who responded to any noise with gruesome violence, a man who EatsBabies, and Jack's sister, Jenny, who, despite being portrayed sympathetically, still murdered literally everyone in her hometown when her powers manifested for the first time in 1983.
* IndyPloy: Jack having a fiancée and Jenny killing her when she was let loose to find Jack was an unexpected development, but Kalbfleisch decided to roll with it and make the best of a bad situation by having his agents scour the city for Jack, follow him, and then just call 911 as soon as Jack got home, with the expectation being that Jack would be too distraught over his lover's death to resist being arrested, at which point the Babylon Group could just swoop in and take custody of Jack, with Kalbfleisch noting, "No one wonders about a murderer once he disappears into the legal system." This did not work out, as Jack did resist arrest and flee the scene, attracting unwanted attention and forcing Kalbfleisch and his agents to resort to finding and dismantling Jack's saferoom to force Jack to turn himself over to the Babylon Group.
* MortonsFork: He had an agent give Jack the choice of turning himself in peacefully, but also dismantled Jack's saferoom, so Jack would have no choice but to turn himself in or risk people being hurt or killed by the Werewolf.
* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack like he did so many others, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russoffs, with no strings attached other than having the Russoffs bring Jack in every few months to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive) and run a few tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russoffs due to a misunderstanding when the Russoffs decided not to give Jack back to the Babylon Group.

%%* WalkingShirtlessScene:

* TheManBehindTheMan: They serve as this for Sarnak, Tatterdemalion, the Enforcer, and Moon Knight, [[spoiler:though the latter is really infiltrating them to destroy them.]]

* {{Expy}}: Of Abdul Alhazred, author of The Necronomicon in the Lovecraft Mythos.
* GrandTheftMe: His spirit possesses the body of Ramón Jóquez, a priest Jack Russell asked to help translate the Darkhold.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: A VillainOfTheWeek but his actions resulted in most of the events of the series. He wrote the scrolls of black magic that centuries later amateur warlock Baron Gregor Russoff would bind together into the Darkhold. An action that would result in the awakening of the dormant lycanthropy curse in his bloodline that he would pass on to his son and daughter.
** He also created other magical artifacts including a pair of rings that would allow their wearer to transform into a werewolf at will.

* GreyAndGrayMorality: His methods are unethical, but have led to revolutionary medical breakthroughs, and while Jack is the protagonist, his werewolf alter-ego is a monster who has slaughtered dozens of innocent people all over the country for little to no reason, and a few of the Babylon Group's patient-prisoners included obviously very dangerous superhumans like a psychotic who responded to any noise with gruesome violence, and a man who literally EatsBabies.

* PetTheDog: He could have just taken baby Jack like he did so many others, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russells, with no strings attached other than having the Russells bring Jack in every few months to donate blood (which was used to keep Jack's sister, Jenny, alive) and run a few tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russells (among others).

** He did not expect the Russells to become as attached to Jack as they did, so when he informed them that he would have to take Jack once Jack started showing definitive symptoms of lycanthropy, the Russells tried to run away with Jack, which gave the Werewolf the time and the stressor (it thought that the Russells were going to kill it) that it needed to manifest for the first time and, unfortunately, kill the Russells.

* MortonsFork: He had an agent give Jack the choice of turning himself in peacefully, but also dismantled Jack's safe room, so Jack would have no choice but to turn himself in or risk people being hurt or killed by the Werewolf.

** He did not expect the Russells to become as attached to Jack as they did, so when he informed them that he would have to take Jack once Jack started showing definitive symptoms of lycanthropy, the Russells tried to run away with Jack, which gave the Werewolf the time and the stressor that it needed to manifest for the first time and, unfortunately, kill the Russells.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: He keeps "inter-species" people either locked up or catatonic, but the Babylon Group's studying of them has led to revolutions like the cures for Polio and Diphtheria, and he believes that continued research will help them achieve "so much more."

* PetTheDog: He could have taken baby Jack like he did so many others, but the chances of Jack actually being a werewolf (which are mainly female) were so low that Kalbfleisch instead decided to just give Jack to loving parents, the Russells, with no strings attached other than having the Russells bring Jack in every few months to donate blood and run a few tests; it was only when Jack started showing definitive signs of lycanthropy as a teenager that Kalbfleisch decided that Jack should be taken in, as allowing him to continue living normally would be too risky, a decision which is hard to argue with given that Jack did end-up turning into the Werewolf and slaughtering the Russells.

** He let Jenny loose in a desperate attempt to find Jack, but did not expect her to instead go after Jack's pregnant fiancee, Cassandra (since he had no way of knowing that she even existed). His team subdued the frenzied Jenny, but failed to save Cassandra, and only just barely managed to save her and Jack's daughter.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He keeps "inter-species" people either locked up or comatose, but the Babylon Group's studying of them has led to revolutions like the cures for Polio and Diphtheria, and he believes that continued research will help them achieve "so much more."

* MortonsFork: He had an agent give Jack the choice of turning himself in peacefully, but also dismantled Jack's safe room, so Jack would have no choice but to turn himself or risk people being hurt or killed by the Werewolf.