History
Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes or wolfmen, are mythological humans with the ability to shapeshift into wolves or wolf-like creatures, either purposely, being bitten by another werewolf or after being placed under a curse. Most werewolves develop common physical attributes including enhanced strength, speed, reflexes and sharpened senses. Some legends maintain that a human will only transform into a werewolf on the three nights of the full moon, but this is not true in all matters and there have been several documented cases of people assuming a wolf-like shape during various lunar cycles.
On Earth-Two in 1936, Doctor Occult encountered and defeated Mrs. Daniels, the leader of the Wolf Cult, and her pack of werewolves. [1][2][3]
On Earth-Two in 1939, Batman matched wits against an alleged werewolf known as the Mad Monk. Though he was referred to as a werewolf and did demonstrate the ability to transform into a wolf, the Mad Monk's abilities were more in line with those of a vampire than an actual werewolf. These two categories of monster are not necessarily exclusive, that is, nothing prevents a living werewolf from being turned, willingly or unwillingly, into a vampire by a vampire.[4]
During the early 1940s, Warren Griffith was a werewolf who served within a special military detachment known as the Creature Commandos. [5]
In the Quality Universe in 1944, the mysterious crime-fighter Destiny teleported himself to Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Poland, and there encountered a werewolf. [6]
In the Quality Universe in 1947, Captain Triumph's girlfriend Kim was kidnapped by a man named Raffrey, who, in reality, was a self-made werewolf. Captain Triumph punched him to death, then he reverted to human form, and died. [7]
Professor Achilles Milo developed a drug that would cure Anthony Lupus's headaches, but ended up turning him into a werewolf. This was deliberate on Prof. Milo's part, as he wanted to manipulate Lupus into killing Batman.[8]
Years later, the teen super-hero known as Robin briefly found himself afflicted with lycanthropy. [9]
More recently, Superman and Batman began investigating a bizarre string of attacks in the Gotham City area which involved both werewolves and vampires. [10]
In the alternate reality known as "Fables", one of the most influential denizens of Fabletown is Bigby Wolf, aka, the Big Bad Werewolf; arguably the most famous werewolf of all time. [11]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Lycanthropy
- Transformation
- Claws
- Enhanced Senses
- Hyper-Reflexes
- Invulnerability
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Strength
Weaknesses
Most werewolves are vulnerable to physical contact with silver. A silver bullet fired at a strategic locale, such as the head or the heart will kill a werewolf. The same applies to bladed weapons made of silver including swords, spears and daggers. Repeated blows from a blunt object made of silver will eventually kill a werewolf.
Miscellaneous
Type of Government:
None; Werewolves are generally solitary creatures and rarely congregate with one another. One of the few exceptions is the Werewolf Nation from Earth-50 continuity, which is a monarchy.
Representatives:
- Anthony Lupus
- Armand Waering
- Bigby Wolf
- Kyle Abbot
- Rover
- Scratch
- Warren Griffith
Notes
- This character or object is an adaptation of Werewolf, a character or object in traditional stories. These include, but may not be limited to religious texts, myth, and/or folk lore. More information on the original can be found at Wikipedia.org.
- On Pre-Crisis Earth-AD, one of the many races that existed were the Wolf People. These beings were the result of scientific mutation and were not true werewolves.
- In Earth-One continuity, werewolves existed on the planet Krypton as well. In one instance, Superman was briefly turned into a Werewolf and fought against his colleague Batman. [12]
- Robin was once briefly turned into a werewolf. [13]
See Also
Links and References
- ↑ More Fun Comics #11
- ↑ More Fun Comics #12
- ↑ More Fun Comics #13
- ↑ Detective Comics #31
- ↑ Weird War Tales #93
- ↑ Police Comics #30
- ↑ Crack Comics #51
- ↑ Batman #255
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #14
- ↑ Superman and Batman vs. Vampires and Werewolves #1
- ↑ Fables #1
- ↑ World's Finest Comics #258
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #14