Marvel’s new Werewolf by Night series has introduced a cult dedicated to recreating the Darkhold, as the notorious Marvel Cinematic Universe artifact’s lore changes in a way that will have lasting repercussions for the mystical side of Marvel. Unfortunately for Jack Russell, the Elder Gods created the first werewolves, and now he must face off against the villainous Hood and his gang of misplaced vampires, demons, and worshipers of Chthon.
Werewolf by Night #2 – written by Jason Loo, with art by Sergio Dávila – is the latest chapter of Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone’s journey to discover why Jack has been losing control of his curse. While the off-and-on lovers continue to investigate, The Hood’s freshly formed cult of “Darkholders” continues their own hunt, hidden in the ruins of Dracula’s abandoned Transylvanian castle.
Soon, the Werewolf by Night, the World’s Greatest Monster Hunter, and the Mystic Kingpin of Crime will face an unprecedented battle that may result in the creation of a second Darkhold.
To Create A New Darkhold, The Hood Needs To Unleash The Power Of Chthon
Werewolf by Night #2 – Written By Jason Loo; Art By Sergio Dávila; Ink By Jay Leisten & Aure Jumenez; Color By Alex Sinclair; Lettering By VC’s Cory Petit
Without access to any version of the Darkhold, the Darkholders, an ancient group of devout followers of Chthon now led by the Hood, are determined to create their own Darkhold by gathering remnants of the Elder God’s energy, including the Werewolf by Night. There have been other artificial copies of the dark tome, however, only a grimoire imbued with Chthon’s magic could be considered “legitimate.” While his cult may be hiding from Wanda and Agatha, The Hood is a tenacious tactician with the drive to stare the Devil in his face and claim the powers of Hell for his own.
While there have been many recreations, there has only ever been one true Darkhold, forged by the Elder God Chthon from the flesh of his brethren. However, asserting her strength as the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff has absorbed both the original Darkhold and Chthon. In the dark tome’s absence, Agatha Harkness decided to forge her own Darkhold, hoping to restore the unsteady “balance” of Chaos Magic that witches like her and Wanda draw from. However, things did not go according to plan and the new Darkhold was forged in the body of a living boy, twisted by Chthon’s dark influence.
Marvel Is Preparing For An Unprecedented War Between Its Darkest Forces
Werewolf By Night’s Chance To Become A Legendary Marvel Hero
However, the powers of the Darkhold are powerful and corruptive; only beings with immense power, like the Scarlet Witch, have an inkling of a chance to withstand the Elder God’s mad will. While the Hood may be driven, he’s already struggled to maintain the mystical powers he’s stolen from others. That said, while he has had more failures than successes, The Hood has also shown considerably more control over his powers and environment with each taste of profane magic he gets his hands on. Either way, a Darkhold in the hands of Parker Robbins promises to be an apocalyptic unnatural disaster.
The only thing standing between a new Darkhold and a War for Chthon is the Werewolf by Night.
The Marvel Universe has been made to endure multiple occultist cataclysms, between the Blood Hunt and the Grievor’s assault against the Scarlet Witch, but the presence of a Darkhold in the hands of Chthon’s most devout would spell a level of inconceivable chaos upon the world. Marvel has been building a dark road toward a climactic clash between the True Darkhold, the personified Darkhold child, and the Darkholders that readers may get to see in the finale of this series; until then, the only thing standing between a new Darkhold and a War for Chthon is the Werewolf by Night.
Werewolf by Night #2 will be available September 25, 2024 from Marvel Comics.
