Werewolf By Night #1-4 — Marvel’s bite-sized series, that makes me hunger for more Native American heroes.
Jake Gomez is the titular hero in this new story that continues the legacy of a “Werewolf by Night”. He’s a teenager, living on a Hopi reservation in Arizona, and a self-proclaimed “Emo Wolf-Boy”. Orphaned by a sick mother and an incarcerated father, Jake was forced to discover the curse of his lineage without proper tutelage. A tragic backstory, but not melodramatic. This concept is not foreign to any marginalized, ethnic group. Replace the fantastical curse of Lycanthropy, with that of hereditary alcoholism or addiction and one can see that Jake Gomez carries a burden that many readers can relate to.
A reservation superhero is a bountiful perspective to see in regards to storytelling, and not just because there are so many tales that haven’t been told. Because, like many other marginalized communities, there are real-world antagonists that real people fight every day. People that live on reservations must face those that disrespect the sacred land in which they were allowed to keep after it was stolen in the first place! That alone has been the basis for countless tales of fantasy and science fiction for decades. So it’s important to pay attention when a story is that of the people that actually live your favorite blockbuster’s plot.
Life Pharmaceuticals, the enigmatic (and racist) corporation that has set up shop near our main character’s home, serves as the antagonist. While working in the facility, Jake discovers a haunting connection to dozens of missing people in his community. His main mission through the series is to find and free his people and makes a valuable ally in Red Wolf. Our hot-headed main character gets his very own cool and collected mentor. I should reiterate that Red Wolf is in fact, very cool. If you’re not familiar, he is another revamped character that was created for Secret Wars’ Marvel 1872.
He went from fighting the corrupt law in the 19th Century to fighting the corrupt law in the modern-day. Red Wolf is integral in Jake’s understanding of his powers and his place in both the natural and spirit world. Taboo (co-writer), explained that his own family history and those of his peers fueled the creation of Jake Gomez.
If you’re aware of his work with the monolithic, if not polarizing, group The Black Eyed Peas, then you would expect a musical influence. The inclusion of music in comic book stories adds another dimension to what the reader is taking in. This is not only a cinematic overture that can illustrate the pace of a graphic novel but also an intimate look in the creator’s process.
Scot Eaton styles our hero in a simple braid and modern, realistic clothing for a teenager. When he transforms, he’s a hulking wolf-human hybrid with a long braid still intact to match. This flair of individuality makes the main character stand out when he’s shown in visceral brawls with other equally monstrous beings.
It’s keen as it also exemplifies how Jake Gomez’s culture is such a pivotal part of his identity. As you take in the pages, you’ll notice the utilization of earth tones that deliver an earthly message. Eaton also nods to Native American art styles that blend into the storytelling. The most notable example is on a breathtaking splash page that depicts Red Wolf recalling a myth, aptly titled “The Song of The Wolf”
This series is fast-paced, and some aspects of the story seemed rushed. I believe that there was a lot more world-building the team wanted to do but truncated to fit in this small 4 issue package. Jake triumphs against the vile lab’s hired monsters and frees the imprisoned civilians. While this resolves his quest, there are some plot lines that can evolve from what was written and I can only hope that Marvel gives us more Jake Gomez. His story has been confined to his local environment, which allowed for a sincere telling of a reservation superhero.
What could we see in the future? I grew up in an intriguing era for supernatural Marvel characters. Ghost Rider had been revamped into the incarnation most know of him today, the same goes for Morbius and Blade. These dark, equally cursed types formed their own group called the Midnight Sons. Maybe it’s time to dust that name off the shelves and allow our new Werewolf By Night to meet the modern, street racing, hell charging, Ghost Rider.
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