Werewolf By Night: Blood Hunt #1 (2024)

On a Friday night as the sun goes down, Jake Gomez rides his dirt bike through the Arizona desert toward an abandoned amusement park to train against animatronic dinosaurs. Remembering trips here with his father, he puts on his playlist and unleashes his wolf side, running along the coaster tracks until he hears voices and transforms back to investigate. He witnesses a group of hooded people performing a seance, recognizing some of them from middle school. They successfully summon the spirit of Duke Jensen to reunite him with his nephew Trevor. Duke convinces the young man to be used as a vessel, which allows him access to his true form, that of the villain Roulette. He blasts one of the summoners with hellfire, sending the others running. Jake finds himself unable to transform into the Werewolf by Night, but bangs on the gates to attract the spirit’s attention and allow the others to escape. Some time later, a trio of vampiric policemen celebrate the long night brought on by a mysteriously blocked out sun, before noticing a light in the distance. They take their squad cars to investigate. At the Wild Dino Adventure Park, Roulette hunts for the others, siphoning more energy from his nephew to activate lighting and electronics around the park. Sam, one of the kids on the run, is almost bitten by an animatronic tyrannosaurus, but is rescued by Jake. Roulette finds them and sends Jake flying, Sam running to join others in the parking lot. The police pull up, but instead of arresting the troublemakers for trespassing, they begin to feed on them. Seeking a sorcerer among the summoners to help him leave the park and take revenge on Ghost Rider, Roulette finds another hiding and immolates him after learning that Sam is the one with the spellbook. Sam finds Jake laying unresponsive in pools of his own blood before the vampire cops surround her. She offers Jake as a sacrifice if they’ll let her leave, but the vampires refuse her offer. Suddenly the moon returns in the sky, healing Jake and bringing out the wolf inside, filled with rage. Completely unmoored, he tears the vampires apart as Sam escapes. She finds Trevor, who requests her spellbook. Seeing that Trevor is still being influenced by his uncle, she hesitates before Roulette appears and attacks her, demanding her assistance in leaving the park. The werewolf joins the struggle, leaping through Roulette and killing Trevor. His vessel removed, Duke is left powerless, bringing the werewolf to turn his sights onto Sam. In the morning, Jake wakes covered in blood and holding a disembodied leg. He looks out at the carnage across the park before leaving in shame, choosing exile until he can learn to control his beast.