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Marvel sees green with 'red band' comics, and dives into more Rated-R projects

Werewolf by Night is Marvel's next 'red band' comic

News by Chris Arrant, Editor-in-Chief

Published on Tue Apr 16 2024

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2024 is a unique year for Marvel - it's the year in which Marvel Studios produces their first R-rated movie, and the year in which the Marvel Comics line dives deeper into adult content than they have in over a decade.

Following the buzz attracted from offering R-rated versions of their upcoming summer comics event Blood Hunt, Marvel Comics has announced plans for a second 'red band' comic - an ongoing Werewolf by Night series that is "too graphic for some readers," according to Marvel.

Werewolf by Night #1 — Image credit: E.M. Gist (Marvel Comics)

And unlike the 'red band' version fo Blood Hunt, Marvel Comics 'red band' Werewolf By Night will apparently not come in a PG-13 version - so if kids want it, they'll have to get their parent/guardian's permission.

It's unknown if Marvel will sell the 'red band' Werewolf by Night comic digitally - the 'red band' editions of Blood Hunt are being withheld from any digital release.

This new Werewolf By Night comic will be written be Jason Loo, and illustrated by Sergio Davila - and is spinning out of an upcoming Werewolf By Night: Blood Hunt one-shot also written by Loo.

According to Marvel, something will happen to Werewolf By Night in Blood Hunt that will result in "a startling transformation... that will cause his upcoming battles and hunts to be too graphic for some readers."

“I give Jack Russell a taste of the life he wants before the Blood Hunt event rips it away and leaves blood on his hands,” Loo said in the announcement. “His new journey is to find redemption while figuring out his new lycanthropic transformation. No one is safe when the full moon is out. But luckily, Elsa Bloodstone is around to keep him in check.”

“Our team is delivering a very metal, monster comic and we’re not holding back,” Loo says. “I’m both shocked and impressed at myself for conjuring up these gruesome scenes from the dark recesses of my mind, then seeing them come to life with every gory detail thanks to penciler Sergio Dávila and inker JP Mayer, as our editors keep giving us the thumbs up of approval. This is literally our smash room in a Red Band comic.”

Werewolf by Night #1 goes on sale August 14.

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Chris Arrant: Chris Arrant is the Popverse's Editor-in-Chief. He has written about pop culture for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel, Newsarama, CBR, and more. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. (He/him)