I don’t think that was put on by the firm itself. Probably more the LA Bar Association, still surely run by rich old white dudes who wanted to pat themselves on the back for being so pro-feminist and progressive (while still being so out of touch and regressive that they thought making the old Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers joke was a good idea and asking “what’s it like being a female lawyer” was a good question to ask). I think it was meant to be taken seriously by the people putting it on, but probably the only one not blindsided by how crappy it is was Mallory Book, which I loved.

I was hyped out of my mind for WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, the first dedicated horror show in the MCU. As a fan of Universal and Hammer horror movies, I was blown away by the black and white approach replete with fake scratches on the film and “cigarette burns,” which would’ve told a projectionist when to change reels. That Man-Thing would also make an appearance made the project feel tailor-made to make me love it.

Unfortunately, it’s a “liked it, didn’t love it” scenario for me.

First, the good. I love how the special feels paced with a slow ramp up akin to a Universal monster movie or Hammer Horror movie. The creepy, tense mood works for it as well, and within that, I can’t fault any of the performances. When you hire Harriet Samson Harris, you get quality.

Considering how the MCU is notorious for CGI overload, it was refreshing to see as many practical sets, costumes, and effects as possible. Man-Thing was mostly practical, which is surprising and impressive as hell. It’s also great to see some elevated violence from this. Dismemberments, decapitations, and aortal sprays worked for this horror fan.

I also appreciate that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” plays as the film transitions from black and white to color. Classy wink, there.

I genuinely think that WEREWOLF BY NIGHT is the strongest MCU thing since DOCTOR STRANGE: INTO THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, but I’m not without my nitpicks.

https://imgur.com/a/N2YQIou

#146 The Bloodstone
Light Object
Points: 15
Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop -or- KO (controlling player chooses).
Effect:
6, Penetrating/Psychic Blast & Poison. Damaged characters with the Monster, Animal, and/or Mystical keywords have +1 Combat Values and Battle Fury. // Equipped characters friendly to The Bloodstone have "POWER: Equip The Bloodstone to an adjacent opposing character." If equipped this way, it grants the following effect instead:

If this character has the Monster, Animal, and/or Mystical keywords, it has -1 Combat Values. Adjacent characters friendly to the equipped character have "DOUBLE POWER: KO The Bloodstone".

UPDATED 10/12/22 - Thanks, Hellb0y & Hein2208!

Gael Garcia Bernal co-stars as Jack, Werewolf by Night, and although he’s wonderfully haunted in a role seemingly combining the Jack Russell & Jake Gomez versions of the character, the story is not ultimately his; it’s Elsa’s. Maybe the title should’ve been “Bloodstone” or “Marvel Halloween Special,” but Jack Russell is effectively a side character in his own story.

The actor’s performance is fine, and I appreciated the nods to his heritage with his tattoos. Ideally, I’d have liked to have seen more ethnic emphasis there, but the short runtime probably hindered that. As it is, there's a hell of a lot implied, and that's welcome.



#147 Jack Russell
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 50
Keywords: Bloodstone Hunt, Werewolf Pack, Monster, Mystical, Animal

7 9 17 2

7 9 17 2

7 9 16 2

6 8 16 1

KO KO KO KO

11 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

9 11 18 3

9 11 18 3

8 11 18 2

8 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

Forced to Transform: If Jack Russell takes damage while he's on Clicks 1-4, you may turn him to Click #6. When he KOs an opposing character, you may turn him to Click #1. // FREE: If it is currently a full moon, you may turn Jack Russell to click #6.
Feral Shadows: Stealth, Leap/Climb, and Charge.
The Hunter Inside Me: Toughness & Super Senses.
I Always Save Ted: Shape Change & Support.

Inspired!.

Loving the WBN dials !!

I agree, I enjoyed it but wanted to LOVE it. I think if they had given us a 3 episode mini series it could have filled in the gaps I was looking for.

The black & white RKO vibe really worked well, and I liked the Blade II esque hunters... but would've liked more of it.

The bloodstone - I was thinking maybe it could have an additional effect if "attached" to an opposing monster- reducing def or downgrading reducers, so that other hunters would also gain benefit from attacking a "bloodstone tagged " monster. It can be removed on any successful Close attack by a friendly model.

Cheers
HB

My thanks, friend! Haha I'm extra tickled that I managed to post Jack's dial during a full moon!

Heck, maybe that was why they named the special that way...Big thanks, friend! Glad these are working for you so far. I love the suggestion for the Bloodstone, so I've updated the language to reflect, and I've sent you some rep. I appreciate the assist!

It's funny... on my first viewing, I found myself liking-not-loving WbN for not more closer resembling what I wanted from an R-rated action-horror movie like BLADE 2 or ALIENS and for the characters not being wholly accurate to the comics (I was real bummed about Man-Thing). On the second viewing, though, I got more into it as a PG-13 action-horror MCU thing. Really, disconnecting --mentally and forcibly-- the title "WEREWOLF BY NIGHT" from Jack really helped, making the special feel more like a bomb waiting to explode. Even Ted, who'd initially disappointed me, felt more like an unpredictable thing, set off by the presence of fear. It's close enough that I'll roll with it...

...but I still kinda want more

This new version is a cool idea (and I assume it's fitting), but how exactly is it meant to work?

Is the "-1 to stats and DOUBLE POWER to remove"-effect meant to replace the usual "+1 to stats, PPB, and Poison"-effect?
Is it meant to only work with friendly and opposing characters as defined by who originally played it on their force?

If both answers are yes, I would suggest this wording:

Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop -or- KO (controlling player chooses).
Effect:
6, Penetrating/Psychic Blast & Poison. Damaged characters with the Monster, Animal, and/or Mystical keywords have +1 Combat Values and Battle Fury. // Equipped characters friendly to The Bloodstone have "POWER: Equip The Bloodstone to an adjacent opposing character." If equipped this way, it grants the following effect instead:

If this character has the Monster, Animal, and/or Mystical keywords, it has -1 Combat Values. Adjacent characters friendly to the equipped character have "DOUBLE POWER: KO The Bloodstone".

This way, if a friendly character ends up dropping it on the map, an opposing character can pick it up to gain the normal effect. But if you force it on an opposing character, they gain the alternate effect.
And with the "friendly to The Bloodstone" condition, opposing characters can't force it on your own guys, so the alternate effect will only ever be applied to characters opposing to the player who played The Bloodstone.

I also added adjacency as a requirement for the DOUBLE POWER action. I don't know if you wanted that.

haha that's what I get for trying to update when I'm fried after work! Thanks so much for the language assist, friend! I'll use just that. Sending you some rep as well!

WEREWOLF BY NIGHT is primarily Elsa’s story, returned to her family’s estate to claim her inheritance -the Bloodstone- from her deceased father and his cult-y widow. Elsa’s strained relationship with her mother echoes her outright abusive relationship with her father in the comics, and her story is thus overcoming her mother’s zealotry and setting a new course for her family’s bloody history -one with presumably a hell of a lot fewer dead monsters.

It’s fine, functional stuff, but if you came for Werewolf by Night himself, you might be scratching your head. You might also be wondering why nobody bothered giving Elsa her trademark elephant rifle.



#148 Elsa Bloodstone
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 5
Points: 60
Keywords: Bloodstone Hunt, Mystical, Warrior, Martial Artist

9 12 18 2

8 11 18 2

7 11 18 2

7 11 18 2

6 11 17 1

6 10 17 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Decades of Combat Training: Combat Reflexes. When an opposing character in range would miss Elsa Bloodstone with an attack, Elsa may immediate attack that character for Free.
Stealing Hunters’ Weapons: When Elsa Bloodstone KOs an opposing character, she may use one of the standard Attack or Damage abilities on their card or a relic or equipment they had equipped as her own for the rest of the game.

Happy to help

Although the got lost in the copy-paste

lol this time it was fried and rushing to work! My thanks again for the assist, friend!

I think I spotted the elephant gun in front of Bloodstone's coffin .... I was hoping it was going to show up again later !

Verussa had some kind of large-caliber weapon at the end of the special, and she was preparing to shoot Elsa with it. For a half-second, I thought it might be the elephant gun, but then I realized it'd be way too short...

Man-Thing is my second favorite Marvel character and one of my all-time favorite literary characters. I love how the character is a blank slate, a vehicle for the writer’s sensibilities, a writing challenge to create an empathically-driven character, and an excellent creature design altogether. The point is, he’s mindless, but always veers on the side of good.

Seriously, I’ve dialed him a lot

Instead, MCU Man-Thing boils down to Spooky Groot. He’s a sentient being with a personally, wants & needs, and even a sense of humor. #notmyMan-Thing.

I DO appreciate this version's immolating touch, but it isn’t really clear if he just does that to threats or if fear triggers it like in the comics. I do also think Spooky Groot looks cool as hell, but they kinda whiffed what made the comic book character so profound.



#149 Ted
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 175/85
Keywords: Bloodstone Hunt, Monster, Mystical

10 11 19 4

10 11 19 4

10 11 18 4

9 11 18 3

| | | |

9 11 18 3

9 10 18 3

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

7 10 17 4

7 10 17 4

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

"I Know It Hurts, Ted. We'll Get It Out": FREE: Heal Ted 1 Click.
Hiding in Bushes: Stealth. If Ted occupies Hindering Terrain that is depicted as plants, opposing ranged lines of fire may not be drawn to him.
Just... Treat Ted Like an Old Friend...: FREE: select an adjacent opposing character. Roll 1d6 for Ted. The opponent controlling the selected character rolls1d6 for them and reduces that amount for each Action Token on that character. If Ted's result is higher, deal Ted's unmodifed combat damage to that opposing character.
I Saved You This Time!: Empower & Support.

The Madisynn & Leap-Frog episodes felt like SHE-HULK being a good, functional superhero sitcom show. The finale episode felt like this series FINALLY finding its true potential.

If the rest of the series had been this smart, I’d have ranked it much higher on my list. I can only hope future seasons and MCU shows & movies live up to the ideas and creativity in this episode.