Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling: Issue 190

Issue 190 - Jack Russell

May 22, 2024

Under the cover of a full moon, we shed a light on Jack Russell, WEREWOLF BY NIGHT! How many Warren Zevon references do we fit into this episode? Listen now to find out!

Intro
- Apologies for delays in episodes - Doc and I going thru stuff (separately)
- Reminder that Shenanicon registration is now open - still no word on exact date & time of Baccano panel

Background (3:13)
- Jack Russell, Werewolf by Night, created by Roy Thomas, Jeanie Thomas, Gerry Conway, & Mike Ploog in Marvel Spotlight #2 (Feb. 1972)
- Jacob Russoff is the son of Gregor Russoff, a Transylvanian baron whose ancestor was bitten by a werewolf working for Vlad Dracula in 1795
- Gregor acquired the Darkhold and read it, triggering the latent curse and turning him into a werewolf - after he was killed, his wife Laura moved to America and remarried her brother-in-law Phillip Russell, and Jacob became Jack Russell
- Jack’s curse took effect on his 18th birthday, and shortly thereafter his family’s driver sabotaged his mother’s car to crash under Phillip’s orders - before her death she told Jack the truth about his heritage and made him promise not to take revenge on Phillip (no promise was made about the driver, though…)
- Spent most of the next few years on the run from the Committee, who wanted to capture him and use him for their own purposes - among the many people hired by the Committee was Moon Knight, who defeated Jack before having a change of heart and teaming up with Jack to escape
- Spends a chunk of the 80s on a motorcycle driving around the country - after a battle with the Hulk, his father’s spirit tells him he must accept his beastly nature or die; he does, and gains control over his transformation and abilities
- Unfortunately his control didn’t last, and he began seeing visions of Hell during his transformations - this drove him to alcoholism and suicidal thoughts until he encountered a woman similarly afflicted and under siege by a small town - they killed the leaders and agreed to help each other live free
- He was given a vaccine by Michael Morbius that helped him regain control, and he joined the Midnight Sons - his new mindset was that of acceptance, and he was determined to find other “monsters” around the world and help them the way he had been helped - this includes Rahne Sinclair’s son, who she rejected because the child was feral
- He had his head blown off by Deadpool after Wade found him in bed with his wife - he survived, but it took some time for his head to grow back

Issues - Theme is “a sheep in wolf’s clothing” (7:46)
- Finally reached an acceptance of his werewolf nature, even if the world hasn’t
- Formerly suicidal alcoholic (14:10)
- A drifter who’s unattached to any one place for too long (24:28)

Break (32:12)
- Plugs for I Am Your Target Demographic and Hops Geek News

Treatment
- In-universe - Treat yo self
- Out of universe - Focus on the addiction issues first, and then work on the other things

Skit (41:40)
- Hello Jack, I’m Dr. Issues. - Hi. Man, I could have used you a long time ago.
- *pause* Thaaanks? So, what can I do for you…now? - Just hear me out. I’ve hesitated to do any therapy because I didn’t think anyone would listen.
- Oh, so my reputation precedes me. -You never answered my calls or emails.
- I can be scant in my availability, yes. But that should be a deterrent, right?. -Every review I read said that you are the most patient psychiatrist they’ve ever met, but you’re hard to track. I like that. Maybe you can tolerate my story.
- My goal is more than tolerance. I want patients to thrive. But sometimes you have to crawl, then walk, then run. -You got that right! So I did my homework. I know this is confidential as long as I’m not a threat, right?
- Yup. -Well, what if I told you that there’s only a certain number of nights where I was a threat, but I kept everyone safe with an airtight plan? Makes sense, right?
- I guess -*interrupting* and what if I told you that I even went so far as to meditate to harness my rage in a form that was productive. Are you with me?
- Is this a metaphor for male menopause or -*interrupts again* Heck man, I even found a, uh, “alternative healer” to basically cure me. This is some wild stuff, huh?
- You sound like an infomercial right now. What is your angle? Are you trying to promote some woo-woo healthy positivity or what? I’m confused. You’re way more upbeat than I thought you’d be. I just scrolled through your emails -Better late than never
- *Interrupting* No wonder I blew you off. You sent me an autobiography that reads like Ann Rice decided to make out with Kafka. -*pause* So a bit melodramatic?
- Therapy is supposed to be more than just venting. You say you have all of these tools to…wow this is long…survive with lycanthropy?! You could have just said “I’m a werewolf.” -Well you always use those vocab words in your writing so I was trying to match you. And how dare you try to shame a patient. I’ve come a long way, you know!
- No shame, no blame. Just…*sigh* I get this a lot. You want to connect on a human level. That’s awesome. I’m impressed, because you’re clearly putting the proper energy into this. But there IS a way to swing too far on that pendulum. I want to be your trusted professional, but I’m not your buddy. There’s a difference. Let’s focus on your accomplishments so far, since that’s your focus out of the gate. -Cool! First off, I survived a family that sometimes turned feral. Lots of reconciliation.
- Great. -I am on the sober path.
- Wonderful. -I can live in my own skin…and fur.
- Check. -No, further east than that.
- Huh? -Nevermind, bad joke.
- Not rushin ya -Huh?
- Even worse joke. -*snaps fingers* You DO have a bright side.Anywho, what I’m trying to say is, I don’t have everything figured out. But I’ve taken care of the boulders. Now I need to take care of the smaller rocks, the pebbles…you get it?
- Yup. Much better clarity. I’ll take you on as a patient under one condition -No werewolf?
- How’d you guess? -Just a hunch. Oh, and here’s my local pharmacy.
- I don’t think you need a prescription -It’s the only one I know willing to incorporate silver compounds.
- *pause* Welp, that’s either a dark backup plan, or the wickedest joke of this encounter. *simultaneously* WHY NOT BOTH?