Captain America’s infamous werewolf form returns just in time for Halloween. Many years ago, Captain America was transformed into a werewolf during the “Capwolf” storyline; it still ranks as one of his most unusual stories. This October, Capwolf will return in a new series, Capwolf & The Howling Commandos, which will see not only Captain America become a werewolf, but also forces with the iconic World War II fighting squad.
Marvel Comics has officially announced a new super-spooky Captain America four-issue miniseries: Capwolf & The Howling Commandos. Written by Stephanie Phillips and drawn by Carlos Magno, the first issue will feature a main cover by Ryan Brown as well as variants by Declan Shalvey and Gary Frank, shared below. Check out Marvel's full solicitation for issue one:
CAPWOLF & THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 (OF 4)
STEPHANIE PHILLIPS (W) • CARLOS MAGNO (A) • Cover by RYAN BROWN
WRAPAROUND HIDDEN GEM VARIANT COVER BY JACK KIRBY
VARIANT COVER BY GARY FRANK • VARIANT COVER BY DECLAN SHALVEY
When Captain America is transformed into a werewolf on the front lines of World War II, he’ll need the help of the Howling Commandos to take down a band of Nazi cultists who intend to use supernatural forces to turn the tide of battle. But can Cap control the skeptical, jaded Commandos when he can barely control himself?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
Capwolf Is the Weirdest Captain America
A werewolf version of Captain America may seem far-fetched, but it has been done before. In 1992's “Man and Wolf” storyline by Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levin, Captain America was transformed into a werewolf, but, thanks to the Super Soldier Serum, he was able to largely shake off the darker urges that came with being one. 30 years after the form's first appearance, Capwolf remains a fondly ed part of the Captain America mythos. What could have been a shlock-fest instead became a classic Captain America story — and now Capwolf is making his long-awaited return.
Unlike Capwolf’s previous outing, Capwolf & The Howling Commandos is set during the Second World War. Instead of fighting a demon controlling the Earth’s wolf-based characters, Captain America will take on Nazis obsessed with the supernatural. While it is not clear if these same Nazis are responsible for Captain America’s transformation, they may hold the key to reversing the curse. The last time Captain America was a werewolf, Cap eventually succumbed to the dark impulses. Marvel has made it clear that Captain America will have trouble containing himself here, and it remains to be seen if the Serum will give him another temporary reprieve from the ravages of lycanthropy.
Capwolf Will Shred Nazis
Setting Capwolf & The Howling Commandos during World War II keeps it from being a mere retread of the original storyline. Real Nazis were known to dabble in the occult and the supernatural, and Capwolf will mine similar ideas. Captain America is not a character that often embraces horror, but he'll have to this Halloween as his werewolf variant finally returns.
Capwolf & The Howling Commandos #1 is on sale October 2023 from Marvel Comics!
