Halloween Spotlight: Werewolves
By Rick Pipito
Werewolves are creatures even more deadly than vampires. I knew from book 1 that my third novel would entail Werewolves. I am in constant need of upping the stakes with what my characters face. Keeping with the theme, I wanted all aspects of lycanthropy lore to fit in somehow. I took this and expanded upon it to give more depth.
Dan again was a very effective cohort with the comic book spinoff, and of course the cover art for the novel. Like zombies and vampires, werewolves are told in various ways. Whether it be a full moon, having the ability to change at will or something entirely different, there are countless cases of these tales. “Bones At Breakfast” the novel, and its comic book spinoff “In Case Of Werewolf” gather these varying accounts and bring it into the world I’ve established. Check out the breakdown of our werewolves…
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1) Cursed by a Gypsy: These are people who have done something to anger a gypsy. Once the curse is upon them, they lose all humanity during a full moon. Unaware of their primal instincts, they go on a killing spree, feasting on the bones of their victims. Once they awake in human form, covered in blood and viscera, they are horrified at their state, but have no recollection of what happened.
2) Legendary Creatures: Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch, the Abominable snowman… these have all been names given to a unique and rare race of beings. Born as a wolf, their DNA alters throughout the years to become more human like. As an infant they are 100% wolf, but by the time they reach an elderly age, they are bipedal and appear as a crossbreed between human and lupine. They are extremely fast, which makes catching a glimpse of them very difficult.
3) Effect of the Moon: Very few people were born during a rare blue moon phenomenon. Those who survived grew into their teenage years as normal humans. Even in their youth they discovered that they had instincts and athletic ability beyond others their age. It is in their teenage years that they begin to experience something new. Each phase of the moon has a different effect on their DNA. A full moon changes them into a werewolf void of all reasoning, and blue moons, harvest moons, and other phases of lunar presence have different effects. One man even dared to make his way through school and by excelling as an astronaut, he was able to make it to the moon’s surface. Ever wonder what happens to a werewolf on the moon itself?
4) Mythological influence: Greeks and the Norse speak of two creatures. Cerberus and Fenrir stray from what is known to common man. In fact, they are abominations. Human male dna impregnating a female wolf created these wolf men. They are deadly and intelligent having the appearance of both parental traits as well as the instinct of an animal and thought/speech of a human. To anger them would be unwise.
5) Stories and Folklore: You may have heard of the fairy tales: The 3 Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter and The Wolf, The Strange Cast of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, and Sleeping Beauty, but they were more than just tales. They were true stories that happened quite differently than you’ve ever heard, and the werewolf is the center of them all.
6) Spirit Guide: Many native American Indians had the ability to channel a spirit guide. Those gifted with that of a wolf were able to summon all of a wolf’s abilities for their own use.
7) Changing at will: Some werewolves, bitten by the Experimental werewolf, can change form at will. They have a craving to feed on bone marrow that can sometimes take away their rationality.
8) Superior Werewolves: By experimenting on a vampire with various animal traits, the vampire takes in this super soldier purposed serum and is permanently changed into an Experimental werewolf. His height changes, he becomes androgenous, and exhibits many other enhanced abilities while fully comprehending his actions. His bite will turn any survivor into a werewolf. When a vampire drinks from this experimantal’s blood, they will exhibit a change. For example: a female vampire drinking the experimental’s blood will become a lycan queen. With six to eight breasts and a hideous look, this queen can telepathically communicate with anyone she changes into her minions.
9) Wargs: These are the Lycan queen’s minions. They were once human who are now oversized wolves. They obey her every command and can communicate telepathically with anyone in their army.
10) Historically: Werewolves have not just influenced tall tales. They have been prominent parts of our history on this planet. Charles Howard Bury chased them, The Garden of Eden was located by them, The Moonlight Battle during the Revolutionary war was won by them, and these are only some of the instances.
11) Latin Gang: Manada de Lobos is a Latino gang of murderers that killed those who disagreed with them in horrendous ways. The bodies of the victims were mutilated in such a way as to mimic that of a lupine attack. Each member of this gang bears at least one tattoo of a wolf, and they stay close to each other like a pack.
12) Silver: It is true that all werewolves can be killed by silver, however there are some types that can be killed my normal means as well.
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Now you have an insight into what my werewolves are all about. The books reveal much more. Dan and I kept with our tradition, and celebrated a bottle of wine upon release of our third comic. This time we chose one that captured not just our werewolf, but the fairy tale aspect as well (you know, since werewolves are such an influence on them). Here are our favorites…
Rick’s best pick for werewolf video game is Van Helsing. His movie pick is the classic Lon Cheney WolfMan. Lucian from the Underworld films is his favorite werewolf. When it comes to books, Stephen King’s Silver bullet is his first choice.
Dan’s best pick for werewolf video game is Altered Beast. His movie pick is Teen Wolf with Michael J Fox. Beast from the X-Men is Dan’s pick for best werewolf. For books, Dan enjoys Zenescope Comics’ The Hunger.
What are your favorites? Are you a werewolf fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Bones At Breakfast” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Bones At Breakfast: In Case Of Werewolf” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our bone cracking madness.
“Bones At Breakfast” and its spinoff are (C) 2012 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our ghostly spotlight…
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