Universal Monsters: Blood Of The Wolf Man #1 Review – A Fast-Paced Monster Mash

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #1 (Image Comics, 6/24/26): Writer Joshua Williamson and Artist Leomacs introduce Adam Jaeger – a shy college student who finds himself at the center of a party massacre. This first issue captures the 70s horror vibes with a brisk premiere. Verdict: Wolf Man fans will dig it.

• Writer: Joshua Williamson
• Artist: Leomacs
• Colorist: Pip Martin
• Letterer: D.C. Hopkins
• Cover Artist: Leomacs (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: June 24, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 24
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Universal Monsters: Blood Of The Wolf Man #1:

First Impressions:

The most surprising revelation of Joshua Williamson’s take on the Wolf Man (a personal favorite movie monster) is the strong departure from the rest of Skybound’s Universal tales as stories connected to or hidden in the Universal films. Only Ram V’s take on the Creature from the Black Lagoon comes close. Williamson’s approach isn’t good or bad, necessarily, but the lack of familiarity takes some getting used to.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The story centers on Adam Jaeger, a shy college student who received an art scholarship for painting. One night, he attends a moonlit party that ends in the slaughter of every student present… except Adam.

Later, Adam’s father collects his son from the hospital and successfully stymies questioning by law enforcement. When father and son return home, they argue over Adam’s choice to attend college, the hints surrounding the death of Adam’s mother and brother, and the implication that Adam is a monster. The issue ends with a grisly confirmation about Adam..

How is the story in Universal Monsters: Blood Of The Wolf Man #1?

Joshua Williamson hits the ground running with a fast-paced first issue, which is a plus and a minus. On the plus side, there are no slow-burn introductions or build-up to get to the “good parts,” which is increasingly rare in a Comics Industry enamored with decompression. On the minus side, the fast pace undercuts the mood and tension, so the emotional impact doesn’t have time to breathe or build.

How is the art in Universal Monsters: Blood Of The Wolf Man #1?

Leomacs gives a first-rate presentation with plenty of gore (especially the last page) and excellent costume designs to showcase the 70s/80s aesthetic in which this story takes place. The Wolf Man’s assault on the students is pleasingly gruesome, and Pip Martin’s color selections punctuate each panel with strong dramatic beats.

Characters

Adam is the heart of the story, with his father providing an ever-present force throughout the issue. Here, the deviation from the film may not land well as Lawrence Talbot was a strong man who was tortured by events out of his control. Here, Adam comes off as weak and whiny by comparison. Adam’s personality provides an even stronger contrast to his alter ego, but the size of the contrast may be too extreme for some readers. To be fair, Williamson may be implying that Adam is a descendant of or somehow related to the character Sam Jaeger from Wolf Man (2025), but this reviewer hasn’t seen the film, and it wasn’t reviewed well.

Originality & Concept Execution

Compared to the other Universal Monster titles from Skybound, Blood of the Wolf Man stands apart as a relatively original story. Again, the common name of Jaeger may be tangentially related to the 2025 film, but until that’s confirmed, the concept and execution feel suitably Wolf Man-like without being a direct connection to the classic film.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Moody, gory art and aesthetic
• A brisk pace
• A strong cliffhanger

Room for Improvement

• Too fast to let tension build
• Lacking clear connection to the films
• Adam’s personality may be off-putting to some

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

Universal Monsters: Blood Of The Wolf Man #1 leans into the classic monster movie vibe with excellent art, plenty of gore, and a brisk pace. That said, Joshua Williamson’s script is almost too fast to let the impact and resonance of the horror sink in.

---

---

---

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.