The first comic I ever read wasnt a superhero title.

It was a book-and-record set of a Marvel Werewolf By Night story, and it terrified the living wolf droppings out of me. It had everything a seven-year-old kid could want: blood, smoke, carnage, and sharp teeth. Not only did that experience help turn me into a horror fan for life, but a horror comic fan for life, too.

So I would have picked up the smart and rather savage mini-series youre holding in your hands anyway, not just because it happened to be cocreated by my IDW editor Bobby Curnow. (Though it is always a good idea to read and publicly celebrate the work of your editor. Ahem.) The title alone conjured images of a beastly siege to end all beastly sieges. I mean, hell, one wolf is bad enough. But a thousand of the fuckers? I was sold. Right then. Pretty sure I hugged my family a little tighter that night I read all three issues in one fevered blitz on a hot summer night in the middle of July.

Curnow and Dave Wachter pretty much announce their intentions on the very first page (go ahead, take a peek, Ill wait). Life may be all idyllic, but sometimes, out of the blue, a crazy bearded dude is going to lift an axe and try to lop off your head. Turn the page again and you realize that were in the middle of a classic horror movie set-up: a family is threatened by powerful forces of the unknown.

But what makes Night of 1,000 Wolves so fresh and cool is that this is not your typical horror movie setting; were in Scandinaviaduring the Dark Ages. And were not dealing with your typical supernatural threat, either. Yes, the title promises you wolves, but you really have no idea whats stalking our heroes through the countryside, not until the gutwrenching (and gut-heaving, come to think of it) conclusion. Along the way theres shock and surprise a-plentyCurnow and Wachter masterfully toy with our expectations in every beat of this folk tale from hell. Wachters art, in particular, had me reflexively covering my major arteries every couple of pages. Most impressive, though, is the family at the center of this fang-and-fur storm. The setting may be unfamiliar, but the tales central question (how far would you go to protect your family?) hits you where you live. All poor Harrick wants to do is provide for his family and keep them from harm. The next thing he knows, his crazy-ass father-in-law is ready to sacrifice a goat and Harricks simple life is one arterial spray away from disaster. And we can relate. The wolves knocking on your door may be metaphoric, but we all know what it feels like to be under attack. What its like to feel cursed. How do Harrick and his family survive? I couldnt possibly reveal that here, lest Curnow throw me to the you-know-whats. But let me just say this: prepare yourself for the craziest, heartfelt, and quite possibly bloodiest wolf tale (notice I didnt say werewolf) youll ever read. You may hug your family a little tighter tonight, too.

24 August 2012 Duane Swierczynski

Duane Swierczynski writes Godzilla for IDW, and is the author of award-winning crime thrillers such as Expiration Date and Fun & Games. The wolf always seems to be at his door.