Jul 13, 2026
This episode, Janet sits down with award-winning comic creator Kel MacDonald (Sorcery 101, The City Between, Misfits of Avalon) for a deep dive into all things werewolf. Whether you're building a pack for your next RPG campaign, writing a werewolf protagonist, or just love unpacking classic monster tropes, this episode is full of insight for crafting werewolves that actually serve your story.
Topics covered include:
- The surprising history of werewolf mythology—from the Greek myth of King Lykos to the French folktale Bisclavret and the Irish legend of the Werewolves of Ossory
- Why the full moon as a werewolf trigger is a much more modern invention than you'd think (hint: it's a 1940s Hollywood addition)
- Standard werewolf powers and features—super strength, heightened senses, silver as a weakness—and where these tropes came from
- The alpha/beta/pack dynamic, its problematic ties to consent issues in some stories, and healthier "found family" alternatives
- Thematic werewolf storytelling: civilization vs. wilderness, unchosen transformation, marginalization, and the "wolf as id vs. wolf as other" divide
- Why werewolves and vampires so often end up sharing a universe (blame Hammer Horror)
- Common pitfalls: full-moon pacing problems, overpowered werewolves, dragged-out reveals, and copying tropes without understanding their purpose
- Werewolf transmission and "cures"—and why creators should think carefully if lycanthropy is standing in for something like neurodivergence
- Practical worldbuilding tips, like tying werewolf behavior into ecosystems and community structures