Vampire by Night

Vampire By Night
File:VampByNight.jpg Vampire By Night with her wolf form
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Amazing Fantasy volume 2 #10
Created by	Jeff Parker Federica Manfredi
In-story information
Alter ego	Nina Price
Team affiliations	Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, None
Notable aliases	none
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and agility, hypnotic stare, superhumanly acute senses, rapid healing powers, can shapeshift into a white wolf with razor-sharp claws and fangs.

Vampire by Night is a fictional character within the Marvel Comics universe. Her given name is Nina Price who first appeared in Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2, #10. She is the niece to Jack Russell and has the ability to become either a werewolf or vampire between dusk and dawn.

Background

Through her mother's bloodline, Nina became part of a long family curse. This curse had originated with Nina's 18th century ancestor Grigori, who had been tainted by the Darkhold, a grimoire of black magic, and was subsequently bitten by a werewolf who served Dracula. Because of this, all the decendents of Grigori was cursed to become a werewolf upon thier 18th birthday. Nina's mother Lissa Russell was a victim of the curse until an altercation with a sorcerer named Glitternight alterered her standing and she was freed from being a werewolf. Lissa then married a wealthy business tycoon named Mr. Price and gave birth to Nina. Although her mother was able to alter the curse's path against her, the curse continued its course to Nina. At some point Nina was attacked by a vampire who attempted to change her into the undead. This attack altered the curse for Nina somewhat and caused her to become both werewolf and vampire in one. By day Nina Price seems to be a normal human, but once the sun goes down she becomes a vampire. Due to the werewolf's bite, Nina became a white wolf during the full moon, and she used her father's money and status to reserve a zoo or park, in which she would cage herself until the full moon was over and she was no longer an animal (so she would not hurt innocents). However, Nina had no problem using her supernatural abilities to harm criminals, as she found them acceptable targets for her vampiric thirsts, feeding on rapists and theives once the sun went down.

Howling Commando

File:NinaPrice.jpg

Vampire by Night becomes a Howling Commando. Art by Dan Norton

Falling in a trap set by S.H.I.E.L.D. during an adventure with her uncle Jack, Nina soon after became a reluctant member of Nick Fury's Howling Commandos. Working at a secret military installation called Area 13, Nina was placed as part of a supernatural team working for the government set to handle situations that dealt with more of the macabre side of life. During her time there she was partnered with another werewolf named Warwolf (real name Vince Marcus) and fellow vampire Lilith, the daughter of Dracula.

Powers

Nina is hybrid of a vampire and a werewolf, and possesses the abilities of both, but only after sunset. Her vampire powers make her superhumanly strong and fast, and unable to cast a reflection (which makes it impossible for people to take her picture at night). She can hypnotize people with her stare, an ability she often uses to immobilze her prey. Like a normal vampire, she must feed on human blood, but she focuses her hunger on criminals. Due to her hybrid nature, sunlight is not lethal to Nina (as it is to most vampires), and she heals amazingly fast from the most serious injuries.

She is also imbued with the power of lycanthropy, and when the moon is full, she becomes a wolf. Unlike her uncle Jack, she doesn't become a humanoid werewolf, but becomes an actual white wolf (strongly resembling an Artcic wolf). In her bestial state, Nina has superhuman senses of hearing and smell, and deadly fangs and claws. She is also overwhelmed by the wolf's feral instincts, and often shuts herself away from others to prevent herself from killing innocent people.