Werewolves 101: Origins, Tropes, and Thematic Storytelling with Kel MacDonald

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

https://www.worldanvil.com 
https://kelmcdonald.com/