That model is typical of the way that lycanthropes have been portrayed in the popular (and most familiar) European traditions, it's true.Nimrod wrote:2) Lycantropes (generically a werewolf), are just a variation on the vampire template. They are the "beast within" that comes out against the will of the "victim" inflicted or in more modern takes the "beast within" that the person revels in as an expression of their suppressed self. Either way it is set on the foundation of the relinquishing of the rational self either by choice or by some manner of affliction or curse.
There are a lot of other cultural traditions, though, which come at it from a different angle. There are the Japanese kitsune - foxes which can assume human form, and which have their own fox-ish wisdom which they bring to the human form.
There are Native American (and related) "skin walker" or "skin changer" traditions, in which the ability to change form is sorcerous or shamanic (and can be a tool either for personal power / evil, or for knowledge and healing / good). In these traditions, the animal form is typically not an expression of the "beast within", but instead is an attempt by the practitioner to draw upon the form, knowledge, and powers of an animal "helper" spirit with whom they are associated. The practitioner does not necessarily give up his/her rationality, or moral responsibility at all, when changing form.
Pablo has mentioned werewolves in the strip (once) and shown pictures of a couple of "vampire" characters. We do not yet know what cultural system or template he's going to be basing these characters on... it might not be the popular tradition with which we are most familiar. He could easily pull yet another rabbit out of his hat and surprise us - and frankly I'd be surprised if he doesn't
