We’re not going to lie, we’re pretty stoked about Marvel’s upcoming Moon Knight series. Even more so with Oscar Isaac playing the titular character. Just look at this trailer!
But who is the Crescent Crusader really? If you’re Moon Knight newbie, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a comprehensive explainer of just about everything you need to know about this newcomer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
1. Who or What Is a Moon Knight?
Moon Knight first debuted in 1975 in the pages of Werewolf by Night #32 as a mysterious costumed figure tasked with taking down the Werewolf. Subsequently, he appeared as a guest star in various other comics, before finally getting his own solo run in 1980.
As far as origin stories go, Moon Knight’s is definitely unique. The Jewish-born Marc Spector had searched his whole life for his true calling. Taking on many jobs, he first served in the Marines, then the CIA, before finally becoming a mercenary for hire. Not long into his career as a high-profile assassin, he meets the radical terrorist, Raul Bushman, in Egypt, and they team up to raid an archaeological site. Things turn south when Bushman attempts to kill two archaeologists, and mortally wounds Marc who tries to stop him. Left for the dead, Marc stumbles upon an Egyptian tomb from which he is revived by the god Khonshu. Khonshu only has one request in exchange for saving his life: to deliver vengeance in his name. Marc agrees and assumes the identity of the Moon Knight.
2. But Who Is He? Marc or Steven?
If you’ve seen the trailer for the series, you’ll know that Moon Knight doesn’t just have one identity, but possibly even two. Oscar Isaac’s character sports a unrecognizable British accent, and calls himself Steven. That is until an ominous phone conversation reveals that he’s also someone named Marc. So which is he? Is he Steven Grant, the mild-mannered gift-shop employee? Or Marc Spector, the mercenary with a troubled past? Who’s really under the cowl?
Both of them actually. Marc Spector/Steven Grant struggles with dissociative identity disorder, meaning that various identities control his behaviour at different times. While he’s primarily Marc Spector in the comics, he also goes by cab driver Jake Lockley, a millionaire-version of Steven Grant, or a consultant called Mr. Knight. Over the years, he’s also assumed the personalities of Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Captain America too!
As for his Disney Plus outing, Oscar Isaac will apparently be using varied accents to keep the identities separate from each other, with British (?) for Steven and American for Marc. But it sure gets complicated when you throw a super-powered identity into the mix!
3. What Can Moon Knight Do? What Powers Does He Have?
There are tons of cool toys in Moon Knight’s arsenal, his most infamous being the crescent darts that sit on the sides of his belt. They are mostly used for long-range throws but also for close-quarter combat. Think batarangs, but white and crescent-shaped. In addition to being a skilled marksman and an expert in hand-to-hand combat, he also possesses heightened senses and abilities. This includes enhanced strength during nights with full moons, prophetic visions and dreams, and the ability to drain another person’s life energy through physical contact. Oh wait, he also gets resurrected a bunch of times. Immortality is just a tiny perk of being the vessel of an all-powerful god.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. Marc’s mental disorder is a heavy weight to bear, and it is questionable if the state of his mental health is a result of past trauma or the consequence of being Khonshu’s avatar.
4. So, Is He a Hero Or….?
Moon Knight’s dark past and personal trauma doesn’t really make him a textbook good guy. Working as a mercenary meant he wasn’t afraid to get his hands bloody if the situation called for it; or if there was big money on the table. But since becoming the purveyor of vengeance, where does he fit on the spectrum? Good guy or bad guy? Hero or villain? It’s hard to tell.
While initially making his comic book debut as a vigilante for hire, his villainous past was retconned and he was eventually recast as more of a heroic figure. Which isn’t to say he’s not willing to inflict brutality and ruthlessness, going as far as carving crescents onto his victims’ foreheads, or ripping off the face of his mortal enemy, Bushman, in Moon Knight #2.
But it’s a lot more complicated than that. His vicious nature and vigilante streak isn’t entirely his own doing. Marc’s difficult relationship with Khonshu has led him to walk the tightrope between good and bad, with Marc leaning towards heroism, and Khonshu wanting to enact vengeance on enemies. He’s a living weapon, a vessel, a conduit – in a lot of ways, being Moon Knight is the only thing that gives him purpose, while also seemingly drains the humanity within.
5. Who Is the Big Bad?
And of course, we need a Big Bad to stir the pot. Moon Knight has faced off against a number of foes since debuting in 1975. Some of them include the terrorist Raul Bushman, the corrupt politician posing as Black Spectre, the Egyptian deity Seth, and his brother Randall as Shadow Knight. Even Khonshu stands as an impediment to Marc, pushing him through innumerable mental undertakings.
In this Disney Plus series, however, it appears that Moon Knight’s main rival would be Dr. Arthur Harrow, played by none other than Ethan Hawke! In the comics, Dr. Arthur Harrow was a scientist specialising in the field of pain theory. After being selected as a Nobel Prize candidate, a fellow doctor grew suspicious of Harrow’s work and his lack of research done on animals. Turns out, Harrow was secretly experimenting on people instead. Yikes! Through visions from Khonshu, Moon Knight was able to locate Dr. Harrow and put an end to his activities.
We’re not sure what approach Marvel is taking for this series, but at first glance, it seems like they may be giving us a version of Harrow that is less deranged scientist and more cult hero. In fact, Hawke stated that he based his Moon Knight character on American cult leader, David Koresh, during an interview with Seth Meyers.
6. Wait, Is There Another Big Bad?
There might not just be one, but two villains in the series! The second being Midnight Man, played by Gaspard Ulliel (one of his last roles before his tragic and untimely death earlier this year). Not to be confused with Moon Knight’s sidekick, Midnight, the Midnight Man/Anton Mogart was a highly-trained burglar who stole famous artwork, jewels, and other valuables.
In Moon Knight #3, Midnight Man falls into a river after an entanglement with Moon Knight. Carried by the current into a drainage viaduct, the wastes of the sewer melt his face, leaving him hideously deformed. And so begins the long-standing feud between Moon Knight and Midnight Man. One thing’s for sure, Midnight Man’s origin sure does have a lot in common with a certain green-haired clown we know.
7. So Where Does He Fit In the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Will he be an Avenger? Or a lone wolf? We won’t know for sure until after the series begins airing. Moon Knight is typically known to avoid most of the hero community, reluctantly teaming up under the influence of Khonshu, or to rid enemies in the way.
He has, however, had brief stints with the Avengers in the comics, working with the West Coast Avengers, and later the Secret Avengers. Some familiar names in these teams include Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hawkeye (both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop). Moon Knight has also appeared as a guest star alongside The Defenders, the Thing, and even our favourite web-slinger in several issues. So it’s definitely not out of the question to see him in a future MCU team line-up.
8. Which Storylines We’d Like to See?
With the series premiere right around the corner, let’s discuss which storylines we’d like to see adapted. Without question we’d definitely like to see how it all began: from the mercenary-turned-hero storyline to his first meeting with the moon god, Khonshu, in Egypt.
Based on the trailer, it looks like the white suit-donning Mr. Knight will also be making an appearance, which is lifted from the 2014 run of Moon Knight, Mister Knight. That arc would also add a different dimension to the frayed relationship between Marc and Khonshu. Another possible route could be with Marc battling his many personalities and trying to stay true to his heroic ideals, as seen in 2006’s The Bottom arc, which shows off a far darker, grittier take on Moon Knight.
We might not see Marc team up with the Avengers sometime soon, but we’d sure love to see the Avengers: Age of Khonshu arc adapted on the big screen. In an attempt to stop Mephisto, Khonshu decides to overpower Moon Knight, causing him to wreak havoc across the world. From seizing hold of Mjolnir from Thor, facing off against Black Panther, or claiming the Iron Fist from Danny Rand, it sounds just about crazy and chaotic enough to work.
RECOMMENDED READING
Finally, here’s some reading material to get started on before Moon Knight premieres at the end of the month.
- First appearance in Werewolf by Night #32-33 – “The Stalker Called Moon Knight”
- First solo run in Moon Knight Vol. 1. (1980-1984)
- Moon Knight #1-30 (2006 – 2009)
- West Coast Avengers Vol, 2. #21-41
- Heroic Age: Moon Knight, Vol. 7. (2011 – 2012)
Follow Us