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Moon Knight officially joined the MCU in late March, and here's everything you need to know about the origin and powers of this superhero.
On March 30, Marvel Studios made a triumphant return with the Moon Knight series on Disney+, introducing a completely new superhero to the MCU. The series is set after Hawkeye (meaning after the events in Avengers: Endgame) and serves as a crucial platform to connect with future projects.
In terms of appearance, Moon Knight bears a resemblance to a typical superhero with a costume that conceals his face and a long flowing cape. However, the character's origin story and powers are unique, if not the most distinctive compared to what the MCU has accomplished in nearly 15 years.
You might have heard somewhere that Moon Knight is nicknamed the 'Batman of Marvel' due to his 'impressive' lineage and attaining maximum strength at night. Perhaps you've also heard that this superhero is a former boxer, turned mercenary, ultimately gaining superpowers from the moon god of Egypt. All these stories have some accuracy, contributing to Moon Knight becoming one of Marvel's most unique superheroes, even if his fame may not match icons like the X-Men, Spider-Man, or Captain America.
Who is Moon Knight?
Moon Knight made his first appearance as the antagonist in the horror comic Werewolf By Night in the 70s. Initially, he worked as an agent for a secret organization, tasked with capturing Jack Russell. However, Moon Knight ends up aiding Russell's escape, leading to a transformation from a dubious figure to a true superhero.
Many years later, Marvel decided to craft a complete origin story for Moon Knight, penned by the talented writer Doug Moench. The character's real name is Marc Spector, the son of a Jewish rabbi who escaped his homeland to become an independent explorer. Spector later becomes a professional mercenary. However, during a mission to protect an archaeological excavation, he is betrayed by his employer, Raoul Bushman, and left to die in the vast desert.
Fortunately, Spector is saved and bestowed with powerful superhuman abilities by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. In return, he must embrace his role as Moon Knight, Earth's representative of Khonshu, ready to obey the deity's commands.
Spector then comes to the U.S., establishing a series of new identities to quickly assimilate into modern society, including the personas of Steven Grant - a wealthy investor, and Jake Lockley - a hot-tempered taxi driver. Over time, these identities evolve into distinct personalities, leading to multiple beings coexisting within Moon Knight's body instead of just Marc Spector alone. Each persona has different memories, knowledge, skills, and traits, similar to what the initial Moon Knight TV series portrayed.
Moon Knight joined the West Coast Avengers in the 80s. During this period, the connection between him and Khonshu was severed by the moon god, unintentionally leaving him to perish in a battle against Seth. This marked the beginning of Moon Knight's life cycle, as Khonshu resurrected him, allowing him to continue his superhero role with different personas in multiple consecutive lifetimes. In the original stories, this god resurrected Moon Knight three times, making him almost immortal.
In recent comic books, Moon Knight often assumes the alias Mr. Knight, sporting a more modern business attire instead of the traditional superhero cape. Before Moon Knight hit the screen, Empire magazine released an image of the character in a similar appearance, indicating that Mr. Knight could be another persona of Marc Spector on the small screen.
Moon Knight's Superpowers
Known as the 'Fist of Khonshu,' Moon Knight possesses impressive superpowers that fluctuate based on the lunar cycle, reaching their peak during full moons.
Similar to other superheroes, Moon Knight exhibits enhanced strength, agility, and speed compared to ordinary individuals. Additionally, he can employ various psychic abilities such as mesmerizing enemies with the 'voice of Khonshu,' draining life energy through physical contact, or connecting with the spirit world. Moon Knight even once guided Black Panther in the realm of death in Wakanda.
When not buffed by Khonshu's power, Marc Spector relies on his considerable combat skills gained from his mercenary experience. He proficiently wields various weapons, including a magical crescent-shaped staff that senses danger, a crescent-shaped boomerang, and smoke bombs. Spector also controls various vehicles, from gliders to cars and motorcycles. Lastly, his costume is a formidable asset, made of super-hard adamantium and always sporting the distinctive white color tone.
Thanks to the persona of millionaire Steven Grant, Moon Knight is often compared to DC's Batman for similarities in lavishly funding his extensive and diverse arsenal. Besides, Spector is adept in various languages, and even without the superpowers bestowed by Khonshu, he remains a formidable opponent due to his professionally honed combat skills. However, Marvel Studios has slightly altered Steven Grant's character, turning him into a souvenir shop employee at a museum in London, facing frequent misfortunes in life.
In the first episode of Moon Knight, Marvel focuses more on exploring the persona of Steven Grant, keeping Marc Spector's powers relatively veiled. However, we can somewhat sense the character's prowess through details like gracefully falling from a tall tower without injury, effortlessly handling a horde of foes in a small village at the foot of the Alps, or notably the final scene where he ruthlessly defeats Arthur Harrow's monstrous creature.
As per Gamesradar
