Writer: Jed Mackay / Penciller: Alessadro Cappuccio / Colour Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg / Letterer: VC's Cory Petit / Collects: Moon Knight (2021) #1 - #6 / Marvel Comics
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2nd April 2022 (Released: 16th February 2022)
The Pitch: His mission is justice! The mysterious Mr. Knight has opened his Midnight Mission, sheltering his people from the weird and horrible. The Moon Knight stalks the rooftops and alleys marked with his crescent moon tag, bringing violence to any who would harm his flock. While Khonshu languishes in prison, Marc Spector's sacred duty must still be observed: the protection of those who travel at night. But what happens when those he would save are turned into weapons against him? When gangs of elderly residents leave a trail of bizarre violence, Moon Knight must put his body, mind and very soul on the line to end the carnage! A mysterious foe attacks from an unexpected direction, an old friend comes to visit and Marc finds himself answering the same question over and over again: "Why do you wear the mask?"
Each new writer and artist on a comic run promises reinvention. It's one of the reasons we eagerly await the endings of a series because we have the promise of the new. Like Dr. Who's regenerations, they're a thing to get excited about. We want to know what's next. Sure, we'll miss the folks who were shepherding our favourite characters before - and I should point out that in the case of Moon Knight, what went before was solid run after solid run) - but ultimately though what we're mostly here for is the thrill of that new car smell. So following on from Ellis, Wood, Lemire and Bemis, not to mention the greats that preceded them like Bendis and Moench, am I excited for Jed Mackay's Moon Knight? Night traveller, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't excited, would I?
MOON KNIGHT NOW RUNS A MISSION - WHICH MEANS THE TROUBLE COMES TO HIM
Midnight Mission begins in a curious place. I'm not talking about the minor skirmish with minor bad guys that kicks off the opening pages, but rather the place that Marc Spector finds himself in. You know, like that friend of yours... the one whose in 'a really good place right now'. Well, Moon Knight is in a really good place right now. His mission to protect those who travel by night has extended to an actual mission in the religious sense. Of course, that means that the trouble comes to him. And it comes in battalions. There are vampires snatching people off the streets, a possessive demon who has a unique way of passing itself from person to person to create a legion and most troublesome for Marc, a second fist of Khonshu. As he points out to Moon Knight, it was folly to think that a God who required a right fist would have no need for a left. He's also a lot more rigorous about his religious practises than Spector. This sets up one of Mackay's themes: faith and how it's best practised. Spector shows a benevolent side of Khonshu to those in need, only becoming 'the fist' when dealing with those who prey on the weak. The second fist of Khonshu is the more vengeful side of his God. And he's got no problem rendering his God a one-armed fighter. Thus Spector finds himself fighting a war on multiple fronts with only a sassy Vampire assistant to help. Will he emerge victoriously?
MACKAY PLACES THE PIECES ON THE BOARD DEFTLY, ALLOWING THE GAME TO BE PLAYED AT ITS BEST
It's a great set-up. Mackay places the pieces on the board deftly, allowing for the game to be played at its best. He keeps the edgy feel of Moench's MK, but widens the appeal for the broader audience. Moon Knight always felt like a niche character whom really great writers took interest in and made amazing. The addition of the DID, which may have once felt a little exploitative, is largely absent here. Instead, we have Marc Spector, never unmasked but in therapy and taking it seriously. As a device, it's pretty sound. It brings us up to speed on where he is now and shows us where he's been, serving as contextual 'previously on...' It's nice to see him so... well, healthy. It seems that for a change, all his problems are coming from the outside. Or are they? Is there something that's wormed its way into Marc's life that may be undermining his efforts to protect the community? Buy the book to find out, people. I'm not here to do the whole thing for you. But I will say this: in this version of Moon Knight, mind over matter matters. The Marc Spector and indeed the Moon Knight that MacKay, Cappuccio and the rest of the team have given us is changing things up.
CAPPUCCIO CREATES AN ENERGETIC, SPEEDY LINE, JOLTED THROUGH WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUZZ OF NEW YORK
Look is as important to Moon Knight as feel. He needs to look sharp in that white suit after all! Cappuccio creates a fine, speedy, energetic line. He keeps it dynamic, alive, jolting it through with the electrical buzz of New York. His is a pace that never sleeps. You constantly feel his 'camera' roaming, restless. There's a solid stance to his figures. They're confident in who they are and their actions. Working with colourist Rachelle Rosenberg, create a dream-like feel to certain sections of the book. Things glow and breathe. Rosenberg, it must be said, is proving herself to be an essential component in many of your favourite books right now and we should be speaking her name with the same weight and respect as Jordie Bellaire and Tamra Bonvillain. Corey Petit builds a wide palette of text styles for the lettering, switching tones and bass notes out for lighter sound when needed, but always knowing. When to bring that basso profundo timbre to the villains. And sometimes to Spector. This iteration of Moon Knight may go down as one the better versions and deservedly so. Mackay, Cappuccio, Rosenberg and Petit have built us a better Mr Knight, a healthier avenger of darkness. One that brings together the compassion of his unmasked alter-ego with the precision and strength of the military man he once was. A character on the path to redemption and definitely a man on a mission.
You can buy Moon Knight Vol. 1: Midnight Mission from your local comic shop now.
