Marvel Legacy has hit New York’s most mentally unstable hero, and the character couldn’t be better for it. Moon Knight #188 is a true return to form for the titular character, leaning into his unique characteristics in a clean and fashionable way while also expanding his world into exciting new territory.
To be fair, Marc Spector hasn’t been a character in need of a creative overhaul for several years now. Thanks to inventive runs from Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey, then Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood, Moon Knight has been experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. That hot streak continues here with writer Max Bemis, writer of the extremely enjoyable mini-series X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever, and artist Jacen Burrows, who are guiding Moon Knight through the Marvel Legacy era.
Surprisingly, Moon Knight and his multiple alter egos receive a small amount of page time in this issue. Instead, we view his history through the eyes of a psychologist who’s grown obsessed with Marc and his mental instabilities. It’s a welcomed switcheroo that leads to some interesting revelations about the character, and how his perceived insanity makes him a standout in Marvel’s extensive pantheon of costumed heroes. It’s a nimble way to establish Moon Knight and the myriad forces around him without the dregs of exposition, all while giving us an even deeper understanding of the character. With a foundation laid and Marc’s mental condition clearly set for the reader, it looks like Bemis is ready to shift his focus towards bigger and better things for the character.
One of those things, coincidentally, is a brand new character that quickly ascends into an important position in Moon Knight’s world. Moon Knight has always lacked a packed rogues gallery in the vein of Spider-Man or the X-Men, so it’s fun to see Bemis expand the hero’s supporting cast. By exploring this new villain, who has very interesting parallels to Moon Knight, Bemis also unpacks the reasons why the hero is a fascinating character in the first place—namely, by diving into the ancient Egyptian mythology with modern day psychology that make Moon Knight something more than just a psychotic version of Batman. By the end of the issue, Bemis comes full circle with a thorough examination of two deeply disturbed men and their inevitable collision, setting the stage for what will likely be a fascinating confrontation.
While Bemis delivers a incredibly strong story, it wouldn’t pop the way it does without Jacen Burrow’s crisp artwork. Burrows eschews the usual grime that comes with Moon Knight in favor of a much more sterile aesthetic. While it might not sound like the right fit on paper, it works perfectly for this story’s clinical point of view. Every panel pops with clean line work that never uses more detail than it needs, making for stylish imagery that shines under colorist Mat Lopes’ bright palette.
Moon Knight #188 is a thought-provoking introduction that re-establishes the character’s initial charms while charging ahead with an exciting new direction. Of all the Marvel Legacy releases thus far, this is the series that takes the most advantage of the publisher’s direction. It’s a familiar, yet fresh premiere for what looks to be another landmark run for Moon Knight.
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