Required Reading: Moon Knight Edition

The latest series from Marvel Studios on Disney+ is the most ambitious one yet, Moon Knight! It is the first MCU series to introduce an entirely new hero to the universe, and he is a complicated and dark one at that!

Marc Spector….Steven Grant…Mr. Knight, whoever you wish to call him, is one of the most under-the-radar, underrated Marvel heroes of all time. I first discovered him in the classic Marvel Team-Up #144 and then a few years later in the Amazing Spider-Man storyline “Round Robin”, where Spidey teams with Moon Knight, Punisher, Night Thrasher, Darkhawk and Nova (sweet 90’s goodness), and they battle MK’s sidekick gone rogue, Midnight. So, it really wasn’t until after the “Quesada Era” at Marvel that I really began reading Moon Knight comics, and they got SUPER dark. But I was at least quite knowledgeable of the character before the series where I know a lot of people weren’t.

So, there really hasn’t been a Marvel series that needed a “Required Reading” column more than this one! Hopefully it helps some of you catch up!

Moon Knight Epic Collection: Bad Moon Rising

There really isn’t a trade paperback that goes with the Moon Knight tv series more! This collects the issues where it all began with the character. From his first appearance in Werewolf By Knight #32-33 where he hunts down the creature, to the first appearance of the Steven Grant personality (who is quite different from the series, instead of a bumbling British “gift shoptist”, the Grant persona is more of a rich, playboy, Bruce Wayne type), we are introduced to the hero’s rich history as a swashbuckling vigilante before things get…a whole lot darker in the 2000’s.

A lot of the side characters from the series are introduced in this volume as well. Layla El-Faouly appears as mostly an entirely new character, but I can’t help but think that she was inspired by Marlene Alraune, Marc Spector’s love interest through most of his early history, whom you will also meet in this collection, as well as “Frenchie” DuChamp, another important character to Moon Knight.

Frenchie is Marc’s ally (and sort of like his “Alfred” in many ways), and we have not seen Frenchie in live action (YET), but he is cleverly listed as one of the Marc Spector personality’s contacts in his cell phone Steven finds hidden in his apartment in Episode 1.

You will also see the first appearance of one of Moon Knight’s foes, Midnight Man/Anton Mogart in this volume, Mogart will be played by the late Gaspard Ulliel in the series.

Oh, and that “living statue” street performer Steven keeps talking to about his problems? Those aren’t just hilarious scenes, the statue is a character from the comics too! It’s been revealed that this is Crawley, a transient that works as an informant for Moon Knight. A clever easter egg, indeed!

So, as you can see, it’s pretty important to pick this one up if you want to really deep dive into Moon Knight and his supporting cast!

Moon Knight Epic Collection: Butcher’s Moon

This is the next classic Moon Knight collection that should be picked up. It is mostly a great limited series from 1985 that also features Midnight Man and the fate of Marc and Marlene’s relationship, but also features the only comic appearance of the main antagonist of the series, Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow. Unfortunately, the name seems to be the only thing the MCU’s version has with the comic book Harrow. Instead of a enigmatic cult leader, Harrow was an ex-Nazi scientist that had a neural condition that froze half his face into a snarl. Hawke’s character in the show does mention Yucatan, which is a key location in his comic story. Another little easter egg.

Harrow is still out there somewhere in the Marvel Universe, so he could return to comic book continuity at any time, especially with his newfound notoriety! This Epic Collection is scheduled to be released later this year.

Moon Knight (2006) Omnibus Vol. 1

This particular volume in the Moon Knight saga may not introduce any of the characters from the series, but it’s important because of its tone. It was the introduction of Moon Knight to the post Comics Code Authority audience and clearly set the dark atmosphere that the show obviously adopted.

This one definitely delves into Spector’s dissociative identity disorder and how Khonshu tortures him. But beyond all else, you really have got to see David Finch’s depiction of Moon Knight, as it is (in my opinion) the most badass version ever!

Moon Knight (2013) Vol. 1

Last but not least, everyone needs to pick up the most critically acclaimed run of Moon Knight, the Warren Ellis/Declan Shalvey series from 2013. This run revamped the character and made it a perfect jumping off point for new fans.

The TV series took some inspiration from this story too! Ellis and Shalvey introduced the Mr. Knight persona (even though the way the series has adapted the persona has angered some fans…maybe we should watch the rest of the episodes to pass judgement?), and also was the first time Khonshu was depicted as the haunting, towering figure with the bird skull, definitely one of the coolest images in the series thus far!

Everyone should have this run in their collection, as it is possibly the best Moon Knight comics ever written!

Well those are the collections that connect to the MCU’s Moon Knight (SO FAR), but there are plenty more collections, omnibuses and ongoing series’ to check out! Get out to your local comics shop and pick up whatever you can!