Being a huge fan of Moon Knight, I was ecstatic when it was announced that not only would he be the star of the next Avengers story, but that he would also be the main villain. Moon Knight started out as an antagonist for various supernatural-based characters, such as Werewolf by Night. However, he has not shown those colors in years, and is usually portrayed as a vigilante beating up criminals and defeating the paranormal. I have enjoyed most of Jason Aaron’s Avengers run so far, but I was a bit skeptical about how he would write the Fist of Khonshu.
The comic begins with Moon Knight confronting Iron Fist in front of the mystical city of K’un Lun. Iron Fist think that our moony boy has come to him for help. However, Moon Knight’s true intentions force a fight between the two. This opening fight is easily my favorite part of the comic. It both sets up the stakes immediately, while also providing fantastic visuals thanks to Javier Garron’s art. It is a perfect way to begin the story.
All of the confrontations in this comic are fantastic. Normally, Moon Knight would get absolutely destroyed by Doctor Strange, Black Panther and Thor, but, thanks to the moon, Moon Knight is easily able to go toe-to-toe with them. The fight against Thor is particularly brutal. The way Moon Knight uses his abilities makes complete sense as well. It makes one wonder why some recent writers chose to remove the the power amplification Moon Knight receives from the moon. The creativity used in these fights kept them interesting. The answer to “how Moon Knight would beat Thor” is just as interesting as the question.
Jason Aaron is one of my current favorite writers at Marvel comics. Both of his runs on Thor and Star Wars are fantastic, and I was very excited to see what he would do with the Avengers. This comic is where he finally hooked me. While the way he uses Moon Knight is over-the-top, once you suspend disbelief, the comic becomes a fun ride. My favorite detail is that Moon Knight is donning a different persona/personality during each fight. Every identity within him is serving the same purpose. In addition with the explanation at the end for Moon Knight’s crazy actions, I am now fully on board with this story.
Avengers #33 is a perfect starting point. If you are an Avengers or Moon Knight fan, I highly recommend picking up this comic. I cannot wait for the next issue.
Rating: 8/10
Buy the comic: https://www.comixology.com/Avengers-2018-33/digital-comic/836549?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC90b3BSZXN1bHRzU2xpZGVy
The Candid Clark 