Moon Knight: Five must-haves for the character to succeed
By Mark Lynch
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics, Moon Knight
Here’s how to make Moon Knight work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Netflix has proven that the heroes who work close to the street work. Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage have all been successful shows with multiple seasons under their belts. Their popularity has solitified that there is room for gritty heroes. Among these heroes is a character that Marvel Comics fans have been waiting to see for a couple of years. The Lunar Legionnaire Moon Knight.
Moon Knight started as Marvel’s answer to Batman. He has the money, millions upon millions of dollars, and even a Moon-Copter. With that said, the similarities between Batman and Moon Knight stop there. Moon Knight teeters between being a merciless killer and someone who just beats the holy hell out of his victims.
Unlike characters like Iron Man, Thor, and Spider-Man, Marc Spector (Moon Knight) isn’t a well known character to people who don’t read comics. However, he was an Avenger once upon a time and operates out of New York (like every other hero). He could easily be a success like the other shows have. But there are a few things that have to happen to make Moon Knight appealing to more than just the comic book fans.
A different origin story
Every successful hero has an origin story. Kid gets bit by spider, baby is the daughter of a god, or parents get shot in an alleyway. Regardless, an origin story is a must. The story of Marc Spector isn’t like anyone else’s. Spector was a Marine and then went on to do mercenary work. During a mission, he was almost killed by his partner Raoul Bushman (not to be mistaken with Luke Cage’s Bushmaster). Before Spector could die, he ends up in a temple where his spirit encounters the god Khonshu who saves Spector, but only if he becomes his avatar. Spector accepts the offer and thus, Moon Knight is born.
The beginning of Spector being a marine and a mercenary is a great story. It explains why he’s such a skilled fighter and why he’s ok with killing and torture. The part involving Khonshu may seem a bit wacky to some people, but it’s also one of the reasons that people enjoy him. It’s also another necessary element to his character.