Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Marc Spector was the son of Rabbi Elias Spector and a woman who became Mrs. Spector. (Moon Knight v1 #37) He also had a brother who was given the name Randall Spector. (Hulk! v1 #17) The family lived in Europe where his Jewish father was a prodigy who quickly developed into a figure of reverence in the community as he knew the Talmud as well as the Bible by heart during his teenage years lead got him eventually becoming a Rabbi. By this time, Nazi Germany had turned their country of Czechoslovakia into a puppet state run by Adolf Hitler. The Spector family managed to leave by that point where they went to America and settled in the poor side of Chicago. When Marc was a child, it was noted that his mother had passed away whilst his father remained a key figure in the community. However, the poverty-stricken neighbourhoods were quick to find scapegoats for their problems leading to them targeting the Jewish neighbours and leading to Elias Spector being injured on numerous occasion. Marc could not understand his father during this time for not fighting back against his attackers. (Moon Knight v1 #37) As a boy, he often played with his brother Randall where they played war games as Marc found it to be fun. (Shadowland: Moon Knight v1 #1)
Around this time, Elias gained an appointment to the theological seminary on a meagre pay where he attempted to have Marc enrolled as a student. However, Marc refused leading to bitter arguments with his father as he instead wanted to devote his time to the gym and self-defense lessons where he began to box for money. One day, he went for a match with his father arriving into the ring attempting to stop his son leading to Marc punching him. Elias Spector was so angered at his son that he stated Marc would not have his blessing nor continue such a dirty and disreputable life in the house as he was kicked out of the home. The next day, Marc joined the U.S. Marines where he spent the next eight years fighting and honing his skills. (Moon Knight v1 #37)
In his second tour in Iraq, his superiors came to take note of Marc's bizarre behaviour leading to an investigation into his past and him being dishonourably discharged. (Moon Knight v8 #11)
During his mercenary days, one of his fellow soldiers was Jason Macendale with the two serving together for a time. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #33)
Moon Knight
One of his first major jobs as Moon Knight came when the Committee hired him to capture the werewolf Jack Russell. Spector succeeded in his assignment thanks to the silver cesti he was armed with as part of his gear. (Werewolf by Night v1 #32)
He later came to learn that Bushman was in the city and arranging a trap for Moon Knight. Spector decided to confront his foe leading to a fight between the pair where he nearly killed his foe. However, he was stopped by Marlene who did not want Marc to become a murderer like Bushman. (Moon Knight v1 #1)
Fist of Khonshu
Marlene came to convince him to abandon the life of Moon Knight and the thrill of his multiple identities where she urged to live as Marc Spector. This saw Marc even giving away the statue of Khonshu and trying to live as a normal person. However, in the night, he began to be plagued by visions of Khonshu where Spector was drawn to return to Egypt which put a strain on his relationship with Marlene. (Moon Knight v2 #1)
Marc Spector: Moon Knight
He later met with Daredevil who was assembling a team to hunt down the Punisher who's vigilante tactics had gone too far. Moon Knight came to offer funding the crime fighting team where he would provide equipment and a headquarters. (Marvel Knights v1 #5)
Vengeance of the Moon Knight
He later came to be a target of Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts though Spector managed to evade them but was wounded in the process. (Moon Knight v5 #22)
Afterwards, Spector came to relocate to Los Angeles where he crated a television show based on his exploits called "Legends of Khonshu". Secretly though, he continued fighting crime as Moon Knight where he displayed 3 new alters that imitated the personalities of Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America Steve Rogers. (Moon Knight v6 #1)
Return
Steve Rogers later approached Moon Knight about joining his covert Secret Avengers strike force where he was initially reluctant but was convinced to lend his aid with him being on their first mission in infiltrating the Roxxon Energy Corporation. (Secret Avengers v1 #1)
Mr. Knight
Afterwards, he used laundered money to help pay for his return to New York and bought new equipment to help him to operate in the city. At this point, he formed a new fourth identity known as Mister Knight with this persona working with NYPD Detective Flint on a number of different cases. At the same time, his Moon Knight identity continued to operate as a vigilante to help deal with criminals. Around this time, he was in contact with a psychologist about his Dissociative Identity Disorder where the expert said that his mind had been colonised by Khonshu with his brain taking on one of the fourth different aspects of the moon god leading to his brain attempting to make sense on what was happening to his life. (Moon Knight v7 #1)
He was afflicted with premonitions leading to him angrily chasing down his patron deity. However, he came find that Khonshu was also a victim of these visions. This stemmed from a vision of destruction seen by Khonshu with the perpetrator being Mephisto. (Avengers v8 #34)
Afterwards, he came to establish the Midnight Mission where he protected those under his care. This started by killing some vampires that recently turned some victims in the neighbourhood. The victims though were now vampires but begged Moon Knight for his protection where he made them his charges. (Moon Knight v9 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In the U.S. Marine Corps, he used to be known as Sergeant Spector. (Moon Knight v5 #8) He was also referred to as the Fist of Khonshu. (Moon Knight v2 #1) In one instance, he was referred to as the Cowled Avenger and as the Lunar Legionnaire whilst the Committee referred to him as Asset Prime. (Moon Knight v5 #2)
This became known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). (Moon Knight v7 #1) These identities included:
- Marc Spector :
- Jake Lockley : a persona who operated as a street smart cab driver who heard everything. (Moon Knight v1 #1)
- Steven Grant : a persona who operated as a wall street wizard who turned Spector's modest savings into a millionaires fortune. (Moon Knight v1 #1)
- Mr. Knight : a new fourth persona that wore a white suit and mask where he operated publicaly with the police to prevent him from being arrested as a vigilante. (Moon Knight v7 #1)
A diagnosis given was that he was not insane but rather that his brain was colonised by an ancient consciousness from beyond space-time with this being Khonshu. According to Khonshu, Spector was seen as the Egyptian deities son and his chosen agent in the world. (Moon Knight v7 #1) As the Moon Knight, he was a living embodiment of an ancient Egyptian deity who was the bringer of life and vengeance where he meted out his own strange brand of justice. (Moon Knight v2 #1)
Initially, the criminal underworld knew Moon Knight only as a myth with some not aware that he was real. (Moon Knight v1 #1) It was said that he wore such bright colours when fighting crime was because he wanted his enemies to see him and that because he was also crazy. (Moon Knight v7 #1)
Violence and bloodshed were things that Marc Spector was said to had understood. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #33) Marlene and Marc had both worked hard to shape Moon Knight into becoming something better. (Moon Knight v1 #1)
He liked to think that he got his sense of Old Testament justice from his father who was a Rabbi. Meanwhile, he claimed that his mother was mostly disappointed in him. (Vengeance of the Moon Knight v1 #3)
He admitted that Randal was stronger than him but Marc was smarter and faster than his older brother. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #37)
During his time with Marlene Alraune, she became pregnant with his child but kept this knowledge a secret and she had his daughter who was named Diatrice. (Moon Knight v1 #190)
Powers and abilities
Taskmaster was noted to had said that he preferred not to copy Moon Knight's fighting style as the vigilante rather take a hit than dodge it. (Moon Knight v5 #5)
Spector had an extensive military background having served in the United States Marines and worked for the C.I.A. running black-ops. (Moon Knight v5 #22) In the U.S. Marine Corps, he used to hold the rank of sergeant until he was kicked out of their ranks. (Moon Knight v5 #8) It was said that he had practical Avengers battle training. (Moon Knight v5 #22)
Moon Knight was able to fit the cowl with controls that allowed him to remotely control vehicles such as sportscars. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight #39)
He could use his glider-cape to help slow his descent to the ground where he got the idea from his first drops into action as a soldier. It was said to not be as good as a real parachute or hand-glider but allowed him to drop to the ground safely. (Moon Knight v1 #1)
It was said that his costume was flame-resistant allowing him to survive in the midst of fires. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #35) One variation of his suit was made of Carbonadium that was as tough as Adamantium but more flexible. (Vengeance of the Moon Knight v1 #4) He could lock the joints in the suit allowing the carbonadium bear heavy weights being placed on it such as that of a part of a collapsing building. Moon Knight could even leave the suit in place whilst he himself operated separately. (Vengeance of the Moon Knight v1 #5)
The gauntlets later had a feature in them where they were able to shoot out crescent-darts. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #38) One variant were explosive crescent darts that detonated when striking their target. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #35)
Spector later gained the use of a new multi-purpose Adamantium truncheon. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #35) A feature of one of his suits was the ability to magnetically call the truncheon to him thus recovering it in battle. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #40)
At one point, he was given vestments by the priests of the moon god to help him in his role as the Fist of Khonshu. These included the golden ankh that was a sign of life eternal and warned of mortal danger. Another was an ivory boomerang that was engraved with protective charms on it. In addition, he was given wristbands, scarab darts, throwing irons, a lasso-grapple and bola with these all being warrior instruments. (Moon Knight v2 #1)
Moon Knight had a number of relics from Ancient Egypt that he could don that allowed him to fight ghosts. These allowed him to make physical contact and fight them as normally their incorporeal nature meant regular hits simply passed through them. (Moon Knight v7 #3)
He once maintained an automated limousine that drove him to his locations and contained an on-board voice activated computer system allowing him to use it for crime fighting functions. (Moon Knight v7 #1)
Another craft he used was the Angel Wing that was a light flying vehicle that was fast. It was not as heavily armed as the Moon-Copter and was more suited for short solo flights. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #27)
Steven Grant was responsible for setting up a large business conglomerate known as SpectorCorp that was used to secretly fund Moon Knight's activities. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #39)
For a time, Moon Knight had a network of agents and informants who worked for him without being aware of his identity with these being part of his Shadow Cabinet. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #38) Members were able to attend the Strategy Table via holograms where each person could offer their expertise to Moon Knight. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight #39)
Initially, he came to operate from a mansion located on Long Island. (Moon Knight v1 #1) The address of the Spector residence was 13 Abington Circle in Southampton, Long Island where the structure had been built 1927 and was 32 acres. The market value as of 1989 was $5.890.000 and the landline number was 555-9847. (Marc. Spector: Moon Knight v1 #1)
For a time, to establish a hidden headquarters known as Shadowkeep. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #40) It was located in the Lower West Side in a neighbourhood that was being 'gentrified' by the Spector Corporation. It included abandoned warehouses that were being upgraded and were hollowed out to include a warren of interconnected buildings. The structure possessed numerous secret entrances that allowed him to enter or leave from his missions. Some of these were large enough to fit aerial craft. (Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1 #38)
At one point, he established the Midnight Mission that was his office where he met with people that sought his aid and protection. (Moon Knight v9 #1)
For a time, he had contracted the services of the Tinkerer to help make his equipment. (Vengeance of the Moon Knight v1 #2)
Notes
- Moon Knight was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin where he made his first appearance in Werewolf by Night v1 #32 (August, 1975).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Ultimate Spider-Man, Moon Knight appeared in the animated television series in the Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister 6 Christmas special episode "The Moon Knight Before Christmas" where he was voiced by actor Diedrich Bader.
- In Avengers Assemble, Moon Knight appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Gideon Emery.
- In Spider-Man, Moon Knight appeared in the setting of the 2017 animated television series in the episode "Vengeance of Venom" where he was voiced by actor Peter Giles.
- In Moon Knight, Moon Knight appeared in the setting of the 2022 live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Oscar Isaac.
Video games
- In Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, Moon Knight appeared in the video game where he was voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes.
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Moon Knight appeared as a playable character in the Facebook video game.
- In Marvel Heroes, Moon Knight appeared as a playable character in the MMORPG where he was once again voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes.
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, Moon Night appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Future Fight, Moon Knight appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Ultimate Alliance v3: The Black Order, Moon Knight was a downloadable playable character in the "Marvel Knights: Curse of the Vampire" DLC where he was voiced by actor Gideon Emery.
- In Marvel Strike Force, Moon Knight appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
- In Marvel: Future Revolution, Moon Knight appeared in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Werewolf by Night v1: (1975)
- Moon Knight v1:
- Moon Knight v2:
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight v1:
- Marvel Knights v1:
- Vengeance of the Moon Knight v1:
- Shadowland: Moon Knight v1:
- Secret Avengers v1:
- Moon Knight v7:
- Moon Knight v8:
- Moon Knight v1:
- Avengers v8:
- Moon Knight v9: (2021)
External Links
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