Pick of the Week

July 6, 2011 – Moon Knight #3

What did the
iFanboy
community think?

583
Pulls
Avg Rating: 4.2
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 2.3%
 
Users who pulled this comic:
Story by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Maleev
Cover by Alex Maleev & Colin Wilson

Size: pages
Price: 3.99

It’s really no secret that there’s one specific type of story that gets my attention, and that’s the bat-shit crazy ones. I don’t know why, but while everyone is all ga-ga for genres like noir or science fiction or what not, I stand on my lone island waving the banner for the bat-shit crazy genre. The great thing about this genre is that it can include stories from other genres as well, so every now and then we get a touch of crime or science fiction (like this month’s Book of the Month, The Incal, which is bat-shit crazy more often than not) as well as superheroes. And during a relatively big week where we finally saw some good old fashioned superhero action in our big summer event books, it’s the superhero book that’s bat-shit crazy that got my pick, Moon Knight #3.

Now the story of Moon Knight #3 isn’t particularly the crazy part, in fact the entire three issues so far have been relatively standard fare for the solo, vigilante hero, as far as those type of stories go. The crazy comes from the characterization that Brian Michael Bendis is bringing to the table for Marc Spector, Moon Knight. The thing that has always set Moon Knight apart from just being Marvel’s answer to Batman (but in a bright white costume) as been the idea that Spector suffers from multiple personality disorder, and that has been brought out over the years as different personalities have driven Spector and Moon Knight in their pursuit of justice in the name of Konshu. We got a glimpse of how Bendis has been manifesting this in the first two issues as Moon Knight “interacted” with Captain America, Wolverine and Spider-Man, in his head, and ultimately even donned their identities and hilarity ensued. But that’s not the kind of crazy that I latched onto with this issue.

Nope, the crazy in Moon Knight #3, while probably based in Marc Spector’s type of insanity manifested itself in a much more psuedo-normal manner, in just giving us a glimpse into the eccentricity of Marc Spector as he exists in this new life he’s set out upon in Los Angeles. I have to admit, as far as concepts and settings go, I absolutely love what Bendis is doing with Moon Knight by moving him to LA and putting him in the position of running a successful (and bad) syndicated television show. It’s clever, inventive and sets the stage for Sorkin-esque dialogue that filled this issue. From his conversation in the opening of the issue where Spector tries to talk Echo into seeing him again to his interaction with his assistant at work to the scenes with his “weapons expert” on the show (who’s really ex-S.H.I.E.L.D.), Bendis has cast Marc Spector in a role that is packed with potential. Rich and successful and crazy in a manner that’s nearly acceptable in society, it’s fascinating to see these scenes unfold, as we the reader know just how crazy Spector really is and then to watch as the situations develop is a blast to read.

Hell, I just realized that Marc Spector never even appears as Moon Knight in this issue! Talk about crazy. The only hint that this is a super hero comic book comes during a flashback where Spector needs to test the loyalty of his new hire (The ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. guy) and dons a Bullseye costume and attacks, kidnaps and threatens the new hire, demanding to have him reveal Marc Spector’s secret identity. Spector’s ruse is seen right through by the new hire and we get another glimpse of the realistic reaction to Spector’s crazy while the relationship between Spector and this hire is expanded and filled in for the reader. Just absolute elegance in writing.

On the art side, there’s not much more I can say about Alex Maleev other than it’s great to see his art style dial back towards how it was during his epic run on Daredevil with Bendis, and less posed photo referenced that we’ve seen most recently. Of the three issues of Moon Knight so far, I think this was by far the strongest in the art category, leading me to state that I cannot imagine another artist on this book. While LA brings about a sunny connotation, you’d think that Maleev’s dark and shadowy style would be in conflict. But the essence of Moon Knight is the night and darkness, and through that Maleev’s art is the perfect balance and justified. I particularly found myself appreciating the layouts of this issue, especially the double page spreads that utilized long, thin horizontal panels. I’m not sure if that was intended to be a recurring theme for the layouts, but it added to the entire solid flow of the story.

I have to admit, this week I was very entertained by comics. There was a great mix of “oh, wow!” moments and some moments that were honestly shocking and thrilling. But for my money this week, I have to tip my hat to Bendis and Maleev for just the right amount of crazy in Moon Knight #3 to keep me laughing while drawing me in deeper to this series and get me pretty excited for the next issue, which ultimately is the point when it comes to monthly comics.

It’s clear and proven that Bendis and Maleev are a solid creative team, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we continue to see them work together for the rest of their careers, and for good reason. Bendis has always been known for crafting cinematic stories, while Maleev’s art is able to translate and present it in just the right manner (when his art is “on”, and in this case, it’s “on”). Assuming the schedule can be kept to, this has the potential to be one of those hidden gems of stories within the Marvel Universe. I doubt it will surpass their work on Daredevil, nor affect the status quo of the Marvel. But what Moon Knight does is deliver a fresh interpretation of super heroes in our modern world that is exactly the kind of super hero comic I wanted to read, but just didn’t know until I held it in my hands.

Ron Richards
Viva la eccentricity.
ron@ifanboy.com

Comments

  1. Matthew Wilson’s colors really set the tone for this title. It’s my pick of the week, as well.

  2. Wow now I have to rethink my pick of fear itself 4

  3. On a whole i wasn’t completley wowed by the first issue. Looking back at it, I regtret not picking up the second one. Thanks for making me buy another book Ron.

  4. On the twist of this issue let me state that:

    I AM THE ONE!!!!!

    Great review Ron.

    Pick of the week for me though was Thunderbolts #160. A HUGE step up from the weak anthology issue and it might have some of the best art I’ve seen in a comic all year. 

  5. I actually dropped this one in order to pick up the DC titles that are flooding my pull list.  I try to have at least one non-big two title as well.  Unfortunately, Moon Knight got bumped.  I’m sure it’s great, though.  I had a decent time in the first two issues.

  6. Haven’t read this one yet, but so far Chew was my POTW, and probably will be every time Toni Chu is in the issue!

  7. Now if we can get that Cowboy Ninja Viking cross-over….

  8. Crazy is great, but dark, sick, twisted, gasp-cause-you-didn’t-see-it-coming crazy is better. For that, I turn to this week’s Batman Flashpoint tie-in. 

  9. @Benjerimiah  Really? Saw that twist coming as soon as we found out who was behind the cowl. The whole Batman Flashpoint mytho’s are so uninspired its painful.

  10. I seriously dislike Alex Maleev’s art style. I’ve always found it unattractive. This is one of those “I’ll just take your word for it Ron” issues. For me, Bendis + Maleev doesn’t = buy it.

  11. I agree with Benjermiah. For my dose of crazy and shock twists, Batman: Knight of Vengeance was pure gold. It was probably the most tense book I’ve read in recent memory.

  12. This issue was one of three “easy 5 stars” for me. A really great week. What sticks out in my mind from this issue is the way Alex did Marc’s smile in the Bullseye costume. A truly crazy smile, but yet, not the known Bullseye crazy-killer smile that we all know well. I was laughing out loud that that smile, knowing full well that Alex was giving us a hint right there with that different type of smile. Fantastic!

  13. I liked this issue a lot. (And I love Pink’s! What it lacks in quality vs. Nathan’s, it makes up for in variety and awesomeness.) The art was great, the writing was great, but…holy shit, where the hell was Spector driving while he was talking to Echo? Someone needs to send Maleev some photos of L.A. county.

    Oddly, I liked Uncanny X-Men slightly more than this issue.

     

  14. Bat-shit great.

  15. Got Chew and Moon Knight. Liked Chew more just because I really like Antonelle Chu… <3 Sigh~~~ Please don’t make me love this character then take her away… :'(
     
    Moon Knight was ok, I’m always up for the resolution issues rather than “builting up” issues and I’m only a fledgling Marvel Fan… I can’t be wowed by people I don’t have “history” with.

    ps: I like Toni’s power and her choices.

  16. Great pick! This book had me laughing becuase of how crazy it was, not how silly. Totally brilliant writing and Maleevs art in the West Coast setting really is sublime. Love this book!

  17. @GKFinns hell yea, it was like reading the movie Seven, I had my guts twisted reading that one.

  18. Waiting for 1st collected tpb and will enjoy the 1st 5 or 6 issues or so straight through. Wasn’t on my radar until this article, Thanx,Ron.

  19. Got to the comic shop and thought I would thumb through it to see if I could get past Maleev’s art. Nope, I couldn’t so I put it back.

  20. I am afraid that I am just not getting it. This does not seem crazy or radical or innovative but simply Bendis at his most inane. It certainly does not seem to come close to the excellent work he did on Daredevil.

Leave a Comment