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Moon Knight (2016) (Single Issues)
Moon Knight (2016-2017) #1
The book you'd be insane to miss! Marc Spector (a.k.a. Moon Knight/Jake Lockley/Steven Grant) has been fighting criminals and keeping New York City safe for years...or has he? When he wakes up in an insane asylum with no powers and a lifetime's worth of medical records, his whole identity (identities) are called into question. Something is wrong, but is that something Marc Spector himself? Jeff Lemire and rising star Greg Smallwood are calling everything you know about Moon Knight into question.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2016
9 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,419 books3,890 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 19, 2024
Really like Jeff Lemire - so I have had this book in my 'read stack' for some time. This issuue reminded me of the Shade, the Changing Man series from awhile back - would have loved to have seen a Ditko version of MK! Concepts of (in)sanity(out) are approached from an almost Foucauldian perspective. The 'schizoid' paneling throughout the book really fits well with the questions of reality/sanity that permeate this storyline. Just a matter of time before the right artist/writer make MK shine bright!
June 6, 2016
This is one crazy first issue; you literally couldn't tell what persona the current Moon Knight is exhibiting at the moment but it's enough for the reader to question his sanity and buy the second issue. Writer Jeff Lemire is doing a great job on that aspect of the book.
This reader still misses the Ellis/Shalvey/Bellaire version of the Moon Knight, the urban protector who wears the appropriate suit to a knife fight. Smallwood is no slouch, but it's good to have Bellaire carry over from the previous volume.
This reader still misses the Ellis/Shalvey/Bellaire version of the Moon Knight, the urban protector who wears the appropriate suit to a knife fight. Smallwood is no slouch, but it's good to have Bellaire carry over from the previous volume.
June 17, 2016
This is the first single issue of Moon Knight by Lemire and drawn by Greg Smallwood and colored by Jordie Bellaire. I have never read a Moon Knight and I grabbed it based off a recommendation and because Lemire is writing it.
Story: interesting. Guy wakes up in a mental hospital not knowing who he is. He might be a legendary vigilante that gets powers from an ancient Egyptian god or he might be crazy. First issue showed some weakness in the writing, a bit simplistic.
Art: I thought the art was fantastic looking. The panels are spaced in a way to use the white space background and the character expressions were lifelike.
Worth checking out but I'm not completely sold on it yet.
Story: interesting. Guy wakes up in a mental hospital not knowing who he is. He might be a legendary vigilante that gets powers from an ancient Egyptian god or he might be crazy. First issue showed some weakness in the writing, a bit simplistic.
Art: I thought the art was fantastic looking. The panels are spaced in a way to use the white space background and the character expressions were lifelike.
Worth checking out but I'm not completely sold on it yet.
May 17, 2021
Never really been that interested in Moon Knight but with Jeff Lemire killing it on Old Man Logan I'd thought I'd give it a whirl and it was...different. I ran thru it pretty quickly but was left with more questions then answers but my interest is definitely piqued and looking forward to see where this story goes...
June 19, 2016
This is my first marvel adventure and had seen the great reviews regarding this episode and the hype was right. The twist on the reality of a super hero is new to me and it's dark and mysterious. The panel work is clever and the setup for the stories to follow is all here.
March 9, 2017
4.5 stars.
January 19, 2022
بالا نمیدم چون میخوام بدونم چی میشه
ممکنه برگ م بیشترش کنم ولی متوسط بود
۲.۵ ستاره مثلن.
ولی هییی یاد لیجن مینداختتم.
ممکنه برگ م بیشترش کنم ولی متوسط بود
۲.۵ ستاره مثلن.
ولی هییی یاد لیجن مینداختتم.
September 20, 2017
This is basically an evergreen yet continuity honoring self-contained Moon Knight story. An "All-Star" version of sorts. Which is quite good and all, since Moon Knight is probably my favorite character (along with Black Panther and Swamp Thing).
The three volumes in the run sum up the themes quite well; Lunatic, Reincarnation, Rebirth and Death. With Moon Knight having dissociative identity disorder, he's...had a few alter egos. This 14-issue run examines much of Moon Knights past, streamlines it and looks to a possible future.
The three volumes in the run sum up the themes quite well; Lunatic, Reincarnation, Rebirth and Death. With Moon Knight having dissociative identity disorder, he's...had a few alter egos. This 14-issue run examines much of Moon Knights past, streamlines it and looks to a possible future.
January 5, 2019
WOW! This is possibly the best first issue of a comic book series that I have ever read. I went into it knowing nothing about Moon Knight, but I came out of it totally fascinated by the character and just wanting to read more and more of this series! The writing and artwork are both phenomenal, and this comic utilizes some really unique formatting that enhances the story so much more. I'm in love with this comic.
March 22, 2022
When you look at this book, you can see that it definitely has Lemire's stamp. Weirdly, April 13 is when this series began in 2016, and when his series Sweet Tooth: The Return ended in 2021. Anyway, based on the premise of Marc being told he has a mental illness and has been imagining Moon Knight, this feels like it might be an influence on the upcoming Disney+ series.
July 24, 2018
Ok this series is already WAY better than Warren Ellis’s. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Artwork was great, storyline was interesting and easy to follow and left me wanting more. Far better series of Moon Knight, in my opinion.
September 14, 2019
Kira-kira MCU bakal ngambil referensi dari serial yang mana ya buat Moon Knight versi Disney+?
December 1, 2021
maybe one of the best comics of moon knight ever
2nd read
2nd read
January 22, 2022
Amazing arc
Jeff Lemire’s Moon Knight is an amazing run with so many twists and turns. It got me started loving all his work. I’m excited to see if they use part of his story in the Disney+ show.
Jeff Lemire’s Moon Knight is an amazing run with so many twists and turns. It got me started loving all his work. I’m excited to see if they use part of his story in the Disney+ show.
February 14, 2022
damn kocham moon knight
September 29, 2024
THE ART STYLE IS GORGEOUS.
March 12, 2026
Es hermoso, el dibujo, la confusion, de lo mejor que e leido en comics
June 5, 2016
A review from my free e-magazine:
PopFam.com - Pop Culture for Families
http://www.popfam.com
Moon Knight #1
(Marvel)
Marc Spector, aka the superhero Moon Knight, is trapped in a mental institution—but is he crazy, or the only sane person among madmen?
Creators: Jeff Lemire & Greg Smallwood
Genre: Superhero suspense
Reader Appeal: Teens & Adults
Publisher Rating: T+ (ages 15 and up)
I’m going to be honest and tell you I wasn’t really interested in reading the newest Marvel Comics series about Moon Knight. Just wasn’t a fan. Still, the “Comic Book Guy” at my local comics shop handed it to me and said, “You’ll like this one.” Ol’ Jason has rarely steered me wrong, so I shelled out five bucks and decided to give it a try.
After reading Jeff Lemire’s Moon Knight #1, I have to admit Jason was right. This was a frightfully good story, illustrated with a gritty, mildly-disturbing style that was actually perfect for the mood and events that took place. Color me impressed, Jordie Bellaire. (Jordie Bellaire was the colorist for Moon Knight #1, and…ah, never mind. If I have to explain it, it wasn’t worth it.) ANYWAY…
Here’s the back-story, courtesy of Marvel Comics: “Mercenary Marc Spector died in Egypt under a statue of the moon god, Khonshu. In the shadow of the ancient deity, Marc returned to life and took on Khonshu’s aspect to fight crime for his own redemption. He went completely insane and disappeared for a time, but returned to protect those who travel by night. At least he thinks that’s what happened.”
And here’s what’s going on in issue #1: Spector finds himself locked in a mental institution, suffering memory loss, confusion, and physical pain at the hands of a couple of routinely sadistic orderlies. The facility’s psychiatrist is telling him that his memories of being the Moon Knight are all an elaborate fantasy, proof that he’s crazy and needs to be locked up in this asylum. But something, or someone, keeps telling him that things are not as they seem, that the elaborate fantasy really is one the enemies of Khonshu have manufactures in order to keep the Moon Knight captive. He longs to break free, but will his mental chains prevent him from seeing the truth and winning his escape? We’ll have to wait to see what happens in issue #2!
The best thing about Moon Knight #1 is Jeff Lemire skillful storytelling and dialogue, weaving a suspenseful mystery while his main character is grappling with a descent into madness. At times I felt like I was reading a Dean Koontz thriller novel instead of a flimsy, 32-page comic book. (That’s a compliment!) Lemire offers up a dozen little mysteries under the umbrella of the larger premise (is Marc Spector crazy?), parceling out clues with delicious pacing and building tension from page one to the end. I knew I was enjoying this tale when it ended before I was ready for it to do that.
Smallwood’s illustrations are artful and stylized, with hints of woodblock influences, and colored by Bellaire in shaggy browns, grays, reds, and blacks. As I mentioned before, they fit nicely the mood and setting of Lemire’s story. That the pages are sometimes a little busy with art is something easily overlooked when viewed as a whole. Overall, Smallwood and Bellaire have created a sense-filled insane asylum that’s a perfect home for Marc Spector’s story.
That said, parents should be aware that Moon Knight #1 may not be appropriate for younger teens or children—or even some adults. There is some truly macabre violence (oral electrocution anyone?), blood and sadism, familiar profanities, frightening magical beasts of Egyptian origin, and generally a dark, ominous tone throughout. It’s a scary story—one that older teens and adults will likely enjoy, but that might be too much for younger ages or sensitive kids.
Still, when I’m not working at PopFam, I write suspense novels on the side, so I found Moon Knight #1 to be a captivating start to a thrilling new mystery series from Marvel Comics. If you or members of your family are also fans of the suspense genre, you’ll probably like this one too.
Let's Talk About It
Use these questions to spark discussion among family members who are interested in this book:
• If you had written this review of Moon Knight #1, what would have been your main points?
• Moon Knight is definitely violent. How do you decide what’s too violent for you when choosing a comic book?
• Moon Knight relies on reincarnation and a cultic ancient religion to create the superhero premise. Is that OK for a comic book story you read? Why or why not?
--MN
September 1, 2016
Some weeks ago I was talking about what superheroes are and if their powers are what made them super. Look up my The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl review to jog your memory. Well, this week I get something just as good, but likewise confusing/different in Moon Knight #1. Here I am sitting reading about either an Egyptian-mythology-based hero, or a mentally ill man who believes he is such a thing?
I know that Moon Knight is an already a well-known, street-level character in the Marvel Universe. (Or would it be better if I say multiverse?) but it looks like his story is going to start from scratch in this new series created by writer Jeff Lemire (Justice League Dark, Constantine, All New Hawkeye) and his artistic team, which does a fantastic job on this issue.
The plot is straightforward for a superhero, but one that places a twist to things that makes you question what really is going on. Marc Spector swears he’s Moon Knight, a hero with a connection with Egyptian God of the Moon, Khonshu. Marc even hears this god speaking to him in his own mind!
There’s something very catchy about that premise that makes you want to read more to find out about Moon Knight and his apparent talking god. But what’s the problem in here? Well, it looks like Marc Spector’s actually gone insane and that illness has led him to believe Khonshu is real. Spector’s in a mental institution where nurses are not the traditional styling that we are used to seeing in comics, instead being abusive men that have taken advantage of their position over Spector due to his condition.
What is real? What is fake? Spector doesn’t even have a clue and neither do we which makes this a really interesting tale. As soon as Marc puts his Moon Knight mask on, it looks as if the world we know is under Seth’s, the god of the desert, storms, and disorders control. There is clearly some sort of illness here, but what it is and how much of what he is seeing is actually real keeps Moon Knight #1 really engaging.
As for the art, I really liked the Sandman-like look they gave to certain scenes. Those in dreams, thoughts, and everything that was going on in Spector’s mind were great. Being that there weren’t many of them in the book, the art really made them look special.
The real world is a much simpler style that’s more basic and not as wildly artistic. It’s still attractive and very clean and, for me, it makes me feel calmer while reading. It’s a good balance between what Marc sees and what the world really is, at least at this point in the book.
I really like the way the pages are laid out with that white background and some small panels; it’s kind of funny to see an adult story in such a minimalistic format, and it adds a certain lightness to what would have been an otherwise very heavy story. This entire approach really works well for the book.
The story is interesting and entertaining for sure, and very risky; playing with what the readers see and read requires good explanation that just hasn’t happened yet. Readers are really going to have to let their guard down with this one and I hope that this story really connects with people and they stick with the book. We will need to keep an eye on this series and see what happens next, as this inaugural arc, Welcome to New Egypt, consists of five parts.
In summation: Moon Knight #1 has a great art style, great cover, promising plot, and a real sense of originality. This new Moon Knight really deserves a chance, so pick it up as you won’t be disappointed!
I know that Moon Knight is an already a well-known, street-level character in the Marvel Universe. (Or would it be better if I say multiverse?) but it looks like his story is going to start from scratch in this new series created by writer Jeff Lemire (Justice League Dark, Constantine, All New Hawkeye) and his artistic team, which does a fantastic job on this issue.
The plot is straightforward for a superhero, but one that places a twist to things that makes you question what really is going on. Marc Spector swears he’s Moon Knight, a hero with a connection with Egyptian God of the Moon, Khonshu. Marc even hears this god speaking to him in his own mind!
There’s something very catchy about that premise that makes you want to read more to find out about Moon Knight and his apparent talking god. But what’s the problem in here? Well, it looks like Marc Spector’s actually gone insane and that illness has led him to believe Khonshu is real. Spector’s in a mental institution where nurses are not the traditional styling that we are used to seeing in comics, instead being abusive men that have taken advantage of their position over Spector due to his condition.
What is real? What is fake? Spector doesn’t even have a clue and neither do we which makes this a really interesting tale. As soon as Marc puts his Moon Knight mask on, it looks as if the world we know is under Seth’s, the god of the desert, storms, and disorders control. There is clearly some sort of illness here, but what it is and how much of what he is seeing is actually real keeps Moon Knight #1 really engaging.
As for the art, I really liked the Sandman-like look they gave to certain scenes. Those in dreams, thoughts, and everything that was going on in Spector’s mind were great. Being that there weren’t many of them in the book, the art really made them look special.
The real world is a much simpler style that’s more basic and not as wildly artistic. It’s still attractive and very clean and, for me, it makes me feel calmer while reading. It’s a good balance between what Marc sees and what the world really is, at least at this point in the book.
I really like the way the pages are laid out with that white background and some small panels; it’s kind of funny to see an adult story in such a minimalistic format, and it adds a certain lightness to what would have been an otherwise very heavy story. This entire approach really works well for the book.
The story is interesting and entertaining for sure, and very risky; playing with what the readers see and read requires good explanation that just hasn’t happened yet. Readers are really going to have to let their guard down with this one and I hope that this story really connects with people and they stick with the book. We will need to keep an eye on this series and see what happens next, as this inaugural arc, Welcome to New Egypt, consists of five parts.
In summation: Moon Knight #1 has a great art style, great cover, promising plot, and a real sense of originality. This new Moon Knight really deserves a chance, so pick it up as you won’t be disappointed!
September 11, 2016
Марк Спенсор приходит в себя в психбольнице, где его убеждают, что вся его супергеройская жизнь - навязчивое видение, но вместе с тем сквозь коктейль препаратов на поверхность то и дело пробиваются яркие образы и воспоминания. Хонсу предлагает третью версию происходящего, множество реальностей переплетаются до такой степени, что уже не разобрать, где же истина.
Достойное продолжение рана Энниса, интригующее, неглупое, захватывающее. Чем дальше, тем становится интереснее, и ближе к концу, в пятом выпуске в дело вступают даже разные художники, чтобы изобразить максимально различающиеся друг от друга миры... но потом автор странно щёлкает ушами, и карточный домик разваливается с тихим шуршанием. Или же нет?
Достойное продолжение рана Энниса, интригующее, неглупое, захватывающее. Чем дальше, тем становится интереснее, и ближе к концу, в пятом выпуске в дело вступают даже разные художники, чтобы изобразить максимально различающиеся друг от друга миры... но потом автор странно щёлкает ушами, и карточный домик разваливается с тихим шуршанием. Или же нет?
February 14, 2023
This is my first Moon Knight comic, I've seen him appear in a few crossovers, but I don't even recall his personality or powers.
This issue has great art and panelling, combined with the speech patterns this does a great job creating a foreboding atmosphere.
It mostly focused on developing the situation/world, which didn't give me a lot of insight in the character, which works pretty good in this context since he's confused about who he is.
It doesn't really make sense to me why this facility is organized the way it is, why people are mingling, why they have the freedom that they do, why the guards beat/mistreat Spector and talk to him in strange ways when that would clearly make him want to rebel, while the organisation seems to be trying to get him to stay.
Which, honestly, in most comics I wouldn't have a problem with accepting, cause it was cool as hell.
But this comic seems good enough to take seriously as a story (which is a bar a lot of comics (that I enjoy) do not clear).
So I'll actually ask ''Hey, why is it all like this?'' out of respect, and hope they give an answer that makes sense. (and once I have that answer, possibly change my rating of this issue based on how it improves or damages the story)
This issue has great art and panelling, combined with the speech patterns this does a great job creating a foreboding atmosphere.
It mostly focused on developing the situation/world, which didn't give me a lot of insight in the character, which works pretty good in this context since he's confused about who he is.
It doesn't really make sense to me why this facility is organized the way it is, why people are mingling, why they have the freedom that they do, why the guards beat/mistreat Spector and talk to him in strange ways when that would clearly make him want to rebel, while the organisation seems to be trying to get him to stay.
Which, honestly, in most comics I wouldn't have a problem with accepting, cause it was cool as hell.
But this comic seems good enough to take seriously as a story (which is a bar a lot of comics (that I enjoy) do not clear).
So I'll actually ask ''Hey, why is it all like this?'' out of respect, and hope they give an answer that makes sense. (and once I have that answer, possibly change my rating of this issue based on how it improves or damages the story)
May 29, 2016
Moon Knight is one of the characters that I follow through whatever iteration is current, and lately they seem to last for about a year before being cancelled, and no matter how promising they begin, the series is never given enough time to build on the early momentum. The last iteration of Moon Knight in 2014 by Warren Ellis was refreshing and new, and I was more than willing to accept the new direction, as it unfolded many new possibilities, though when Warren left, I was much less enamored with the direction Brian Wood, et al took the book.
This new series starts of either in a real asylum, or in Moon Knight's head, and addresses one of the problems/opportunities that are always present in a Moon Knight comic. How much can we trust the narration? We can never quite be sure if what we are seeing is real, or just seems real to Moon Knight. Where Jeff Lemire will go with this, I am not sure, but it seems that we are to trust Moon Knight's vision as the true one here, though I think perhaps he is seeing different layers of reality simultaneously. In any case, the book starts of strong, hopefully it will remain so once the original mystery begins to unfold more.
This new series starts of either in a real asylum, or in Moon Knight's head, and addresses one of the problems/opportunities that are always present in a Moon Knight comic. How much can we trust the narration? We can never quite be sure if what we are seeing is real, or just seems real to Moon Knight. Where Jeff Lemire will go with this, I am not sure, but it seems that we are to trust Moon Knight's vision as the true one here, though I think perhaps he is seeing different layers of reality simultaneously. In any case, the book starts of strong, hopefully it will remain so once the original mystery begins to unfold more.
July 20, 2016
Jeff Lemire has been on fire lately. Extraordinary X-Men, All-New Hawkeye and definitely Old Man Logan have all been great. This book might be his greatest at the moment. We see Marc Spector, stripped from his Khonshu powers, stranded in a mental asylum without him knowing how he got there. The guards have been giving him beatings for a while now, and he's all drugged up. You see him questioning himself, trying to keep illusion from reality and trying to deal with the fact that Khonshu left him. But as good as Lemire might be, Smallwood is the real star here. His art is perfect, with two different art styles for two different realities that Marc lives in. He has experience with drawing Moon Knight, so he definitely knows what works and what doesn't. Sure, this is no Warren Ellis class Moon Knight book, but it gets pretty close. It sets of what appears to be a great story that will undoubtedly be a great succession to the previous already great pre-Secret Wars series.
April 15, 2016
Intentionally confusing as this arc sets up Marc Spector as a DID patient in a psych ward, or is he? I'm not wholly on board yet, but I really love how well they've set up the psychological confusion. Just like Marc we have no idea what's real and what isn't... The art feels very classic yet realistic, which I love. I'm committed to at least a few more issues!
April 30, 2016
Given that this is my first experience with the character of Moon Knight, I was really impressed with the first issue of this new series. I really love the psychological elements of this narrative as well as within the main character. Looking forward to reading more in this series.
April 23, 2016
I get what they were going for, but it ended up being more frustrating than anything. Maybe because I don't actually know anything about Moon Knight. It was an amazing concept that left me feeling empty. So far. It's good enough I want more.
April 29, 2016
What an incredible beginning. The conceit here is like the quintessential superhero question: is this person really a masked vigilante or a total nut with delusions of grandeur? Cannot wait to read more of this. Also, incredible artwork.
June 5, 2016
I cant wait t get the rest of this because the set up here is unorthodox. The illustrations are dynamic and still easy to follow, unlike other comics that get overstylistic and lose the narrative.
Could be my favorite hero yet!
Could be my favorite hero yet!
April 14, 2016
6 stars! Amazing. My first time reading moon knight and I love the concept. The illustrations and panelling are solid. Billy and Bobby are hilarious.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews