If you’ve ever enjoyed the Moon Knight character you best get in line for the current arc that started with issue #10, as Jeff Lemire probes his childhood. We delve into part two of five–is it good?
Moon Knight #11 (Marvel Comics)
So what’s it about? Read the preview!
Why does this book matter?
Aside from showing us flashbacks of Marc’s most important moments that lead him to become Moon Knight, we’re also witnessing his present self attempting to reclaim his mind. Everything is at stake for him and it’s not a surprise he may come out of all this stronger for it.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
This is gonna be good.
Artist Greg Smallwood and colorist Jordie Bellaire are doing out of this world stuff. The art is awesome no matter the gravitas of a scene or how important it is in regards to the story. The issue opens with Marc being sent to a psychiatric hospital and then attending his father’s funeral. These first two pages are beautiful, from the reflection of trees on the car window as Marc looks out, to the dark mood of the shadows and veils at the funeral. You get the sense of impactful moments and self reflection that help define the character. And that’s with no words. These moments in reality are made even more realistic when the story switches to the Elsewhere which requires Moon Knight to take on Egyptian soldiers riding giant insects. The backgrounds, purple and pink with spattering of white stars, help convey the cosmic unreality of the moments. The layouts are intriguing as well, with stark white gutters to help the panels pop off the page.
The story itself draws you in as well. Lemire delivers scenes of importance, from Marc learning to fight in a bareknuckle match to his peculiar behavior while he was a soldier in Iraq. We’re getting a sense of who he was, and how lost he was, leading up to his taking on the Moon Knight mantel. Meanwhile, the scenes taking place in the now add a bit of action and supernatural intrigue as he probes deeper into the Elsewhere. There are clearly intriguing mysteries to be resolved and dark secrets to be revealed which help add the allure of the fantastic.
It can’t be perfect can it?
I’m not well versed in Moon Knight history, so maybe this is on me, but I had no idea why the cliffhanger mattered. A quick Google search however, reveals he’s a major benefactor and aid to Moon Knight’s superhero cause. That said, the cliffhanger doesn’t do much in the way of getting you hyped aside from knowing he’s close to donning the suit in the flashbacks. Maybe a bit more of a flourish, with the art to reveal Frenchie’s potential would help, but it’s not very dynamic or interesting.
No swearing!
Is It Good?
Moon Knight #11 has a great balance of compelling character work and alluring supernatural elements combined to make for addictive reading. Moon Knight is delivering a story that’s hard to resist.
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