My Rating
“Danse Macabre”
Hart Island, New York – present day, Moon Knight and 8-Ball have just beached their small speed boat near the north-end of the island. The dark will conceal them as they approach the abandoned cemetery, but 8-Ball has his doubts. How much concealment can one guy expect when their partner is dressed in all freakin’ white?
If the real Black Specter is hiding somewhere in the ruins, then the maniac already knows they are there. No matter, the fist of Khonshu has taken down one of the Specter’s predecessors in the past; the real question is how much sonic mind control tech does this version have in play. Marc Spector’s past continues to haunt him. If only he could have saved Layla all those many years ago. They could have ended the development of Project Cobra’s equipment for good.
Myrmidon (Prison) – earlier in the evening, the killer known as the Zodiac sits down at a cafeteria table across from two men. Being consumed by rage following a visit with Steven Grant, the Zodiac must confirm a hunch involving the ex-cop and former Black Specter villain named Ryan Trent. Is one of the two men sitting in front of the Zodiac here to kill him? No, Zodiac does the killing! He screams at Ryan Trent, the question is simple and direct. “Are you still the Black Specter? If not, where can I find him?”
The Zodiac’s anger melts with Ryan Trent’s response. “Do you want to meet the Black Specter?” The two men get up from the table and leave after Ryan hands the Zodiac a set of earplugs. The instructions are simple: wear the plugs tomorrow night and wait for further instructions…
What happened to Marc Spector and the Karnak Cowboys during Project Mongoose? Was Hydra involved in the rescue of Doctor Christopher Bousquet? Why is the ex-villain known as 8-Ball helping Moon Knight kill Black Specter?
“A Long Way To Dawn”
“Originally published in: The Hulk! Magazine #20 (February 1980)”
Westside Hospital, the early years, Moon Knight stands over the ailing body of Marlene, Marc Spector’s one true love. Marc Spector’s brother and Marlene were both attacked by the Central Park Nurse Mauler. Both relieved severe blows from the maniacs hatchet. If it weren’t for Moon Knight the two would be just another statistic for the Daily News newspaper.
Moon Knight is in a frantic state. The nurses will not give him a positive diagnosis. It’s just too early to tell. Give her to dawn, they said. They will know more in the morning. Moon Knight exits the Hospital via the 8th floor critical care window. No one sees him leave. Eight hours. That’s how long he has to wait. That’s a long damn time even for a superhero.
Will Marc Spector’s fragile psyche survive the loss of a lover? Can a downtrodden hero make a difference in the crime riddled streets of New York city? What is the source of heroin which poisons the homeless in downtown Manhattan? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
Wow, what an issue. I know very little about the Moon Knight’s origins, but I have to say this book rocked. Marvel gives us both something new and a lot of something old in issue twenty-five. We start in the present with Moon Knight teaming up with 8-Ball of all people. Yes, the villain from Sleepwalker. I know, right?! There’s a new Black Specter haunting the lower east side and he is messing with the Midnight Mission.
The real gem of this book is Marc Spector’s flashbacks to the time before he was gifted with the powers of Khonshu. If understood correctly, this flashback story involves Project Mongoose, a mercenary operation evolving Marc’s old team named the Karnak Cowboys. This event takes place shortly before the Raul Bushman events and Marc Spector becoming Moon Knight. This part of the issue is more military throwback to the 1980s.
Following the main issue Marvel includes a reprint story first published in The Hulk! Magazine from February 1980. I’m not sure if, or how it ties in with the new story; it’s more of a look back at the early years of Moon Knight. I’m not a fan of that version of the character, as his personality is less complex. Do we have Stan Lee to thank for the milk toast character? Who knows?
Overall this is excellent writing. If you bought the book for the alternative Werewolf By Night cover, you will be disappointed. Jack Russell is nowhere to be found in the storyline. The production is very well done on this issue, so I’ve giving it a five out of five star review.
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