Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8
"Midnight Multitudes"
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Devmalya Pramanik
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover Artist: Jose Luis Soares and Rachelle Rosenberg
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Moon Knight just offered his new Midnight Suns teammates—Daredevil, Blade, and Ghost Rider—to the Mansion Ravenous, in exchange for his Midnight Mission family.
This is why you don't have any friends, Marc…
I Am Altering the Deal. Pray I Don't Alter it Any Further.
We start the issue off "then." The moment when the Mansion Ravenous had Moon Knight at its mercy. We learn that it promised Marc he could have his friends back… if he brought it heroes to take their places.
Jumping back to the present, the Mansion is enjoying rooting around in the minds of its new toys. Moon Knight demands his friends back, and the Mansion decides that it wants Marc to bring it even more heroes first.
That's when Moon Knight and Clea spring their trap.
And so the Midnight Suns give way to the Midnight Militia…
Trust Me…
I swear this book Just. Doesn't. Miss.
It's actually getting hard to write this thing every month, since every issue is so good. And I don't want to spoil too much, because I want you to pick the book up and experience it for yourself.
I loved the way we jump back and forth in time this issue, filling in the blanks of Moon Knight and Clea's plan. First, the reveal that the Mansion Ravenous demanded heroes in exchange for the Midnight Mission explains why Moon Knight would so easily betray his allies. The fact that Blade, Daredevil, and Ghost Rider all have a history with possession explains why the Midnight Suns spell chose them.
All the pieces just fit together.
I love the idea that since the Midnight Suns are called together by a spell, they are technically all spell components themselves. Seeing Clea use the heroes as the fuel for a spell that frees not only the Midnight Mission, but everyone who had been swallowed up by the Mansion Ravenous, made for some incredibly cool visuals.
The reunion between Marc and his friends, brief though it may be, is so very well-earned. I realized while reading this that he hasn't seen his friends since the end of the previous volume: the whole Midnight Mission crew has not been together for the entire length of this Marc Spector: Moon Knight run thus far.
I really loved the moment where the Midnight Mission crew proved that they are not Marc's friends or his team, but rather his family. Moon Knight is faced by Daredevil, Blade, and Ghost Rider. They are not happy about being offered as sacrifices. Daredevil specifically says that they were used as bait, and Marc's family replies "We don't care." Even though he tried to sacrifice people that are supposed to be his colleagues, his family still supports him. For a character known for screwing up every relationship he's ever been in, this is huge.
Another spell later, and everyone present has been drafted into the Midnight Militia (which is an awesome name). One more spell gives everyone cool moon-glow ethereal weapons, and it's time for the final showdown with the Mansion Ravenous next issue. I simply cannot wait.
Conscription
Jed MacKay continues his streak of fantastic writing here. I see a book like this, and I wonder how Moon Knight was ever considered a C-or-D-tier character? He's stubborn, headstrong, opinionated, not necessarily reliable, and a little bit crazy—but if he cares about you, there is literally nothing he won't do for you. He's a true hero, even if he denies it. It's all thanks to MacKay's work.
I honestly don't know what to say about the duo of Devmalya Pramanik and Rachelle Rosenberg that I haven't said before. Month in and month out, they continue to outdo themselves. Pramanik uses so many unique page layouts and panel structures; even if the story was bad, it would still be awesome to look at (but thankfully the story rocks too). The full-page shot of Clea casting the weapon spells, with the weapons being the gutter between panels, was yet another poster-worthy image from this run. And Rosenberg's colors give those same weapons such an otherworldly look that it immediately adds ten points to the aura of anyone who holds one.
I'd like this whole creative team to work on this book forever, please. And if it ever comes to an end, I want them to move to something else together.
Everybody's Best Friend
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8 is another awesome issue from a book that never misses. Some needed context is given to Moon Knight's shocking betrayal last issue, and the new Midnight Suns team might actually get to finish a whole mission together before turning on each other. The visuals and colors remain fantastic, and the stage is set for one heck of a confrontation next issue.