Review by Win Wiacek

Moon Knight is probably one of the most complex and convoluted heroes in comics, with a lot of evidence to support the in-world contention that he’s a certifiable loon.

At the time of this rocket-paced riot of action and suspense, resurgent villain and American Security Czar Norman Osborn was de facto ruler of America, using federal clout to wage war on heroes who refused to sign The Superhuman Registration Act. Those he couldn’t coerce or crush, he smeared. Moon Knight responded by faking his own death, moving to Mexico and going about cleansing his ravaged mind and troubled soul.

The first and hardest part of the remedy was eradicating every vestige of former mercenary Marc Spector from his wardrobe of personalities. He now favours his Jake Lockley and Steven Grant identities.

Crime writer Greg Hurwitz’s breakneck thriller opens with the return of ‘The White Knight’ to New York, (mostly) clear-headed and determined to reclaim his name and sullied reputation. That begins with an extremely public foiling of a brutally violent bank robbery, where, despite utmost provocation and the watching citizenry’s fervent expectations, the silent Avenger kills absolutely no one.

Astonished observers – including the hero’s former lover and confidante Marlene Alraune – would have been even more astonished to learn that throughout the shocking struggle, a little godling had been whispering in Moon Knight. Moon God Khonshu is displeased. He wants his chosen agent exacting full and final vengeance and grows increasingly impatient over this sacrilegious no killing peccadillo.
Nights pass and Moon Knight, hunted by cops and Osborn’s agents alike, prowls the streets, quietly thinning out predators feeding on society’s weakest members. His diligent pruning is interrupted when the most powerful of Osborn’s super-operatives appears.

The Sentry’s curse is he’s nigh-omnipotent, truly crazy and utterly unpredictable. As an old comrade, the golden giant grants Moon Knight a measure of leeway and one last chance, but Osborn is less sanguine about being defied. He orders mystic minion the Hood and telepathic snoop Profile to find and decisively deal with the returned rebel. Shock and Awe further returns the one foe Moon Knight could never handle for one last atrocity.

Captivating illustration by Jerome Opeña seals this fast, dark and savagely entertainment offering a relatively uncomplicated introduction to the character who bewildered TV streaming service viewers.