Moon Knight #2 - cogitations

[Yellowjacket]

A few thoughts about issue number 2. As expected, nothing has changed
stylistically. The story is very gloomy which is perfectly illustrated
by Finch/Miki/D'Armata. I did enjoy their art with Avengers, but the style
fits Moon Knight even better.

Story wise more characters are introduced. First a villain (don´t remember
his name, but then this is my first reading of any Moon Knight series) --
in a quite brutal fight scene. Not only are both seriously wounded, but Moon
Knight does something (if it´s the way it seems to me) very atrocious - I´d say this
has got some Max level. Personally, I wouldn´t need this level.

Two more characters are introduced: Moon Knight´s butler (kind of a factotum, again
I´m reminded of Batman) and a dubious bum which nevertheless seems to play
an important role in MK´s live.
Actually, this bum´s saying motivates MK getting up to leave his domicile, so
let´s see what issue 3 brings...

[von Bek]

Yes, the fight scene was really brutal. I don´t remember seeing this villain/monster in another Marvel Book, but he/it seems to be a stablished character (judging from MK inner monologue).
I don´t know if MK is allucinating or if everything (or just a part of his memories) is real.

But I remember the bum guy from waaay back (the Moech/Sienkwieckz(sp?) run), he is one of MK contacts in the underworld and a long time supporting cast character. The "gallic friend" he alludes is Spector former butler and driver, another long time supporting cast character.

All in all a good issue, the writer can use decompression to make the story interesting and create a 'mood' and, even not being a Finch fan, I found the art OK. But if you don´t like ultra violence, you probably won´t like this book...

[Yellowjacket]

Here´s an interview with Finch about Moon Knight:
www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70968

He seems much more at ease drawing MK than Avengers.

[Van Plexico]

Just finished MOON KNIGHT #2, and I have to say I am once again blown away. If anything, this issue was even more appealing to me than the first one was.

It was sort of divided into two halves, the first featuring an incredibly brutal showdown with MK's arch-foe, Bushman (who essentially created MK, back when he was just mercenary Marc Spector). The second half is back to the brooding Spector, with appearances by Samuels and Crawley. (Yaay! Even Crawley's dialogue was spot-on!) I can only imagine we'll soon see Gena and the kids...

I continue to be impressed with the running narrative of Marc/Jake/Steven during the flashback scenes. Excellent writing, all the way around. Sparse, terse, minimal, but very evocative and effective.

Kudos to Finch, as well. I never warmed to his work on NEW AVENGERS, but here he is truly in his element, and I stand in awe. He brings a breath of fresh air to MK that, IMO, only Bill S. (heck, I can't even try to spell it) ever did before. Moon Knight needs a moody, dark, atmospheric artist of the Gene Colan school, in much the same way that Iron Man needs a clean draftsman like Bob Layton, or Godzilla needed monster-drawer- extraordinare Herb Trimpe. Finch's art works so well in this book, I am amazed.

And I was only confused by the art once in this book-- the bit with the crescent darts took me a couple of seconds to work out. Last issue, the final couple of pages had me scratching my head for a while, at first.

I hope this series survives for a while. This story is unfolding very slowly; in some books, I wouldn't like that, but in this one, it works very well, drawing out the tension, the mystery, the pain.

Van's rating: **** (out of five)

[Yellowjacket]

admin said:

I hope this series survives for a while. This story is unfolding very slowly; in some books, I wouldn't like that, but in this one, it works very well, drawing out the tension, the mystery, the pain.

Hmm, you don´t mean NA, do you? ;D

As far as I know, Huston stays for exactly 12 issues, afterwards he has to write for a living again (novel). Nevertheless, I´d like to see MK ongoing after that too.