What do you think?
Rate this book
Moon Knight (2014) (Collected Editions)
Moon Knight, Vol. 1: From the Dead
Marc Spector is Moon Knight! Or is he? It’s hard to tell these days, especially when New York’s wildest vigilante protects the street with two-fisted justice and three — that’s right, count ’em — three different personalities! But even with the mystical force of Egyptian moon-god Khonshu fueling his crusade, how does the night’s greatest detective save a city that’s as twisted as he is? The road to victory is going to hurt. A lot. Be there as Moon Knight punches ghosts(!), investigates a sleep experiment that’s driving its patients insane, travels to the mushroom graveyard planet(!!), faces the Black Spectre and takes on twenty mob enforcers to save an abductee…alone. Marvel’s most mind-bending adventure begins as Moon Knight sleuths his way to the rotten core of New York’s most bizarre mysteries!
Collects: Moon Knight 1-6
Collects: Moon Knight 1-6
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2014
296 people are currently reading
3940 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,972 books5,773 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 827 reviews
April 6, 2022
2022
Ellis' Moon Knight was my first introduction to the character. This set me on a journey to find more of the comics, and ultimately ended up making this one of my favorite Marvel heroes of all time.
Thank you, sir.
2017
Re-reading the book was cool.
However, re-reading this review just reminds me that on occasion I'm a real idiot.
Original review: 2015
Who the hell is Moon Knight?
After reading this, I'm still not sure I know enough about the character to give you a detailed run-down.
I thought he was a guy in a cape that had the power to suck you into another dimension/portal/limbo through his tummy.
You know, like he pulls his big cape to the side and you jump into his belly?
At any rate, I didn't see evidence that he had that power in this book.
BUT. He didn't have a cape anymore. Perhaps that interfered with the stomach-portal thing?
Sure, he could pull his white suit jacket off to one sideafter he unbuttoned it, but that just doesn't have the same sort of flourish that whipping a cape around does, you know?
I also thought he had a girlfriend who had some kind of light-based superpowers...who was really weak and fainted all the time. Maybe?
Full Disclosure: I can't even remember why I thought any of that, so it probably has no basis in reality. I'm just letting you know what was running through my head when I cracked this open...don't judge me!
EDITED (the next freakin' day!):
A bunch ofHardcore Nerds! my Dear Friends here on Goodreads jumped all over the comment section of this thread, because they cared enough to let me know that I was actually thinking of Cloak, of Cloak and Dagger fame, or potentially even Starman.
I know what the rest of you are thinking...
This was a good title for someone like me, who (obviously) has no real prior knowledge of the character.
Now, if you've been Moon Knight's #1 fan for 50 years? Well, I don't know how you will feel about it.
The volume is made up of loosely connected one-shot stories, in which Moon Knight takes out bad guys who prey on nighttime travelers.
Evidently, his powers come from the Egyptian god of Folks Who Party At Night.
I think...
From the Dead acknowledges the multiple personality issue he has, but there isn't a whole lotta time or energy spent on that aspect of his life. In other words, he has a few conversations with himself, but it doesn't overtake the story.
The thing I took away from Ellis' Moon Knight was the Groovy Factor that he infused into his incarnation of this character. I don't remember the individual issues, but I remember thinking he was really damn cool.
Ellis' Moon Knight was my first introduction to the character. This set me on a journey to find more of the comics, and ultimately ended up making this one of my favorite Marvel heroes of all time.
Thank you, sir.
2017
Re-reading the book was cool.
However, re-reading this review just reminds me that on occasion I'm a real idiot.
Original review: 2015
Who the hell is Moon Knight?
After reading this, I'm still not sure I know enough about the character to give you a detailed run-down.
I thought he was a guy in a cape that had the power to suck you into another dimension/portal/limbo through his tummy.
You know, like he pulls his big cape to the side and you jump into his belly?
At any rate, I didn't see evidence that he had that power in this book.
BUT. He didn't have a cape anymore. Perhaps that interfered with the stomach-portal thing?
Sure, he could pull his white suit jacket off to one side
I also thought he had a girlfriend who had some kind of light-based superpowers...who was really weak and fainted all the time. Maybe?
Full Disclosure: I can't even remember why I thought any of that, so it probably has no basis in reality. I'm just letting you know what was running through my head when I cracked this open...don't judge me!
EDITED (the next freakin' day!):
A bunch of
I know what the rest of you are thinking...
This was a good title for someone like me, who (obviously) has no real prior knowledge of the character.
Now, if you've been Moon Knight's #1 fan for 50 years? Well, I don't know how you will feel about it.
The volume is made up of loosely connected one-shot stories, in which Moon Knight takes out bad guys who prey on nighttime travelers.
Evidently, his powers come from the Egyptian god of Folks Who Party At Night.
I think...
From the Dead acknowledges the multiple personality issue he has, but there isn't a whole lotta time or energy spent on that aspect of his life. In other words, he has a few conversations with himself, but it doesn't overtake the story.
The thing I took away from Ellis' Moon Knight was the Groovy Factor that he infused into his incarnation of this character. I don't remember the individual issues, but I remember thinking he was really damn cool.
July 15, 2016
Moon Knight, and his alter ego, consulting detective Mr. Knight, take on a slasher, a sniper, ghost punks, some kind of nightmare creature, kidnappers, and a cop that wants to replace him.
For years, I dismissed Moon Knight as a lame Batman ripoff. After Aaron told me this was the best thing he's read on Marvel Unlimited so far, I had to try it.
Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey have crafted six awfully fucking great issues of Moon Knight here. Each of the six issues is a self-contained story that explores Moon Knight's psyche as he takes down criminals who threaten people in the night. Ellis' writing is as crisp as ever. Declan Shalvey's art reminds me of David Aja's on Hawkeye and the coloring perfectly sets the tone. Moon Knight and Mr. Knight are uncolored rather than white, making them stand out against the rest of what's going on.
Moon Knight's alter ego, Mr. Knight, is actually my favorite part of the book. A white suited man with a white mask working with police as a consulting detective is a pretty slick angle on the character. The Moon Knight identity is more of a lethal lunatic version of Batman, more akin to the Christopher Nolan Batman than the Batman of the comics.
My notions of Moon Knight being a Batman ripoff were dispelled in this volume. Batman wears dark colors to hide in the dark. Moon Knight wears white so his enemies see him coming. Pretty bad ass. I also like the notion that Moon Knight is brain damaged and cycles between the four aspects of Khonshu.
It's a damn shame that Ellis and Shalvey only did six issues of this. I'd read years of Moon Knight comics if they were of this quality. I hereby admit this volume of Moon Knight to the pantheon of great comics put out in the last ten years. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For years, I dismissed Moon Knight as a lame Batman ripoff. After Aaron told me this was the best thing he's read on Marvel Unlimited so far, I had to try it.
Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey have crafted six awfully fucking great issues of Moon Knight here. Each of the six issues is a self-contained story that explores Moon Knight's psyche as he takes down criminals who threaten people in the night. Ellis' writing is as crisp as ever. Declan Shalvey's art reminds me of David Aja's on Hawkeye and the coloring perfectly sets the tone. Moon Knight and Mr. Knight are uncolored rather than white, making them stand out against the rest of what's going on.
Moon Knight's alter ego, Mr. Knight, is actually my favorite part of the book. A white suited man with a white mask working with police as a consulting detective is a pretty slick angle on the character. The Moon Knight identity is more of a lethal lunatic version of Batman, more akin to the Christopher Nolan Batman than the Batman of the comics.
My notions of Moon Knight being a Batman ripoff were dispelled in this volume. Batman wears dark colors to hide in the dark. Moon Knight wears white so his enemies see him coming. Pretty bad ass. I also like the notion that Moon Knight is brain damaged and cycles between the four aspects of Khonshu.
It's a damn shame that Ellis and Shalvey only did six issues of this. I'd read years of Moon Knight comics if they were of this quality. I hereby admit this volume of Moon Knight to the pantheon of great comics put out in the last ten years. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
February 19, 2015
Who the hell is Moon Knight?
I wouldn’t ask Anne, but I can confidently tell you, he’s not Cloak (or Dagger), the Shroud, Iron Fist or Daredevil. Or the Invisible Woman.
I’m not sure I’d ask Warren Ellis either. Ellis is trying to put his own stamp on the character and in the process throws Bendis’ version under the bus. . Ellis loses the cape and cowl and replaces it with an all-white suit and mask. He also brings back the Egyptian mythology. He presents six separate stand-alone comics, replete with some tricksey art work; each issue adding a piece to the new Moon Knight legend.
It lacks the humor of Bendis’s run, but ups the intensity and grit. Worth a look.
I wouldn’t ask Anne, but I can confidently tell you, he’s not Cloak (or Dagger), the Shroud, Iron Fist or Daredevil. Or the Invisible Woman.
I’m not sure I’d ask Warren Ellis either. Ellis is trying to put his own stamp on the character and in the process throws Bendis’ version under the bus. . Ellis loses the cape and cowl and replaces it with an all-white suit and mask. He also brings back the Egyptian mythology. He presents six separate stand-alone comics, replete with some tricksey art work; each issue adding a piece to the new Moon Knight legend.
It lacks the humor of Bendis’s run, but ups the intensity and grit. Worth a look.
December 27, 2015
Moon Knight: A Crazy Good Superhero
It can be fascinating when a good writer makes a silly concept work. For most adults, I guess that is the main appeal of superhero comics. I mean, I don’t think many adults take superheroes all that seriously, and I don't think they read superhero stories primarily for the power fantasies and the pleasures of identification. Warren Ellis can be a very good writer when he actually puts his mind to a story, and Moon Knight is a particularly silly superhero – a second-banana Batman in white, basically, with some Egyptian mythology thrown in for good measure. Sounds like an interesting challenge for Ellis!
Marvel history has it that Moon Knight owes his life to the Egyptian Moon God Khonshu, and thus becomes the God's avatar on Earth, that is, another super-powered crime fighter. Like Batman, though, he is not the most approachable or psychologically stable guy. Ellis has a ball exploring both our hero’s scrambled, mixed-up head and his nutty connection with the Egyptian godsphere. He gives us six interrelated, surprisingly complex one-shots that all play by the rules of the genre but refuse to provide easy answers, hinting at larger issues that even a superhero cannot resolve.
What is more, Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey take full advantage of the comic-book medium’s unique language. Shalvey's page layouts and use of negative space are a rare treat, and the second issue in particular conducts some of the most inventive only-in-comics storytelling I have come across in a while. I’d recommend this book not only to superhero fans, but to anybody interested in the formal aspects of comic-book storytelling.
It can be fascinating when a good writer makes a silly concept work. For most adults, I guess that is the main appeal of superhero comics. I mean, I don’t think many adults take superheroes all that seriously, and I don't think they read superhero stories primarily for the power fantasies and the pleasures of identification. Warren Ellis can be a very good writer when he actually puts his mind to a story, and Moon Knight is a particularly silly superhero – a second-banana Batman in white, basically, with some Egyptian mythology thrown in for good measure. Sounds like an interesting challenge for Ellis!
Marvel history has it that Moon Knight owes his life to the Egyptian Moon God Khonshu, and thus becomes the God's avatar on Earth, that is, another super-powered crime fighter. Like Batman, though, he is not the most approachable or psychologically stable guy. Ellis has a ball exploring both our hero’s scrambled, mixed-up head and his nutty connection with the Egyptian godsphere. He gives us six interrelated, surprisingly complex one-shots that all play by the rules of the genre but refuse to provide easy answers, hinting at larger issues that even a superhero cannot resolve.
What is more, Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey take full advantage of the comic-book medium’s unique language. Shalvey's page layouts and use of negative space are a rare treat, and the second issue in particular conducts some of the most inventive only-in-comics storytelling I have come across in a while. I’d recommend this book not only to superhero fans, but to anybody interested in the formal aspects of comic-book storytelling.
August 8, 2014
“I’ve died before. It was boring, so I stood up.” - Warren Ellis’ Moon Knight
Marc Spector, aka Moon Knight, has always been a complicated character. He was this scavenger/mercenary type who finally found a conscience and was murdered for it. Dying in front of the Egyptian moon god, Khonshu, he was resurrected as Khonshu’s avatar of justice: Moon Knight. But he’s also had severe mental problems, often sharing his head with multiple personalities, like in Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s recent two-volume MK run where Marc believed he was also Captain America, Wolverine and Spider-Man!
For this new series, Warren Ellis has done a bit of a clear-up for the character, jettisoning a lot of extraneous material and putting in place a solid definition of Moon Knight. Firstly, he takes the character back to the East coast, away from LA, and puts a pin in the mental problems. They’re still there but not so pronounced and there are no tedious sequences where a “tortured” Moon Knight looks up at the moon and whines “Whyyyyyyy meeeeee?” over and over.
He’s still got the multiple personalities though. Here he’s Moon Knight, the traditional Egyptian-themed superhero, and Mr Knight, a more street level character who looks like Elijah Snow from Planetary (stylish white suit), who consults with police on homicides. Who also has an automated white car with personalised number plates and a drone/glider. In this series, he investigates a series of supernatural-themed crimes in New York City.
Ellis applies his tried and true method of the one-shot series that he’s used before in Global Frequency and Secret Avengers (where Moon Knight was also a member) with each issue being its own self-contained story. And, to be honest, the stories aren’t that original. Some ghost punks terrorise the city, another ghost haunts a building, one issue is basically the movies The Raid/Dredd where MK makes his way up a building, level by level, taking out gangsters, and another issue, Sniper, mirrors a similar story from Ellis’ Transmetropolitan, Volume 8: Dirge, where a sniper wreaks havoc on an office block.
But it’s the way Ellis and his art team of artist Declan Shalvey and colourist Jordie Bellaire (who recently walked away with the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Colourist), that turns these pretty decent stories into incredible comics. It’s worth mentioning that in previous incarnations, MK has always been chatty, not least because of the many personalities in his head, whereas Ellis’ MK rarely speaks. Large chunks of these issues are wordless leaving it up to Shalvey to carry the story forward on his art alone. And Shalvey does so remarkably well.
The Sniper issue in particular is brilliant for the way it’s presented. A number of people are being picked off by the sniper, each person getting their own panel on the page. As the people get killed, one by one, the panels start disappearing leaving blank space on the page until you’ve got a blank page with just one panel. The Sleep issue is also amazing for the dream sequences MK enters into: a lurid Lovecraftian landscape of trippy images that consumes him and which is breathtaking to look at.
The Scarlet issue (which is one similar to The Raid/Dredd movies) where MK makes his way through a building taking out bad guy after bad guy sounds like the stupidest, dullest thing on paper until you see it and it turns out to be so entertaining thanks to the way the action flows seamlessly.
Jordie Bellaire’s colours - and lack of them - are fantastic too. I say lack of because she makes the inspired choice to not colour in MK - he’s not coloured white, he’s just uncoloured - making him really stand out on the page sharply. Well, that’s hardly stealthy is it? you say. Yup. He WANTS them to know he’s coming. Pretty badass, eh? Also, a lot of the issues are themed around certain colours - #3 is mostly green, #4 is blue, #5 is copper - while #1 and #6, that bookend this run, are mirrors of each other. The effects are so cool, it’s no wonder she won an award for her work!
Unfortunately these six issues are all we’re getting from this creative team - Ellis and Shalvey are moving on to other projects and Brian Wood and Gary Smallwood are taking over Moon Knight. So Marvel’s coolest series probably won’t be as great going forward - I don’t think Wood’s superhero stuff is very good and I’m not as taken with Smallwood’s art in the four page preview at the back of #6.
But, wonder of wonders, Moon Knight finally has an amazing book of his own! Ellis, Shalvey and Bellaire have created the best Moon Knight ever in this volume and it’s terrific. It’s so much fun to read with truly awesome art throughout. Read this as soon as you can!
Marc Spector, aka Moon Knight, has always been a complicated character. He was this scavenger/mercenary type who finally found a conscience and was murdered for it. Dying in front of the Egyptian moon god, Khonshu, he was resurrected as Khonshu’s avatar of justice: Moon Knight. But he’s also had severe mental problems, often sharing his head with multiple personalities, like in Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s recent two-volume MK run where Marc believed he was also Captain America, Wolverine and Spider-Man!
For this new series, Warren Ellis has done a bit of a clear-up for the character, jettisoning a lot of extraneous material and putting in place a solid definition of Moon Knight. Firstly, he takes the character back to the East coast, away from LA, and puts a pin in the mental problems. They’re still there but not so pronounced and there are no tedious sequences where a “tortured” Moon Knight looks up at the moon and whines “Whyyyyyyy meeeeee?” over and over.
He’s still got the multiple personalities though. Here he’s Moon Knight, the traditional Egyptian-themed superhero, and Mr Knight, a more street level character who looks like Elijah Snow from Planetary (stylish white suit), who consults with police on homicides. Who also has an automated white car with personalised number plates and a drone/glider. In this series, he investigates a series of supernatural-themed crimes in New York City.
Ellis applies his tried and true method of the one-shot series that he’s used before in Global Frequency and Secret Avengers (where Moon Knight was also a member) with each issue being its own self-contained story. And, to be honest, the stories aren’t that original. Some ghost punks terrorise the city, another ghost haunts a building, one issue is basically the movies The Raid/Dredd where MK makes his way up a building, level by level, taking out gangsters, and another issue, Sniper, mirrors a similar story from Ellis’ Transmetropolitan, Volume 8: Dirge, where a sniper wreaks havoc on an office block.
But it’s the way Ellis and his art team of artist Declan Shalvey and colourist Jordie Bellaire (who recently walked away with the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Colourist), that turns these pretty decent stories into incredible comics. It’s worth mentioning that in previous incarnations, MK has always been chatty, not least because of the many personalities in his head, whereas Ellis’ MK rarely speaks. Large chunks of these issues are wordless leaving it up to Shalvey to carry the story forward on his art alone. And Shalvey does so remarkably well.
The Sniper issue in particular is brilliant for the way it’s presented. A number of people are being picked off by the sniper, each person getting their own panel on the page. As the people get killed, one by one, the panels start disappearing leaving blank space on the page until you’ve got a blank page with just one panel. The Sleep issue is also amazing for the dream sequences MK enters into: a lurid Lovecraftian landscape of trippy images that consumes him and which is breathtaking to look at.
The Scarlet issue (which is one similar to The Raid/Dredd movies) where MK makes his way through a building taking out bad guy after bad guy sounds like the stupidest, dullest thing on paper until you see it and it turns out to be so entertaining thanks to the way the action flows seamlessly.
Jordie Bellaire’s colours - and lack of them - are fantastic too. I say lack of because she makes the inspired choice to not colour in MK - he’s not coloured white, he’s just uncoloured - making him really stand out on the page sharply. Well, that’s hardly stealthy is it? you say. Yup. He WANTS them to know he’s coming. Pretty badass, eh? Also, a lot of the issues are themed around certain colours - #3 is mostly green, #4 is blue, #5 is copper - while #1 and #6, that bookend this run, are mirrors of each other. The effects are so cool, it’s no wonder she won an award for her work!
Unfortunately these six issues are all we’re getting from this creative team - Ellis and Shalvey are moving on to other projects and Brian Wood and Gary Smallwood are taking over Moon Knight. So Marvel’s coolest series probably won’t be as great going forward - I don’t think Wood’s superhero stuff is very good and I’m not as taken with Smallwood’s art in the four page preview at the back of #6.
But, wonder of wonders, Moon Knight finally has an amazing book of his own! Ellis, Shalvey and Bellaire have created the best Moon Knight ever in this volume and it’s terrific. It’s so much fun to read with truly awesome art throughout. Read this as soon as you can!
June 30, 2022
Warren Ellis & Declan Shalvey’s Moon Knight run is one of the best collection of stories you can read for this character. This volume contains 6 incredible issues each telling their own self-contained story of Moon Knight protecting travelers of the night in NYC. This run barely touches on Moon Knight’s DID and is mainly focused on just telling entertaining stories, which may annoy some, but I enjoyed it for what it was: a fun book with some sweet art. While I wouldn’t have been oppossed to more character work for Moon Knight, this really didn’t need to be anything more than 6 fun, one-off stories with some spiffy and pretty-looking art.
This was the only major MK run that didn’t get reprinted for the new Disney + show, which on one hand I get because Warren Ellis is disgusting, but on the other hand sucks since it’s easily one of the best MK runs anyone can read out there. I thankfully found a print edition of the trade for cheap, so I finally got to read this series with a trade in my hands instead of digitally like I had to before, but either way, this does eventually need a reprint. I still don’t think I love it as much as Jeff Lemire & Greg Smallwood’s time on the title, but Ellis & Shavley’s run is still up there as one of the strongest runs for this character. Makes sense since these two are one of the best creative teams to work together on Moon Knight, and it helps there isn’t a single dud in any of their 6 issues together. The only complaint I have with the entire run is that it wasn’t long enough, but even then, I’m just glad we got any of these stories in the first place. Ellis’ stories are all easy to follow and filled with tons of fun action and badass moments for the titular character. Shavley is always doing impressive work with the art, with issue 5 probably being my favorite issue he did in here mainly due to his action scenes, but every issue in this collection is fantastic and on the same level of quality.
An awesome Moon Knight run that will appeal to both longtime fans of the character and new readers, Ellis & Shalvey’s From The Dead may be a bit hard to track down in print nowdays, but it’s one of those books that is totally worth investing time and money into if you find it. It’s also available digital for those who aren’t as iffy about that as I am. And even though I loved it, it is important to know that this was an extremely short read. I did an issue every couple of days just so I could space the run out a bit, but even then, each issue took me no more than 20 minutes to read. If you are looking for 6 fun and action packed Moon Knight adventures, this is an easy recommend, but I wouldn’t recommend to those looking for a more meaningful MK run. If you are looking for more of a deep dive into his mental health aspect, check out Lemire’s run, and if you want a grittier run, check out the Huston/Benson/Hurwitz era. Glad I finally got to read this in print though, it was awesome.
This was the only major MK run that didn’t get reprinted for the new Disney + show, which on one hand I get because Warren Ellis is disgusting, but on the other hand sucks since it’s easily one of the best MK runs anyone can read out there. I thankfully found a print edition of the trade for cheap, so I finally got to read this series with a trade in my hands instead of digitally like I had to before, but either way, this does eventually need a reprint. I still don’t think I love it as much as Jeff Lemire & Greg Smallwood’s time on the title, but Ellis & Shavley’s run is still up there as one of the strongest runs for this character. Makes sense since these two are one of the best creative teams to work together on Moon Knight, and it helps there isn’t a single dud in any of their 6 issues together. The only complaint I have with the entire run is that it wasn’t long enough, but even then, I’m just glad we got any of these stories in the first place. Ellis’ stories are all easy to follow and filled with tons of fun action and badass moments for the titular character. Shavley is always doing impressive work with the art, with issue 5 probably being my favorite issue he did in here mainly due to his action scenes, but every issue in this collection is fantastic and on the same level of quality.
An awesome Moon Knight run that will appeal to both longtime fans of the character and new readers, Ellis & Shalvey’s From The Dead may be a bit hard to track down in print nowdays, but it’s one of those books that is totally worth investing time and money into if you find it. It’s also available digital for those who aren’t as iffy about that as I am. And even though I loved it, it is important to know that this was an extremely short read. I did an issue every couple of days just so I could space the run out a bit, but even then, each issue took me no more than 20 minutes to read. If you are looking for 6 fun and action packed Moon Knight adventures, this is an easy recommend, but I wouldn’t recommend to those looking for a more meaningful MK run. If you are looking for more of a deep dive into his mental health aspect, check out Lemire’s run, and if you want a grittier run, check out the Huston/Benson/Hurwitz era. Glad I finally got to read this in print though, it was awesome.
April 6, 2022
Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, and Jordie Bellaire concoct a perfect group of done-in-one stories. Like Ellis's Global Frequency, each story is self contained and contains some weirdness. Moon Knight and his Mr. Knight persona are on the streets of New York protecting night travelers. Ellis jettisons all of the cumbersome baggage of his The Shadow-like support system of help. He tones down the visits from Khonshu that had taken over some of the previous Moon Knight iterations. Really he just lowers the bar for Moon Knight entry to new readers.
The art by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire is sublime. Shalvey pages are packed with action. It feels like you are watching a movie as your eye glides over the panels. The Sniper issue is an example of Shalvey's inventiveness. Each of the 9 panels on the page follows around a different target. Each page shows someone getting taken out while each character goes about their business. Bellaire's colors are amazing. They are often subtle and it really makes the starkness of Moon Knight's all-white pop off the page. Then you have issues like the Dream issue where she brings in these incredible colors as we move through this surreal, fungal dream.
The Disney+ series has smartly pulled a ton of design elements from this series like the look of Khonshu and the character of Mr. Knight.
The art by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire is sublime. Shalvey pages are packed with action. It feels like you are watching a movie as your eye glides over the panels. The Sniper issue is an example of Shalvey's inventiveness. Each of the 9 panels on the page follows around a different target. Each page shows someone getting taken out while each character goes about their business. Bellaire's colors are amazing. They are often subtle and it really makes the starkness of Moon Knight's all-white pop off the page. Then you have issues like the Dream issue where she brings in these incredible colors as we move through this surreal, fungal dream.
The Disney+ series has smartly pulled a ton of design elements from this series like the look of Khonshu and the character of Mr. Knight.
February 23, 2018
I’m rediscovering graphic novels and writers like Warren Ellis are making that a fun trip.
Back in the day, HS, more than 30 years ago for me, I was an avid comic book reader, preferring Daredevil and X-Men. I was waiting monthly to see what would happen between DD, Bullseye and Elektra and thrilled at the inclusion of a big guy named Punisher.
The character of Moon Knight always intrigued me but for whatever reason back then I could not buy into the storyline – even though it would seem to be a comic I would like.
Fast forward and I am digging the Netflix originals, a retooling of some of my favorites from back then. I am also a big fan of the excellent work Marvel Studios is doing and enjoy those films.
So – Moon Knight. I think I liked the idea of the character and the way it was drawn better than the comic itself, and the thought of what could be done with that storyline always stayed with me.
Ellis’ vision, here published in 2014 and with superb artwork provided by the team of Declan Shalvey, Greg Smallwood and Ron Ackins – and with writing by Brian Wood and Cullen Bunn – resurrects Moon Knight’s story and develops and explores the element of his mental disorders, particularly him as having dissociative identity disorder. MK beats the hell out of criminals with more than only a deranged sense of justice floating around in his head.
Fun, fun, fun and I’ll be back for more.
Back in the day, HS, more than 30 years ago for me, I was an avid comic book reader, preferring Daredevil and X-Men. I was waiting monthly to see what would happen between DD, Bullseye and Elektra and thrilled at the inclusion of a big guy named Punisher.
The character of Moon Knight always intrigued me but for whatever reason back then I could not buy into the storyline – even though it would seem to be a comic I would like.
Fast forward and I am digging the Netflix originals, a retooling of some of my favorites from back then. I am also a big fan of the excellent work Marvel Studios is doing and enjoy those films.
So – Moon Knight. I think I liked the idea of the character and the way it was drawn better than the comic itself, and the thought of what could be done with that storyline always stayed with me.
Ellis’ vision, here published in 2014 and with superb artwork provided by the team of Declan Shalvey, Greg Smallwood and Ron Ackins – and with writing by Brian Wood and Cullen Bunn – resurrects Moon Knight’s story and develops and explores the element of his mental disorders, particularly him as having dissociative identity disorder. MK beats the hell out of criminals with more than only a deranged sense of justice floating around in his head.
Fun, fun, fun and I’ll be back for more.
February 27, 2022
This is a collection about the Marvel character. This collection contains six issues and each issue has a different antagonist and story. This collection basically gives the reader a sense of how much of a badass this character is.
The television show based on this character is set to be released soon and I was looking for a starting point for this character. I knew nothing about this character and my Goodreads friend Tiag suggested this run. I am glad I listened to him because this was so much fun. I enjoyed the cool and calm demeanor of the character while he engages in fights. Even with his outward demeanor one can tell he has a heavy weight on his shoulders as he fights on the side of good. Another aspect I loved about this collection was the artwork. While being in a gritty setting some of the details in the artwork popped from the pages. The main character dresses in all white and this visual set against various backdrops was mesmerizing. The artwork is amazing with the action sequences and they might be the best action sequences I have read in comic form. Please let issue five be an episode in the show. That action scene would be balls to the wall.
I would like to thank my Goodreads friend Tiag for recommending this. It was so much fun. The only flaw in this collection is that I was hoping for a little more background information on the main character. That being said it did not deter my enjoyment especially the action sequences. This collection has raised my level of excitement for the television show and I know I will be reading more about Moon Knight in the future.
The television show based on this character is set to be released soon and I was looking for a starting point for this character. I knew nothing about this character and my Goodreads friend Tiag suggested this run. I am glad I listened to him because this was so much fun. I enjoyed the cool and calm demeanor of the character while he engages in fights. Even with his outward demeanor one can tell he has a heavy weight on his shoulders as he fights on the side of good. Another aspect I loved about this collection was the artwork. While being in a gritty setting some of the details in the artwork popped from the pages. The main character dresses in all white and this visual set against various backdrops was mesmerizing. The artwork is amazing with the action sequences and they might be the best action sequences I have read in comic form. Please let issue five be an episode in the show. That action scene would be balls to the wall.
I would like to thank my Goodreads friend Tiag for recommending this. It was so much fun. The only flaw in this collection is that I was hoping for a little more background information on the main character. That being said it did not deter my enjoyment especially the action sequences. This collection has raised my level of excitement for the television show and I know I will be reading more about Moon Knight in the future.
November 4, 2014
I always thought that the concept of Moon Knight was kind of silly. I wasn't a fan of the name, and the entirely white costume just seemed like a dumb idea. Forget the lack of stealth, can you imagine trying to get blood and various roof dirt out of it? I'm not sure that Ellis entirely changed my mind with one volume, but he did make Moon Knight an interesting enough character.
This is actually a rarity in modern comics: one off stories. Really! It's really refreshing, to know that you've read the entirety of a story. Better yet, each individual story makes a good read. Strange, sometimes unsettling, but good. Great action, and Ellis manages to make that silly white costume kind of badass. Because Moon Knight is the one you see coming, the guy who will calmly walk headfirst into a brawl. And that's more than a little cool to read.
And the art is pretty cool, too. Shalvey makes the most of Moon Knight's wardrobe, making him stand out on the page. He's always had an iconic look, but this is the first time that I actually thought he looked like a convincing superhero. The complete absence of color on him actually works strangely well. It's an unusual aesthetic, but it works very well for the book.
I wouldn't say this made me a Moon Knight convert, but it was a far better book than I would have expected it to be. Definitely worth a read.
This is actually a rarity in modern comics: one off stories. Really! It's really refreshing, to know that you've read the entirety of a story. Better yet, each individual story makes a good read. Strange, sometimes unsettling, but good. Great action, and Ellis manages to make that silly white costume kind of badass. Because Moon Knight is the one you see coming, the guy who will calmly walk headfirst into a brawl. And that's more than a little cool to read.
And the art is pretty cool, too. Shalvey makes the most of Moon Knight's wardrobe, making him stand out on the page. He's always had an iconic look, but this is the first time that I actually thought he looked like a convincing superhero. The complete absence of color on him actually works strangely well. It's an unusual aesthetic, but it works very well for the book.
I wouldn't say this made me a Moon Knight convert, but it was a far better book than I would have expected it to be. Definitely worth a read.
November 4, 2015
So let me run down everything I knew about Moon Knight prior to reading this volume. He uses moon themed weapons and vehicles, he dresses in a white with a cloak, he has a moon on his costume, and he is tied to an Egyptian God. That's it. I saw Moon Knight once probably 20 years ago when he showed up in a Spider-Man crossover. Moon Knight is certainly an acquired taste so I see why I haven't seen him in so long.
So Moon Knight protects those who travel at night and avenges them if necessary. Basically he investigates crimes and beats people up...and he's pretty brutal in the process.
So Moon Knight protects those who travel at night and avenges them if necessary. Basically he investigates crimes and beats people up...and he's pretty brutal in the process.
April 6, 2022
THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG!
It is a bunch of one and done stories and I love how Ellis explores the new personality Mr Knight and we see how effect he is like a detective and the writer does play the DID angle too and we see a bunch of different cases like how he hunts down a serial killer who takes other skins or some other kidnapper and that one where he fights a bunch of people to save the girl omg so good and then the one where he has to fight some dead spirits that was fun. I love how its little words and more action like a comic should be.
There's really not a single continuous thread here and we have one and done stories and showing how effective Mr Knight is and maybe its to the benefit of the story. The art is insanely good and I like how the writing allows time for it to shine and then the last story with some police guy wanting to be a villain, a new Black Spectre was fun and it could have been a bit more decompressed but still fun parallel to MK as we get to know his methods and all.
Overall a good fun volume and definitely a great entry point for new readers!
It is a bunch of one and done stories and I love how Ellis explores the new personality Mr Knight and we see how effect he is like a detective and the writer does play the DID angle too and we see a bunch of different cases like how he hunts down a serial killer who takes other skins or some other kidnapper and that one where he fights a bunch of people to save the girl omg so good and then the one where he has to fight some dead spirits that was fun. I love how its little words and more action like a comic should be.
There's really not a single continuous thread here and we have one and done stories and showing how effective Mr Knight is and maybe its to the benefit of the story. The art is insanely good and I like how the writing allows time for it to shine and then the last story with some police guy wanting to be a villain, a new Black Spectre was fun and it could have been a bit more decompressed but still fun parallel to MK as we get to know his methods and all.
Overall a good fun volume and definitely a great entry point for new readers!
July 29, 2015
I normally avoid getting my hopes up about books surrounded with a lot of hype, but this book lives up to its praise.
The first thing that struck me about this book was the artwork, it's crisp and lovely to read. It reminds me of the Hawkeye artwork which was an instant hit with me.
Moon knight is a relatively unknown character in the Marvel universe, but I did my research before reading this and he seems to be an interesting character, but just not written too well until now. He's like Batman on Drugs.
I know Ellis has departed this series, but I think I'll still check out the second volume.
The first thing that struck me about this book was the artwork, it's crisp and lovely to read. It reminds me of the Hawkeye artwork which was an instant hit with me.
Moon knight is a relatively unknown character in the Marvel universe, but I did my research before reading this and he seems to be an interesting character, but just not written too well until now. He's like Batman on Drugs.
I know Ellis has departed this series, but I think I'll still check out the second volume.
March 19, 2018
Moon Knight is a strange bird, and definitely one of the more intriguing superheroes. He's an ex-mercenary named Marc Spector, who, in exchange for a second chance at life, made a pact with the Egyptian moon god Khonshu to be his avatar on Earth, protecting travelers of the night. But it's also left him with multiple personality disorder, as his brain tries to comprehend the deity's "four aspects." So he's kinda like Batman but only more batshit crazy, dressing in an all-white costume to ensure that the bad guys can see him coming before they get their asses kicked.
Many writers and artists have had their hands in Moon Knight over the years, but he's never really taken off with most mainstream audiences. Mostly because he's a strange enigma of a character and hard to pin down. With this volume, Warren Ellis tries his hand at the vigilante, aiming to reintroduce him to new-era audiences through the Marvel Now line. Giving the character a reset after Brian Michael Bendis's controversial run on the character, Ellis presents his short run as a series of one-shot stories that serve to illustrate the character in various ways, whether he's fighting ghosts, disgruntled sniper veterans, or fighting his way Raid-style through an apartment building to save a kidnapped girl (in one of the best action sequences I've ever seen in a comic book).
The art in this really stands out as well, not only rendering well-choreographed action and creative paneling, but also sporting inventive, award-winning color work by Jordie Bellaire, who paints the hero in such stark white and no hint of color whatsoever, that it leaps off the page, creating simple but pretty eye-catching visuals! It's as if Moon Knight is cut and pasted in from another dimension!
This book won't be for everyone, but it definitely got my attention!
Many writers and artists have had their hands in Moon Knight over the years, but he's never really taken off with most mainstream audiences. Mostly because he's a strange enigma of a character and hard to pin down. With this volume, Warren Ellis tries his hand at the vigilante, aiming to reintroduce him to new-era audiences through the Marvel Now line. Giving the character a reset after Brian Michael Bendis's controversial run on the character, Ellis presents his short run as a series of one-shot stories that serve to illustrate the character in various ways, whether he's fighting ghosts, disgruntled sniper veterans, or fighting his way Raid-style through an apartment building to save a kidnapped girl (in one of the best action sequences I've ever seen in a comic book).
The art in this really stands out as well, not only rendering well-choreographed action and creative paneling, but also sporting inventive, award-winning color work by Jordie Bellaire, who paints the hero in such stark white and no hint of color whatsoever, that it leaps off the page, creating simple but pretty eye-catching visuals! It's as if Moon Knight is cut and pasted in from another dimension!
This book won't be for everyone, but it definitely got my attention!
May 9, 2022
Ok, so. Like many people, I can hardly resist whatever Marvel is currently releasing. There are some notable differences but especially the shows were very nice indeed. Moon Knight, I'm happy to report, has been the best one so far and I'd rank it up there with my favourite MCU movies even. It's hilarious, witty, smartly done, sometimes heart-breaking, and always of top notch quality.
So did the comic hold up? Eh ...
Superhero (or vigilante) comics are always hard for me. I'm just not the type. Give me an independent story any day. Doesn't have to be short. Nevertheless, once I had started watching the show and knew that this guy was linked to an ancient Egyptian god, the little mythology-lover in me didn't have a choice (plus, some excerpts from cross-overs with heroes like Spiderman had me cackling).
We get a SUPER SHORT introduction about a guy called Marc Spectre, who was apparently a mercenary who got killed by his own people during a job in Egypt. He died in front of the statue of the god Khons(h)u* - and then came back.
Now, right at the beginning of this, he's in NYC. Apparently he comes from there or used to live there when he was ... well, alive.
We also find out that he at least thinks he has DID (dissociative identity disorder). Khonshu has different aspects of himself and every one of those apparently aligns with one of Marc's personalities. If Mark is the guy himself and not "just" one aspect.
While the reader might be mulling this over, we also find out that a detective of the NYPD is secretly working with Moon Knight to solve the "freaky cases". Thus, we get 6 of those.
A number of people die here and I can't say I felt too sorry for most of them. Scarlet having been the exception. But it was a nice way of showing the range of jobs Moon Knight does in Khonshu's services.
Sadly, there wasn't too much back-and-forth between any personalities - pity, because that was always the most hilarious thing about the show and it gave Moon Knight more depth. Equally, I was sad to see that !
The cases were also over extremely fast. Not that the stories were so special that they should have been volumes in their own right, but I was just missing ... something.
I'll read the second volume of this run and then switch to a volume by another writer so I can compare (apparently, the show has taken from them all and combined certain elements), but if all of them are on this level, it will just confirm / reinforce my conviction that superhero/vigilante comics aren't for me.
* The extra "h", along with a few things the deity is supposed to stand for or look like, are an invention for the comics, I was sad to discover.
So did the comic hold up? Eh ...
Superhero (or vigilante) comics are always hard for me. I'm just not the type. Give me an independent story any day. Doesn't have to be short. Nevertheless, once I had started watching the show and knew that this guy was linked to an ancient Egyptian god, the little mythology-lover in me didn't have a choice (plus, some excerpts from cross-overs with heroes like Spiderman had me cackling).
We get a SUPER SHORT introduction about a guy called Marc Spectre, who was apparently a mercenary who got killed by his own people during a job in Egypt. He died in front of the statue of the god Khons(h)u* - and then came back.
Now, right at the beginning of this, he's in NYC. Apparently he comes from there or used to live there when he was ... well, alive.
We also find out that he at least thinks he has DID (dissociative identity disorder). Khonshu has different aspects of himself and every one of those apparently aligns with one of Marc's personalities. If Mark is the guy himself and not "just" one aspect.
While the reader might be mulling this over, we also find out that a detective of the NYPD is secretly working with Moon Knight to solve the "freaky cases". Thus, we get 6 of those.
A number of people die here and I can't say I felt too sorry for most of them. Scarlet having been the exception. But it was a nice way of showing the range of jobs Moon Knight does in Khonshu's services.
Sadly, there wasn't too much back-and-forth between any personalities - pity, because that was always the most hilarious thing about the show and it gave Moon Knight more depth. Equally, I was sad to see that !
The cases were also over extremely fast. Not that the stories were so special that they should have been volumes in their own right, but I was just missing ... something.
I'll read the second volume of this run and then switch to a volume by another writer so I can compare (apparently, the show has taken from them all and combined certain elements), but if all of them are on this level, it will just confirm / reinforce my conviction that superhero/vigilante comics aren't for me.
* The extra "h", along with a few things the deity is supposed to stand for or look like, are an invention for the comics, I was sad to discover.
May 12, 2025
Moon Knight getting after it!
April 4, 2017
4 words....Moon..Knight...is...awesome!!! So like the recent Hawkeye volume I read, this is yet another series that was praised to no end, and it lived beyond my expectations! So who is Moon Knight? Well he's Mark Spector, who was mercenary who got shot up in Egypt, and was resurrected by the Moon God Khonshu, and he now protects the innocence at night! But we don't know if that Khonshu part was real, or in his head! This book is like a R rated Batman comic with a twist to make it feel unique in a way, and that's why I love it so much! The Book is structured with each issue being its own story, and the stories are: Gritty, trippy as hell, action packed and best of all well written! Oh and the action scenes, are just so damn cool! My only real gripe I guess is that the issues do end very abruptly, to I guess give it that open to interpretation feel, which I guess I love and hate cause part of me wants a proper conclusion, and like I said, next issue new story! Oh and the artwork is to die for; you get certain scenes where Moon Knight where's a white suit with a mask, sort of like a Rorschach kind of look, he's always bright white when the environments are dark and mouldy looking; the you get the scenes where he where we get a good recreation of Batman's gliding, and then theirs the really trippy scenes that are so colourful and beautiful to look at! But overall this was an awesome read, and I think Moon Knight will be a character I will be reading a lot more of in the future!
April 20, 2025
2025 Review: Really enjoyed this on the second read.
This volume gives Moon Knight six one-shot stories back to back. Not all of them are homeruns (issues 1 and 4 are just okay), but issues 2, 3, 5, and 6? Fantastic. They really capture why Moon Knight is such a compelling character.
Issue 2 is a brutal, slow-burn revenge tale—Moon Knight barely shows up until the end, but it still lands hard. Issue 3 involves ghosts (which shouldn’t work), but somehow totally does. Issue 5 is a rescue mission packed with some of the best fight choreography I’ve seen in comics. And issue 6 is a strong, introspective closer that perfectly bookends who Moon Knight is.
Overall, a killer volume with more hits than misses.
2016 Review: I wasn't sure how I felt at first. The first 4 issues just kind of felt interesting, but not all that gripping. Like I just didn't care, but I enjoyed the art enough to keep going.
So I was sure this would be a 2.5 for me. Maybe even a 2.
Then the last two issues happened. And I loved it. I especially think Issue 5 is fantastic. Just really well done fights. With issue 6 being a lot of fun with the dialog to show how sad people are to become another.
Overall, it's weird, and sometimes makes little sense, but it's fun and the ending gets you pumped. Check it out for something different. Also, the art is great.
This volume gives Moon Knight six one-shot stories back to back. Not all of them are homeruns (issues 1 and 4 are just okay), but issues 2, 3, 5, and 6? Fantastic. They really capture why Moon Knight is such a compelling character.
Issue 2 is a brutal, slow-burn revenge tale—Moon Knight barely shows up until the end, but it still lands hard. Issue 3 involves ghosts (which shouldn’t work), but somehow totally does. Issue 5 is a rescue mission packed with some of the best fight choreography I’ve seen in comics. And issue 6 is a strong, introspective closer that perfectly bookends who Moon Knight is.
Overall, a killer volume with more hits than misses.
2016 Review: I wasn't sure how I felt at first. The first 4 issues just kind of felt interesting, but not all that gripping. Like I just didn't care, but I enjoyed the art enough to keep going.
So I was sure this would be a 2.5 for me. Maybe even a 2.
Then the last two issues happened. And I loved it. I especially think Issue 5 is fantastic. Just really well done fights. With issue 6 being a lot of fun with the dialog to show how sad people are to become another.
Overall, it's weird, and sometimes makes little sense, but it's fun and the ending gets you pumped. Check it out for something different. Also, the art is great.
October 20, 2015
I basically have had no interest in Marvel's answer to Batman, Moon Knight, but 2-3 reviewers I respect pretty much raved about it. This is a crazy premise that is also supposed to be the attraction to the series: a rich man in a white moon suit, supported by (?) by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu and with three different personalities, comes to Gotham City (no, New York City!) to fight crime…. is this in some sense a commentary on Batman? Well, maybe, but it's more than that, in complicated (read: crazy) ways….
Only a guy that really understands crazy can make this entertaining, and one of those best suited to make this fun and interesting is Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Judge Dredd, The Authority, Hellblazer, and a breathtaking list of other stuff, mostly superhero stuff for.. himself and Marvel/DC/alternative presses), whose work I don't usually love, but this is fun and thoughtful and as usual, has some sociocultural commentary we expect from Ellis. Shalvey's art is inventive.. many pages are images alone or with few words, which is an original and refreshing approach to a superhero comic, where people (and celebrated authors, like Morrison, Moore, Ellis) can't seem to shut up and understand less is more. This one works. But I still don't really care about this particular character.
Only a guy that really understands crazy can make this entertaining, and one of those best suited to make this fun and interesting is Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Judge Dredd, The Authority, Hellblazer, and a breathtaking list of other stuff, mostly superhero stuff for.. himself and Marvel/DC/alternative presses), whose work I don't usually love, but this is fun and thoughtful and as usual, has some sociocultural commentary we expect from Ellis. Shalvey's art is inventive.. many pages are images alone or with few words, which is an original and refreshing approach to a superhero comic, where people (and celebrated authors, like Morrison, Moore, Ellis) can't seem to shut up and understand less is more. This one works. But I still don't really care about this particular character.
April 1, 2022
Bellissimo e rispettoso rilancio del personaggio dopo l'orribile scempio di Bendis. Purtroppo Ellis non scriverà anche le storie successive, peccato perché queste sono un capolavoro.
September 4, 2021
Як найкраще мене познайомити із супергероєм, із яким я давно хочу познайомитися? Відповідь проста, дати почитати мені комікс «Місячний Лицар: Із Мертвих» авторства Воррена Елліса і Деклана Шелві. І після цього я полюбив цього супергероя, навіть зацікавився його міфологією.
Що вам потрібно знати про Місячного Лицаря? Справжнє ім’я цієї людини є Марк Спектор, підлітком батько змушував його стати священиком, а він всупереч цьому займався боксом. Після одного конфлікту із батьком, де він вдарив його, Марк пішов у армію. А пізніше став найманцем та почав працювати на злочинців. Але під час одного переслідування єгипетських археологів та спробі перешкодити злочинам свого роботодавця він був смертельно поранений. Та єгипетський бог Хонсу, у храм якого віднесли тіло Марка місцеві жителі, запропонував йому друге життя й сили, якщо він стане його реаркарнацією на Землі та служитиме йому. Після повернення до Нью-Йорку Марк вирішує стати на шлях боротьби зі злочинцями. При тому, придумавши собі нові особистості, мільйонера Стівена Ґранта та таксиста Джейка Локлі, які допомагали йому здобувати важливу інформацію.
Про цього супергероя я чув багато неоднозначних думок, що це такий собі несерйозний герой у срібному костюмі. Але під час читання цього коміксу від Воррена Елліса в мене ні на секунду не закрадалася така думка. Усе навспак, жорсткого, серйозно, психологічно й атмосферно. Сценарист не затримується на минулому Марка чи, як він дістав супер сили, закидаючи читачу тільки кілька кадрів, які трішки введуть у курс справи. Атвідразу кидає в гущу подій. Я б сказав, що Елліс намагається дослідити заплутаний психологічний стан героя і його божевільний зв’язок із єгипетським божеством. Він написав шість взаємопов’язаних, напрочуд жорстоких і проникливих коротких історій, які грають за правилами жанру супергероїки, але відмовляються давати легкі відповіді. Вони більше натякають на більш серйозні проблеми, які навіть супергерой не може вирішити.
Воррен Елліс надає особистості Місячного Лицаря складності й неоднозначності, що в мене викликає бажання дізнатися про нього більше. Він повністю присвячений своєму хрестовому походу й не дбає про те, наскільки насильницьким він повинен бути для досягнення мети. На відміну від Бр��са Вейна, Бетмена, з яким його часто порівнюють. І навіть його власні слова кажуть про це: «Люди, що люблять мене, страждають і гинуть. Я не хочу любові. Тому я завжди перемагаю».
А разом із художником Декланом Шелві, Воррен Елліс на відмінно користуються мовою коміксів, щоби створити проникливу атмосферу. А використання білого чи краще сказати «негативного» кольору для зображення Місячного Лицаря, на стільки акцентує увагу на його фізичній формі, вчинках та діях, що це ще сильніше підсилює враження під час читання. Як ви зрозуміли, мені ма��юнок дуже зайшов.
Відомо, що Воррен Елліс хотів показати Марка Спектора іншим, аніж звикла тодішня аудиторія. Не знаю, яким саме був цей супергерой тоді для читачів, але саме в цьому коміксі мені все сподобалося. І хочеться далі досліджувати історії про Місячного Лицаря. Тому, окрім того, щоби порадити вам «Місячний Лицар: Із мертвих» Воррена Елліса та Деклана Шелві більше не знаю. Єдине, хоча цей комікс можна спокійно читати відокремлено, але це перший том із серії 2014 року. Тому надіюся, що видавництво Мальопус видасть у майбутньому арки Браяна Вуда та Каллена Банна, які входять у неї.
Що вам потрібно знати про Місячного Лицаря? Справжнє ім’я цієї людини є Марк Спектор, підлітком батько змушував його стати священиком, а він всупереч цьому займався боксом. Після одного конфлікту із батьком, де він вдарив його, Марк пішов у армію. А пізніше став найманцем та почав працювати на злочинців. Але під час одного переслідування єгипетських археологів та спробі перешкодити злочинам свого роботодавця він був смертельно поранений. Та єгипетський бог Хонсу, у храм якого віднесли тіло Марка місцеві жителі, запропонував йому друге життя й сили, якщо він стане його реаркарнацією на Землі та служитиме йому. Після повернення до Нью-Йорку Марк вирішує стати на шлях боротьби зі злочинцями. При тому, придумавши собі нові особистості, мільйонера Стівена Ґранта та таксиста Джейка Локлі, які допомагали йому здобувати важливу інформацію.
Про цього супергероя я чув багато неоднозначних думок, що це такий собі несерйозний герой у срібному костюмі. Але під час читання цього коміксу від Воррена Елліса в мене ні на секунду не закрадалася така думка. Усе навспак, жорсткого, серйозно, психологічно й атмосферно. Сценарист не затримується на минулому Марка чи, як він дістав супер сили, закидаючи читачу тільки кілька кадрів, які трішки введуть у курс справи. Атвідразу кидає в гущу подій. Я б сказав, що Елліс намагається дослідити заплутаний психологічний стан героя і його божевільний зв’язок із єгипетським божеством. Він написав шість взаємопов’язаних, напрочуд жорстоких і проникливих коротких історій, які грають за правилами жанру супергероїки, але відмовляються давати легкі відповіді. Вони більше натякають на більш серйозні проблеми, які навіть супергерой не може вирішити.
Воррен Елліс надає особистості Місячного Лицаря складності й неоднозначності, що в мене викликає бажання дізнатися про нього більше. Він повністю присвячений своєму хрестовому походу й не дбає про те, наскільки насильницьким він повинен бути для досягнення мети. На відміну від Бр��са Вейна, Бетмена, з яким його часто порівнюють. І навіть його власні слова кажуть про це: «Люди, що люблять мене, страждають і гинуть. Я не хочу любові. Тому я завжди перемагаю».
А разом із художником Декланом Шелві, Воррен Елліс на відмінно користуються мовою коміксів, щоби створити проникливу атмосферу. А використання білого чи краще сказати «негативного» кольору для зображення Місячного Лицаря, на стільки акцентує увагу на його фізичній формі, вчинках та діях, що це ще сильніше підсилює враження під час читання. Як ви зрозуміли, мені ма��юнок дуже зайшов.
Відомо, що Воррен Елліс хотів показати Марка Спектора іншим, аніж звикла тодішня аудиторія. Не знаю, яким саме був цей супергерой тоді для читачів, але саме в цьому коміксі мені все сподобалося. І хочеться далі досліджувати історії про Місячного Лицаря. Тому, окрім того, щоби порадити вам «Місячний Лицар: Із мертвих» Воррена Елліса та Деклана Шелві більше не знаю. Єдине, хоча цей комікс можна спокійно читати відокремлено, але це перший том із серії 2014 року. Тому надіюся, що видавництво Мальопус видасть у майбутньому арки Браяна Вуда та Каллена Банна, які входять у неї.
January 23, 2022
Reading this a second time, the book strikes me as a Hellblazer series of one-and-done’s with fists. Weird little horror ideas that probably occupied some scrawled pages in Ellis’ bullet journals - scenes he couldn’t shake, but hadn’t found a home for in previous comics.
Which makes this a fun, “light” but not lighthearted side alley of Moon Knight that maybe never was and never will be again: a Spector who’s completely self-assured, no grappling with oncoming gibbering insanity, very little talking to oneself into or out of crazy ideas - just the pure unvarnished retribution of a man beyond.
I have no idea if the upcoming Moon Knight show will take anything from this (trailers leave me doubting), but the pure *cool* that Ellis and Shalvie distill here would be an amazing sidebar to the main attraction.
Which makes this a fun, “light” but not lighthearted side alley of Moon Knight that maybe never was and never will be again: a Spector who’s completely self-assured, no grappling with oncoming gibbering insanity, very little talking to oneself into or out of crazy ideas - just the pure unvarnished retribution of a man beyond.
I have no idea if the upcoming Moon Knight show will take anything from this (trailers leave me doubting), but the pure *cool* that Ellis and Shalvie distill here would be an amazing sidebar to the main attraction.
May 9, 2022
So, after having watched and LOVED the Moon Knight series, I felt driven to go back and read some of the comics, but mostly to get grounded in the mythos and the particulars.
What I got was just a couple of single-issue one-shots that were OKAY or just AVERAGE with a brief mention of the four aspects of BEING Moon Knight.
That being said, I still barely have an idea about anything.
This was somewhat meh but not exactly bad. I would really like to find something with a strong, solid story arc, tho.
What I got was just a couple of single-issue one-shots that were OKAY or just AVERAGE with a brief mention of the four aspects of BEING Moon Knight.
That being said, I still barely have an idea about anything.
This was somewhat meh but not exactly bad. I would really like to find something with a strong, solid story arc, tho.
February 9, 2015
This book was simple amazing!! I’ve always kind of considered Moon Knight to be Marvels Batman knockoff their both street level vigilantes with a slew of crime fighting gadgets and both bring the pain to evil doers. That said where Batman shows a bit of restraint when he’s whooping some ass Moon Knight well he is all about ending the fight as quickly as possible (i.e. he has no qualms breaking a back or dropping you down 5 flights of stairs).
I noticed in other Moon Knight runs they really played up his multiple personality disorder shit Bendis’ run had page after page of him just talking to himself. While Ellis does touch on his MPD he doesn’t beat it over your head either which I thought was a nice change of pace.
This is simple a must read for any true comic book fan. One warning though this book has tons of violence and adult themes (awesomesauce) and isn't suitable for children.
I noticed in other Moon Knight runs they really played up his multiple personality disorder shit Bendis’ run had page after page of him just talking to himself. While Ellis does touch on his MPD he doesn’t beat it over your head either which I thought was a nice change of pace.
This is simple a must read for any true comic book fan. One warning though this book has tons of violence and adult themes (awesomesauce) and isn't suitable for children.
January 30, 2015
This first volume did nothing for me. It was boring...it went nowhere...nothing of significance happened.
Maybe I just didn't get it?
I don't think that's it though. I think it was just a shallow six issues of...well...of nothing.
There was some pretty cool artwork scattered throughout the issues...but even that didn't really do anything for me to warrant anything but a cursory glance at each page. I need more in my comics than just fight scenes and brooding, and for me, that's all that this brought to the table.
The next volume kicks off with a new creative team - I am hoping that this makes the difference. I've been a big fan of Moon Knight in the past, and would really like to be again. Guess we will just have to wait and see.
August 10, 2021
Y’all should I include the comics I read on Goodreads?? Cause idk tbh. Anyways I read this because Oscar Isaac is gonna be playing Moon Knight in the Disney+ show next year, and I love him so I wanted to see what his character was gonna be like. Conclusion: I LOVEEE MOON KNIGHT. He’s so freaking cool. Fighting crime and stuff while sometimes helping the police with his anonymous alias of “Mr. Knight.” His fight scenes are so dope, and the art is unnecessarily good. UNNECESSARILY GOOD. I can’t wait to read the next volume, and if you’re into Marvel comics and haven’t read Moon Knight, you should drop what you’re doing and read this right now. I think it’s a great intro to comics and the character of Moon Knight as a whole. So freaking good.
December 9, 2015
Wow. Just wow. So cool. Warren Ellis at his best. The artwork and colours are amazing. So much style, so much substance.
March 25, 2016
Short book but awesome. Macabre and minimal and mythological. Like Batman but with nothing to lose. He's not even angry. He's cursed. He just protects the travelers of the night.
March 23, 2016
11/27/2015 re-read:
It's rare for me to actually want to go back and read something the same year I read it solely due to the memory of how good it was. This volume is one of the very few that qualify. Something about this really got to me in a way few superhero comics have.
Original review:
Mercenary Marc Spector died in Egypt, under a statue of the ancient deity Khonshu. He returned to life in the shadow of the moon god and wore his aspect to fight crime for his own redemption. He went completely insane and disappeared.
This is what happened next.
Former mercenary Marc Spector emerges from the shadows, using his wealth and gadgetry to assist with cleaning up unusual street-level crime in the guises of Mr. Knight and Moon Knight.
The only other volume of Moon Knight I've read (and most information I've looked up concerning him) depict him as just another cowled vigilante, less trained and much less sane than someone like Daredevil. He talks to weird, sadistic visions of Khonshu, or he talks to the Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine images he has in his head. He's cut someone's face off before. It's hard to get behind someone who's depicted as crazy as that.
Ellis shows a Marc Spector who this time is more talented, much more stable, and more importantly, much more relevant and heroic. He now has a reason for being, a theme and a mission I can appreciate as someone who can easily stay up far too late. Spector is now the guardian and avenger of those who travel by night. This might not originate with Ellis's story, but there's something very primal and fitting about Ellis's use of Spector as an actual modern knight whose symbol and patron is the moon. Ellis, Shalvey, and Bellaire treat the character with an ethereal peace and quiet in these six one-shots that feels cool and right. Not to mention flat out badass. Spector may have brain damage, but he's also at least a little supernatural, dealing with ghosts of the neglected dead in two of the six tales.
Ellis also nails Spector's reason for wearing all white, all the time. Other costumed heroes have powers that make it not such a big deal if someone sees them coming, though it does strain credibility if any of them are going for stealth of any kind. For example, Marc Spector, who operates at night. The white suit he wears as Mr. Knight and his more typical superhero outfit worn as Moon Knight are chosen tactics, much in the way Batman dresses up as a bat to scare criminals. Spector wants them to see him coming.
They do. But it doesn't help them.
An excellent volume with great, colorful visuals that has made me want to see more of this version of Moon Knight.
It's rare for me to actually want to go back and read something the same year I read it solely due to the memory of how good it was. This volume is one of the very few that qualify. Something about this really got to me in a way few superhero comics have.
Original review:
Mercenary Marc Spector died in Egypt, under a statue of the ancient deity Khonshu. He returned to life in the shadow of the moon god and wore his aspect to fight crime for his own redemption. He went completely insane and disappeared.
This is what happened next.
Former mercenary Marc Spector emerges from the shadows, using his wealth and gadgetry to assist with cleaning up unusual street-level crime in the guises of Mr. Knight and Moon Knight.
The only other volume of Moon Knight I've read (and most information I've looked up concerning him) depict him as just another cowled vigilante, less trained and much less sane than someone like Daredevil. He talks to weird, sadistic visions of Khonshu, or he talks to the Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine images he has in his head. He's cut someone's face off before. It's hard to get behind someone who's depicted as crazy as that.
Ellis shows a Marc Spector who this time is more talented, much more stable, and more importantly, much more relevant and heroic. He now has a reason for being, a theme and a mission I can appreciate as someone who can easily stay up far too late. Spector is now the guardian and avenger of those who travel by night. This might not originate with Ellis's story, but there's something very primal and fitting about Ellis's use of Spector as an actual modern knight whose symbol and patron is the moon. Ellis, Shalvey, and Bellaire treat the character with an ethereal peace and quiet in these six one-shots that feels cool and right. Not to mention flat out badass. Spector may have brain damage, but he's also at least a little supernatural, dealing with ghosts of the neglected dead in two of the six tales.
Ellis also nails Spector's reason for wearing all white, all the time. Other costumed heroes have powers that make it not such a big deal if someone sees them coming, though it does strain credibility if any of them are going for stealth of any kind. For example, Marc Spector, who operates at night. The white suit he wears as Mr. Knight and his more typical superhero outfit worn as Moon Knight are chosen tactics, much in the way Batman dresses up as a bat to scare criminals. Spector wants them to see him coming.
They do. But it doesn't help them.
An excellent volume with great, colorful visuals that has made me want to see more of this version of Moon Knight.
April 27, 2015
3.5 stars.
This was my first acquaintance with the character and i must say it was preety good.
Not very much to say,If you want something light to read( with lots off break bones) this would do, you can read this volume in 5mimutes(most off the pages dont have a single word.)
This was my first acquaintance with the character and i must say it was preety good.
Not very much to say,If you want something light to read( with lots off break bones) this would do, you can read this volume in 5mimutes(most off the pages dont have a single word.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 827 reviews