Vengeance of the Moon Knight, Vol. 2: Killed, Not Dead

Vengeance of the Moon Knight

by Gregg Hurwitz, J. Scott Campbell (Cover Art), Tan Eng Huat (Artist)

Collects Vengeance of the Moon Knight #7-10.

Guest-starring Deadpool! Herman Goncharenko lies at death's door, wasting away of cancer, but someone wants him killed, not dead. Someone desperate enough to hire a certain mouthy mercenary to do the job. Gonchrenko's only hope just might be the reformed Moon Knight - if he's able to withstand the force of nature known as Deadpool, and if Goncharenko is, indeed, worth saving.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Ebooks

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2010

About the author

Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 20 novels, including OUT OF THE DARK (2019). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.

He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

So this is a bit of a different Moon Knight.
Spector is completely immersed in his Jake Lockley personality and is seemingly pretty stable and sane right now. And even though the last volume showed a gentler more heroic Moon Knight, this one takes it a step further.
Deadpool shows up and the storyline gets a bit...zany.
Can I still use the word zany?



And I wouldn't have thought such a dramatic shift in tone would work so well, but it did!
For the first few issues, at least.
After that, there's a team-up with Spider-man where they swing around town together and fight off Sandman. Wheee! Ish.



Next up, Captain America convinces Jake to join the Secret Avengers, and Moon Knight goes full-on superhero good guy. Trust, teamwork, friendship, etc..
Eh.
Neither of those stories was as fun as the Deadpool stuff, but they weren't awful, either.



Mainstream Moon Knight was a nice break from batshit-crazy, foaming at the mouth, killer Moon Knight, but I doubt Lockley will be in the driver's seat for long.
I'm debating on whether or not to read Secret Avengers to get more of my Mooney fix. Anyone?



Overall, I think this mini-series is worth it for the hardcore fans. Not sure if casual readers would be into this or not.
I read this as single issues on Marvel Unlimited, so I didn't read the Marvel Preview 21 b/c (as of right now) they don't have that one available.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe the same person who wrote the first arc wrote this as well. It's terrible. Like it's a completely different character. It's a bunch of team-ups as the book was quickly cancelled. First Moon Knight fights Deadpool over the life of a mobster that kidnaps and kills children. Tan Eng Huat's art is awful. The Moon Knight teams up with Spider-Man to fight Sandman with a really stupid ending. Finally Captain America enlists Moon Knight into the Secret Avengers. I have read Ed Brubaker's Secret Avengers and it's a fantastic series. Well, worth checking out for more Moon Knight and just great storytelling in general.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! I am slowly, reading different runs of Moon Knight, and even though he doesn't have as much runs as Batman or Spider-Man, he still has had so many creators tackle him, all bringing their own spins on the character. I think I like this run the most next to Warren Eliis, but unlike that one which is more supernatural, this one is a lot more grounded, which I like! So unlike the first volume, this volume is team up central, which I actually liked as it shows Moon Knight as the black sheep of the Marvel universe, (or white, but that would make him like everyone else?), as he doesn't play well with others. First story has Moon Knight fight Deadpool, which was kind of the perfect crossover, I mean they both have voices In their heads, most of the marvel universe hates them; it was definitely very funny and the best story out of the whole lot. Next we have a story where he teams up with Spider-Man (who we did see in the last volume), it was okay, nice to see them clash with each other. Then finally we have a story where he teams up with the Avengers, which was good. Artwork is also pretty solid through out. Overall I really like this character, and if your looking for a good Moon Knight run, this is a good one to read; just wish there were more volumes!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big shift in style between volume 1 and 2. Not a good shift either. This seemed like it was mailed in after it was decided to cancel the series. Too many team ups for the loner Moon Knight here. This does lead to the Bendis series where Moon Knight goes full blown crazy and takes us to the current story so at least it has that going for it.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great but not horrible. The two Deadpool issues were funny and the ending was pretry great. The Secret Avenger issue was also solid fun times with some fun moments. Spidy team up issue was ehhhhhh. A 2.5 but I'll hit it with a 3.

[Chris W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great take on Moon Knight, dull and lacking in variety and missing alot of the fun unorthodox elements that makes Moon knight interesting
.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vengeance of the Moon Knight Vol. 2 Killed, Not Dead collects issues 7-10 of the Marvel Comics series written by Gregg Hurwitz, art by Tan Eng Huat and Juan Jose Roy, and colors by Andres Mossa and Dan Brown.

A collection of Moon Knight team ups: Knight and Deadpool track down a children serial killer, Spider-Man and Moon Knight try to bring a rampaging Sandman to a halt, and Steve Rogers recruits Moon Knight to the Secret Avengers.

This may be the worst Marvel book I have ever read. Especially the two Deadpool issues. Its juvenile fart jokes turned in a comic with some truly questionable art. I have no idea how this even got released. The Spider-Man team up is almost just as bad. Spider-Man routinely handles Sandman on his own but with the help of Moon Knight, they can barely bring him down together. The Secret Avengers tie-in is the only remotely decent issue in this collection, but is still rather boring. Though I have heard the Secret Avengers series is pretty good so I may have to check that out at some point.

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars

Individual issues rated below -

Marvel Preview #21: 2.5/5
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #7: 2.5/5
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #8: 4/5
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #9: 3/5
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #10: 3/5

[Max's Comic Reviews and Lists · Rating 1 out of 5]

Last Stop Ladies and Gentlemoons
Alright here it is. I have read a shit ton of Moon Knight, and this is my last stop on my journey through the world of Moon Knight. And man was it a disappointing one. But not too disappointing. I wasn’t exactly too impressed with Greg Hurtwitz’s run on Moon Knight to start with. A no substance series that relied on very entertaining action. That’s how I’d put it. There is so little to talk about because the series is ends with Moon Knight joining the avengers. There isn’t any finality or closure for any of the characters. I feel like I’m being unfair here but I just wasn’t ever engaged or impressed for the entirety of the run. There was some light entertainment here and there but all the things that make Moon Knight interesting were seriously lacking here. AND IF YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW MOON KNIGHT then read my reviews for the Jeff Lemire and Charlie Huston runs. That’s what I call Moon Knight bois. In the end I never said I thought these last two books were horrible or that I hated them, but they just weren’t anything special. The art changes a few times and none of it was my favourite Moon Knight art styles but they did the job fine. Letter Grade: C-

[Jaye Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just endless crossover after crossover with so little Moon Knight personality you could replace him in this with any other asshole and it would be the same.

I liked him interacting with Deadpool but I also don't like Deadpool lol. Then Spider-man shows up and the final issue is a random Secret Avengers mission where they kick pirate ass which was cool I guess. The complete lack of interesting Moon Knight characterization was not so cool.

Why is it called Vengeance of the Moon Knight? He isn't avenging shit.

It's honestly so disappointing for me how many bad Moon Knight runs there are like??? I know nothing can beat the amazing Lemire or Ellis run but damn, feels like they don't even try. Also the art was so ugly.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inferiore al precedente volume. Sicuramente più "action packed" e più improntato sul genere supereroi classico e meno introspettivo e psicologico degli altri volumi, oltre che del precedente. Però, si, insomma, ottimo per ammazzare il tempo.
E poi ho un debole per Juan Ryp, quindi la stella in più ammetto che è di parte

[Koen Claeys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts off real good with two issues featuring Deadpool. I craved for more of this.... but instead I got a Michael Bay-like action movie-shitpile that did nothing for me. Damn.... But those two first comics with Deadpool : very fine !

[Alex Sarll]

One of my favourite superheroes, but nobody's favourite run on him. There are too many guest stars, too little of Spector's fractured psyche, and for all that he talks about the lure of really cutting loose, none of the violence is very inventive. Two different artists, both of whose work elsewhere I've liked, both manage to turn in ugly work, and the script only sparkles when Frenchie is around. Still, I do like to see property developers shown as villains in mainstream entertainment, especially when they die horribly.

[Bekka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed seeing Moon Knight interact with Deadpool/Cap and the rest of the Avengers. Still though, I would have liked to have seen more with the fall out with Osborn.
TW for violence, sexism, mentions of homophobia.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moon Knight faces Deadpool as the two clash over whether to murder a dying gangster or let him live out his last few days in peace. Then we get a Moon Knight/Spiderman team up where they battle the Sandman. Rounding things out is a mission with Moon Knight and the Secret Avengers.

The Deadpool arc features art work reminiscent of the Moon Knight series from 1980. Basically a Neal Adams flavor. Then the latter issues have art from Juan Jose Ryp, one of the most hyper detailed artists in comics today. The art was exceptional in this volume in my opinion.

Another entertaining volume of Moon Knight!

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? I am just a Moon Knight fan from his first appearance. These stories are yet a character that is re-introduced, but with a lot of the old stories merging into this line. His addition to the Avengers is kind of out of character for him and the Avengers, but hey - this is old now and I am behind the times. Go for it.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short series (ten issues total over two collected editions) and while the first volume hinted at a cool, spotlight loving Moon Knight, this series is interrupted by his time in the Secret Avengers. It's too bad, because the art and writing were on point for the first issues. This second volume is a bit goofier, with Deadpool and Spider-Man hanging around, but it's enjoyable.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, the train goes right off of the tracks here in Volume 2. You get a craptastic Deadpool guest appearance, then a movie continuity version of Sandman, complete with daughter and "good guy done wrong" motives. I really dislike all of the movie and Ultimate universe style continuity creeping into the main Marvel Universe. It has no place there and will ultimately render Marvel as incoherent as DC. I couldn't stand DC as a kid because nothing mattered because there wasn't any real, definitive continuity.

At least the artwork in Issues 9 and 10 by Juan Jose Ryp is an upgrade over Jerome Opena's from Issues 1-8. I really enjoyed Ryp's clean pencils, and the coloring by Andres Jose Mossa was equally tasteful. Issue 10 was a complete clusterfuck. Moon Knight is now in the Secret Avengers, and while I have that hardcover, I haven't read it yet. I walked into Issue 10 with no knowledge of the Secret Avengers, and this story was puzzling. It didn't serve as a conclusion to the series, and Moon Knight wasn't even the focal point of the story. Another gripe that I have is that all of a sudden Moon Knight has armor. Iron Man style armor. While his costume was modified in appearance in this series, and was made of some stronger bulletproof material, towards the end of the series it gets bootjets and all sorts of other stupidity. Moon Knight uses a samurai sword and has a bow and arrow all of a sudden, too. This series got really stupid really fast, and I was thankful to see it put out of its misery.

[Christian Oliverio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a Moon Knight team-up book. It had a lot of fun stories and some fun action, but aside from the Deadpool story nothing stands out.

The first story is Moon Knight confronting Deadpool to defend a crime-boss who has a hit on him. This story was the sole reason I read this volume, and it was very enjoyable for two reasons: Firstly, the moral question it asks. Moon Knight is seriously forced to question his new no-kill rule by defending a bad guy who deserves death, while also rescuing a kidnapped child. I liked the questions he asked himself. Doesn't make sense for Moon Knight as a character, but was still great to see. Secondly, his final fight with Deadpool. This is the argument you can use against all those Deadpool fans who say he's undefeatable because he is unkillable. Moon Knight doesn't kill him, but there is no way Deadpool is getting back for round 2, literally crying out "uncle" at the end.

The second story is a fun Spider-Man team-up, which had plenty of banter between the two heroes. Not much special aside from some fun action and quips.

The last story was Moon Knight officially joining the Avengers to take down some pirates. This was a meh story. The action wasn't thrilling and there wasn't a whole lot in the way of Moon Knight interacting with the team.

In short, the Moon Knight v. Deadpool story was awesome, but unfortunately everything else is 'meh' from then on out. Luckily, it still isn't cranked up to 11 in edginess. Unfortunately, nothing stands out in an otherwise tame adventure.

[Silas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The previous volume was clearly written by someone who cared a great deal about the character of Moon Knight and his history, so I was keen to read the next adventure. This volume... it just isn't as good. I feel like maybe the first volume didn't perform very well, so they canceled it, and farmed out the remaining issues to someone else. The first few issues are a crossover story with Deadpool that is kind of basic and aren't as well characterized as the previous volume. This continued through a crossover issue with Spider-Man, and then a Secret Avengers story from Moon Knight's perspective. This volume is more of a team up book with a variety of stories, and a lot of things that feel pretty off-brand for Moon Knight... and then it's over. I was rather disappointed in this volume after a promising previous one, and nearly gave this one star, but bumped it up to two, because it isn't a total disaster, it is just pretty bland and shallow, but does still make sense, and although the art style isn't one I am very keen on, it is still clear enough to understand.

[Jason Tanner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, that was real bad. Bad as in boring. Bad as in had nothing to say. Bad as in ugly artwork. Bad as in halfass plotting.

The first Hurwitz TPB was pretty interesting, in the sense that MK was clawing his way back towards respectability in the hero community, rejecting Khonshu's murderous wishes, and just barely keeping himself under control. I was hoping the second book would delve further into that characterization.

It didn't.

It paid lip service to the concept, sure, but only just. The book read like Hurwitz lost interest after the check cleared and threw some words together that more or less resembled villain-of-the-week stories, peppered in Deadpool and Spider-Man for minimal sales boost, and called it a day.

Honestly, the Secret Avengers tale at the end was probably the best of the bunch, but even it is half-baked and ugly as sin.

This was disappointing, especially considering how damn hard it was to find this book for even a halfway reasonable price.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I often don't love Moon Knight stories w/ guest stars, Hurwitz's Moon Knight run started off promising w/ great Jerome Opeña & an interesting new spin on MK. This volume falls apart w/ wretched crossovers w/ Deadpool & the Secret Avengers. By far the worst run on MK to this point in history, even worse than Terry Kavanagh's dire run in the late days of Marc Spector: Moon Knight; however, I'd still rather read this than the awfulness of Bendis!'s, Lemire's, or Bemis's later Moon Knight runs

[Eric Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series loses its effectiveness as it continues into the 2nd volume. Even with some guest stars to help bolster the story, it falls a bit flat. I did enjoy some of the back and forth between Deadpool and Moon Knight (the 2 craziest characters in Marvel?) but it's not enough to push it any higher in overall readability. If you read part one then you probably should read this to complete it but you really won't miss anything if you skip it.

Art is okay, but I liked the first artist more.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a letdown from the first volume, especially since it doesn't continue where the previous left off. Instead, we get Moon Knight squaring off against Deadpool (ok, especially the ending), a decent team-up with Spider-Man, and one with the Avengers. The Deadpool issues have weaker art, but a stronger story, while the other two issues have great Juan Jose Ryp art, but rather bland & forgettable stories.

[Darkcharade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I echo what many other readers already said. This feels somewhat Hodge podge. It is exceedingly short and has basically no character growth or development. This seems like a time where marvel simply didn't know what to do with the character. Pitting him against Deadpool was interesting but ultimately unfulfilling.

[Jim Stout]

Great run!

Hurwitz and crew deliver Moon Knight in his finest form, and relatively mentally controlled, too. This is new MK material for me, but it holds up as dark avenger, protector, responsible crime fighter. Good to see he had more good experiences with Frenchy, Marlene, Ray, and Crowley before things went out of control again.

[ISMOTU · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back half of this series is just guest star after guest star. Deadpool, Spider-Man, and finally the first iteration of the Secret Avengers. It is interesting to see how the depiction of Khonshu has evolved in Moon Knight's 21st century adventures but this volume was a bit of a letdown.

[Kya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Deadpool team up issues sucked, the Spider-Man team up issue was a 10/10 & the final avengers team up thing was alright. Not as good as the first 6 issues but also it was all literally just crossovers kinda bad ending I wish the series just finished at issue 6

[Kaiulani · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - forgettable odds and ends stories.

[Pádraic · Rating 1 out of 5]

Featuring a rare appearance of Deadpool I don't entirely hate, but I do hate everything else about this, particularly the 'Team Player' issue at the end.