Painting By The Numbers — Reviewing ‘Strange Academy: Moon Knight’ #1

Math. A constant foe to so many students but also possibly the greatest threat to the Marvel Universe. Well, magical math at least.

Strange Academy: Moon Knight #1 continues the latest adventure of the students who call the magical academy home. It’s the second of three issues coming from Carlos Hernandez, Julian Shaw, Edgar Delgado, and Clayton Cowles.

Oh, I wish I could say I liked this issue. I fell deeply in love with these characters and their world over the last few years. Unfortunately, this offshoot of the main storyline is screaming ‘after-school special’ with every turn of the page. Not in a good way either.

Let’s start with the visuals, a brighter spot for the issue.

While there is something lost with the change from Humberto Ramos, what Shaw does here is interesting. His work has a more general superhero aesthetic which fits the focus of this series. Plenty of detail and depth along with a smoothness bring life to the math-centric storyline. Some good paneling choices bring more kinetic energy to the proceedings, even the quieter moments.

Delgado remains from the previous run and delivers that proverbial punch with the chosen color palette. Plenty of bright colors and some good to great shadowy, setting the tone, work. It’s not as whimsical and magical as the color choices made in the previous volume. That’s because Delgado matches the tone/focus of the artwork on the page and does that well.

Just like the last issue, there is a lot of exposition. Just… so much talking. Cowles works to make sure it doesn’t overwhelm the pages and has some of the usual pops of fun and creative energy. Tossing in various colors, bubble shapes, and more to retain some of what the series had previously.

Look, I get what Hernandez is trying here. The idea of math and magic being a powerful combination is an intriguing hook. The problem is that it just feels so heavy-handed and preachy in some ways. This new villain Equation is very much the “I’m a villain because my ideas would make things so great, but I’m doing it in a terrible way” mold. Of course, we know he’s a villain because he’s willing to sacrifice children, cackling as he does so, in order to enact his dastardly plan.

Capturing the energy of specific characters and runs is tough. Yet, one of the issues here is that Miles and now Moon Knight feel like impersonators of what we’re seeing in their books and other appearances. Just sort of them here to be here without any of the energy that makes their character resonate. What should be a fun romp through the Marvel Universe with new & old characters just feels like being stuck in school on a Saturday.

Strange Academy: Moon Knight #1 is now available from Marvel Comics.