Let’s Go Slay The Dragon — Reviewing ‘Marc Spector: Moon Knight’ #7

Once again the Midnight Sons ride to deal with something supernaturally powerful, rallying behind the despondent and desperate Moon Knight. Those the white-clad vigilante loves and cares for the most are in the clutches of a possessive transdimensional living house…

First though, they have to slay the dragon, leading to the visually stunning and utterly dynamic Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7, from the always beyond amazing team of Jed MacKay, Devmalya Pramanik, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Cory Petit.

Hot damn is this book just beyond anything.

This is not a superhero book per se. Instead it deals with a lot of street level stuff alongside some very dark fantasy and supernatural elements. Moon Knight has no compunctions about finishing off threats, and often gives into his rage and blood lust when the chips are down. He’ll do right by those in his orbit and is trying to be better, but has a harder edge than most heroes.

Pramanik captures all that and so much more with every single panel and artistic stroke. Each image is carefully crafted with such inherent roughness inscribed into its very being. Not a touch of the dynamic energy and dense detail is lost in the sauce though. Nothing here is picture perfect or is made to appear similar to reality in most respects. No, it’s something bigger and bolder at work here.

There is a page here that showcases Daredevil’s acrobatic and sonar abilities, against the dragon Ginnarr, that is absolutely captivating and riveting. I would blow that page up and put it upon my wall to gaze upon daily in reverence. There are so many characters that would look beyond incredible rendered in the powerful and hefty style that Pramanik employs when the time comes that he is not longer working with Moon Knight.

A time that hopefully doesn’t come anytime soon.

Adding to that in equal levels are the color choices made by Rosenberg. She is able to match Pramanik’s energy beat for beat, hitting back with dark and rich coloring contrasting with lighter fiery vibrant tones. Things like Moon Knight’s white outfit or Ghost Rider’s flames or the magical energy of Clea are those things which bring a pop of energy to the page. They cut through the darkness to showcase the otherworldly aspects that make up these characters and their respective portions of the world.

It’s been five years and MacKay hasn’t lost a beat of his touch with the character. Marc Spector is just as messy, dark, and dynamic as the day that MacKay took the reigns. Sure, the character has grown and changed some in that time, but there are elements which remain true. While his recklessness and single-minded nature were more internally aimed at first, now those faults are brought to the forefront to protect others, chiefly the others that matter to him.

While it was clear that something was amiss at the end of the last issue, the way that it presents itself here is such a great cliffhanger twist. We know that Moon Knight can’t truly be betraying these other characters, one even has his own series currently, but the how and why of it all will be intriguing to see played out in the following issues.

Rounding out the quartet is Petit, the voice giver for this series. Visually the lettering is just as dynamic on every level, moving through the rest of the artwork with a swift and calculated power. He delivers such unique and inspired voices, utilizing various modifications and additions in order to bring that special spice.

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 is now available from Marvel Comics.