"Marc Spector: Moon Knight," #1 is a Great Comic With an Unnecessary Renumbering

Jed MacKay has been writing the character of Moon Knight for a number of years and has created one of the best runs ever. However, because Marvel cannot help but relaunch books with new #1's next to a different title, his epic take on Moon Knight and his crew has been split up across various series, despite arguably being one big story. We had, "Moon Knight," followed by, "Vengeance of the Moon Knight," then, "Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu," which ended with Marc Spector apparently kidnapped and leads us into, "Marc Spector: Moon Knight," picking up in a manner that is friendly to new readers but clearly could have just been a new issues of the previous series. 

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that in this era of Marvel killing off books barely ten issues in, MacKay has been able to keep telling us superb stories with Moon Knight with minimal interference from editorial outside of when the book heavily linked to the vampire event, "Blood Hunt," but it made sense as MacKay also wrote that (and there was a brief tie-in with, "Devil's Reign," in the form of a one-shot that was good too). Here we are, though, with, "Marc Spector: Moon Knight," #1, giving us a heavily-drugged and confused Spector put into a strange fake life to trick him into revealing various secrets--until a former foe-turned-temporary-ally (Zodiac) appears at the end of the issue to, "Help." It's good stuff, and  Devmalya Pramanik is amazing, as many artists on these series have been. Paramanik keeps the feeling claustrophobic and tight with his art, making us feel uneasy and confused just like Spector/Moon Knight.

It is clear how I really enjoyed this issue, just as I have with anything Moon Knight-related created by MacKay and the assorted skilled artists he's worked with. The question remains, why is this a #1 issue? It is, at best, a new story arc. At least when, "Moon Knight," ended Marc Spector was temporarily dead with an imposter fighting his friends for much of, "Vengeance of the Moon Knight," until the Blood Hunt event brought Spector back. This new series just feels odd to give a new numbering, even if the series title, "Marc Spector: Moon Knight," is a fun throwback to the long-running 90's series many recall the later issues of fondly thanks to Stephen Platt's wild covers and artwork. Quibbles with renumbering aside, this is another amazing issue of a Moon Knight comic, whatever the official title may be. Whether you're starting with the series here or have read all of MacKay's work on the character, it remains stupendous stuff.

"Wolverine: Revenge," #1 is a Showcase for Capullo's Amazing Art and Little Else--But That's Okay!

Johnathan Hickman is a fantastic writer who at times seems to overshadow his artists in terms of billing. He'll have big dialogues, crazy charts he made, and all kinds of wild concepts. He wrote, "Wolverine: Revenge," but it seems like he didn't do any of his usual stylistic stuff, instead giving us a really bare-bones plot so that the artist involved can shine. That artist? Greg Capullo.

Greg Capullo is a modern master. He spent years doing, "Spawn," before giving us some utterly amazing, "Batman," comics as well as other fun DC works. Now, he's doing a Wolverine comic. The plot is out-of-continuity and is designed to serve as an excuse for him to draw what he wants, and I don't mind because this is Greg Capullo. Why does the debut issue of this comic open with Wolverine fighting Dinosaurs? He's on vacation, shut your brain up and enjoy it. Why is there the particular random line-up of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants we see? Because Omega Red and Deadpool look snazzy when Capullo draws them, so again, shut your brain up and have fun. The plot is nonsensical and serves as an excuse to draw dinos, snowy avalanches, and big explosions, but this is no place for logic, this is Hickman giving Capullo the space he needs to have all the fun he wants.

Wolverine and friends jumping out of an exploding Helicarrier for...reasons.

I am annoyed by the whole thing with the comic having a, "Regular," and, "Red Band," version as if Marvel expects me to buy both versions to enjoy all the possible Capullo artwork with some being a bit bloodier. Marvel started this trend with, "Blood Hunt," and has kept it going. Still, I previously said this seemed like a comic I would like, and besides the whole Red Band-version silliness I had a good time with this. The story was serviceable, and that's the point. Hickman knows even though we usually show up for him, this time we bought our metaphorical tickets to this show because of Capullo, and man did he deliver. Don't expect a masterpiece of scripting, but know your eyes will be pleased by the gorgeous illustrations. Four more issues are incoming and I'm sure they'll be lovely to witness as well!

4 out of 5 stars.

Marvel Has Annoyed Me With Their Special Editions of the, "Blood Hunt," Comic

I have zero issues with variant covers. If you want to shell out more money for a special cover, do it. I don't mind when comics are re-released with interesting bonus, "Behind the scenes," stuff like scripts or uncolored pages. However, Marvel is doing something new with their event comic, "Blood Hunt," that annoys me. The comic features the Avengers, X-Men, and Blade (among others) fighting vampires. That could be fun. Jed MacKay is writing it. That is a good sign too. Pepe Laraz is on the art--also good! However, Marvel will be doing a, "Red Band," edition themed for how R-rated movies get a Red Band trailer (and blood is red, so it is a little joke there) where comics that say, "Red Band," edition will be polybagged and have extra story pages featuring further vampire-fighting...and cost $2 more.

The standard first issue of, "Blood Hunt," will be an already pricey $6. I don't want to be charged two bucks extra to get the full story of a comic with all the pages. If you just wanted to change me two dollars more for a polybagged variant that would be fine as I can make a choice to simply skip such a thing. Telling me the whole story costs more is stupid and sets a dangerous precedent with comics though. I don't want to be told a comic is only $4, but for an extra buck I can get some prequel pages and for even more money I get an epilogue or something absurd in that manner. I don't like this and will be skipping this event due to my annoyance.