Moon Knight's Bloody Return: Why He's NOT Avenger Material!
Moon Knight: A Superhero with a VERY Dark Secret
Moon Knight (aka Marc Spector) is Marvel's ultimate complicated hero. Most people focus on his dissociative identity disorder (DID). But his biggest problem? A serious addiction. And guess what all his alters agree on? They LOVE violence. This deep, problematic truth is what's really fueling everything shown in the recent issue, Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #1 (Jed MacKay, art by Alessandro Cappuccio). This brutal, self-destructive addiction really does shape his actions; something explored throughout this issue which could create many more complicated problems and stories later on!
This issue follows Moon Knight’s return after sacrificing himself for his buddies. He’s resurrected with this newfound devotion to Khonshu and that bloody vengeance, returning exactly like he is in the earlier appearances! Embracing violence with full gusto means he can’t be an Avenger! His methods involve the use of an incredibly lethal method; far beyond most Marvel heroes; using extreme, highly brutal methods to overcome opponents is the core problem for Moon Knight’s continued operation and is the issue for considering his status as an Avenger; his style runs counter to that typical hero.
Moon Knight's "Addiction" to Violence
He is called "The Fist of Khonshu" for good reason: Khonshu is the God of Vengeance, needing incredibly extreme methods to protect night travelers; that's what makes the difference and separates this hero from others; using “lethal justice.” Most Marvel heroes like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wasp refuse to kill. Moon Knight’s violent acts justify his own behavior, using a religiously based justification that is typically unseen and not used outside his role. The interesting bond between Moon Knight (especially his Mr. Knight persona) and Khonshu (they have that almost father-son bond) helps him justify and make light of those deeply problematic actions which is what enables some kind of release, giving closure from this self-inflicted guilt which enables the violent side for Moon Knight to flourish!
This isn’t the first admission of his “addiction.” He previously talked about how he craves transforming his pure-white suit with the blood of enemies. He has now embraced the dark thrill, stating in that particular comic issue, that "I like it when they see me coming," which only shows exactly what his primary enjoyment really is! He's got a clear taste for pain, brutality, and inflicts terror through such incredibly extreme methods.
Why the Avengers FEAR Moon Knight (and Why It Makes Total Sense!)
The Avengers have strong negative feelings about Moon Knight—the dude’s excessive violence and devoted worship of Khonshu give him a reputation of total unpredictability; not helped by his past actions and behaviors which continue to be important considerations in making decisions for this character. They viewed him as a volatile risk; they think he's completely unreliable and a force of chaos that might betray humanity for a powerful Elder God! That concern is a totally logical point!
The irony’s fantastic though: The Avengers have other members with similarly violent or extreme tendencies! Yet those questionable people involved still maintain important, valid contributions toward the group’s ongoing goals, providing a very important element and justification towards using that similar methodology even towards Moon Knight, even with his various negative points! This makes his return; his reinvigorated brutality something all these people involved should think seriously about.
Conclusion: Will Moon Knight Ever Become an Avenger?
Moon Knight’s “addiction” to violence? It might be fun. His unyielding worship and commitment to Khonshu makes an incredibly tense story and an even more interesting development which opens even more complex storylines! But he simply remains not cut out for the Avengers—his methods, his core being and that violent approach directly conflicts and disrupts most Avenger's ideologies. His brutal methods; that deep satisfaction felt only when inflicting intense amounts of pain makes him inherently dangerous and problematic in many different scenarios. So whether he ultimately joins, we should consider that these things are still hugely meaningful, especially concerning what exactly Moon Knight might represent across various narratives and contexts.
