Dedicated to the definitive superhero non-team.


Sunday, November 2, 2008

A Milestone with Moon Knight


Moon Knight could have made a great Defender. With his mystical background, nocturnal inclinations, silver costume, and handful of alter egos, he was like half the Defenders rolled into one.

Although Moon Knight thought highly of the team, the self-styled solo adventurer accompanied the Defenders for only five issues (#47-51), barely enough time to scratch the surface of the complex character.

This two-page Defenders spread comes from their milestone 50th issue. Hulk was the only original Defedner in the group at that point, with Valkyrie and Nighthawk as longtime members. Hellcat was still a new recruit, and Moon Knight fashioned himself as a temporary Defender.

7 comments:

The Groovy Agent said...

You are so right. At that time, Moon Knight fit right into the Defenders. I remember flipping out (as did many other readers) over MK, especially when Scorpio put him in that watery death-trap and asked MK if he had any last requests. MK cooly asked for a can of beer--which we later learned he used as a breathing apparatus to get out of the trap.

Great memories!

Peter Cooper said...

That WAS cool. Does anyone know if anything was done with (I think it was "Jack") Norris, Valkyrie's host body's husband, after he signed up with S.H.I.E.L.D? (Did he get in?)

Robert said...

Great website. And I agree that Moon Knight would have been very appropriate in the Defenders. Certainly better suited to that book than, ahem, West Coast Avengers. Not even Charlie Huston can erase the memory of that miscasting.

dave said...

and Moon Knight was co-created by longtime Defenders artist, Don Perlin - making him even more of a good fit for the book.

Unknown said...

I actually have the 50th issue of the defenders in mint condition and i think i have 47 with the first appearance of the moonknight arent these comics worth some money?

Scott said...

I love your Defenders blog. This is my fav Marvel team. I used to not think of Moon Knight as a Defenders since he had no plans to stick with the group. But, since he showed up in Fear Itself with the team, I'd say he counts as a Defender. He must have thought highly of the team to respond to Dr. Strange in the Fear Itself storyline.

Scott said...

I love your Defenders blog. I never used to think of Moon Knight as a Defender since he had no plans to stick with the team. But, since he responded to Doc Strange's call in the Fear Itself: The Deep, I'd call him a Defender now.