This week Marvel releases another issue in their “Acts Of Evil” campaign, pitting heroes against enemies they aren’t used to facing. MOON KNIGHT ANNUAL #1 sees Marc Spector on a chase through time against the mighty Kang The Conqueror.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Writer Cullen Bunn throws our favorite Marvel headcase on a mission through time. Kang tries to erase the existence of Khonshu and his loyal followers from time, but not without Khonshu’s lunar warriors putting up a fight.
Kang is an all-time great Marvel villain that spends more time on the shelf than others. This makes his appearance something special to pay attention to. Moon Knight is an underrated hero of the 616 universe that currently has no ongoing series. Together they undoubtedly warrant investigation.
Marc Spector’s adventure through all of time and space is a fast-paced blast with old school appeal. This is a self-contained one-shot story that requires no previous reading and features no follow-up conclusion.
Cullen Bunn scripts a fun adventure that’s easy to digest. His voice for Marc Spector is rather dull but the story doesn’t call for much personality (or personalities). The main conflict is between Kang and Khonshu, with the many Moon Knights being merely tools.
Marvel’s “Acts Of Evil” is perfectly represented here, these two characters were not likely to clash otherwise and it’s a joy to see them on the page together. There’s no real compelling motivation for Kang to wipe out Khonshu and the moon worshipers–other than denying the idea of godhood itself. That doesn’t matter in a one-shot with a focus on quick fun though.
Moon Knight Annual #1’s biggest highlight comes from the efforts of artists Ibrahim Moustafa & Matt Horak with colors by Mike Spicer. Throughout this time adventure we’re treated to a number of interesting Moon Knights throughout history. Each and every one is distinct and pleasing to the eye.
The “on your left” moment at the end with all of the various Knights showing up to help Marc defeat Kang together is a predictable but satisfying conclusion. The different Moon Knights themselves are distinct in their respective eras but the environments we encounter them in have very little in both design and color to set them apart from one another.
Moon Knight’s installment in the “Acts Of Evil” campaign is a fun read. It’s not the most memorable tale but it definitely gets the job done in the over-sized annual format. If you’re a Moon Knight fan pining for a new series, this should help hold you over for now (also Kang rules!).
