For years, Moon Knight’s identities have taken over to protect him from harm, both physical and emotional. After convincing from his other personalities, Marc Spector lets them take control of his body and life at will. This newfound partnership proves fruitful as they not only find a way to stop the assassins sent by Tutor, but they successfully purge the vampire infestation in New York. Moon Knight #20, written by Jed MacKay with artwork from Alessandro Cappuccio and Rachelle Rosenberg and lettering by VC’s Cory Petit, brings back Marc’s Shadow Cabinet and features a Blade backup story from writer Danny Lore, artist Ray-Anthony Height with inking by Le Beau Underwood and Scott Hanna.
Moon Knight and his allies have successfully removed Tutor and his vampiric organization Structure. Still, there is plenty of work to be done. When members of his Shadow Cabinet begin to be picked off one after another by mysterious assassins, Moon Knight, Tigra, Hunter’s Moon, Reese, and Soldier, try to save whoever they can. The backup story takes fans back to the ’70s when Blade first meets a Fist of Khonshu on an action-packed vampire-hunting adventure.
Moon Knight #20 starts with a bang, quite literally. The in medias res opening serves a twofold purpose: hooking the reader with a shocking development and grabbing the attention of the fearsome protagonist. A thrilling chase here, a few deaths there — MacKay creates the perfect atmosphere for a police procedural complete with big explosions and moments of epiphany. Between 8-Balls’ inherent goofiness and Reese’s keen detective skills, the supporting cast steals the show. The final few pages of the backup story have Blade on the ropes. In the backup story, Lore puts Blade on the defensive, opens a door to the past, and introduces a new Fist of Khonshu named Denise.
Darkness and shadows creep out from all corners of Moon Knight #20 through artist Alessandro Cappuccio’s stylization, following a radial pattern that makes every panel pop. Rachelle Rosenberg’s ethereal colors and studio-style lighting makes Moon Knight a shining ghost-like figure shrouded in mystery. Although there are plenty of violent moments, the artwork never exploits this. The Dutch angles used throughout dramatize Moon Knight’s every looming step. In the backup story, Ray-Anthony Height’s illustrations perfectly captures Blade and the priest of Khonshu getting their hands dirty. Meanwhile, letterer Cory Petit perfectly follows the action with his speech balloons.
Moon Knight #20 is a culmination of the progress that the titular hero has made until now, showing how far Marc has come as a character. He’s learned to truly rely on his friends and understands that punching isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the root of a problem lies deep in the psyche, and trusting others is the key to finding a solution. This thematic approach to trust also extends to the backup story, ending the issue on a vibrant note.
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