What the-?! Are we back already? The last issue was two weeks ago, but here we are again for the next chapter of Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu. Although I wasn’t expecting the followup so soon, it’s a welcome surprise.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #5!
Drug kingpin Achilles Fairchild has seemingly won. After destroying Moon Knight’s base, the Midnight Mission, and forcing him and his comrades underground, Marc Spector is on the back foot. But we all know better than that – there’s no way our favorite lunar lunatic is going to give up. Luckily, last issue ended with Marc challenging Fairchild to a fistfight after pushing his allies away. There’s no way this blows up in Marc’s face…right?
The swagger of this man.
Marvel Comics
After going over the “lessons” of his own scars – marks on his body that Khonshu kept after each resurrection – Moon Knight walks into the fight ready to make mincemeat of Fairchild’s face. Unsurprisingly, the fight takes up most of this issue (not a complaint). We see that during all this, Marc’s allies are out there still serving the people. After goading one another about needing a ref, Fairchild says they’ll thrown down at the ding of the bell. To which Moon Knight replies:
This was the point that I took my shirt off and cheered.
Marvel Comics
This issue’s side story with Marc’s supporting cast has some interesting developments of its own. Tigra and Reese are seemingly at one another’s throats as they try and keep Moon Knight’s mission alive. The group happens upon Detective Frazier among the Vermin corpses from last issue. The handcuffed Frazier shouts about how Moon Knight said he was “going to end it,” and that “he told me he was protecting all of you.” This group knows Marc, so of course they have looks of shock and dismay knowing he probably is off doing something stupid and violent. After Moon Knight seemingly beats the ever-loving snot out of Fairchild, he suddenly stops taking the beating and stands up tall, like none of it really ever fazed him. After admitting he was giving Moon Knight the rope-a-dope treatment, Fairchild responds with this own “ding.”
It was at this point, dear reader, that my eyes went wide and I said “oh no” out loud. As Fairchild continues on to beat Moon Knight, he talks with Khonshu and they notice Fairchild has no scars – no “education.” Being the Marvel universe, Moon Knight deduces his opponent must have powers. Wrong. Fairchild goes on to explain that what Moon Knight does know about him isn’t a lie. He really did grow up on a simple farm. But that farm? It wasn’t on Earth. The mic drops as the issue ends and Fairchild reveals he’s Asgardian.
Although the release schedule for this comic surprised me (the next one isn’t out for another three weeks), it was a welcome one. MacKay pulled off writing a tense and interesting fight while also making sure we keep caught up with the supporting cast as they realize their friend has made a stupid mistake. The issue was both short but also rewarding story-wise. The tension remains high in both the physical fight and the B plot.
Now on to the visuals because, my god, this issue was a standout for them. Devmalya Pramanik flexes much like his subjects and gorgeously renders two jacked dudes beating the absolute stuffing out of one another. Not to mention Pramanik keeps up with the side story and you can really feel the rising tension between Reese and Tigra. Some could say this issue was a simple fight and nothing more, but they’re missing the fact that it was a showcase for Pramanik as he made every panel count and be felt by the reader. The panels where Moon Knight’s eyes go wide and Fairchild says, “Careful, Mr. Knight. You’re liable to strain something,” and it zooms in on Fairchild’s smirk? It felt straight out of a manga. The drama of it all was incredibly effective.
Rachelle Rosenberg continues her amazing work as her reds create a sinister atmosphere while Moon Knight’s whites cut through it like a visual badass. Special shoutout to letterer VC’s Cory Petit. The switch from Fairchild speaking plainly with regular letters into the fancier Asgardian font at the reveal? Inspired.
Five issues in and MacKay and co. are seemingly not letting off the gas when it comes to action and wild reveals. Although I can see some complaining the issue feels short since it focuses on one fight, the revelation therein keeps me wanting more. Whatever comes, MacKay and Pramanik are a team that promise to make you feel every punch in this book. I can’t wait to see how Marc’s team will react to him being such a stubborn dumbass and just how badly he’s about to be beaten by an Asgardian.
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