Moon Knight [2021] #4 - Marvel Comics

MOON KNIGHT No. 4, December 2021

Proudly proclaiming “a guest appearance” by Tigra in both its pre-publication press release and stunning cover illustration by Steve McNiven, Jed McKay’s script for Issue Four of “Moon Knight” arguably lives up to its promise of providing the ex-Wackos with plenty of ‘screen time’ together. Yet whilst Greer Nelson’s character is definitely central to the main plot behind “Blackmail” by helping Marc Spector finally “look myself in the face” following his recent betrayal of “every friend I had on the Avengers on the say-so of an insane Moon God”, it is arguably a little disappointing that the pair don’t actually get to kick much ‘butt’ together during the adventure.

Happily however, that doesn’t mean for a moment that this comic’s titular character is in any way shy of throwing a punch, or hurling his deadly crescent moon blades single-handedly. Indeed, this twenty-page periodical’s highlight is debatably Moon Knight’s ferocious attack upon William Russo’s headquarters, and his subsequent battle with the facially-disfigured Jigsaw’s gun-toting henchmen. This action sequence is tremendously well-pencilled by Alessandro Cappuccio, and within the space of just ten panels aptly demonstrates just how acrobatically formidable the former West Coast Avenger actually is.

Likewise, the Canadian writer is very good at fleshing out the villain of the piece, and making Stuart Clarke actually appear capable of defeating Spector simply by ridding the costumed vigilante of the millions he has squirreled away to finance his “crime-fighting stuff.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rampage’s hold over the priest isn’t anywhere near as strong as the one-time hi-tech designer believes, as Marc genuinely doesn’t seem to care that his entire fortune is disappearing with every press of a button an increasingly panicky Clarke makes. But for those readers more invested in their personal wealth, the prospect of losing everything you’ve worked towards in an instant appears a truly terrifying situation. 

Helping add an extra notch of tension to this publication’s proceedings is Cappuccio’s aforementioned artwork, and ability to inject this comic’s cast with plenty of emotion. The genuine joy of Tigra’s face when she first encounters her old comrade-in-arms, as well as Reese’s pleasure at her mysterious bosses evident discomfort, are palpable. Albeit, it is almost certainly the loss of arrogant superiority across Clarke’s face when he realises he is completely at his opponent’s mercy, which truly shows how well the Italian can draw.

Writer: Jed MacKay, Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio, and Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg