Every time Disney Plus comes out with a new Marvel show, I think there is no way it could be better than the last. Yet they keep proving me wrong. Moon Knight is only halfway through the series and it has already surpassed my expectations. Sorry Hawkeye, Moon Knight is my favorite now.
Disney took a relatively unknown character from Marvel comics and gave him a new life in the MCU. The writing is fantastic and Oscar “Daddy” Isaac’s acting is masterful. As with all book-to-screen remakes, there are a few differences between the show and the source material. One change is Moon Knight’s alternate form, Mr. Knight and his beautifully tailored suit.
The Steven Grant Special
In the show, Marc Spector is the highly skilled mercenary that can easily shift into Moon Knight’s full suit (complete with cape). Marc’s other personality is the opposite. Steven Grant is a sweet cinnamon roll that needs to be protected, not out there fighting villains. By day, he works at a museum gift shop. He is not ready for hand-to-hand combat. In fact, he often stops Marc from committing violence. However, being part of the Moon Knight package, sometimes he has to fight too.
When Steven controlled their body, he had to summon the suit. Not knowing what the suit looked like, he thought of a posh and neat dress suit—not a superhero costume. Steven Grant’s version of Moon Knight is the sharp-dressed Mr. Knight. He looks a lot better than he fights.
The Original Style
The Moon Knight character first appeared in comics in 1975. Yet it wasn’t until 2014 that the Mr. Knight version emerged. In Moon Knight’s sixth solo series, creators Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, and Jordie Bellaire redefined the character. Marc Spector went back to simple crime-fighting in New York, trying to distance himself from cosmic upheavals.
With his new down-to-earth attitude, he needed a look change, hence his crisp and refined suit. Mr. Knight gave Marc Spector a serious tone as he worked with homicide detectives to solve crimes. He became more of a detective and less of a vigilante. Mr. Knight held back his violent impulses and tried to restrain enemies rather than obliterating them as Moon Knight might do.
Same Suit, Different Guy
The costume department on Moon Knight did a fantastic job bringing the suit to life. It looks almost identical to the one in the comics. It is just a different guy wearing it. As the MCU committed to keeping Marc’s identities separate, they made the Mr. Knight suit connected to Steven Grant only. Although it varies from the comics, I like that they gave audiences an easy visual cue to know which personality is behind the mask.
Even though the man in the suit may be different, they kept the intent behind the look the same. Steven Grant is adept at solving puzzles and avoids violence, much like the “detective” aspect of Mr. Knight in the comics. Marc Spector is all about action and going big, matching the traditional dramatic flair of the regular Moon Knight costume.
Moon Knight in any form is entertaining, but the Mr. Knight look has something extra special about it. Maybe it is the gloves, or the vest, or just the way Oscar Isaac wears it. I’m just happy we get to see more of Mr. Knight for the rest of the series.
(featured image: Disney Plus/Marvel)
