Moon Knight #14 Review

Written by: Jed MacKay
Art by: Alessandro Cappuccio
Colors by: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover art by: Stephen Segovia, Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: August 3, 2022

Moon Knight #14 sits down with a heart-to-heart-to-heart talk between Marc, Steven, and Jake to decide just who is in control and whether or not a change in leadership is needed. Meanwhile, the talk inside Moon Knight’s head calmly continues while Moon Knight is in a fight for his life against Nemean and Grand Mal.

Is It Good?

Moon Knight #14 comes across as a setup issue where the different personalities in Moon Knight’s head debate over who’s in control, who should be in control, and why. On the one hand, you make a strong case that this is a breather issue because not much happens to further the plot of Moon Knight’s conflict with Tutor and the vampires. On the other hand, there’s a glimmer of an idea that MacKay is inching towards shaking up Moon Knight’s status quo. This issue suggests importance but doesn’t quite succeed.

We begin with a three-way debate between Marc Spector, Jake Lockley, and Steven Grant within the recesses of Moon Knight’s mind. Topics range from friends, networking, the desire to be loved, and the desire to “be normal.” In the final analysis, the trio decides being a better Moon Knight is better than keeping up appearances, but how being a better Moon Knight is achieved doesn’t become clear in this issue.

In the physical world, Moon Knight is attacked by Nemean and Grand Mal during a rooftop patrol. The advantage in the fight waffles back and forth, but Moon Knight eventually comes up the loser. Before the deadly duo can deliver a killing blow, Moon Knight is saved by Hunter’s Moon and Tigra at the same time Marc, Jake, and Steven agree that working together is the right path. The double meaning hits with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

Perhaps the issue would have more impact if the new “agreement” between Marc, Jake, and Steven was manifested by the end of the fight with some kind of level-up for Moon Knight, but as it is, the issue serves as little more than a setup for the future. Whether or not MacKay can pay it off is TBD.

Cappuccio’s art is generally good in this issue. Most of the issue is a series of cut scenes between the different personalities talking with one another, and the fight scene barely takes up a quarter of the issue, so there’s not much to see. Cappuccio makes the art work to keep some visual interest with interesting panel angles, enhanced by Rosenberg’s excellent coloring.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Moon Knight #14 is half a step above a breather issue with an interesting conversation between Moon Knight’s multiple personalities as they debate the merits of their relationship and decide on a new way to live. There’s almost no progress on the plot, but there’s enough potential for a new status quo to feel like this issue is leading you somewhere.