Warning: contains potential spoilers for Ultimate Black Panther #1!An iconic MCU hero has just turned into a villain, as Marvel has given him a new mission, and a horrifying new weapon. In a preview for Ultimate Black Panther #1, readers meet a bold new take on not only the Black Panther, but also Moon Knight. This new Moon Knight kicks off the book in style by invading Wakanda, using a terrifying weapon as he does.
The preview for Ultimate Black Panther #1, written by Bryan Hill and drawn by Stefano Caselli, opens at an archeological dig somewhere in West Africa. They are then attacked by Moon Knight’s shock troopers, who disintegrate the workers with a powerful new weapon. Two unknown people observe the slaughter, and one of them nearly intervenes. The other holds them back, saying that while they are currently dealing with Ra and Khonshu’s anger, the invaders will soon face Wakandan justice.
Meanwhile, Black Panther stirs in his palace, aware that something is amiss.
The New Ultimate Moon Knight is Bad News
The New Moon Knight Takes Marc Spector’s Mission to the Extreme
The new, and even darker, take on Moon Knight is but one of the many exciting revamps that have come out of Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe. Last year, Jonathan Hickman helped revive the concept, updating it to reflect the current world situation. The Maker, the last survivor of the original Ultimate Universe, located an Earth in the multiverse that he began reshaping to his liking. The Maker installed a series of ruling families, all loyal to him, to control the Earth. Among them are Ra and Khonshu, two beings who make up the new Moon Knight.
The Moon Knight of Earth-616 has a reputation for brutality and violence, but his Ultimate counterparts take it to new levels. The new Moon Knight is not only an avatar of Khonshu, but also draws power from the god Ra as well. Working in tandem, the two beings who comprise the Ultimate Moon Knight ruthlessly massacre innocent people with their new weapon. Moon Knight’s troopers indiscriminately kill, disintegrating the workers and setting fire to the dig site. Why Ra and Khonshu are attacking Wakanda is not revealed in the preview, but it is clear a war is now on.
Moon Knight’s Turn to Villainy Makes for Risky, but Compelling, Stories
The New Moon Knight is a Genocidal Maniac
Turning an MCU icon like Moon Knight into a cold-blooded villain is a risky move, but Hill and Casselli make it believable, and downright terrifying. The new Moon Knight lacks Marc Spector’s humanity, and has fully embraced the dual missions of Ra and Khonshu. This has led to a campaign of bloodshed and terror against Wakanda, and the nation will most certainly retaliate. The balance of power in the new Ultimate Universe is fragile, and Moon Knight may be ready to disrupt it even further with his new mission and weapon.
Ultimate Black Panther #1 is on sale February 7 from Marvel Comics!
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