A new piece of fan art pitting Batman against Moon Knight hilariously mocks their glaring similarities. The two heroes share just enough similarities for some fans to write Moon Knight off as “Marvel’s version of Batman.” While this debate will continue for years to come, acclaimed artist Kerry Callen has created a new piece that shows the two grim avengers of the night in a pose-off.
Kerry Callen unveiled the piece, which began as a commission for a fan, in a post on Instagram. Callen prefaced the piece by saying the fan left the situation up to him, as long as it starred Moon Knight and Batman. The piece shows Batman on a ledge, with a full moon and a city skyline behind him, telling Moon Knight he is “going to pose in front of the full moon.” Moon Knight replies: “no! I am! Find a gargoyle.”
Both heroes look as if they are about to come to blows.
Moon Knight Is NOT Marvel’s Version of Batman
Moon Knight and Batman’s Similarities Are Only on the Surface
Since Moon Knight’s debut in Werewolf By Night #32, the character has been dogged by accusations of being a Batman knock-off, a highly unfair analysis. There are similarities between the two: both are brooding heroes with no super-powers who rely on high-tech gadgets in their war on crime. Both Batman and Moon Knight dress similarly as well, wearing masks to obscure their identities and both wear long, flowy capes. Both also have a butler that tends to them. The similarities between the two heroes are surface level at best.
The two heroes are separated by a good number of differences. First and foremost, Moon Knight is not above using lethal force, something Batman shuns. Next, Moon Knight has multiple identities, each one with its own purpose and role to play. Moon Knight’s dissociative identity disorder is a play on the dual nature of Batman: a billionaire playboy in the public eye and a dark, driven hero on the other. Through his dissociative identity disorder, Moon Knight takes Batman’s secret identity up a notch. The two heroes have vastly different motivations for their war on crime as well.
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Kerry Callen Pokes Gentle Fun at the Batman versus Moon Knight Debate
Comparing Batman and Moon Knight Short Sells Both Characters
Writing Moon Knight off as Marvel’s Batman undersells the character, but in this new piece of fan art, Kerry Callen has a good laugh at this ongoing feud. Batman can often be found brooding on the rooftops of Gotham City, sometimes on a gargoyle. Callen, acknowledging the similarities between the two, puts Moon Knight in a situation not unlike Batman’s. The two heroes are engaged in a turf war, it is only for a place to brood. Kerry Callen finds the humor in the eternal Batman versus Moon Knight debate, creating an insightful piece in the process.
