Spoilers ahead for both Moon Knight #3 and Kang the Conqueror #2!
In Moon Knight #3, on sale now in print and digital, Marvel reveals that Moon Knight might hold the key to defeating Kang once and for all. Recent events in both Moon Knight and the larger Marvel Universe have revealed that Khonshu, the character’s patron god, has had many champions throughout history—and they have a tangled and complicated history with Kang the Conqueror, one that could lead to his downfall.
In Egyptian mythology, Khonshu was the patron god of those who travel at night, but in modern times in Marvel comics, Khonshu chose mercenary Marc Spector to be his champion. Spector would fashion a number of alternate identities for himself, one of them the crime-fighter Moon Knight. Last year, he appeared in Avengers, in a story that saw the relationship between Khonshu and Spector radically change. Spector has drifted from Khonshu, but still honors his former patron god through his Midnight Mission. But not everyone is happy with Moon Knight’s career path, Hunter’s Moon being one of them. This new Fist of Khonshu takes on Moon Knight, revealing the history of the god’s champions. The issue is written by Jed MacKay, with art by Alessandro Cappuccio, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg and letters by Cory Petit.
Hunter’s Moon is not happy with Moon Knight and the path he has taken. Hunter’s Moon reminds him of the previous fists of Khonshu, a lineage stretching back to ancient Egypt. Hunter’s Moon also revealed that, as one of Khonshu’s champions, Moon Knight should have access to the memories of all those who came before him, including their fighting skills and information on their opponents.
So how does this spell potential doom for Kang? In Kang the Conqueror #2, also on sale now, a young Kang, still pure of heart with no shade of the tyrant he would become, travels back to ancient Egypt, where he meets Ravonna Renslayer, the Fist of Khonshu for her era, complete with an outfit resembling Moon Knight’s. If Hunter’s Moon is correct, then Moon Knight should be able to access Renslayer’s memories of Kang—including information on how to defeat him.
Furthermore, Kang spent considerable time in that era, both as the Scarlet Centurion or the pharaoh Rama-Tut. If the champions of Khonshu after Renslayer stayed local to Egypt, then there is the opportunity for even more encounters between Khonshu’s fists and some variant of Kang; which would give Moon Knight even more information on the villain. Conversely, Kang could potentially ask Moon Knight what happened to Renslayer, who he had fallen in love with and lost to Rama-Tut.
Readers have learned that Moon Knight is far from the first Fist of Khonshu—there have been many more, going back into ancient history, and this gives him an edge in beating Kang the Conqueror.
