Only 13 days until Moon Knight drops on Disney+ and it seems I’m continuing my binge, scrounging for anything MK related that I can get my hands on. This week’s review is of Moon Knight Vol 2: Reincarnations by Jeff Lemire, the sequel to Moon Knight Vol 1: Lunatic which I reviewed three weeks ago.
In general, I think I enjoyed this volume more than the first, even though I believe even less context is given (at least in the beginning) for what is happening than in Lunatic. However, this time I was a little more familiar with things, as I had just come off of Essential Moon Knight Volume 1. The disparate members of MK’s team — Crawley, Gena and Frenchie — had much more emotional impact now that I had at least some semblance of a history between these characters.
The same is doubly true for any villains that show up. Moon Knight seems to have a pretty large cast of villains over the years, and I’m curious how the writer decided which one to bring back for this volume. Assuredly, it probably has to do with that villain’s significance within the Moon Knight cannon, but from what I’ve read so far, he didn’t seem any more important than any others and in some cases way less important. Maybe Lemire just liked that one . . . ?
Anyway, I also thought it was interesting that the story shows us which of MK’s personas arrived first, and gives us a little bit of history of the main character. In terms of the history of the comic (IRL), I’m not sure when “Mr. Knight” becomes one of the alters but I’m curious since I though his persona replaced Steven Grant in the role of millionaire playboy. This does not seem to be the case in Reincarnations as Grant is very much a part of the story.
My only disappointment reading was a bit of a bait-and-switch in the opening which (I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say) at first seems to depict Moon Knight fighting with Ramses, the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. I was stoked to be in Ancient Egypt, but it ends up being the set of a movie production. While I was disappointed at first, I came around to actually enjoying it as it presented an opportunity to poke fun at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all the more ironic with Moon Knight‘s impending release on Disney+
Read?
Much like I said in my review of Vol 1: Lunatic, I think this series will give much more enjoyment if you have some Moon Knight history under your belt to give everything context. If you don’t have that history, it’s going to seem quite strange and very weird, but I think perhaps still enjoyable. Certainly a wild ride.
I’ve already got Moon Knight Volume 3: Birth and Death from the library, so I’m going to continue with this run.
My final pitch for Reincarnations however is just three words: WERWOLVES IN SPACE! If that doesn’t convince you one way or the other, then you’re on your own hahah.
Anyway, that’s all I got for this week. What did y’all think of this one? Too much? Not enough? Confusing? Or just right? I’m leaning towards just right. Leave me your thoughts and opinions in the comments!
See you next time!
alligators and aneurysms! 