As theMoon Knightseries steadily unfolds before our eyes on Disney+, we’ll learn more about the character and what challenges may lie waiting for him. Because of the first episode, one key piece of information that we did get was thatMoon Knightis a story that will be told from the middle, like some Christopher Nolan-type mental game. But because of the screenwriters' choice to tell the story in this way, we won’t be getting an origin story for this character in a familiar way. No origin story typically means no central, directly opposed nemesis.
So what will the villains ofMoon Knightlook like? Many comic book nerds already know a few names that might drop in the series. Still, with this interesting choice in narrative design, the way is clouded even for those with the ancientknowledge of comic book literacy. The show introduces Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) as our protagonist, who, though Moon Knight still has Dissociative Identity Disorder in the comics, isn’t even the main personality of the hero. He’s not even the weak, underfoot character we see in the show. Steven Grant is meant to be thecharming billionaire Bruce Wayne to Moon Knight’s Batman. But that’s not even the start of what mysteries may lie ahead for our aspiring museum tour guide.
Arthur Harrow
In the first episode, Ethan Hawke’s character, Arthur Harrow, is dangled right before us to be the apparent bad guy for the series. And his definition of “glass slipper” is frightening. Ammit, the god Harrow represents, is an evil character in the books and does oppose Khonshu, Moon Knight’s divine benefactor. But the character of Arthur Harrow is nowhere near as significant in the comics as he is in the show. Far from being a cult leader with the ability to judge people’s souls, Arthur Harrow is a scientist who studies pain in the books. Although the pain element is a suitable line to draw between the characters, there isn’t much else that the two have in common. Harrow appeared in one comic as a scientist experimenting on humans and then was never really explored again.
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The plot may thicken when one considers a fan theory/unconfirmed leak that came out before theMoon Knighttrailer was released. This bit of information was thatEthan Hawke was likely to play Randall Spectoror Marc Spector’s (Moon Knight’s) brother. Though now this seems spurious, considering that Randall was a member of the Cult of Khonshu and was granted abilities (like unbreakable skin) by the Princess Nephthys. Although he never had a relationship with Ammit in the comics, he does give off the cult vibe. In the books, he was fooled into believing that he was Khonshu’s next avatar on Earth and therefore was meant to replace his brother. This leads him to take on the identity of Shadow Knight. It would be very cool if Ethan Hawke were a red herring, and we got to see a Moon Knight/Shadow Knight showdown.
Other Possibilities
Aside from the mystery of Arthur Harrow, some, if not all, ofMoon Knight’s biggest villains have yet to be even hinted at. Bushman is traditionally known to be Moon Knight’s biggest nemesis. In the origin of the superhero, which may be revealed as we go on due to creative narrative choices, Bushman is famed for defeating or possibly killing Marc Spector in Africa. This leads the great Khonshu to revive our hero and bestow his powers on him in the first place. So if anyoneshould have been put in an Easter egg, it should have been this guy. During Marc Spector’s adventures in Africa, protecting an archeologist and his daughter, Bushman, a mercenary similar to Marc at the time, killed the archeologist for the artifacts he had uncovered. Moon Knight would eventually pursue Bushman after he had declared himself dictator of a small African nation.
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Of course, if we are to consider theMCUas a whole, another interesting theory arises. Taskmaster is on the loose! Having recently been freed by Black Widow in her movie of the same name, no one knows where she might go now that she is free of the Red Room and her mind control. Taskmaster and Moon Knight meet in the comics, and Marc Spector’s history as a mercenary would put them in similar circles, though it’s hard to say given how the writers have handled Steven Grant.
Another villain fans are dying to see is Dracula, a Marvel villain with a great reputation. With the corporate announcements ofBladebeing worked into the MCU, and the Easter egg coming fromEternals, hardcore fans are begging to see the villain appear soon. Though it is unlikely he will confront Moon Knight, the internet is alive with ideas of how he should. What will most likely happen is an expansion of the concept of the Ennead, the pantheon of Egyptian gods that Steven drew our attention to in the first episode. Along with calling it a “supergroup,” he pointed out that two of the gods were missing from the posters. So it’s quite possible that Steven is just another human caught up in a game that transcends the mortal world.
