Moon Knight Season 1 (blu-ray TV series review).
I remember when Moon Knight first hit the stands in his own comic book in the early 1980s, and actually meeting its artist, Bill Sienkiewicz, at a London Comic Con. This was long before his art took, shall we say, a different direction. Moon Knight the character had multiple identities. Not only did he appear in his white zoot suit, but also as millionaire Steven Grant and mercenary Marc Spector, not to mention various undercover identities matching different occupations while looking for information. Although never said outright, he really was Marvel’s version of a certain Dark Knight.
This TV version came out in 2022 and was released in China by 2022 Productions. I waited patiently to get a copy at the right price rather than pay some of the higher prices being asked. Look around, because they can be found cheaper, and it will run on the right Blu-ray player without any setting changes, although you will have to turn off the Chinese subtitles unless you happen to need them.
This time, Steven Grant (actor Oscar Isaac) isn’t rich but a museum gift shop employee who frequently goes missing. Even he doesn’t know what happens when he does. Marc Spector is more of an enigma and certainly more combat-worthy than Grant, as he is a mercenary. Moon Knight himself is an avatar for the moon god Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham), although the Egyptian gods each have one of their own.
The fourth episode goes a bit bizarre when Grant wakes up in a mental hospital with his ankle tied to a chair. His escape, helped by Spector’s wife, Layla El-Faouly (actress May Calamawy), eventually takes them to Egypt and Alexander the Great’s burial place. The Moon Knight persona doesn’t appear all that much, but his costume is a good match for the comic book version. The one on the box cover is actually Mr. Knight, the persona Grant can call up.
Hope you’re a credits buff. With the last episode, keep watching for some extra footage.
Between the two discs, there are four extras. Although the titles are given in Chinese on the discs, the contents are actually in English. The first, on disc one, is a 64-minute ‘Making Of’ documentary looking at all aspects of producing the show in London and Budapest, the latter standing in for Egypt. When you’ve seen the credits list, I can well believe how much time and expense went into making the show. When you see the dedication from cast and production crew, it seems crazy that Marvel has taken a step back from doing TV shows when the likes of Moon Knight and She-Hulk show they can do them so well.
On the second disc, the first extra is six minutes about the Egyptian gods. The second is two minutes of gaffes. The third features scenes from episodes labelled ‘Don’t Go There’ and ‘Beating The Cycle’.
For six episodes, there is a lot to take in, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to watch them again at some point in case I missed something. I do find it odd that Spector and his associated identities are classed as a personality disorder. The majority of disguised super-heroes could probably be classified that way. Maybe Moon Knight was the first to have so many identities, but he can’t be the last, and using them is certainly a practical way to get information first- or second-hand. Going fully down the Egyptian gods route makes the series unique, but it also largely keeps out the rest of the Marvel Universe. Check your ankle before leaving this series.
GF Willmetts
August 2026
(pub: 2022 Productions, 2022. 2 UHD Blu-ray discs. 6 x approximately 50-minute episodes with extras. Price: varies, so shop around for the best deal. ASIN: MI660)
