Moon Knight Season 1 (blu-ray TV series review)
I remember when ‘Moon Knight’ first hit the stands in his own comicbook in the early 1980s and actually meeting its artist, Bill Siekiewitcz, at a London Comicon. This was long before his art took, shall we say, a different direction. Moon Knight the character had multiple identities. Not only in his white zootsuit but also as millionaire Steven Grant but also Marc Spector, not to mention various undercover names to match various occupations looking for information. Although never said, he really was Marvel’s version of a certain dark knight.
This TV version came out in 2022 and in a Chinese release by 2022 Productions. I waited patiently to get a copy at the right price rather than the higher prices some are sold at. Look around, they are cheaper and it will run on the right blu-ray player without any setting changes, although you will have to turn off the Chinese sub-titles unless you’re Chinese.
This time Steven Grant (actor Oscar Issac) isn’t rich but a museum giftshop employee who frequently goes missing. Even he doesn’t know what happens when it happens. Marc Spector is more of an enigma and certainly more combat worthy than Grant as he is a mercenary. Of course, Moon Knight himself as an aviator for the moon god Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham), but all the Egyptian gods each have one.
The fourth episode goes a bit bizarre when Grant wakes up in a mental home and his ankle tied to a chair. His escape, helped by Spector’s ex-wife, Layla El-Faouly (actress May Calamawy) has them ending up in Egypt and Alexander the Great’s burial place. The Moon Knight persona doesn’t appear much but his costume is a good match to the comicbook version. The one on the box cover is actually Mr. Knight and is the persona Grant can call up.
Hope you’re a credit buff. With the last episode, watch through for some extra footage.
Between the two disks, there are 4 extras. Although the titles are given in Chinese on the disks, the contents are actually in English. The first on disk one is a 64 minute documentary ‘Making Of’, looking at all aspects of making the show in London and Budapest, standing in for Egypt. When you’ve seen the credits list, I can well believe how much time and expense taken to make the show. When you see the dedication from cast and production, it seems crazy that Marvel have taken a step back from doing TV shows when the likes of ‘Moon Knight’ and ‘She-Hulk’ shows they can do them so well.
On the second disk, the first one is 6 minutes about Egyptian gods. The second is 2 minutes of gaffs. 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 off that Spector and his associates are classed as personality disorders. The majority of disguised super-heroes could all be classified as that. Maybe Moon Knight was the first with so many identities, but he can’t be the last and a practical way to get knowledge first or second-hand. Going fully the Egyptian gods route does make the series unique but also 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 disks 6* 50 minute episodes with extras. Price: varies. shop around for the best deal. ASIN: MI660)
