Moon Knight is about to become the Avengers next great threat. These are exciting times for the vigilante named Moon Knight. Marvel's April solicits confirm the Age of Khonshu is about to begin.
Originally introduced as a villain, Moon Knight morphed into Marvel's twisted version of Batman. The son of a Jewish rabbi, Marc Spector left the Marines to become a mercenary, and a mission to Egypt brought him into contact with the Egyptian Moon God, Khonshu. He was blessed with a new lease of life, albeit a very loose grasp of reality. Marvel Studios recently announced a Moon Knight series for Disney+, and naturally, the comics have responded by moving him to center-stage.
Last year's History of the Marvel Universe #6 included a stunning two-page spread in which Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, talking about things that are yet to happen. He mentioned several events that have been confirmed to be part of Marvel's 2020 plans - and also "the age of Khonshu." No details were given, but the "Age of" formula is something of a tradition in Marvel, suggesting a reality-defining event in which a being claims dominion over the whole world. It was clear Moon Knight was about to become more important to the Marvel Universe than ever before.
The solicitation for Avengers #33 teases a cosmic event that will see the Avengers go head-to-head with Moon Knight - and apparently fall:
Mummies are rising from their graves. Secret armies march by moonlight, from K’un-Lun to Wakanda to Greenwich Village. A dark god invades Asgard. And the Moon Knight has been unleashed as never before. So begins the Age of Khonshu. So fall the Avengers.
It's worth remembering that the current Avengers roster is one of the most powerful ever assembled, a group who managed to defeat a rogue Celestial invasion in their very first mission. They're led by Black Panther himself, who has created a sophisticated global support network known as the Agents of Wakanda to reinforce the Avengers and offer them critical intelligence. For all that's the case, though, it sounds as though Khonshu is far too great a threat to be easily dealt with. Presumably, Khonshu himself is the "dark god" who is set to invade Asgard, confronting All-Father Thor.
But why has Khonshu gone rogue, and how can he be defeated? It's reasonable to assume Moon Knight will be the key, perhaps positioning him for a power-up of unprecedented proportions, and maybe even ultimately a position on the Avengers. One thing's for sure; Moon Knight is the number one hero to watch in 2020.