The Marvel Cinematic Universe has experience drawing from real-world mythologies, as demonstrated in the feature films Thor and Eternals, but the upcoming series Moon Knight involves a mythos in which the MCU has never ventured. Like the comic it is based on, Moon Knight draws inspiration from mythology and features Khonshu, the Egyptian moon god, as a prominent character. Sporting a ghostly white cloak, a crescent-topped staff, and a head in the form of a large bird’s skull, this lunar deity appears unlike any mythical figure previously seen in Marvel movies.

Moon Knight tells the story of Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a hapless museum gift store clerk who struggles night after night with insomnia, ultimately unable to discern his dreams from reality. Grant begins to realize that his life is not what he thought it was when his imaginary visions inexplicably come to life. Vivid images of the god Khonshu haunt his mind when he discovers he is somehow living a second life as an individual named “Marc Spector.” With events spiraling out of control, Steven becomes Khonshu’s messenger with the ability to wield superhuman strength.

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Many characters in Thor and Eternals draw inspiration from a variety of mythologies, but the MCU also reimagines these figures to differentiate them from their original mythological versions. Thor and other Norse gods have been described by some Marvel fans as aliens, since their home Asgard exists in outer space. The Eternals, despite their human appearance, are actually machines engineered by ancient celestial entities. This reinterpretation is applied to Khonshu in the extreme, as his ghostlike appearance in Moon Knight sets an eerie contrast between him and other gods in the MCU. Unlike past mythological characters, Marvel’s version of Khonshu appears to be influenced more by horror than fantasy.

Split image of the bird-like Khonshu appearing before Steven and sitting in a chair in the comics

A large factor that makes Khonshu more ominous than the rest of the MCU cast is his non-human appearance. In Thor and Eternals, the heroes use their humanoid attributes to blend in with ordinary people. Alternatively, Khonshu’s sinister form is evidence enough that he has no interest in concealment from the public. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs often portray the moon god with a falcon’s head, but the MCU’s skeletal redesign is a foreboding version of the original. Khonshu’s uncanny appearance evokes a strong sense of fear that is not of this world.

Besides his menacing design, Khonshu displays a less benevolent outlook on humanity than other MCU gods. In Egyptian mythology, the moon god is associated with healing and protection, attributes which Khonshu instills in Grant over time. However, in his mission to protect the innocent, Khonshu appears much more violent than Thor and the Eternals, both of whom become more cautious over time about whether or not to engage in conflicts.

Moon Knight’s representation of Egyptian mythology tells its audience to expect the unexpected. Khonshu’s cryptic nature makes it difficult to tell whether he is friend or foe, and this helps convey the overwhelming anxiety that initially takes over Steven Grant’s life. Regardless of whose side he is fighting on, the lunar god’s presence surely means chaos for anyone who crosses his path.

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Moon Knight premiers on Disney+ on March 30, 2022.

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