The Midnight Sons are back…..and there’s hell to pay. Marc Spector, having seen his friends devoured by a ravenous house, charged into the house. Desperate to defeat the Mansion Ravenous and save his friends, his world turns upside down when the house promises Moon Knight’s soul-stealing sword, Ginnarr, the one thing it truly wants, to become a dragon. Betrayed by Ginnarr, Moon Knight escaped the house alive and sought the help of Clea Strange. Clea’s advice? Bring back the Midnight Sons. First on the list? Ghost Rider….
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Dev Pramanik
Color Artist: Rachel Rosenberg
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Paulo Siqueira
Cover Color Artist: Yen Nitro
Writing
Megan: If the Midnight Sons are ever brought up, just know I am there without hesitation. In Marc Spector: Moon Knight #5, Clea tells Moon Knight that he needs to reestablish the Midnight Sons to save his family. Then, in this current issue, the sixth one, we see exactly that. We get to see Moon Knight ask each potential member to join the Midnight Sons, and there are quite a few dynamics at play here. Different dynamics for different characters are created from their history in the comics. There are so many great references on every page for each character and their history.
For example, Blade was asked to join, and in an instant, he said yes. According to him, if the Midnight Sons ever come calling, he’ll say yes immediately. The dynamic between Marc and Blade is easy; however, the dynamic between Clea and Blade feels fragile ever since Blade’s past actions during the Blood Hunt. I’m very interested to see how this new team works, especially since these heavy hitters are some of my personal favorites.
Shawn: I knew going in I was going to love this issue, and it did not disappoint. I’ve been on pins and needles since the last issue when Clea suggested reforming the Midnight Sons. I loved that right out of the gate, MacKay went into a Donny Cates reference from the Damnation storyline. MacKay uses Clea to beautifully lay out the purpose of the Midnight Sons in a way that has rarely been articulated in comics. I love MacKay reminding us that, unlike The Avengers (whom MacKay just finished writing) or the X-Men (who he currently writes), the Midnight Sons are not a team.
One of the things that I’ve continued to enjoy about MacKay’s time on Moon Knight is that, no matter the storyline, he never loses track of the ridiculous sense of humor hidden under the mask. Assembling a team where four out of the five actively dislike him, as Marc says, is a wild idea. Whether counting himself among those who actively dislike him, admitting he doesn’t even know Robbie Reyes’ real name, or picking some unique ways to get Blade’s attention, MacKay perfectly captures Marc’s sense of humor.
Art
Megan: Dev Pramanik, Rachel Rosenberg, and Cory Petit are at it again, and when I say that, I mean completely slaying another issue. Marc Spector: Moon Knight #6 provides quite a few different characters, all of whom come with their own signature style. Each one brings their own energy to the team, and Pramanik and Rosenberg make that very clear. Blade brings a level of energy that just can’t be replicated with his classic red and black leather look, with the vibrant backgrounds to contrast with. Each character gets put on full display, never watering down the others around them.
Shawn: There’s aura farming, and then there’s what Dev Pramanik does in Blade’s first panel in this issue. Blade’s first appearance in Marc Spector: Moon Knight #6 can’t be considered anything other than a thing of beauty. As much as I have loved this series narrative, what keeps me coming back issue to issue more than anything is the way Dev continues to push himself and his art to new experiential and unique heights in every issue.
On top of Dev’s penchant for one-upping himself, he’s paired with Rachelle Rosenberg, which, as I’ve said before, marks what may be the best artist/color artist pairing in comic books right now. Rosenberg shines on any issue she works on (seriously check out Wonder Man if you’ve been sleeping on it), but the cosmic glow and aura of Moon Knight is bread and butter for her. She expands on that in Marc Spector: Moon Knight #6 and brings some of that aura to Blade as well. Cory Petit beautifully handles the unique panel layouts and wild story, helping readers move seamlessly along as Marc tries to reform the Midnight Sons.
Final Thoughts
Megan: 10/10. In a very “getting the band together” way, we are introduced to each member of the Midnight Sons. Jed MacKay and the artists set up what looks to be an exciting and explosive time all around!
Shawn: 10/10. How does every issue of this series continue to get better? The story is perfect, and the art team is one of, if not the best, pairings in comics right now. This issue has everything.
Overall Grade: 10/10
What did you think about Blade showing up? Let us know in the comments
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