For those of you unfamiliar with Marc Spector (aka Moon Knight), just think of him as Marvel's heavy metal version of Batman. He is, or at least he thinks he is, the avatar of the Egyptian god of vengeance Khonshu. But the character has multiple personality disorder. Khonshu could very well be a figment of his illness.

Issue #21 starts a new arc called "The Death of Marc Spector." The setup issue is a good place to jump on. All you need to know from previous issues is that Moon Knight tricked Shield into giving him a superhero registration card only to then beat some criminals bloody, like he does so very well - or badly depending on your point of view. To top it off the lunar avenger left his card at the scene and carved his trademark crescent moon into the victims' foreheads. Yeah, messed up. This of course garnered lots of attention from Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony Stark. All of the tension between him and Moon Knight culminated in the latter shoving villain Black Spectre off a twenty story building, killing him in front of hundreds of witnesses in issue #19. The media gobbled it up and the heat is on Stark and the attention is on Moon Knight. Tony immediately had all of Moon Knight's assets seized forcing him underground, literally.

This issue opens up to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents entering the sewers to arrest Marc Spector. He has already vamoosed though. Most of Marc's friends are grilled and their reactions are quite fascinating. Marlene becomes cold and distant, Frenchie becomes angry to the point that he would be willing to divulge Marc's whereabouts except he doesn't know where the fugitive is. These scenes are classic Moon Knight. Trouble follows him everywhere. However, his indomitable perseverance remains his redeeming quality. Despite being pursued by the law, forced into the city's sewer system with an unwinding mental and physical state he dons a utilitarian outfit and finds some sort of morbidly refreshing solace in beating criminals. He manages to hold on to a shred of sanity and do a little bit of self discovery. "In some ways it's liberating," ponders the vigilante. "Before the padded gloves, before the cowl, that cloak. The voices in my head. All gone. Back to basics. Before the spectacle of it all. When it was a job." The hero perseveres.

Of course, Stark is all kinds of upset, and so is the government. Moon Knight is a P.R. disaster. That's why Deputy Director Hill comes from Washington to meet Iron Man. He announces that they are yanking the Moon Knight investigation away from S.H.I.E.L.D. This creates an interesting political "push and pull" effect demonstrating just how Moon Knight is liberated by operating outside the law. The government's decision? Sic Norman Osborne and his Thunderbolts on Moon Knight, despite Stark's protest. The issue ends by introducing Norman.

Oh, and Benson is introducing a promising subplot. Seems like he's creating a brand new rogue for Moon Knight's painfully small gallery. And he's doing it with the aid of one of my favorite characters, Profile. I approve!

The art is by Texeira who draws some awesome action sequences! I swear each time I turn the page and see Marc walk out of that exploding building my brain plays the same crunchy heavy metal riff. Duhn-Duhn-Duhn-Duhn-Duhn! He has his weaknesses though. Most notably technology and architecture, but it's not so bad. My guess is that the colors are done with a combination of oil pastels and water color. Whatever it is it works fine.

Next month should be interesting. Will Stark actually be compelled to help Spector due to his dislike of the Thuderbolts? "They're psychopaths!" says he. Or maybe he'll intervene as a power play against Deputy Director Hill. What the heck is Moon Knight gonna do when faced with the super-powered goons? He no longer has his powers and is severely out numbered and out matched. Not to mention injured. What death will Marc Spector experience? I'm most assuredly on board with this arc.

Just like metal, Moon Knight is a harsh experience but it can also be exhilarating and cathartic. I'm giving this heavy metal book 3.5 bullets. I'd give it four but I can't get past the mullet. (10 points if you get that joke.)

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