Editor's Note: Moon Knight #24 arrives in stores tomorrow, November 19.

"The Death of Marc Spector: Part Four"

The penultimate chapter to "The Death of Marc Spector" hits shelves this week, and it really serves as a building point for the final confrontation with Bullseye. Writer Mike Benson continues to prove that he is on his way to becoming a major "Marvel Knights" writer and his understanding of the way the Marvel Universe works evolves with every issue. This issue once again features Moon Knight, Iron Man, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Thunderbolts, each fitting perfectly into their role in the grand scheme of things.

The first half of the issue picks up where the last left off: Moon Knight led to a rooftop by the Hooligan where Venom was waiting to strike. I felt the issue started out very strong with Moon Knight much more prepared for Venom compared to their first confrontation which almost killed him. It's almost as if putting on the Moon Knight costume triggers something inside of Spector. With or without Khonshu, Spector seems much more aware of his surroundings and adjusts to his situation when he's in the Moon Knight outfit. This is evident by the way he almost completely manhandles Venom.

I do think this also highlights Benson's one weakness with this storyline: Venom. I think he's handled everyone else very well. I've always pictured Swordsman as a bit whiny, weak and over the top and Benson nails that characterization. He handles the bizarre nature of Norman Osborn on the same level as Warren Ellis and Christos Gage, and even the other Thunderbolts fill their roles. I don't think that his portrayal of Venom is bad at all actually, just a bit mixed. On the one hand, Venom comes off as a bit weak, easily taken down by the human Moon Knight. But on that same coin, Moon Knight is one of the most agile fighters in the Marvel Universe and Venom is often driven by his bloodlust, so I can buy his relative stupidity when battling Moon Knight.

But following this scene is yet another high point of Benson's storytelling inside the Marvel Universe. He does something very subtle and I'm curious as to whether or not Thunderbolts fans will pick up on it. In every book that the Thunderbolts have been featured in recent months, Norman Osborn leads them into battle. Even during the Ellis/Deodato run on the main Thunderbolts book, without Osborn, there is chaos. This is evident when Moon Knight confronts the Thunderbolts, once again kicks Swordsman's ass and is essentially saved by S.H.I.E.L.D. All of the Thunderbolts want to take a shot at Moon Knight and their field leader, Moonstone, tries very hard to keep her team contained. But Benson makes it subtle yet very clear that without Osborn, the Thunderbolts are merely loose cannons with very little self-control. I think this moment is where Benson really nails the Thunderbolts.

There's one thing that Benson does extraordinarily well in the second half of this issue. The focus on character and the "return to the status-quo" for Moon Knight and his allies is brilliant. First, Spector goes out and recruits those he knows will help him. So he goes to Frenchie, who finds himself making his way back into the life he previously denounced. Not only because of what happened to his boyfriend, but when he learns that the attack was deliberate, he doesn't blame Spector. Instead, Frenchie acknowledges that men like him never leave their past. Much like Marc became Moon Knight once again at the beginning of this series, Frenchie sinks back into the old mercenary mind-set. Deep down he's a good man, but his actions would make one argue otherwise. It’s amazing how much character development occurs with Frenchie over the course of a few pages. Benson set up Frenchie's turn very well in the last issue, but I honestly thought Frenchie might be on his way to becoming a new vigilante. Instead, he re-assumes his role as Moon Knight's right hand man and his pilot. Frenchie was never a "sidekick"; he was always much more of a partner to Spector, and when Frenchie reveals an old story from the mercenary days to Ray, the transformation is complete, and Frenchie embraces who he truly is on the inside. Benson, and even Huston before him, has been building to this moment, and it really feels as if the suspense and the raw emotions underneath this storyline have boiled over.

Spector also recruits Ray, the young man who only wants to be part of Moon Knight's battle, last seen gunning down some of the Hooligan gang a few issues back. Ray wants to be part of Spector's world, I believe, for two reasons. First off, he wants the thrill. He's aware of how dark the world can be and he understands the universe in which he lives and he wants the thrill of being a hero. The second reason I think he wants in is because Moon Knight gives him direction. This reason is directly tied to the first, but it also seems to be a little more on point. Ray is also a whiz when it comes to maintaining the Moonjet, and Spector needs both Ray and Frenchie and for the first time, he admits it.

What a way to return a character and his supporting cast to their "original" incarnation. Spector knows he can't beat the Thunderbolts alive and he needs the men he trusts, the very men who deep down believe in what he is doing.

Mark Texiera's artwork is, once again, hit and miss for me. On the one hand I love it. There are some really brilliant panels, but on the other hand, there are some panels that look a bit rushed. I feel like Tex was inspired by Benson's second half of the issue because the quality of the art really picked up when Benson's script hit the character piece on Frenchie. There's some great dialogue in those scenes and it's like Tex's pencil felt the emotion. Even the ending and the build-up to Bullseye looks great and Tex portrays Bullseye as a complete psychopath. It's the first half of the issue where the artwork is a little bit inconsistent and the characters are slightly--yet noticeably--disproportionate. But as soon as Tony Stark appears halfway through the issue, followed by a brief appearance by Marlene, the quality and consistency in the artwork certainly gets better.

Yet again, Mike Benson continues to make this die-hard Moon Knight fan very happy. He has a firm grasp on the character and is certainly finding his niche in the Marvel Universe. Benson's dialogue in this issue is great, his portrayal of Moon Knight and the supporting cast is also on point, and I feel that he really captures the spirit of the Thunderbolts.

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