Review: Intriguing 'Moon Knight' is Full of Daring Adventures

Under the pale moonlight...

... and hiding in every shadowy corner and alley of the world, evil preys on the weak and innocent. Enter Steven Grant (Oscar Isaacs), a Londoner who works at the gift shop of the Museum of Natural History. Unassuming and rather ordinary, Steven Grant appears an every-man, making his way in the world and doing his best – but no one suspects the trauma he experiences every night that forces him to seal himself in his apartment and chain himself to his bedpost!

Steven lives in terror of the blackouts he suffers. When he wakes up, he finds himself in strange places and, more often than not, bloodied or under fire. Eventually, Steven discovers that he suffers from a type of dissociative identity disorder. When he succumbs to a blackout, his body is taken over by another identity: A mercilessly skilled treasure hunter named Marc Spector. But that's not his only secret – Spector has entered into a bargain with the Egyptian god Khonshu, the God of the Moon, and serves as his agent of vengeance.

When Spector summons Khonshu's might, he transforms into the Moon Knight, a super-powered figure that doesn't pull his punches as he deals with agents of evil. When Steven discovers an ancient-looking artifact – a scarab of sorts – world unravels even more; he becomes the target of a zealot named Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), whose very touch could mean life or death.

Steven and Marc must learn to work together as Harrow and his disciples pursue a plot to unleash the wrath of the gods. It's a mission that will test his fragile mental state as the daring adventures of the Moon Knight begin.

Traversing the streets of London and the deserts of Egypt and everywhere in-between, Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight," debuting exclusively on Disney+, sets up the next phase of the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe and delivers on its promise of introducing diverse new characters. "Moon Knight" is written by Jeremy Slater and executive produced by Kevin Feige, with directorial duties going to Mohamed Diab, Justin Benson, and Aaron Moorhead.

The comic book character's origins are rooted in the darker corners of Marvel's canon. Moon Knight was first introduced as an antagonist in "Werewolf by Night" #37 (March 1976), and made a significant impression with fans and the editorial team alike. Legendary scribes and editors are Marvel at the time, Marv Wolfman ("The New Teen Titans"), and Len Wein ("The Uncanny X-Men") recast him as a hero a year later, and tasked writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin with fleshing out his background.

The anti-hero's connection to the Egyptian Gods his mission as the "Fist of Khonshu" came into play in the '80s and Marc Spector's mysterious mercenary ways, including his multiple identities and connection to the underworld, earned him his own monthly title. The complexities of the hero would continue to evolve and his profile grow; eventually he would earn a place among Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers.

As the complex personality at the center of "Moon Knight", Isaacs is very comfortable in this genre, having portrayed one of the Marvel Universe's most dangerously powerful villains in the theatrical blockbuster "X-Men: Apocalypse" (2016) and also cemented his place in the Star Wars mythology. He moves with delicate ease, manifesting the intricate nature of his multiple personalities, juggling distinct characterizations of Steven and Marc, leaving the audience wondering just who the real man is behind the mystery of the Moon Knight.

The series' cast, including May Calamawy, F. Murray Abraham, and Gaspard Ulliel, is boosted into the stratosphere with the addition of Ethan Hawke, who is just the type of bad guy the MCU needed. There's a natural balance between Isaac and Hawke that is dastardly and engaging. Though Moon Knight's preferred mode of attack is to kick butt and ask questions later, the action isn't only relegated to the costumed antics; there's a deeper mystery to solve, and it's set to open the gates to a deeper more profound narrative.

"Moon Knight" begins streaming on March 30, exclusively on Disney+.