MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
WRITER: Warren Ellis
ARTIST/COVER: Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire
VARIANT COVER: Phil Noto
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2014 – second printing)
Rating: Parental Advisory
“Sniper”
Moon Knight, the Marvel Comics superhero character created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, recently received a new eponymous comic book series. [Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 (cover dated: August 1975).] Courtesy of writer Warren Ellis, artist Declan Shalvey, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Chris Eliopoulos, the 2014 Moon Knight comic book finds the title character taking on serial killers, spree killers, and other mass murders (so far).
Moon Knight #2 (“Sniper”) opens with a focus on eight individuals, who wind down after a long day at work. But their pasts have come back possibly to haunt them. Perhaps, Moon Knight can stop the haunting.
I just read Moon Knight #2, and I like it so much that I had to start writing this review right away. That’s funny, because I did not care much for the first issue of the “All-New Marvel NOW!” Moon Knight. Nothing: I didn’t care for Warren Ellis’ script, nor was I feeling buzz word-hot artist Declan Shalvey or just-got-lots-of-Eisner-nominations colorist Jordie Bellaire (whose work I usually like).
Ellis’ story has a heartbreaking quality to it, but he is clever in how he manipulates through information. By the end of the story, you might be having thoughts about how justice is served or, at least, least be thinking about blow back and real world issues.
Shalvey has a graphic style that would be right at home at alt-comix and art comics publishers like Top Shelf Productions and Drawn & Quarterly. This time his compositions offer the striking visuals that they did not in the first issue. Bellaire’s colors are evocative, creating mood and also giving the story a forceful sense of drama.
Shalvey and Ellis come together to create a story rhythm that is a beating heart, with a jazzy vibe that is part noir and part superhero comic book. Half pantomime (without dialogue and exposition) and half sparsely worded, Moon Knight #2 is a unique read. It bodes well for the next few issues, and I’m on board for more.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
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