The Comics Easter Egg In Moon Knight Episode 4 Only True Fans Noticed
"Moon Knight” is the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe show to premiere on Disney+, and it's one of the more mind-bending and bizarre additions to the franchise. The series combines psychological and supernatural horror elements with a globetrotting adventure story that's befitting of the MCU. However, Moon Knight is no regular superhero, and that's what makes his show stand out from the pack.
The fourth episode of "Moon Knight" sees Steven (Oscar Isaac) and Layla (May Calamawy) on an adventure that teases some romance before the horror ensues. Who has time to smooch when there are tomb-dwelling creatures with a penchant for carving human flesh roaming around? On top of that, Steven must deal with the other personalities that dwell inside him, all the while journeying through the terrains of his own subconscious following a near-death experience. There is a lot going on in this episode. to say the least.
Furthermore, the fourth installment of the Disney+ series is littered with nods to the literary source material that inspired its creation, and some eagle-eyed Marvel fans may have spotted an Easter egg that pays tribute to one specific "Moon Knight" storyline.
What's the deal with the adventure show?
One scene in Episode 4 sees Steven cross paths with Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), and their interaction isn't exactly friendly. Arthur proceeds to shoot Steven on the spot, causing the hero to follow into a dream sequence and imagine a cheesy adventure show in which the main characters explore the jungle and stumble upon the statue of Coyolxāuhqui. He subsequently wakes up in an institution, where the fictionalized show is revealed to be playing on a television screen.
The sequence in question pays tribute to artist Alex Maleev and writer Brian Michael Bendis' "Moon Knight" comics run from 2011. This story sees Moon Knight's Marc Spector alias head to the West Coast, where he becomes a player in Hollywood. Since he's led an interesting life, he finds a new calling as the showrunner on an action-adventure TV series that's based on his mercenary history. At the same time, he must juggle his television career with his crime-fighting duties as there's a villain in town who doesn't play nice.
Maleev and Bendis' run marked a departure from the types of "Moon Knight" stories that came before it, but it presents the hero in a fresh and interesting new light all the same.