Warning! Spoilers ahead for Moon Knight episode 1!
Marvel's Moon Knight has released its first episode, featuring a major origin change that helps Oscar Isaac's Steven Grant avoid too many comparisons to Batman. A new hero in the MCU, Moon Knight is one of Marvel's most complex vigilantes, chosen by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu to be his Fist. The hero also lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which results in the original host Marc Spector having alters, each with their own life and personality. As such, Steven Grant is the first personality viewers are introduced to in Moon Knight, though a significant (and smart) change has been made to his origins for the new series.
In Moon Knight episode 1, Steven Grant struggles to stay awake daily, struggling with memory gaps and waking up in confusing scenarios while working at a museum gift shop. However, Steven starts hearing voices and seeing what he initially believes are hallucinations. Instead, Grant ends up discovering that he has an entire second life he has no memory of, one where his name is Marc Spector, who's currently in conflict with dangerous agents led by Arthur Harrow (played by Ethan Hawke). While this first episode begins to open up Marc's world and role as Moon Knight to Steven, the fact that Grant has an entirely different role in the MCU than he does in the comics is a smart change.
In the comics, Marc Spector typically has three alters: Steven Grant, Jake Lockley, and Moon Knight. While Marc and Moon Knight's role is obviously the vigilante with the connection to Khonshu, Jake Lockley was a taxi driver who would gather intel on the comings and goings of criminals (though it's unclear if Jake will be introduced in the MCU series). Lastly, Steven Grant was a millionaire who financed Moon Knight's missions with all sorts of gadgets and moon-themed vehicles. As a result, it's not hard to see why Moon Knight gained a reputation and identity as Marvel's Batman (often delivered as a criticism). Likewise, having the MCU's Steven Grant working at a gift shop prevents even more Batman comparisons from being made beyond the inevitable, especially considering the recent release of The Batman starring Robert Pattinson.
While he might not be a millionaire financial backer akin to Bruce Wayne, Steven Grant's new role for the MCU's Moon Knight is just as important for the series, with many viewers learning about the character for the first time. Marc and Moon Knight may be a part of him, but Grant is just as much in the dark as viewers are as the mystery unfolds in this first episode. Grant is the lens through which viewers will be able to relate to and learn the truth about Moon Knight and his motivations as a vigilante. Furthermore, the narrative decision to introduce Oscar Isaac's character(s) with one of Marc Spector's alters rather than Marc himself is an exciting one, adding to the ongoing mystery and what he's currently involved in as Moon Knight.
While there's no escaping the Batman comparisons, given the inherent similarities between the two vigilantes, Marvel Studios has avoided a big one by giving Grant a brand new role in the MCU. Even if Grant does become a millionaire down the line, it's good that it didn't happen right away. In any case, it's going to be exciting to see how Steven will react to the knowledge that he's an alter with other personalities living inside of him–one being a costumed vigilante chosen by a moon god.
Moon Knight releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.
