The Definitive Guide to Collecting Moon Knight Comic Books as Graphic Novels

The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide and trade reading order on collecting Moon Knight comic books via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. A part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated November 2018 with titles scheduled for release through January 2019.

The Moon Knight guide is sponsored in part by Alex AKA TheLastGreatOpiumDen. Sponsor your favorite character guide by joining Alex in supporting CK on Patreon.

 

Collecting Moon Knight

Moon Knight is Marvel’s distorted Bruce Wayne.

Marc Spector is a willingly schizophrenic, playboy millionaire, former military mercenary, and sometimes cab driver who avenges crime while tacitly under the command of an Egyptian god, whose powers are both a blessing and a curse that deepens Spector’s insanity.

Basically, he’s every bit as unstable as Batman ought to be played, with the added bonus of multiple identities and never quite being sure he can believe the reality around him.

• Early Moon Knight (1972 – 1980)
• Moon Knight, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (1980 – 1984 & 1985)
• The West Coast Avenger (1987 – 1989)
• Marc Spector: Moon Knight, Vol. 3 (1989 – 1994)
• Vol. 4 & 5 (1998 – 1999)
• Guest Star (2000 – 2006)
• Vol. 6 by Charles Huston & Mike Benson (2006 – 2009)
• Vengeance of the Moon Knight by Greg Hurwitz (2009 – 2010)
• Heroic Age: Vol. 7 by Brian Bendis (2011 – 2012)
• Marvel Now: Vol. 8 by Ellis, Wood, & Bunn (2014 – 2015)
• All-New, All-Different Marvel: Vol. 9 by Jeff Lemire (2016 – 2017)
• Marvel Legacy (2017 – present)

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Early Moon Knight (1972 – 1980)

Moon Knight debuted as a vicious, aerobic, anti-Werewolf bounty hunter with his own private helicopter in the pages of the 70s horror title Werewolf by Night. It was in his next appearance in a pair of Marvel Spotlight issues that his double-life as a millionaire and a cabbie was brought to light.

Moon Knight Epic Collection: Bad Moon Rising (Epic Vol. 1)
Collects (in order) Werewolf by Night (1972) #32-33, Marvel Spotlight (1971) #28-29; Defenders #47-50 (and excerpts of #51); The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #22-23; Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #52; Hulk [Magazine] (1978) #11-15, 17-18, & 20; Marvel Preview (1975) #21; and Moon Knight (1980) #1-4.

Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 1 (b&w)
This black-and-white collection differs from the Epic collection by omitting The Defenders and collecting more of Moon Knight, Vol. 1. Collects (in order) Werewolf by Night (1972) #32-33, Marvel Spotlight (1971) #28-29; The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #22-23; Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #52; Hulk [Magazine] (1978) #11-15, 17-18, & 20; Marvel Preview (1975) #21; and Moon Knight (1980) #1-10. Note that this collection omits the Defenders issues.

Both the Essential and the Epic omit Defenders #51 (in which Moon Knight appears only briefly) as well as an out-of-costume cameo in Captain America #245 (which comes just before the Hulk Mag run).

Click to expand a list of other methods of collecting early Moon Knight

Moon Knight, Vol. 1 (1980 – 1984) & Vol. 2 (1985)

Moon Knight’s first ongoing title is a classic 38-issue series written almost entirely by Doug Moench that included a significant and transformative  run of artwork by Bill Sienkiewicz. It was followed by Volume 2, a 6-issue 1985 mini-series.

in full-color Epic editions…

Vol. 1 #1-4: Epic Collection: Bad Moon Rising (Epic Vol. 1)
Collects (in order) Werewolf by Night (1972) #32-33, Marvel Spotlight (1971) #28-29; Defenders #47-50 (and excerpts of #51); The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #22-23; Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #52; Hulk [Magazine] (1978) #11-15, 17-18, & 20; Marvel Preview (1975) #21; and Moon Knight (1980) #1-4.

Vol. 1 #5-23: Epic Collection: Shadows of the Moon (Epic Vol. 2)

Vol. 1 #24-38: Epic Collection: Final Rest (Epic Vol. 3)

Vol. 2 #1-6, and Marvel Fanfare #30 & 38-39: Not yet collected in this format.

in black and white Essential editions

Vol. 1 #1-10: Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 1 (b&w)
Collects (in order) Werewolf by Night (1972) #32-33, Marvel Spotlight (1971) #28-29; The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #22-23; Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #52; Hulk [Magazine] (1978) #11-15, 17-18, & 20; Marvel Preview (1975) #21; and Moon Knight (1980) #1-10.

Vol. 1 #11-30: Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 2 (b&w)
Issue #13 is Moon Knight’s first encounter with Daredevil, which is also collected in Shadowland: Moon Knight, below.

Vol. 1 #31-38 & Vol. 2 #1-6: Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 3 (b&w)
Collects Moon Knight (1980) #31-38, Moon Knight (1985) #1-6, Marvel Fanfare (1982) #30 & 38-39, a story from Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #1, and material from Solo Avengers (1987) #3.

Click to expand a list of guest appearances in this era.

Moon Knight, The West Coast Avenger (1987 – 1989)

After the end of his six-issue second volume an an appearance in Marvel Fanfare #38, Moon Knight joins the West Coast Avengers in 1987 with issue #21. While he isn’t the main focus of this team title, in a clever twist we see that his participation connects to his ongoing possession by Khonshu.

#21-24, Annual 2 & Avengers Annual 16, 25-28: See Avengers West Coast

Solo Avengers #3 (2nd story): Collected in Essentials Vol. 3, above

#29-31: See Avengers West Coast

After #31: Moon Knight appears silently in several pages of Iron Man #229 (see Iron Man) as part of an Avengers West Coast team meeting.

#32-36: See Avengers West Coast

After #36: A wordless one-panel cameo with the West Coast team in Nick Fury vs. SHIELD #2

#37 & Annual 3 (2nd story): See Avengers West Coast

#39-41: See  Avengers West Coast. Moon Knight leaves the cast after issue #41, which is a relatively pivotal issue for his ongoing story.

Marvel Super Heroes #1: This is included in Essential Vol. 3, above. Due to the nature of this book – using inventory stories that had no other home, the issue actually fits into continuity here – prior to its release in 1990

Marc Spector: Moon Knight, Vol. 3 (1989 – 1994)

This ongoing title was launched by writer Chuck Dixon with only a passing comment on the identity crisis that saw Moon Knight depart the West Coast Avengers. The series takes an increasing turn for the extreme towards the end of the run, morphing into full-on Image-style title with the addition of bombastic artist Stephen Platt on issue #55. The series ends with Moon Knight’s apparent death.

Moon Knight: Divided We Fall OGN
Though released in 1992, most resources I have checked place this story prior to the start of the 1989 Volume 3 series. It has not been recollected since its original release.

#1-3: Not collected

Punisher Annual 2 & Daredevil Annual 5: See Marvel Universe Events: Atlantis Attacks. Moon Knight is a featured co-star in the Punisher Annual.

#4-7: Not collected

#8-10: See Marvel Universe Events: Acts of Vengeance

#11-30: Not collected

After #30: Sleepwalker #7, Quasar #27, and Infinity Gauntlet #3. See Marvel Universe Events: Infinity Gauntlet for more information. Moon Knight also appears in a Werewolf by Night backup in Doctor Strange #27, but I believe that is flashback only.

#31-33: Not collected

Amazing Spider-Man #353-358: See Spider-Man. Moon Knight is a featured co-star during this arc.

#34-40: Not collected

Moon Knight Special Edition: One-shot. Not collected.

#41-44: See Marvel Universe Events: Infinity War for collections of these issues apart from Moon Knight collections.

During #41: Infinity War #2-4 and other Infinity War appearances. Issue #4 contains action that continues through Moon Knight #41-44.

Web of Spider-Man #93-94: See Spider-Man. Moon Knight is a featured co-star in this Hobgoblin arc.

#44-51: Not collected

After #51: She-Hulk #58

Marvel Comics Presents #152-154: Not collected. A Chuck Dixon Moon Knight story.

#52-60: Not collected. Issues #56-57 integrate with Infinity Crusade, as shown below. See Marvel Universe Events: Infinity Crusade.

During #56: Infinity Crusade #1

Then: Infinity Crusade #1, Thor #464, Infinity Crusade #2, Web of Spider-Man #104 & Dr. Strange #55

During #57: Web of Spider-Man #105, Infinity Crusade #3-4

After #57: Web of Spider-Man #106, Infinity Crusade #5-6

During 60: Starblast #1

After the end of his series, Moon Knight is presumed dead and disappears from the Marvel Universe for three years.

Moon Knight, Vol. 4 & 5 (1998 – 1999)

Moon Knight returns from the grave and finds himself back in Egypt under the pen of his creator Doug Moench in a 1998 mini-series. Moench also writes a 1999 follow-up mini-series.

#1-4: Not collected

Avengers, Vol. 3 #1 & 12: Moon Knight makes a brief appearance. See Avengers.

Wolverine #134: See Wolverine.

Contest of Champions II #1: Moon Knight appears briefly

#1-4: Not collected

Deadpool, Vol. 3 #34: See Deadpool

Moon Knight, Guest Star (2000 – 2006)

After his two Moench-penned mini-series, Moon Knight sinks back into relative obscurity save for a brief revival in Marvel Knights.

Black Panther #20-22: These issues are a tie-in to Civil War. See Marvel Universe Events: Civil War

Marvel Knights #4-9 & 11-14: Marvel Knights: Defenders Of The Streets (ISBN 9781302912130)

Thunderbolts #57: See Thunderbolts

Captain America, Vol. 4 #29

Avengers #501-503: See Marvel Universe Events: Avengers Disassembled

Marvel Team-Up, Vol. 3 #3 in Vol. 1: The Golden Child

Marvel Team-Up, Vol. 3 #7 & 10 in Vol. 2: Master of the Ring
His participation is implied in #8-9

House of M #3-5: See Marvel Universe Events: House of M

Moon Knight, Vol. 6 by Charles Huston & Mike Benson (2006 – 2009)

A brutal extension of the original Doug Moench themes and supporting cast that might have qualified for Marvel Knights if it was released a few years earlier – it is that bloody, adult, and relentless. It’s also an immensely satisfying and well-illustrated read.

#1-6: Vol. 1: The Bottom
Available in hardcover and “book market” hardcover with Huston’s name more prominently

#7-13 & Annual 1: Vol. 2: Midnight Sun
Available in hardcover

After #13: World War Hulk: Front Line #5. See Marvel Universe Events: World War Hulk. This is a two-page cameo of MK saving the lead of this series from a mugger.

#14-20: Vol. 3: God & Country
Available in hardcover

#21-25: Vol. 4: The Death of Marc Spector
Also collects Moon Knight: Silent Knight one-shot. Available in hardcover

Hulk (2008) #7-9 (A-stories): See Hulk. This is a substantial appearance fighting with and alongside Hulk and Ms. Marvel. It fits in the middle of #25, as the end of #25 tracks directly to #26.

#26-30: Vol. 5: Down South
Available in hardcover

Vengeance of the Moon Knight by Greg Hurwitz (2009 – 2010)

After the terminally dark Huston/Benson run, this Moon Knight is a brighter affair – in mood, lighting, and bringing in more of the outside Marvel Universe.

#1-6: Vol. 1: Shock & Awe

#7-10: Vol. 2: Killed, Not Dead

Secret Avengers #1-4: See Secret Avengers

Deadpool, Vol. 4 #27 & 29: See Deadpool. I’m not 100% on this placement, but it makes sense for this to come before the next two big events.

Shadowland: Moon Knight
A three-issue mini-series, plus a reprint of Moon Knight Vol. 1 #13. Also available in hardcover and in the Shadowland omnibus. Moon Knight appears throughout this event – see Marvel Universe Event: Shadowland for further information.

Chaos War #1-2: See Marvel Universe Events: Chaos War.

Taskmaster #4 in Taskmaster: Unthinkable

Klaws of the Panther #4: See Black Panther

Heroes for Hire: Moon Knight is a recurring character in issues #1, 3, 5, & 12.

Avengers #9-12 & 12.1: See Avengers, Vol. 4

Heroic Age: Moon Knight, Vol. 7 by Brian Bendis (2011 – 2012)

After his participation in Shadowland and Heroes for Hire, Brian Bendis slightly reinvents Moon Knight’s history of multiple personalities. Now, rather than intentionally flitting between his multiple cover personas, he is hallucinating that he is fighting alongside Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wolverine when really he is dishing out their blows all on his own.

This was one of Bendis’s less-successful character revivals. It never really caught fire with new fans, and Moon Knight devotees didn’t love the concept of tying him into some of Marvel’s biggest heroes. While it last 12 issues, in retrospect it’s an odd footnote on Moon Knight’s bibliography.

In this same period, Moon Knight makes his first major team appearance in over 20 years in Secret Avengers.

in oversize hardcover…

#1-12: Moon Knight by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev

as originally issued…

Onslaught Unleashed #1-4: Effectively a Secret Avengers miniseries. Collected in hardcover.

Secret Avengers issues #9-10, 12.1,  & 13: See Secret Avengers

#1-6: Vol. 1
Also available in hardcover

Avengers #18: See Avengers, Vol. 4

Daken #15-16: Collected in Pride Comes Before the Fall hardcover and paperback.

#7-12: Vol. 2
Also available in hardcover

Secret Avengers #16, 19, & 21: See Secret Avengers

Avengers vs. X-Men: Moon Knight is briefly drafted into the fight, but does not make a significant appearance in the main series. He appears in the tie-ins X-Men Legacy #266-267 and in Avengers #28. See Marvel Universe Events: Avengers vs. X-Men

Avengers #34: This is a minor appearance. See Avengers, Vol. 4

Marvel Now: Moon Knight, Vol. 8 (2014 – 2015)

It turns out Moon Knight is a sort of cause célèbre among writers of a certain age, as after his run with Brian Bendis he attracts a parade of big name attention.

(Perhaps that Bendis run was more successful than we all thought.)

First up is Warren Ellis. Ellis recasts the character as a sort of paranormal mercenary – a concept which fits neatly in with his history and which is taken up by both Brian Wood (as of issue #7) and Cullen Bunn (as of issue #13).

Age of Ultron: Moon Knight appears prominently in the early issues #2 & 4-5 (plus #10 and Avengers Assemble (2012) #14 AU), but this splinter timeline has no effect on his main story. See Marvel Universe Events: Age of Ultron

Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #1: See Spider-Man

#1-6: Vol. 1: From the Dead by Warren Ellis

Original Sin: Moon Knight is part of the primary cast of this event and appears throughout. See Marvel Universe Events.

Captain America #24-25: See Captain America

#7-12: Vol. 2: Blackout by Brian Wood

#13-17: Vol. 3: In The Night by Cullen Bunn

Secret Wars: Moon Knight appears in Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars (2015) #1 and Ultimate End (2015) #4-5. Marvel Universe Events.

All-New, All-Different Marvel: Moon Knight, Vol. 9 (2016 – 2017)

Moon Knight’s relaunch finds him stuck in an insane asylum – or, is it? Written by Jeff Lemire with returning artist Greg Smallwood. He doesn’t appear anywhere but his own series in this period.

in oversize hardcover…

#1-14: Moon Knight by Lemire & Smallwood (2018 oversize hardcover)

as originally issued…

#1-5: Vol. 1: Lunatic

#6-9: Moon Knight Vol. 2: Reincarnations
Also collects Moon Knight (1980) #2

#10-14: Moon Knight Vol. 3: Birth and Death

Moon Knight in Marvel Legacy & Fresh Start (2017 – present)

Moon Knight’s parade of high-profile writers continues in Marvel Legacy, with Say Anything lead singer Max Bemis penning his renumbered series and giving him an arch-nemesis rooted in his Egyptian origins.

Damnation: See Marvel Universe Events. Moon Knight co-stars in this supernatural event, though he is mostly in the background.

#188-193: Legacy, Vol. 1: Crazy Runs in the Family

#194-200: Legacy, Vol. 2: Phases

Conan: Serpent War (2020) #1-5: Conan: Serpent War
A co-starring adventure with Conan set in modern Marvel continuity

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