Warning: contains spoilers for Vengeance of the Moon Knight #4!
A new Moon Knight has been stalking the streets of the Marvel Universe, and now his shocking identity stands revealed. Marc Spector was killed recently, and the Midnight Mission swore to carry on his work. Their efforts were soon derailed by a new, even more violent Moon Knight. His identity has remained a mystery–until now. Vengeance of the Moon Knight #4 pulls off the mask to reveal the new Fist.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #4, by Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio, follows the members of the Midnight Mission as they try to discern the mystery of the new Moon Knight. Tigra and Hunter’s Moon, reasoning that Moon Knight only comes out after dark, decide to wage a day-time attack. The heroes track the new Moon Knight to the exact location where Marc Spector died. Tigra and Hunter’s Moon fight Moon Knight.
Hunter’s Moon recognizes the fighting moves, but Tigra catches Moon Knight’s scent.
Ripping off his mask, it is revealed that the new Moon Knight is the Shroud.
First appearing in 1975’s Super-Villain Team-Up #5, the Shroud’s origins are similar to Batman’s, and indeed the character can be viewed as another Marvel riff on the Dark Knight. After watching his parents’ brutal murder, the Shroud dedicates his life to avenging them. Trained by the Cult of Kali, the Shroud has powers over the Darkforce Dimension, in addition to being an excellent hand-to-hand fighter. Many believe the Shroud to be a bad guy, an illusion he allows to exist as he believes it gives him an edge in fighting crime.
The Shroud has a history with Moon Knight, as well as other heroes. The Shroud was once head of a team of supernatural/monster-themed characters called the Night Shift. In 1987’s Solo Avengers #3, the Shroud and Moon Knight fought each other. Shroud did not intend to harm Moon Knight. Instead, he merely wished to test his mettle, to see if he could lead the Night Shift. Moon Knight declined. The Shroud was also considered for membership in the West Coast branch of the Avengers, explaining how he knew Tigra.
The issue ends with the revelation that the Shroud is the new Moon Knight, leaving his motivations for taking the role unknown for now. The two heroes are similar in many ways and have shared adventures together. It is possible that Marc Spector made a deal with the Shroud, to take over in the event of his death. However, the Shroud is dishonoring Moon Knight’s memory, or at least in the eyes of the Midnight Mission. The Shroud will have to answer to Tigra, Hunter’s Moon, 8-Ball and the rest of the Midnight Mission for trying to replace Moon Knight.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!