Marvel Comics 2017
Written by Max Bemis
Pencilled by Jacen Burrows
Inked by Jacen Burrows & Guillermo Ortega
Coloured by Mat Lopes
Lettered by VC’s Cory Petit
A mysterious nameless patient was admitted to Ravencroft after committing multiple homicides by fire. Seeking to understand his mental illness, his doctor, using Marc Spector’s case as a template, attempted to have her patient see how he too can use the allegory of the gods to better understand his obsession. Where Spector turned to the moon god, the man known as patient 86 found meaning in Amon Ra, the sun god. He set fire tot he asylum with his doctor inside, using nothing but his own body. Patient 86 left, convinced he is the earthly aspect of Amon Ra, and he is very upset at his son, Khonshu.
Okay so the last issue wasn’t a fluke this book really is extremely good. I love the fact that Max has merged the personalities into a cohesive unit, meaning when a certain skill set is required that person comes to the forefront and does what needs doing. The fact that it’s Khonshu who also shares space inside Marc’s mind who narrates the opening and kind of brings us all up to date is a great move as it kind of goes against the grain somehow and yet works extremely well.
So Patient 86, Amon Ra from here on out is on his own quest and I kinda want to know how he knew to look for this certain individual? I mean it can’t be common knowledge because the way we see him getting information well it’s more like a game or a puzzle getting even close to him. I do find it interesting that his section was done in a black & white style while he’s in this orange, like he’s literally representing the sun to us. It is a cool effect though I wonder why it was even done. Though let’s say that black & white work and the level detail in it wow.
I am a fan of Jacen’s have been for quite some time now and I admire the way he can bring normal everyday people to life. Now seeing him take on Moon Knight is a true treat. Still it’s his attention to detail that is so strongly represented in his work that still catches my eye. His use of page layouts using angles and perspective show off his eye for storytelling which is pretty amazing. The one thing I want more of is backgrounds I think they are super important to expanding the story and when we see the folks watching Steven emerge that kind of stuff is hard to come by.
Max goes above and beyond here as he takes us on parallel journey’s with Marc and Amon. I like how that feels as you read through the issue. The pacing, writing, story/plot development are so strong and well done and where the characterisation merges with the storytelling it’s even better. Well the way we see how well the multiple personalities are used with Moon Knight in action well it’s something you’ll never expect to see and now can’t wait to see it happen again and again. It really is the smartest use of this so far and as long as he can maintain this kind of control or peace or serenity or whatever you want to call it.
This works and it works extremely well. With Max using everything that has come before and being able to merge or combine to make it all be a part of who Marc is well that’s beyond description good. By bringing another person who is either really or just believes he’s the manifestation of Amon Ra and kind of giving Marc his first (?) arch-nemesis is exciting to see happen before our eyes. Now to determine just who Ra really is and I his fire powers are a mutant thing or what as the two men come closer and closer to their encounter.