(EDITOR’S NOTE: Paint Monk’s Library, in collaboration with the enthusiastic staff over at the Into the Knight Podcast, is tackling the Moon Knight chronology! Each week we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fist Of Khonshu in a series of reviews, all in order of character appearance! These reviews will appear on Monday each week until we’ve covered them all, or until the enthusiastic Loonies get too exhausted to write. Whichever comes first! This week’s installment is a guest editorial by Reynaldo G., the proprietor of the Into the Knight! podcast.)

By REYNALDO G. – Guest Writer

Sometimes you have to stand up for the little guy. That lesser-known, slight of build, wallflower huddled in the corner of the room. Sometimes, they deserve to be noticed every now and again, and that is partly why I chose to dedicate a podcast to the Marvel character Moon Knight.

With Into the Knight – The Moon Knight Podcast I’ve been fortunate enough to have cultivated a modest, yet ever-growing and passionate community of like-minded fans (affectionately dubbed ‘Loonies’). Finding someone to talk about one of your favorite characters with who just so happens to be not all that well known is a difficult task, so when it came to forming the podcast, part of the intent also was to bring together these Loonies and share the love.

Not only that, but the podcast has taken me on a wild and ever exciting ride – I’ve had the absolute honor of talking with industry legends and amazing creators such as Doug Moench (creator of Moon Knight), JM DeMatteis and Greg Smallwood. The podcast has also sprouted an audio serial adventure of its very own. Into the Knight has more recently had the privilege of collaborating with the comic book review site, Paint Monk’s Library (which is where you are reading this humble article!); but, at the heart of it all, Into the Knight has allowed me to share my love for comics in general as well as provide the opportunity to read a vast range of titles (some of which I would never have picked up) in order to get under the cowl and discover more about one of the most interesting characters in the Marvel universe.

In essence, Into the Knight (or ITK for short) is based around the core objective of reviewing and discussing Moon Knight in all forms of media. The phases of the moon actually determine the topic for the episode that week – for instance, a Full Moon determines that the episode be based on Moon Knight on film (MOON & STARS); A Waning Gibbous decrees that the episode take on an interview-style format, inviting a Loony to talk about their top 4 desert island books (ISLA RA SESSIONS); a Waning Crescent looks at ‘classic’ Moon Knight appearances covering 1975-1989 (LUNAR-PICK Classic); while a Waxing Crescent looks at Moon Knight in comics from approximately 1990 onwards (LUNAR-PICK Modern).

There are also other phases of the moon that stipulate topics on action figures (KHONSHU’S IDOLS), video games (AVATARS OF VENGEANCE), and spotlights on various aspects of Moon Knight lore (creatively named, SPOTLIGHT). If you had thought previously that Moon Knight’s footprint in media was limited, then ITK proves without a doubt that material to sustain a podcast is BOUNTIFUL, to say the least.

ITK has been releasing weekly episodes for nearly three years now and it has only still just touched the surface. As I write this, chronologically, ITK has covered Moon Knight’s very first appearance all the way up to issue #15 of volume 1, with the classic creative team of Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz. Added to that, ITK has also leaped between different volumes for their modern run reviews – these include the entire run by Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood; followed by the entire Max Bemis and Jane Burrows (most recent) run; then heading back to the first arc of the Charlie Huston and David Finch run, a handful of Marc Spector: Moon Knight issues, and we’re currently immersed in the 2011 Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev series.

By approaching the classic series in a more chronological manner while at the same time undertaking a more spontaneous format for the more modern series, it allows the podcast to appease both listener and host. Some may enjoy listening to a structured journey throughout the canon (others may not), but at the same time, it keeps things fresh for the hosts who may not necessarily want to wait for years before they get to review the Huston run.

As some of us wait with bated breath for the Moon Knight TV show, ITK has managed to expand the scope of film review to fan-made films. Surprisingly, there are a fair few online if you search hard enough and so ITK has had the pleasure of inviting onto the show some amateur filmmakers to chat all about their imaginative creations. On the animated front, it has also been fun seeing Moon Knight as a guest on animated shows such as the Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble – both providing very different, yet enjoyable, versions of our Avatar of Vengeance. These iterations of Moon Knight – in comics and on film – feed off each other like a pack of hungry sharks, and the Great White of them has to be the upcoming TV series from Disney Plus. Although it is still a way off, the toy industry has wasted no time riding the wave of the hype. Funko Pops, Hasbro Legends figures, Mezco statues and Mini-Mates have all been barometers for characters that are on the rise, and ITK has been fortunate enough to have added this merchandise to the podcast arsenal of reviews.

In addition to the reviews which make up most of the podcast, two other innovations have become a staple for the show. The first is a ‘desert island books’ and one-on-one session named, the ISLA RA SESSIONS (after the island that Moon Knight finds himself in, during the Max Bemis series), and the second being a monthly audio serial adventure playfully named THE HUNT FOR KHONSHU’S GOLDEN SCEPTRE. Both rely heavily on contributions from the ITK community (cultivated mainly in the Facebook Group and Page), and both add another dimension to the podcast.

The ISLA RA SESSIONS are conducted in Grant Mansion (complete with roaring fire sound effects, and the butler Samuels) with guests invited to chat about their introduction to comics, Moon Knight and other hobbies. The intent is to learn more about fellow Loonies, and ITK attempts to welcome and include anyone who wants to have a go behind the mic. After learning more about where, how and why comics became part of their lives, guests also then reveal their top four single-issue comic books (sometimes with a Moon Knight issue included, but it’s not essential) and an informal chat on each book and why it holds significance rounds out the episode.

THE HUNT FOR KHONSHU’S GOLDEN SCEPTRE is largely made by Loonies, for Loonies. Vignettes of anywhere between 4-10 minus long are dropped within the podcast at the end of each month, portraying a world adjacent to that of Moon Knight (Moon Knight rarely, if ever, features in the audio adventure…though he may get a mention here and there). Each Loony involved is given their fictitious equivalent and adventures range from the depths of space to the hostile jungles of Bosqueverde (a fictitious South American country featured in Moon Knight comics). Loonies are in search of Khonshu’s Golden Sceptre and amongst other relics, they fight to prevent the coming of Set and his agents. The serial relies heavily on creative license with Egyptian mythology, and further plans to expand this ITK Universe, allows for a playground of sorts, for all Loonies willing to partake.

Both aspects of the podcast promote engagement from the growing ITK community. It’s an informal and indirect way of networking, as it allows Loonies to be introduced to others with the same passion. Whether it’s being part of the production or just listening to the discussions and adventures from fellow Moon Knight fans, Loonies are encouraged to be part of the podcast and be a party to a podcast which hopefully breaks down that wall between presenter and listener.

In keeping with the desire to be involved with anything Moon Knight related, ITK has recently joined forces with Paint Monk’s Library to undertake a colossal project of writing reviews and documenting every single Moon Knight chronological appearance in the comics.

In addition to the already vast net cast by the show, it seemed only natural to complement the audio reviews with written ones. I can say on behalf of the podcast, that I feel absolutely privileged to be part of this collaboration with Paint Monk’s Library. Our common goal to share Moon Knight and our love for the character to the world is only strengthened by the combined output.

If you’ve not heard of Marc Spector or the Fist of Khonshu and want to learn more, then I highly recommend perusing the reviews on this brilliant website. We’ve still got a long way to go, but the concise format of synopses and capsule review framed by Paint Monk’s Library can only serve to whet one’s appetite for learning more about the Moon’s Knight of Vengeance.

I’d go even further and to suggest that if you love comics in general, then to explore all of the other wonderful reviews on offer. The Classic Conan Countdown, The Savage Land Curator, or the upcoming Warlord chronology – all slightly obscure, but these reviews may well open the door to a new reading adventure for you!

If your ears are amenable to the challenge, and whether or not you are a seasoned podcast listener or new to the medium, please consider listening to Into the Knight – The Moon Knight Podcast. The medium as a whole is hitting its stride as the growth of new shows available is expanding at an exponential rate. The variety of podcasts continues to slowly grow from a niche pond into a mainstream ocean but you can be assured that Into the Knight – The Moon Knight Podcast will provide all you’ll ever need to know about our White Knight. It also strives to be a happy haven for fans who want to interact and share their fandom within an encouraging and welcoming community.