Captain America’s Nickname for Moon Knight Proves He’ll Never Respect Him
When Moon Knight served on Captain America’s Secret Avengers, his call sign showed how the team really sees him, and why he’s better off alone.
While Moon Knight was recently asked to join the Avengers in their huge new battle against Mephisto, his codename when serving on Captain America‘s team shows he was right to turn down the invitation.
Marc Spector was recruited as a member of Captain America’s Secret Avengers, alongside an unusual combination of heroes including Eric O’Grady’s Ant-Man, Valkyrie, Beast, and Black Widow. This off-the-books team took advantage of Steve Rogers’ leadership of SHIELD to address major threats before they surfaced, ultimately uncovering a secretive plan by the evil Shadow Council which led to a series of missions on which lethal action was approved and often necessary .
Working in the shadows and experienced in lethal tactics, Moon Knight was an obvious recruit, especially given his past association with the West Coast Avengers team. However, despite being vital to the team, Moon Knight received some notable disrespect from other members. Marc’s reputation for violence and his unverified belief in the Moon God Khonshu led to open disrespect and a lack of trust, however it’s a subtle moment from Captain America that shows why Marc should avoid associating with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In Secret Avengers #1 – from Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato – Moon Knight’s recruitment onto the team is revealed, alongside his team call sign: Crescent Wrench.
While the disrespect inherent in this nickname is subtle, it permeates Moon Knight’s time on the team. Captain America’s initial pitch to Moon Knight is an offer of redemption, offering to help Marc change his ways. While Moon Knight is indeed trying to change, Steve’s focus on this shows that he too believes Moon Knight is not okay as he is, and that he’s recruiting him onto the team not because he already trusts him, but because he wants to set an example while taking advantage of Marc’s skills as a former mercenary. The fact that Moon Knight is nicknamed after a tool (albeit one with a fun moon reference) and Captain America is named ‘Sky King’ shows the relationship Steve intends – Moon Knight is there to be used, not to weigh in as a valued team member.
This fact is explored throughout the series, particularly in Warren Ellis and Jamie McKelvie’s Secret Avengers # 16, in which Marc is belittled by Beast, who points out that the team does not trust him or have faith in his judgment. Captain America asked more of his Secret Avengers than of other teams, but they were also afforded none of the group’s usual affection and respect, with Shang-Chi also complaining about feeling used by the team.
While the Secret Avengers were not the typical Avengers team, they did make it clear how Moon Knight is seen by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Rather than being a respected hero in his own right, Moon Knight is seen as a capable but unpredictable tool who needs someone to ‘use’ him correctly, and who ultimately needs to be redeemed by better heroes. While accepting Black Panther’s request to join the modern incarnation of the Avengers alongside Captain America would open up new resources in Moon Knight‘s mission to protect those who travel by night, the team have always seen him as a tool to use, not an equal to work alongside, proving that he’s better off alone.
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