Moon Knight is a superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, the character first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 in August 1975. Initially introduced as a mercenary hired to capture the werewolf, the character was an immediate hit with readers and quickly evolved from antagonist to protagonist.
The character's alter ego is Marc Spector, a former U.S. Marine, CIA operative, and mercenary who is left for dead in the Egyptian desert. Brought back to life by the moon god Khonshu, Spector becomes the god's fist of vengeance on Earth. To better fight crime, he creates multiple identities, including the billionaire Steven Grant and cab driver Jake Lockley. A defining and groundbreaking aspect of the character is his struggle with dissociative identity disorder, a condition that makes him a uniquely complex and unreliable hero in the Marvel Universe.
Throughout his publication history, Moon Knight's tone and style have varied dramatically, from supernatural avenger to street-level vigilante. Acclaimed runs by writers like Charlie Huston, Warren Ellis, and Jeff Lemire have explored his fractured psyche, his relationship with his god, and his place in the darker corners of the Marvel Universe. The character's visual design, a stark white hooded costume that stands out in the shadows, has become iconic, symbolizing a hero who wants his enemies to see him coming.