Just created an account so I could show this Moon Knight series some love! "Moon Knight #9" is a satisfying conclusion to the "Incarnations" arc, as well as the arc that preceded it. While some people might've lost patience after nine issues of exploring Marc Spector's sanity, I personally loved the slow burn approach. Lemire's take on the character helps clarify a very complicated canon by connecting the various runs that have come before it. Thanks to the work of Lemire and Smallwood--along with help from Francesco Francavilla, James Stokoe, and Wilfredo Torres--Moon Knight is quickly shaping up to be my new favorite superhero. In fact, if this issue has any real downside, it's that it makes me sad to see Stokoe and Francavilla go.

First off, ignore that big #1 on the cover and start this run from the beginning. While technically the start of a brand new arc, you'll appreciate it that much more if you're all caught up. In fact, these first three arcs seem to be forming into some kind of trilogy, and I dream of them being collected together in a single hardcover edition. The current story looks to be a retelling of Moon Knight's origin, one that'll take place over five issues and a lot of it in flashback. The thing about Moon Knight is that, while his relative obscurity allows creators to do their own thing and do really cool stuff, it also makes for a confusing and sometimes contradictory continuity that can intimidate and discourage a lot of new readers. This Lemire/Smallwood run is fixing a lot of that. That's what makes it so exciting. It's like they're picking the best ideas from the Moench/Sienkiewicz and Ellis/Shalvey runs and blending them together. The story continues to be very meta, from the Sienkiewicz-inspired rendering of Khonshu to the 80s memorabilia in Marc Spector's childhood room (that 'Conan the Barbarian' poster!), but what makes it special is that it still has heart. A fight comic it ain't, but if you're looking for a superhero comic that itches the brain while simultaneously hitting the feels, then 'Moon Knight' is the series for you. EDIT: There's a big difference between the digital version and the physical one, namely that you don't get the full CRAZY effect of the Othervoid. Just a heads up.

If you haven't heard the news, Lemire, Smallwood, and Bellaire are wrapping everything up and leaving after issue #14. Part of me wants this run to keep going forever, but the other part is excited to finally have some closure. Either way, we should all be glad that we got to enjoy such an amazing Moon Knight story. "DEATH AND BIRTH: PART 2 OF 5." Things are ramping up towards an epic conclusion. A LOT happens in this issue. We get small character moments, like the funeral, and then we get mind-melting awesomeness like INSECT JOUSTING. About that funeral scene, though: while the previous arc showed Marc transitioning between different personalities by changing up art styles, Greg Smallwood is able to do the same thing here with just a subtle change in facial expression. It's amazing. Smallwood is on another level with this series. There's another intriguing flashback later in the book to Marc's time in the Marines, which can only mean one thing. We're getting closer and closer to that big moment promised to us from the beginning: "Mercenary Marc Spector died in Egypt under a statue of the moon god Khonshu. In the shadow of the ancient deity, Marc returned to life and took on Khonshu's aspect to fight crime for his own redemption..."

Bemis' 'Moon Knight' is a mixed bag for me. I'm personally not a fan of his brand of humor or dialogue, but I'm not gonna deny that there's some interesting ideas in here. Jacen Burrows' art is consistently impressive, as well. I was originally going to give this issue a 7, but the twist and the way Bemis built up to it was very, very well done and worth at least a whole extra point on its own. I'll be sticking with this title at least until the conclusion of this arc and, who knows, maybe this series will find its stride and grow into another classic Moon Knight run.