Is Moon Knight Homosexual?

Today, our focus will be on the initial solo comic book journey of Moon Knight, which introduced one of Marvel's very first LGBTQ characters, and the portrayal was... decidedly unsatisfactory.

Within the segment titled "Things That Turned Out Bad," I will highlight narrative arcs penned by creators that were likely ill-advised even at the time and have only grown more objectionable in hindsight. My intention is to concentrate on elements that lean towards the poorly conceived rather than outright offensive (such as generic racist caricatures from the 1940s), although certain instances regrettably cross into overtly offensive territory.

A considerable number of readers have conveyed their thoughts on this particular subject to me over the years, and I surmised that with the conclusion of the Moon Knight television series, this moment is opportune for an examination of the ill-conceived introduction of an LGBTQ individual within Moon Knight's very first solo comic book narrative.

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WHO IS MERKINS, AND WHAT IS HIS CONNECTION TO MOON KNIGHT?

Following his initial emergence as Marc Spector, a mercenary commissioned to become Moon Knight and apprehend Jack Russell, the werewolf protagonist of Werewolf By Night, Marvel's Editors-in-Chief, Len Wein and Marv Wolfman, proposed to Doug Moench and Don Perlin that they develop a Marvel Spotlight story featuring Moon Knight. This was intended to gauge the character's potential as a standalone superhero, given his initial role as more of an antagonist to a werewolf (though acting as an antagonist to a werewolf isn't precisely being a villain, is it? Especially considering he ultimately rescued Jack Russell from his employers, whom he discovered were indeed nefarious).

Moench conceived what proved to be a pivotal element for the character: Moon Knight's utilization of multiple personas - the affluent socialite, Steven Grant, and the down-to-earth cab driver, Jake Lockley. In his guise as Steven Grant, Moon Knight also retained a supportive associate, Marlene, while Jake had his own retinue of supporting characters, including a woman employed at a diner and a homeless individual who supplied him with crucial information.

Grant was also attended by a butler, and at the commencement of Marvel Spotlight 28 (authored by Moench and illustrated by Perlin), we observe that the butler, Samuels, has appointed a new valet for Grant named Merkins...

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THE UNSETTLING MANNER IN WHICH MERKINS' SEXUALITY IS DEPICTED

Merkins, it is revealed, is an operative planted by the story's antagonist, the Conquer-Lord. Merkins' purpose is to surveil Grant, whom Conquer-Lord is aware is, in fact, an alias for Moon Knight (I've never quite fathomed the rationale behind Conquer-Lord's facile discernment of Moon Knight's assumed identities; it struck me as a rather convenient plot device, merely serving to facilitate exposition detailing Moench's novel framework for Moon Knight).

Well, subsequent to Marlene's capture by the Conquer-Lord (Moon Knight had thwarted the Conquer-Lord's attempt to assassinate the mayor, leading the villain to take Marlene hostage to ensure his own safe egress), Moon Knight returns to his Grant persona's residence in Marvel Spotlight 29, only to discover Merkins observing him...

Immediately upon encounter, Grant addresses him as "Tinkerbell," which serves as a clear indication that the character is intended to be perceived as gay.

However, the situation deteriorates further (significantly so).

Merkins strikes him in an attempt to flee, and Grant feigns unconsciousness to follow Merkins to the Conquer-Lord's hidden sanctuary (and presumably, the location where Marlene is being held captive)...

Indeed. Grant then refers to him as a "pansy" on TWO separate occasions before instructing Frenchie that they can trace Merkins via his cologne. Truly regrettable.

This strategy proves successful, as Grant interjects with one final epithet, "Twinkletoes"...

Subsequently, Merkins meets his demise at the hands of Conquer-Lord for allowing Moon Knight to locate his stronghold.

It is imperative to acknowledge that Marvel featured exceedingly few homosexual characters during this historical period, and Merkins can genuinely be considered arguably Marvel's inaugural overtly gay character. Bearing this in mind, the narrative emerges as even more regrettable, given that this was among their initial portrayals of a gay individual. Furthermore, there's the undeniable issue of the comic book's protagonist treating Merkins with utter disdain, even resorting to calling him a "pansy" multiple times (alongside "tinkerbell" and "twinkletoes"). I suspect it's unnecessary for me to elaborate on the problematic nature of a comic book's lead hero verbally abusing a gay character, wouldn't you agree? However, when juxtaposed with the fact that this character was one of the very first (if not the first explicitly identifiable) gay individuals within the company's roster, the situation appears even more egregious.

Much of this issue mirrors the fundamental criticism I leveled against the depiction of gay rapists in Jim Shooter's Hulk! magazine story from a few years later, wherein Bruce Banner narrowly avoids an assault in a YMCA shower. In both instances, a writer might contend that they were merely illustrating characters observed in real life. Shooter, in particular, noted that his narrative was based on an actual occurrence. The crux of the matter, however, lies in the representation: if a diverse array of characters is presented, then incorporating negative portrayals of specific groups might be acceptable, but when these represent the sole depictions of a particular group, and those depictions are exclusively negative, it becomes a significant problem. All of the earliest portrayals of gay characters in Marvel comics (including those less overtly identifiable as homosexual than Merkins) were invariably antagonists. This presentation is entirely unsatisfactory.

This analysis doesn't even touch upon the rather unseemly aspect of a hero using the term "pansy" to address another individual. It represented a substantial misjudgment by Moench and Perlin, though thankfully, to my recollection, it was not a transgression they repeated.

That concludes this particular installment! Should you have a suggestion for a future segment of Things That Turned Out Bad, please feel free to send it my way at brianc@cbr.com