Moon Knight #5, Spoilers

[StoneGold]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. It's perfectly OK to not like Huston and Finch's Moon Knight. But you're a drinking tea with the pinky out, My Little Pony loving wuss if you don't.


Seriously, one hardcore issue. Continues from last issue, where the New Committee sends out Taskmaster to kill Moony, and everyone Marc knows and loves. And Huston nails Tasky's character to a tee. He's all about profit margin. Would prefer to avoid a straight fight. This is pure, vintage Taskmaster, none of this mercernary, hanging out with Deadpool stuff.

Anyways, Marc lucks out in his fight against Taskmaster. And then, well, to be blunt, becomes the Goddamn Moon Knight. Seriously, Miller and Lee wish ASBMARTBW wish their book came off like this.


And then he smashes the Mooncopter into the Committee's skyscraper. Like I said. Not for wusses. No face stabbing in this issue, just a blade through a hand, and then sticking the embedded blade in a foot. But hey, you can't have a face stabbing in every issue.

[Frank]

I haven`t read this issue yet but Moon Knight is easily the most fun I have readings comics every time I buy them. I cannot believe it`s not a MAX comic, so much blood and gore and badass moments and these guys get away with it!

[RabidWolfe]

I like My Little Ponies AND I loved this issue.

Cognitive dissonance, maybe.

This is quite brutal, but it works.

Many people call MK a Batman rip-off, but after this issue: Batman wishes he was this cool.

[Young Avenger]

Each time I read Moon Knight I ask myself why isn't this a MAX book. I enjoyed this issue a lot. The story is packing up and Moon Knight is going to kick some ass!

[ultimatespyder20]

Haven't recieved this issue in the mail yet, but from what I've read here it sounds awesome. Hopefully it wil come tomorrow.

Alec

[Deadpooligan]

Great issue, totally feeling sorry for MK right now (poor gimp). Once he's back on his feet he'll be kicking ass and taking names moreso.

I don't get that line by Taskmaster that "personal combat is NOT my thing". I thought he was all about it, what, with the duplicate fighting styles.

This issue is proof that Tasky can replicate Bullseye's aim, btw.

[Assgoblin]

Moon Knight is easily one of the best titles going right now! I really hope the creative team sticks with the book for a good long run...the story and the art just flow so well together. I also really like the potential of this "Profiler" villain. Can't wait for issue #6!

[Deadpooligan]

Another question: Taskmaster is NOT this profiler guy right? Because their powers to read a person are eerily similar... and Tasky's developed loads of new tricks since his creation.

[StoneGold]

Great issue, totally feeling sorry for MK right now (poor gimp). Once he's back on his feet he'll be kicking ass and taking names moreso.

I don't get that line by Taskmaster that "personal combat is NOT my thing". I thought he was all about it, what, with the duplicate fighting styles.

Tasky can duplicate fighting styles. But if you go back to his earlier appearances, the whole point of the Tasky character was that he liked to avoid direct conflict. I hated what recent writers did with the character, turning him into an active merc. That totally went against the grain of who he originally was. Tasky was all about maximum monetary gain for minimum getting his ass kicked. When the Avengers showed up in force, he though about standing his ground and kicking all their asses... for about a second, before putting his efforts towards escaping.

So while knowing everything there is to know about personal combat is Tasky's thing, actually engaging in it with his life on the line isn't.

[StoneGold]

Another question: Taskmaster is NOT this profiler guy right? Because their powers to read a person are eerily similar... and Tasky's developed loads of new tricks since his creation.
No. Two different guys, completely.

[Deadpooligan]

Tasky can duplicate fighting styles. But if you go back to his earlier appearances, the whole point of the Tasky character was that he liked to avoid direct conflict. I hated what recent writers did with the character, turning him into an active merc. That totally went against the grain of who he originally was. Tasky was all about maximum monetary gain for minimum getting his ass kicked. When the Avengers showed up in force, he though about standing his ground and kicking all their asses... for about a second, before putting his efforts towards escaping.

So while knowing everything there is to know about personal combat is Tasky's thing, actually engaging in it with his life on the line isn't.

I did like early Taskmaster (of course, his costume was by far the coolest one ever when it debuted), but when you put it as "money over the fight", it just seems like he wastes his innate mutant abilities, using them only when needed just to make a profit. I enjoyed his character when he trained replica villains (A villain teacher? So cool and innovative). Of course, as he said, it didn't work out so well. (Those meddling heroes!!)

In Agent X and the UDON miniseries, it really showed off his fighting capability (that hard light inducer is natch!) and mercitude (not a real word!) to complete a job. He even outmanuvered Extremis Iron Man for crying out loud. When he trained Alex Hayden (throwing on T-shirts with famous heroes and fighting as them with replicated abilities of hard light), he once again impressed me the style and originality of his powers.

I'm disappointed that Taskmaster doesn't [want to] use his abilities to his full potential anymore, but he did show Moon Knight what-for by catching his Moonerangs.

I mean, Taskmaster's still my 2nd favorite Marvel character ever, and Finch draws him great, but his characterization here (though spot on to the classic, as you said) shows him to be extremely cheap with his resources and talents.

The second to last panel where he gets pushed into the ceiling by the bubble dome on the Moonjet bothered me. You'd think he would have expected that or something...

No. Two different guys, completely.

Ah, it woulda made for a nice plot twist if they were the same... thanks for that.

[StoneGold]

In Agent X and the UDON miniseries, it really showed off his fighting capability (that hard light inducer is natch!) and mercitude (not a real word!) to complete a job. He even outmanuvered Extremis Iron Man for crying out loud. When he trained Alex Hayden (throwing on T-shirts with famous heroes and fighting as them with replicated abilities of hard light), he once again impressed me the style and originality of his powers.

Yeah, that's exactly when I hated Tasky. That just wasn't Taskmaster. It was like the inverse opposite of what Taskmaster had been up to that point. Which wouldn't be that big an issue, but he was the one villain who actually liked to avoid conflict as much as possible. Which is, you know, smart.

[moon knight]

I loved the issue. Taskmaster was well handled. With every new issue my love for Moon Knight grows.

[Subotai]

Really good read...Thanks to the people who pushed this. I agree that it moves slowly, but not 'slow.'

[Majinlex]

I always hated when people said that he's just Marvel's version of Batman. From the first few issues I got none of that. I haven't read any of his other series' but whenever I heard people going on about the Mooncopter I cringed. It sounded ridiculous

Then I read this issue.

F**king hell! After seeing the lair and all the costumes, after he was asked if he could finished tending to his wounds and he makes a fist and punches his hand, after donning the suit and declaring "Vengeance"...
I am all about this book now.

And for once I'm not disliking Finch's art. In fact, I'm loving it. When I read Avengers Disassembled I couldn't help noticing when he just copied panels and reused them, or just zoomed in on them. It really distracted me. I haven't noticed any of that on Moonknight (and if there is any, DON'T tell me. I don't wanna know)
Even the Mooncopter doesn't look as stupid as I thought it would.

[Deadpooligan]

Yeah, that's exactly when I hated Tasky. That just wasn't Taskmaster. It was like the inverse opposite of what Taskmaster had been up to that point. Which wouldn't be that big an issue, but he was the one villain who actually liked to avoid conflict as much as possible. Which is, you know, smart.

I like to think of it as a transition phase. Going away from crime schools to back solo work, only this time with combat.

[Sean Whitmore]

As soon as I picked this comic up, it told me, "Get ready to have your balls kicked," and before I could say, “What’d you say?" it kicked me in the balls and had sex with my girlfriend.

I think I heard that somewhere, I don't remember. Anyway, what a cool comic.

That was Bushwacker/Khonshu sitting in the back of the Moon Plane, right? The one who said, "Announce us"? A little reminder wouldn't have killed them. I'm sure not many people are starting the story at #5, but even I had forgotten about that. I was like, "Who's the vampire in the seat behind Moon Knight?"

But then my balls really started hurting and I think I blacked out a little.


SEAN

[Tomodachi]

Also loving this issue/arc. I'm kinda concerned though that this book may lose some momentum with the next arc being a civil war tie-in. Hopefully that won't be the case. I hope Huston stays on as writer for a long while, and Finch art is the best for this!

Oh, and read Caught Stealing.

[TinMan]

As soon as I picked this comic up, it told me, "Get ready to have your balls kicked," and before I could say, “What’d you say?" it kicked me in the balls and had sex with my girlfriend.

Best. Quote. EVER.

As you can tell it is now my sig and I haven't changed that in months.

Anyway, MK #5: F!#$ING SWEET!! Best issue yet as far as I'm concerned. I'm not gonna go in depth here on why I love this book cause I've covered it in previous threads, but I'm just gonna say; both Huston and Finch have raised the bar for themselves and are absolutely blowing me away! I seriously want the "Return of Moon Knight" splash page in poster form, that is so kickass.

Best quotes of the issue:

Sound effect: "SCUTCH!!!"
Taskmaster: "Scutch? MOTHER! F!@#ER!!"

Moon Knight: "VENGENCE."

[Mean Mr Mustard]

I loved the issue.
However, why is Taskmaster back in his old costume? (Although I liked the fact that he looked like an evil Moon Knight) The same thing goes for Civil War.
I like the classic look but I liked the Udon design too... Did Marvel explain it away in one of Taskie's post-udon appereances?

[kalorama]

I loved the issue.
However, why is Taskmaster back in his old costume? (Although I liked the fact that he looked like an evil Moon Knight) The same thing goes for Civil War.
I like the classic look but I liked the Udon design too... Did Marvel explain it away in one of Taskie's post-udon appereances?

What's to explain? He changed clothes.

I picked up this issue in an attempt to give it another chance after being critically underwhelmed at the start. But to no avail. Huston and Finch need to get their meds in synch. Finch's art is on steroids and uppers, but from the snail's pace of the plot(?) advancement, Houston's story is on some serious downers.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

It's just that with the costume came that energy weapon and that mask that could morph his "face", etc.
Oh well, classic Taskmaster is cool as hell too. I really liked his characterization on this issue. Specially his dialogue when Marlene starts shooting at him and when he's complaining to his employers.

[bloodyarts]

In total agreement with kalorama's comments.

Re: Taskmaster, I always loved his old outfit, and I'm glad he's back to wearing it, although I think that cape can be a liability. Well, if Batman can get away with it...

I'm so glad they did away with the tech-merc crap, too. Trying to make THAT villain more "KeeewwlExtreeeeme!!@" is just stupid. He's perfect, as is.

I'm a little confused as to how he could get whipped by Marc's friends, though. I thought that was an extremely poor showing. And to have the ass-kicking continue in the Committee's HQ was even more embarrassing. Am I really supposed to think he'll actually be a threat to Moon Knight next issue, and over in Civil War?

I'm still not sold on the Moon Knight character, thanks to the lathargic pace. I often find Finch's art muddled, and sometimes hard to follow. Granted, most of the time it looks good, but other times I look at and think, "excess".

Oh, Mooncopter sucks. I'm sorry but that huge-ass crescent wing on the back is way too huge and cumbersome to allow that thing to fly. It's wider than the craft itself! The fuel expense must be staggering.

If Taskmaster hadn't shown up in Issue 4, I would've dropped it right there, but I really dig the Taskmaster, and despite his poor mini-series, I know Perez and co. created a really awesome character. Only to see him get punked here. Next issue is definitely my last.

[MakeMineMarvel]

Freaking great issue! Not only has the title continually impressed me and moved up higher on my must read list, the character of MK himself has steadily climbed to the top of my favorites. He is such a total badass in all the ways that Batman can never be.
Also I could care less if the title is under the main Marvel banner or the MAX banner. Hell they could label it My Little Pony comcs and it would still be a kick-ass read. The only thing they need to do is keep up the goodness. Taskmaster was great, one of my fave baddies. I agree with Stone that he is being played to character under Huston and that is excellent. Makes sense that a dude doesn't want his ass whooped doesn't it?
Personally I can't wait for the trade so I have the whole arc in my Moon Knight loving hands all at once to be amazed by its greatness!

[The Shadow]

to be blunt, becomes the Goddamn Moon Knight. Seriously, Miller and Lee wish ASBMARTBW wish their book came off like this.
HAHAHA

Great quote!

Just finished the issue and loved it!

I can actually relate to Moon Knight now... when he was getting ready to confront Taskmaster he first put on all kinds of braces and taped himself up... that's what I look like when I get ready for hockey! LOL

Best issue yet IMO.

[Frank]

I wish Marvel would tie up Huston and Finch with chains under a basement somewhere so they could do Moon Knight comics for 100 issues more.

[Weirdopky]

Holy crap. MK 5 was so badass. I'd been waiting and waiting and waiting for him to put on the ol' costume, cause every issue, it showed it on the cover, but it was just to let you know this was an MK comic. Now, he put it back on, and it totally kicked ass. One problem I had though, was that this issue sorta brought back the whole thing of "MK is marvel's Batman thing." I mean, MK is so badass compared to Batman, and MK would be willing to kill someone if he had to, as seen in issue 2. Still, the whole Moon cave thing, and the thing with the different costumes in the glass cases, felt a little too much like the Dark Knight. Still, greatest comic I've read in a long time, besides the CW stuff. Can't wait for six, and can't wait for the next arc, the covers look sweet.

[Rollo_Tomasi]

i loved the issue, but the last page was a confusing mess! What the hell was going on? Can anyone explain to me what happens in those last panels, except the last panel, that's pretty easy to figure out!

[BeastieRunner]

i loved the issue, but the last page was a confusing mess! What the hell was going on? Can anyone explain to me what happens in those last panels, except the last panel, that's pretty easy to figure out!
Taskmaster runs out of the way as Moon Knight crashes into the building. Tasky goes to shoot Moon Knight and he blows the cockpit canopy off thus smashing Tasky into the ceiling. That help? Yes/no/maybe?

I really liked that full page of Marc in the suit.That was gorgeous.

Vengeance!

[Subotai]

i loved the issue, but the last page was a confusing mess! What the hell was going on? Can anyone explain to me what happens in those last panels, except the last panel, that's pretty easy to figure out!

Taskmaster jumps onto the cockpit to shoot MK, and MK pulls the eject lever on his seat, pulling a Goose and crushing Taskmaster into the ceiling.

[Will.S]

That was Bushwacker/Khonshu sitting in the back of the Moon Plane, right? The one who said, "Announce us"? A little reminder wouldn't have killed them. I'm sure not many people are starting the story at #5, but even I had forgotten about that. I was like, "Who's the vampire in the seat behind Moon Knight?"
Yeah, and it looks like he managed to stitched his face back on too.

This title is just totally hardcore which makes every next issue all the more to look forward to (to see more sick stuff). Loved the splash pages of both the "Moon Cave" and Marc back into his Moon Knight gear. I'm guessing that Samuels is now MK's version of Alfred.

[Deathstroke]

I got a letter printed in this issue!

[Subotai]

Cool beans! May I ask which one?

[DragynWulf]

Tasky can duplicate fighting styles. But if you go back to his earlier appearances, the whole point of the Tasky character was that he liked to avoid direct conflict. I hated what recent writers did with the character, turning him into an active merc. That totally went against the grain of who he originally was. Tasky was all about maximum monetary gain for minimum getting his ass kicked. When the Avengers showed up in force, he though about standing his ground and kicking all their asses... for about a second, before putting his efforts towards escaping.

Well to be fair Charlie Huston does it here also. He has Taskmaster say that he gave up on his teaching because they would all want him to show them a move and end up not paying him because they would get caught. This of course is incorrect because he would teach his students to be mercenaries and would get paid by whomever hired him to fill a contract (Doctor Octopus, Grim Reaper, Red Skull and such). The students themselves never paid him (even his special students like Blood Spider, Jagged Bow and Death-shield). It is possible that he wanted a cut of their profits (which has never been mentioned I might add), but his profit was coming from the numerous villains he had contracts to. He just supplied orders for mercenaries or thugs.

However, he tells Moon Knight that he gave up on teaching, but then tells the Committee that he doesn't get involved in personal combat. Which would leave him with no way to gain any money, so chance are he still teaches students and just lied to Moon Knight to help cover his tracks since the Avengers shutdown a lot of his academies.

So while knowing everything there is to know about personal combat is Tasky's thing, actually engaging in it with his life on the line isn't.

The character slightly changed because the Avengers took a proactive stance much like what Force Works did and tried to stop villains before they became a threat. Because of this they shutdown a lot of Taskmaster's academies, forcing him to take mercenary jobs from time to time to make up for lost profit. The information and details given to him for this job was a 2 minute walk in the park. "Go kill a man that doesn't care if he lives or dies, he has secluded himself so he will be alone, he won't have any weapons, you won't have to get involved in any fighting, just walk in and kill him". It was suppose to be easy money and he wouldn't of had to do any personal fighting. Just walk in an kill him, job done and collect the money. Things would have worked out perfectly fine, except for the one Committee member pushed ahead with plans and had his goon attack Spector's friend, which gave Spector hope and something to fight for instead of just sitting there. Which is why Taskmaster went back to them telling them "Hey, you were wrong I had to get in a personal fight, I want compensation for everything I lost on top of payment".

[DragynWulf]

I did like early Taskmaster (of course, his costume was by far the coolest one ever when it debuted), but when you put it as "money over the fight", it just seems like he wastes his innate mutant abilities, using them only when needed just to make a profit. I enjoyed his character when he trained replica villains (A villain teacher? So cool and innovative). Of course, as he said, it didn't work out so well. (Those meddling heroes!!)

Taskmaster is not a mutant.

Taskmaster not wanting to fight heroes is something that you very rarely see in villains today or back then. He plays it smart. What point is it to fight heroes. Sure, chances are you might win but then what are you fighting for? Money. Why take the chance are getting caught and ending up behind prison bars where you can't make any money. So he played it smart and made money by teaching student to become a mercenary or thug. Which is not illegal at all if you really look at it because it is basically combat training (what makes it illegal is who he trains them for).

In Agent X and the UDON miniseries, it really showed off his fighting capability (that hard light inducer is natch!) and mercitude (not a real word!) to complete a job. He even outmanuvered Extremis Iron Man for crying out loud. When he trained Alex Hayden (throwing on T-shirts with famous heroes and fighting as them with replicated abilities of hard light), he once again impressed me the style and originality of his powers.

I enjoyed the TASKMASTER limited series and his DEADPOOL/AGENT-X appearances also, with some exceptions.

TASKMASTER: It only made the character more confussing. History showed that he had to review tapes in order to retain fighting skills. This series gave him photographic memory, which would mean he wouldn't need to review tapes because he could remember them.

Also the fighting at twice the normal speed humanly possible. That made it to be a power instead of an ability, which is what photographic reflexes is.

DEADPOOL/AGENT-X: It made Taskmaster into a love sappy character and gave the impression of that he has to duplicate what he watches (which is also mentioned in MOON KNIGHT #5). He controls the photographic reflexes, it doesn't control him. If it did, then if he seen someone walking, jumping, skipping, dancing or whatever, then he would have to repeat the same movements. He choses what he wants to do just like any other person.

I'm disappointed that Taskmaster doesn't [want to] use his abilities to his full potential anymore, but he did show Moon Knight what-for by catching his Moonerangs.

He isn't the focus of the title and because of this won't shine as much. And because he is the villain and in a title that isn't his own, he will lose. It is up to the writer to make that lose believable though. A loss can be an outright defeat, a setback or not accomplishing a mission/task. But either way, he will lose.

I mean, Taskmaster's still my 2nd favorite Marvel character ever, and Finch draws him great, but his characterization here (though spot on to the classic, as you said) shows him to be extremely cheap with his resources and talents.

Taskmaster has scientists that build custom things for him. From his web-shooters, to his perfectly balanced (so he can throw them) shields, arsenal of trick arrows, swords, quinjets, boats, robotic versions of the Avengers, and the list goes on. That stuff isn't cheap, especially after recovering from the Avengers shuting down nearly all of his academies.

The second to last panel where he gets pushed into the ceiling by the bubble dome on the Moonjet bothered me. You'd think he would have expected that or something...

Not really. You can't anticipate what will happen in a crash other than destruction and he didn't notice the Moonjet until the last minute because he was going off on the Committee.

[DragynWulf]

I loved the issue.
However, why is Taskmaster back in his old costume? (Although I liked the fact that he looked like an evil Moon Knight) The same thing goes for Civil War.
I like the classic look but I liked the Udon design too... Did Marvel explain it away in one of Taskie's post-udon appereances?

Since he appeared in the mercenary costume in AGENT-X, he has had merchandise with his original costume. Mini-bust, Marvel Legends action figure and VS System card (comes with the action figure). Add that he has had more appearances with the classic costume, it make sense to use that costume from a marketing point because it is well known.

Taskmaster did make an appearance in AVENGERS/POWER PACK ASSEMBLE #1 (and recap cameo in #2) using the UDON costume. That story is out of continuity though and aimed for children.

It's just that with the costume came that energy weapon and that mask that could morph his "face", etc.
Oh well, classic Taskmaster is cool as hell too. I really liked his characterization on this issue. Specially his dialogue when Marlene starts shooting at him and when he's complaining to his employers.

It wasn't the mask or the costume, it was an image inducer that allowed him to change like that.

[DragynWulf]

I'm a little confused as to how he could get whipped by Marc's friends, though. I thought that was an extremely poor showing. And to have the ass-kicking continue in the Committee's HQ was even more embarrassing.

Taskmaster went with the information he was given by the Committee, that he would be alone and because of that someone unexpected snuck up on him when his back was turned. It happens to everyone from time to time. He took a musket at close range to the chest, fell out a 2-3 story window and walked away from it. I don't see it as a poor showing at all.

Am I really supposed to think he'll actually be a threat to Moon Knight next issue, and over in Civil War?

He is indeed a threat. Make no mistake about it and Charlie Huston gets/understands the character very well. Huston wouldn't have used Taskmaster as a launching point for a high profile to reintroduce Moon Knight to the Marvel Universe if he were not a threat. Taskmaster is coming off very well in this series in my opinion.

If Taskmaster hadn't shown up in Issue 4, I would've dropped it right there, but I really dig the Taskmaster, and despite his poor mini-series, I know Perez and co. created a really awesome character.

Yep, David Michelinie and George Perez did indeed create an awesome character.

Only to see him get punked here. Next issue is definitely my last.

Taskmaster is not the main character and is also the villain, so of course he is going to lose.

[Weirdopky]

Yeah, and it looks like he managed to stitched his face back on too.

This title is just totally hardcore which makes every next issue all the more to look forward to (to see more sick stuff). Loved the splash pages of both the "Moon Cave" and Marc back into his Moon Knight gear. I'm guessing that Samuels is now MK's version of Alfred.


Dude, if you'd noticed, Bushman doesn't have his face on. He's just able to live somehow without one. I mean, I saw the article on this site about 7 & 8, and from what it looks like, Bushman isn't putting his face back on any time soon.

[Taskmaster]

I'm so glad they did away with the tech-merc crap, too. Trying to make THAT villain more "KeeewwlExtreeeeme!!@" is just stupid. He's perfect, as is.


Not going to go into defending the UDON version of Taskmaster here (because i've done it a million other times in other threads), but gotta disagree with this line, I think it was the exact opposite, dropping the "x-treme" amount of weaponry he carried around, for the slick and slim few weapons that could duplicate everything he used to lug around. Why carry around a sword, shield, billy club, bow, arrows, gun, etc... when you can use one or two weapons that can duplicate them all

[DragynWulf]

Not going to go into defending the UDON version of Taskmaster here (because i've done it a million other times in other threads), but gotta disagree with this line, I think it was the exact opposite, dropping the "x-treme" amount of weaponry he carried around, for the slick and slim few weapons that could duplicate everything he used to lug around. Why carry around a sword, shield, billy club, bow, arrows, gun, etc... when you can use one or two weapons that can duplicate them all

The energy weapon could not duplicate his entire arsenal. The only thing it could do was replace his web-shooters and shield. His bow & arrows (gimmick arrows also), billy-club, magnesium flares, pym particles, rope and any other weapon he wanted to use (other than his gun and sword) like Moon Knight's cresent darts, crossbow, and such could not be duplicated. It limited his arsenal and took away the concept of him being able to do multiple actions with multiple weapons because the energy weapon could only do one thing at a time.

What makes Taskmaster unique is that he is not weighted down by this arsenal. He could use multiple weapons at the same time and still take on the Avengers. Something Captain America or Punisher can't even do. With the energy weapon he could only use his gun/shield, sword/shield, web-shooter/gun, or web-shooter/sword combinations.

[Haunt]

Also the fighting at twice the normal speed humanly possible. That made it to be a power instead of an ability, which is what photographic reflexes is.


well that definately shouldn't be considered a power. Taskmaster admitted that it was something he could only mimic momentarily because the human body isn't designed to move like that. he probably would have broken his own arm (like a major league pitcher) trying it again.

[DragynWulf]

well that definately shouldn't be considered a power. Taskmaster admitted that it was something he could only mimic momentarily because the human body isn't designed to move like that. he probably would have broken his own arm (like a major league pitcher) trying it again.

I somewhat agree. No normal person can move at twice the speed as normal by watching it a movie in fast forward, which is how he was able to do it. And since he can do that, he'd be able to run twice as fast also giving him limited superspeed. All of which is something I wouldn't mind just being forgotten since it only took place in one comic verses every other appearance, which has been done before.

[Deadpooligan]

Taskmaster is not a mutant.

Taskmaster not wanting to fight heroes is something that you very rarely see in villains today or back then. He plays it smart. What point is it to fight heroes. Sure, chances are you might win but then what are you fighting for? Money. Why take the chance are getting caught and ending up behind prison bars where you can't make any money. So he played it smart and made money by teaching student to become a mercenary or thug. Which is not illegal at all if you really look at it because it is basically combat training (what makes it illegal is who he trains them for).

Oh wow, you're the guy that runs that awesome Taskmaster fansite! (Love your stuff, btw).

To be honest hadn't known anything about Taskmaster until around '97 when he appeared in the second issue of Deadpool. I must say, his classic characterization is growing on me, and fast no less.

Wizard said his powers were mutant-derived several issues ago (you probably saw it; you've got quite the comprehensive database going). I didn't know it was true or false, but since then I believed it to be true.

I enjoyed the TASKMASTER limited series and his DEADPOOL/AGENT-X appearances also, with some exceptions.

TASKMASTER: It only made the character more confussing. History showed that he had to review tapes in order to retain fighting skills. This series gave him photographic memory, which would mean he wouldn't need to review tapes because he could remember them.

Also the fighting at twice the normal speed humanly possible. That made it to be a power instead of an ability, which is what photographic reflexes is.

DEADPOOL/AGENT-X: It made Taskmaster into a love sappy character and gave the impression of that he has to duplicate what he watches (which is also mentioned in MOON KNIGHT #5). He controls the photographic reflexes, it doesn't control him. If it did, then if he seen someone walking, jumping, skipping, dancing or whatever, then he would have to repeat the same movements. He choses what he wants to do just like any other person.

Taskmaster, when written by Priest in later issues, showed signs of his classic actions. He cut Deadpool out of a deal and ejected him into space.

Though, I'd want to do that to if the guy called me "Barney Toastmaster".

What did you think of the voice replication from the miniseries? Too much like a power? Perfectly suited to his mimicry?

He isn't the focus of the title and because of this won't shine as much. And because he is the villain and in a title that isn't his own, he will lose. It is up to the writer to make that lose believable though. A loss can be an outright defeat, a setback or not accomplishing a mission/task. But either way, he will lose.

I find it hard for even Moon Knight to shine in this book. It's so dark when they're fighting! *rimshot* But seriously, I think if Moon Knight can have a stellar opening for an ongiong book, Taskmaster should have one too. He, as you said, brings a rare and original style to villainy.

I got a question for you though (since Gail Simone hasn't gotten around to answering it for me):

Why couldn't Taskmaster copy Alex Hayden's fighting style (like when he tripped him in early Agent X issues)?

Thanks for all your insight into the character!

[Haunt]

Oh wow, you're the guy that runs that awesome Taskmaster fansite! (Love your stuff, btw).

To be honest hadn't known anything about Taskmaster until around '97 when he appeared in the second issue of Deadpool. I must say, his classic characterization is growing on me, and fast no less.

Wizard said his powers were mutant-derived several issues ago (you probably saw it; you've got quite the comprehensive database going). I didn't know it was true or false, but since then I believed it to be true.



Taskmaster, when written by Priest in later issues, showed signs of his classic actions. He cut Deadpool out of a deal and ejected him into space.

Though, I'd want to do that to if the guy called me "Barney Toastmaster".

What did you think of the voice replication from the miniseries? Too much like a power? Perfectly suited to his mimicry?



I find it hard for even Moon Knight to shine in this book. It's so dark when they're fighting! *rimshot* But seriously, I think if Moon Knight can have a stellar opening for an ongiong book, Taskmaster should have one too. He, as you said, brings a rare and original style to villainy.

I got a question for you though (since Gail Simone hasn't gotten around to answering it for me):

Why couldn't Taskmaster copy Alex Hayden's fighting style (like when he tripped him in early Agent X issues)?

Thanks for all your insight into the character!

all i know is that he has trouble copying random (undisciplined) fighting styles. i'm not sure that it was realistic but Deadpool beat him by abandoning any kind of real martial art and just threw punches while dancing wildly.

[Subotai]

Dude, if you'd noticed, Bushman doesn't have his face on. He's just able to live somehow without one. I mean, I saw the article on this site about 7 & 8, and from what it looks like, Bushman isn't putting his face back on any time soon.

Link please?

[Weirdopky]

Link please?


You want it, you got it. http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8460

Click the links to the pics of the different pages, and you'll see he's still without a face. Proof.

[DragynWulf]

Oh wow, you're the guy that runs that awesome Taskmaster fansite! (Love your stuff, btw).

Thanks for the complement and glad you enjoy the website. Updates are coming more frequently as of late, especially with all the issues Taskmaster has been in and will be in.

To be honest hadn't known anything about Taskmaster until around '97 when he appeared in the second issue of Deadpool. I must say, his classic characterization is growing on me, and fast no less.

He wasn't portraited very well in DEADPOOL #2.

Wizard said his powers were mutant-derived several issues ago (you probably saw it; you've got quite the comprehensive database going). I didn't know it was true or false, but since then I believed it to be true.

Yeah, I got it and sent them an e-mail letting them know again that he is not a mutant and of course it wasn't printed. WIZARD doesn't do a lot of research when it comes to doing something like that with characters. They are real good for exclusive interviews, material and things like that, but really need to work on research.

Taskmaster, when written by Priest in later issues, showed signs of his classic actions. He cut Deadpool out of a deal and ejected him into space.

Though, I'd want to do that to if the guy called me "Barney Toastmaster".

Yeah, they have had a like/dislike thing going on for sometime.

What did you think of the voice replication from the miniseries? Too much like a power? Perfectly suited to his mimicry?

I thought that was a great addition to the character. It isn't any different than what you seen being done in movies where a person that is trained in how to mimic a voice goes through steps to match another person's voice. Kind of like in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

I find it hard for even Moon Knight to shine in this book. It's so dark when they're fighting! *rimshot* But seriously, I think if Moon Knight can have a stellar opening for an ongiong book, Taskmaster should have one too. He, as you said, brings a rare and original style to villainy.

I completely agree that Taskmaster should get his own title.

I got a question for you though (since Gail Simone hasn't gotten around to answering it for me):

Why couldn't Taskmaster copy Alex Hayden's fighting style (like when he tripped him in early Agent X issues)?

She explained it a few years ago shortly after it was released.

The reason why Taskmaster couldn't duplicate Alex Hayden's fighting style was because Alex had Black Swan's mind wiping powers. Alex of course didn't know he had them (I don't think he ever figured out he had them, because he never used them other than this one time) and was using them without knowing it.

Thanks for all your insight into the character!

Feel free to ask any questions on the character.

[DragynWulf]

all i know is that he has trouble copying random (undisciplined) fighting styles. i'm not sure that it was realistic but Deadpool beat him by abandoning any kind of real martial art and just threw punches while dancing wildly.

In that issue (DEADPOOL #2) Taskmaster wasn't written properly. He was written as if he "had" to use his photographic reflexes and copy their fighting style in order to fight them. This is incorrect of course. He can use any character's fighting style at any moment against any character.

Did you know Taskmaster has known that Matt Murdock is Daredevil for years and of course that he is blind? He learned it back in DAREDEVIL #293 (1991) when Daredevil visited him in the hospital as Murdock. It was touched on briefly in ELEKTRA #7 (1997) when he used Daredevil's blind style of fighting on Elektra. Other than that, it hasn't been brought up since.

[Deadpooligan]

She explained it a few years ago shortly after it was released.

The reason why Taskmaster couldn't duplicate Alex Hayden's fighting style was because Alex had Black Swan's mind wiping powers. Alex of course didn't know he had them (I don't think he ever figured out he had them, because he never used them other than this one time) and was using them without knowing it.

Feel free to ask any questions on the character.

Aha! It all makes sense now. I just got one, final question for ya:

In Moon Knight #4, he kills one of the chairmen by throwing pens through his eyes.

Is this an example of him mimicking Bullseye's aim/technique? Or is it just his knack for fighting?

[DragynWulf]

In Moon Knight #4, he kills one of the chairmen by throwing pens through his eyes.

Is this an example of him mimicking Bullseye's aim/technique? Or is it just his knack for fighting?

I'd have to say yes since it was a normal everyday thing used to kill someone and that is what Bullseye does.

[Khonshu]

Doesn't everyone realize that Bushman is a figment of Marc's imagination?

[DragynWulf]

Doesn't everyone realize that Bushman is a figment of Marc's imagination?

Some think that and some don't. Me, I think it is more along the lines of Khonshu playing mind tricks on him with illusions, using Bushman as something to speak to Marc with to bring about the rebirth of Moon Knight again and not just Marc's imagination.

[Khonshu]

I feel it is a result of the dynamic Huston established in issue #2 in the battle between Bushman and Moon Knight. During the fight Moon Knight is talking/thinking to himself and he deduces that Bushman is his "mirror" and what he hates about Bushman he ultimately hates about himself. So now he associates the voice in his head as Bushman, a face to put the voice to. Because it's easier for him to despise Bushman rather than himself.

[DragynWulf]

I feel it is a result of the dynamic Huston established in issue #2 in the battle between Bushman and Moon Knight. During the fight Moon Knight is talking/thinking to himself and he deduces that Bushman is his "mirror" and what he hates about Bushman he ultimately hates about himself. So now he associates the voice in his head as Bushman, a face to put the voice to. Because it's easier for him to despise Bushman rather than himself.

During his low points, it would be Khonshu that would make him rise once more even though during those points he has always hated Khonshu for what he did to him. Even when he first became Moon Knight. In my opinion, this rebirth would be no different.

He battled Bushman and lost faith in himself afterwards and never picked himself up again. I am sure that he even thought about what happened over and over during his depression, because that is what depressed people do. They think about what led them to where they are and it just makes them depressed even more. Because of that, I don't think he envision Bushman as someone to pick him up in the slightest way, but if Khonshu were pulling the strings with his mind as he has always done, then that would work to get him to motivate himself.

[drwho]

So I decided to give this book another try after leaving after the second issue. I read 3 and 4 which I was surprised how much I liked it. Well then I read this issue and i'm like wtf happend to this book. I read it in like 3 minutes and seemed like nothing, but a picture book. This title is urking me and I may drop it again. Kind of makes you wonder how much the writer got paid for this issue.

[Leebenhouse]

The Bushman thing is a visual effect, just like in Nip/Tuck Lately how every time Sean thinks of doing something bad, the tatooed guy shows up and "talks" to him.

Moon Knight has always been portayed, or at least was originally protrayed by Moench and Sienkiewicz as a borderline-schizophrenic, heck, his brother went insane and turned into a serial killer!

As for the MAX discussion, MAX is a line, whereas, Moon Knight is just a parental advisory comic. It has some R-rated gore, but is otherwise PG-13. MAX is borderline X-rated, like some of the nudity in the Supreme Power series.