Marvel's New Hero LUNATIC ANGEL Is an R-Rated Manga Heroine

Before Marc Spector became the infamous Moon Knight, the powerful Moon deity Khonshu had countless other avatars throughout history, all acting as vengeful Fists of Khonshu. The limited series Phases of the Moon Knight has been exploring these mysterious former Fists, and the latest issue introduces "Lunatic Angel," an instantly iconic Manga-inspired Moon Knight variant.

Readers have already met several predecessors to Khonshu's current Fist, like the deadly 1970s Moon Knight, named Denise, or Sol, the futuristic Moon Knight from 2846, both of whom give Marc Spector's Moon Knight a run for his money in terms of violence and vengeance.

Lunatic Angel, a new Japanese Moon Knight with a violent past who hails from a "magical future," will debut in Phases of the Moon Knight #3, in the story "Moon Knight-Chan" written and illustrated by acclaimed mangaka Yuji Kaku. The talented creator is most known for the Shonen Jump manga Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku and is guaranteed to do Marvel's first manga Moon Knight justice.

Phases of the Moon Knight #3 (2024)

Release Date:	October 30th, 2024
Writers:	Justina Ireland & Yuji Kaku
Artists:	Daniel Bayliss, Dee Cunniffe, Yuji Kaku
Cover Artist:	Mateus Manhanini
Variant Covers:	Ivan Tao, Yuji Kaku
Fall into the next PHASES OF THE MOON KNIGHT alongside New York Times best-selling Author JUSTINA IRELAND as she weaves a tale of an ALL-NEW avatar of Khonshu that might just eclipse every other Fist of Khonshu that came before! Plus! Don’t miss the Marvel debut of manga superstar YUJI KAKU (HELL’S PARADISE) as he introduces a brand new Moon Knight with a violent past from a magical future!

Moon Knight Is FINALLY Becoming A Magical Girl

Lunatic Angel is clearly going to make a major first impression

Throughout the centuries, Khonshu has always - and seemingly will always - had an avatar representing his interests on the earthly plane, mainly protecting innocents from the dangers of the night, but until now his former avatars have been largely unknown. In a preview for the issue, Lunatic Angel is seen publicly beheading a john who was interacting with a sex worker, declaring she has come to save everyone with "the power of love and justice," much to everyone's shock. Moon Knight, in basically every iteration, has been a violent antihero, dedicated to justice at any cost... no matter how much blood is shed, and Lunatic Angel is taking that to heart!

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Lunatic Angel appears as the quintessential "magical girl" trope from popular manga, looking like a young Japanese girl with blue hair, bunny ears, and a large katana blade. However, unlike many beloved magical girls from the media, this magical Moon Knight is not afraid to kill, removing the man's head with one swipe of her blade. The solicit for the issue says Lunatic is from a magical future, but it is unclear if the story will take place in this future, or if she has traveled back in time. Regardless, it seems likely that the girls that Lunatic "saved" by decapitating their customer will not be pleased with her heroism, since it means they just lost out on a paying client.

Could Lunatic Angel Be Part Of A Team Of Moon Knights?

Kaku's variant cover depicts multiple heroes alongside Lunatic

Yuji Kaku's variant cover for Phases of the Moon Knight #3, as well as his design page for the story, depicts two other heroes alongside Lunatic Angel - both with very unique designs - hinting that Lunatic is not the only Fist of Khonshu operating at this time. Marvel's mainline Moon Knight stories recently debuted Hunter's Moon, another Fist of Khonshu, so this wouldn't be unprecedented. It would also be fascinating if Kaku made Lunatic Angel have multiple identities, like Moon Knight's Marc Spector and Steven Grant!

Lunatic Angel is sure to make a bloody splash when she debuts, giving Marc Spector a run for his money as the bloodiest and most violent Moon Knight. Hopefully, this is just the first, and not the last, time we see Lunatic Angel because she is a fascinating take on the iconic Fist of Khonshu.

Phases of the Moon Knight #3 from Marvel Comics debuts on October 30th, 2024.