Origin
Khonshu has forever been the Egyptian Lunar God. The crescent pool outside of his temple further defines his power of the moon. Khonshu’s name reflects the moons tendency to wander the night sky, as Chons (Khonshu’s name in Egyptian) means to wander. His lunar power is said to protect, heal and avenge.
One of the gods of the moon, known as the Taker of Vengeance, a figure of terror.
Marvel
During a raid on an Egyptian dig, Marc Spector‘s mercenary group attack the scientists analyzing artifacts one of which being a statue of Khonshu. Raoul Bushman, the African mercenary Spector was working for, kills the lead researcher when he refuses to hand over the artifacts. Spector, outraged by this action, challenges Bushman to hand-to-hand combat and is beat nearly to death and left for dead at the temple.
Wandering Egyptians belonging to a cult of Khonshu worshippers found Spector and brought his nearly lifeless body to the temple of Khonshu and laid him at the feet of his statue. Helpless and beaten, Spector dies laying at the statue’s feet. At that moment Khonshu appears to Spector in a vision, offering him the chance for a second life if he were to act as Khonshu’s spirit of vengeance on the Earth.
Spector agrees and immediately awakens. Dragging the silver cloak that once shrouded the statue of Khonshu down and wrapping himself in it, Spector returns to face Bushman once again and defeats him quickly in combat.
Sometimes, Khonshu is a tormentor of Marc Spector. Always telling Marc how pathetic he is, always making him beg for the power to be a hero. Khonshu is constantly reminding Marc that he owes his life to him.
Major Story Arcs
Avenger
Following an encounter with the West Coast Avengers, Khonshu became intrigued by the team (feeling a connection to them as the god of vengeance), and sought to join them. To that end, Khonshu secretly took possession of Marc’s body, granting him superhuman abilities while slowly taking control. Khonshu manipulated Moon Knight into joining the West Coast Avengers, making Marc believe it was his own decision. During his time in possession of Moon Knight, Khonshu began a romance with Tigra. An attack from minions of the god Seth eventually revealed the ruse, which resulted in Khonshu leaving Marc’s body and departing the mortal plane.
Civil War
Khonshu appears before Marc Spector’s psychiatrist and reveals the psychiatrist’s own mental shortcomings not only convincing the analyst to approve Spector’s registration application, but to begin worshipping Khonshu as a god.
The Death of Marc Spector and Dark Reign
After escaping the Thunderbolts, Marc decided to shift his identity over to the Jake Lockley persona. In this persona he decided to become a better crimefighter, and ignore Khonshu’s cries for blood.
When Bushman was resurrected, Khonshu demanded that Jake take his face a second time, but Jake resisted.
Jake continued to struggle with Khonshu’s demands.
Shadowland
Khonshu told Jake of the weapon that could slay The Beast that possessed Daredevil. Jake managed to get it, but had to use it to kill his brother, Shadowknight, or he would have used a suicide bomb to kill a crowd.
After killing his brother, Jake Lockley reverted to Marc Spector.
In Other Media
Television
- Khonshu appears as a major character in the live-action Disney+ Moon Knight series, voiced by Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham. As in the comics, Khonshu is the Egyptian god of the moon who brings Marc Spector back to life to act as his avatar on Earth. Throughout the series, Marc clashes with Arthur Harrow, a charismatic cult leader who previously served as Khonshu’s avatar years earlier.
Video Games
- The outfit worn by Khonshu during the period where he possessed Marc’s body is available as an alternate costume for Moon Knight in the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance game.
- Khonshu appears in Marvel Puzzle Quest as part of Moon Knight’s “Knightmare” technique.
Merchandise
- The Marvel Select Moon Knight figure from Diamond Select included an unarticulated statue of Khonshu as a bonus pack-in.
- Khonshu was featured in Funko’s Pop! line of bobbleheads.
- In late 2022, Khonshu was the subject of a Marvel Legends Build-a-Figure wave from Hasbro.