WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Moon Knight #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Marc Spector has finally returned to the forefront of the Marvel Universe in a brand new Moon Knight #1 by Jed MacKay, Alessandro Cappuccio, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC's Cory Petit. After months spent away following the battle against his own patron god with the help of the Avengers and the Phoenix Force, Moon Knight has found a renewed sense of vigor when it comes to completing his mission, even without the blessing of Khonshu on his side. Although the ancient moon god has been left imprisoned, his followers are still as dedicated as ever, and Marc Spector is about to learn the hard way that he is not Khonshu's only champion.

Marc Spector hasn't wasted any time cleaning up the streets since returning to action. He has even dubbed his base of operations and those under his purview as part of his new Midnight Mission, something which he feels entitled to do as the High Priest of Khonshu. But after being called in to assist when a clinic is broken into, Moon Knight arrives on the scene to find the villain 8-Ball under assault of the clinic's owner, Doctor Badr. As it turns out, Badr has been waiting to meet Moon Knight in person, as he considers himself to be Khonshu's other, more faithful fist, the Hunter's Moon.

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When Khonshu transformed New York City into New Thebes during 2020's Avengers #34 by Jason Aaron and Javier Garron, it was merely the beginning of what would have been the god's conquest of the entire globe. Although Khonshu and his cult were ultimately defeated by the heroes, his divine presence and previously held claim over the city have left Doctor Badr feeling as if Moon Knight is betraying their god by letting vampires sully its streets. This isn't even to mention the shock of knowing that Moon Knight left the god to languish in Asgardian confinement. The subject of Moon Knight's blasphemous actions isn't one that Badr tries to avoid even in the hero's presence, making Marc question just exactly who he is before the two men part ways. Doctor Badr is happy to inform Moon Knight that he is merely a simple doctor in his daily life, but in the Cult of Khonshu he is only outranked by one being, and Marc Spector isn't it.

As the issue comes to a close, Doctor Badr is seen walking back home from a long evening. There he is greeted with a towering statue in Khonshu's image to which the doctor inwardly prays. Despite Moon Knight's shortcomings, Badr promises to keep his own faith and carry out Khonshu's dark will as the god's left hand. Dubbing himself the Hunter's Moon, Doctor Badr dons a black mask not unlike Moon Knight's. Even if there isn't any telling just what Doctor Badr's place in the Cult of Khonshu is as the Hunter's Moon, it is perfectly clear that he has no intentions of playing nice with his patron god's other fist.

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For as long as the Cult of Khonshu has been a part of the Marvel Universe, it has remained largely shrouded in mystery, at least as far as its innermost workings are concerned. Marc Spector's time as Khonshu's foremost champion has given him more insight than most, yet somehow the presence of another champion like himself has eluded him entirely.

There is no doubt that these two will be coming into conflict before long, with Doctor Badr proving himself a greater threat than anything Moon Knight could have anticipated. Hopefully, the rising Hunter's Moon doesn't spell the end of the Midnight Mission.

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