How ‘Moon Knight’ Delivers an Arthur Harrow We Didn’t Expect

by Josh Ramos · March 30, 2022

With the long-awaited MCU series finally arriving, one thing is for certain, Moon Knight delivers an Arthur Harrow we didn’t expect.

The newest MCU Disney+ series certainly stands as one of the most unique entries into the vast pantheon of Marvel properties.

Source: Marvel Studios

Moon Knight, in and of himself, is one of the publisher’s most obscure characters, defined by mental illness and his connection to ancient Egyptian deities

With the series impending arrival, many fans speculated on what could possibly come from the series title character; but it wasn’t Marc Spector or Steven Grant who were most shrouded in mystery and enigmas, it was the series antagonist.

Source: Marvel Studios

For all the unknowns about Oscar Isaac’s eponymous character, it is Ethan Hawke’s villain that presented the most speculation, as he didn’t fit with any direct comparative character with the source material.

With the series’ first episode in tow, one thing is very certain, Moon Knight delivers an Arthur Harrow we didn’t expect.

Source: Marvel Studios

Many had assumed that Hawke’s Harrow had some connection to a certain Egyptian diety, but many had generally assumed that it would be the Egyptian sun god Amon Ra.

The source material presented Amon Ra as the counterbalance to the moon god Khonshu; as the deities bestow their powers upon two vessels who would engage in battle on behalf of these mystical figures.

Source: Marvel

That isn’t the case, however, as Amon Ra doesn’t seem to be at the center of Harrow’s cultish beliefs; it is, instead, the Egyptian entity known as Ammit.

The character has some relevance in the mystical history of Egyptian mythology, as Ammit is connected with the character of Annubis; the Egyptian deity of death and rebirth; and is depicted in an animalistic way in Marvel comics, similar to the heads on Arthur Harrows staff in the series

Source: Marvel

But what seems rather interesting about how Moon Knight has interpreted those mythological tales is by crafting an Ammit who takes on the role of Annubis; as Harrow’s connection seems predicated on his obsession with judgment, and the balancing scales.

What is interesting, is that Marvel has done something that has been par for the course for the studio; they have taken two characters with little to no exposure in the source material- with both Harrow and Ammit having minor roles in the Marvel Universe- and crafted a formidable antagonist.

Source: Marvel Studios

Arthur Harrow may not have been what MCU fans expected going into Moon Knight, but it doesn’t change the reality that the MCU is crafting a fantastic oppressor to Marc Spector that is riveting to watch, and we cant wait to see how his story changes as the series continue.