Although Jeffrey’s death and resurrection as a villainous figure occurred long before Jason’s, the similarities between them are impossible to ignore.
“He’s just Marvel’s version of Batman” is a criticism that has haunted Moon Knight since his earliest appearances. Although this accusation typically comes from DC fans who aren’t well-acquainted with Moon Knight as a character, there are some disquieting similarities between the Fist of Khonshu and the Dark Knight.
Obviously, Moon Knight and Batman are both street-level heroes who use their impressive physical prowess and a wide range of gadgets to fight crime. More importantly, though, they’re also united through the shared tragedy of losing a sidekick and surrogate son.
The apparent death of Jason Todd and his subsequent resurrection and transformation into the anti-heroic Red Hood have become defining moments in the Caped Crusader’s career. However, Moon Knight underwent an equally seminal and disturbingly similar experience with his troubled teenage sidekick Jeffrey Wilde years before the Dark Knight even met the second Robin. Jason was eventually able to tame his inner demons and make at least some degree of peace with his estranged mentor. Sadly, Jeffrey and Spector could reach no such detente. Instead, Midnight was ultimately consumed and destroyed by his misguided desire to take revenge against Moon Knight.
Jeffrey was first introduced in Marc Spector: Moon Knight #4 (by Chuck Dixon, Russ Heath, Mark Chiarello, and Ken Lopez) as the son of Moon Knight’s old foe Anton Mogart, a thief who committed crimes in a black costume eerily similar to Moon Knight’s. Wishing to atone for his father’s criminal actions by becoming a hero, Jeffrey committed minor crimes in his father’s old costume to catch Moon Knight’s attention. When Jeffrey finally did, he requested to become Moon Knight’s sidekick.
Although Moon Knight reluctantly agreed to train Jeffrey, who took on the moniker of Midnight, their relationship quickly soured when it became clear that Jeffrey was a reckless thrill-seeker who didn’t respect Moon Knight’s strict code of ethics. Agents of the South American nation of Bosqueverde kidnapped Moon Knight to put him on trial for his role in a hostile regime change. This left an increasingly unstable Jeffrey to fight crime on his own. The terroristic Secret Empire took advantage, seizing him. A failed rescue attempt by Moon Knight, Spider-Man, and The Punisher seemingly left him dead.
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However, Jeffrey survived his apparent death, and the Secret Empire turned him into a cyborg. His belief that Moon Knight had intentionally left him to die caused him to join the organization actually responsible for his maiming willingly. Upon discovering that Jeffrey was alive, Moon Knight confronted his former sidekick believing that he was under some form of mind control, only to realize the harsh reality that Jeffrey simply hated him for his apparent betrayal. During a climactic final battle between Moon Knight and Jeffrey, the cyborg was betrayed by his nurse and lover Lynn Church and seemingly killed once again in an explosion. However, Jeffrey would again return from the grave during 2006’s “The Bottom” storyline, committing a series of brutal serial killings until he was impaled through the chest by his former mentor, seemingly ending his threat for real this time.
Although Jeffrey’s death and resurrection as a villainous figure occurred long before Jason’s, their similarities are impossible to ignore. Like Jeffrey, Jason proved to be an impulsive and head-strong sidekick who challenged both Batman’s patience and principles, chafing against the strict confines of the Dark Knight’s moral code and frequently giving in to his anger. Following his apparent death and resurrection, Jason further followed in Jeffrey’s footsteps by completely turning his back on his mentor. He blamed the Dark Knight for failing to save him from the Joker while pursuing a twisted version of Batman’s crusade against crime in Gotham City, mocking Batman’s unwillingness to “cross the line” and use lethal force against criminals.
However, unlike Jeffrey, who became a selfish sociopath who willingly worked for an anti-democratic terrorist organization, Jason still acted to protect the people of Gotham. While his methods differed radically from his mentor, Jason still respected Batman’s mission. He primarily adhered to the core principles that the Dark Knight had imparted, targeting criminals and going out of his way to protect innocent civilians. Because of his willingness to stay true to the spirit of Batman’s teachings, Jason was able to avoid fully becoming a villain and eventually reconcile with Batman. In contrast, Jeffrey fully embraced evil and forced Moon Knight into a situation that left him with no choice but to kill him.
Although Batman and Moon Knight do share several uncanny similarities, the almost identical downfall of their most troubled sidekicks end in remarkably different ways. While Jason Todd was able to find the strength to follow in his mentor’s path in his own way, Jeffrey’s inability to live up to Moon Knight’s expectations consumed him until he became a villain.
KEEP READING: Did the Fans Really Vote for Jason Todd to Die or was the Vote Rigged?
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