Summary
While it could very well have gotten away with being a simple Marvel-themed hero shooter,Marvel Rivalshas already taken several steps toward breathing new life into Marvel canon with the lore tied to its playable characters and its Timestream Entanglement story. Rather than relying on its gameplay alone,Marvel Rivalsdesires to expand the Marvel universe with its own lore, even to the point of bridging the gap between fan-created content andofficial Marvel canon. Specifically, a peculiar Moon Knight meme that has made the rounds over the last several years has now been integrated into Marvel lore, according to the first part of Moon Knight’s story inMarvel Rivals, “The Dusk of the New Moon.”
Like every character inMarvel Rivals' expansive roster, Moon Knight’s story will continue beyond “The Dusk of the New Moon.” However, the fact thatMarvel Rivalsis already seamlessly integrating an internet meme into its lore says a lot about the potential for where it could all end up. In short, this could just be a glimpse of the dentMarvel Rivalswill put into Marvel canon.
How Marvel Rivals Made a Dracula-Themed Moon Knight Meme Official Canon
A Meme Shows Moon Knight Demanding a Debt From Dracula
The meme itself was originally pulled from a 1988 issue ofSolo Avengers#3, which shows Moon Knight entering a castle at one point in the story. However, despite the meme’s imagery being pulled from anofficial Marvel comic bookissue, Moon Knight’s dialogue in the scene is in no way related to Dracula nor a debt owed. This is because, in 2018, the Facebook page “Moon Knight-Core” shared an edited version of this particular scene with text showing Moon Knight confronting Dracula, calling him names and demanding that he settle an apparent debt.
After theMoon Knight memewas created and shared on social media, it quickly rose in popularity due to its absurdity and the contrast between the usual seriousness of the characters and the hilarious (and profane) dialogue. The root of its entertainment value comes from Moon Knight’s comically aggressive tone, especially since the character is generally more serious and desires to be taken seriously. It also shows potential for Moon Knight to be a more comical character in the future.
Marvel Rivals Canonized the Moon Knight Meme in the Character’s Lore
In the first part ofMoon Knight’s story inMarvel Rivals, “The Dusk of the New Moon,” Khonshu asks Marc Spector (Moon Knight), “What do you know of vampires?” Spector replies, “That they suck, and that Dracula owes me money.” Between his comment that vampires suck and the fact that Dracula owes him money, Spector even chuckles, as if he knows that what he’s about to say sounds ridiculous or that it came from a meme. So, not only is the incorporation of the meme into Marvel lore comical in and of itself, but the fact that even Spector finds it humorous almost breaks the fourth wall — like he’s in on the joke.
The inclusion of the “Dracula owes Moon Knight money” meme inMarvel Rivalsis a bit of a landmark moment for how fan creativity and humor can influence official canon, especially Marvel. For a franchise that often seems so protective of itself,Marvel Rivals' ability to swoop in and drop something unconventional in its lap opens the door for more opportunities like it in the future. Perhaps this isn’t the end of the game blurring the line between fandom and canon, whether it’s through subtle nods or deeply integrated lore, promising an exciting future forMarvel Rivals' story.
