Fictional biography
Black Spectre (Carson Knowles)
| Black Spectre | |
|---|---|
 Carson Knowles as the Black Spectre. Art by Mark Texeira. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Moon Knight 25 (Nov. 1982) |
| Created by | Doug Moench (writer) Bill Sienkiewicz (penciller) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Carson Knowles |
The Black Spectre was Carson Knowles, a Vietnam War veteran whose father was a politician. Upon returning, he discovered that his wife left him and his son was killed. He could not get a job and decided to get revenge on the city since it turned its back on him when he needed it most. Inspired by Moon Knight, Knowles became the Black Spectre, a master criminal. He also decided to run for Mayor of New York City. Knowles was defeated by Moon Knight and sent to prison. [1] [2]
Later, Black Spectre joined together with Morpheus and Bushman, two other foes of Moon Knight. They intended to use the power of the statue of the Egyptian god Seth to curse diplomats at a U.N. conference. [3] [4]
Carson Knowles appeared again some time later, recently released from prison. [5] He falls back into his ways as Black Spectre and attempts to, yet again, destroy Moon Knight and hurt the city. Knowles frames several murders on Moon Knight, putting him under scrutiny by S.H.I.E.L.D. Knowles then steals Stark nanotechnology and is about to launch an attack, but Moon Knight pushes him off a building to his death. [6] [7] [8]
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Quasimodo researched Black Spectre for Norman Osborn. Quasimodo suggested finding a way to resurrect Black Spectre in the event that H.A.M.M.E.R. goes after Moon Knight or finding another person who can operate as Black Spectre as a backup if Black Spectre cannot be resurrected. [9]
Black Spectre is among the deceased enemies of Moon Knight who are revived by the sorcery of Anubis to join the Legion of the Unliving led by Jackal Knight. [10]
Ryan Trent
Carson Knowles's costume and identity are appropriated by Ryan Trent, a disgruntled member of the NYPD whom Moon Knight defeats in the deranged officer's first and only outing as the new Black Spectre. [11]
Since he was a child, Ryan Trent was constantly undermined, having his decisions throughout his life continuously questioned. Even after he joined the NYPD, he did not feel he was good enough. When Moon Knight returned to New York City as a consultant for Detective Flint, Flint's preference over the vigilante caused Trent to finally break, and slowly descend into madness as he became obsessed with Moon Knight. Ryan began training himself, as well as he investigated about Moon Knight by interrogating former allies of him disguised as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Using Carson Knowles, the Black Spectre, as an inspiration, Ryan aims to replace Moon Knight, believing that if he replaced Moon Knight and revealed himself to Flint, he would get be respected and get a promotion. In order to become even more similar to Moon Knight, who worked alone and had no ties to anybody, Trent murdered his wife. Now armed with equipment and a costume, Trent donned the mantle of Black Spectre and began attacking people and peeling their faces while yelling for Moon Knight. With Moon Knight's car finally arriving at his location, Black Spectre activated three I.E.D. planted in cars nearby to explode Moon Knight's car. Only two of them went off, but this was enough to destroy the vehicle. Black Spectre got out of the building he was hiding, expecting to find Moon Knight's corpse among the ruins. However, Moon Knight arrived at the scene using his glider. Before the fight could get started, Trent proclaimed that he was going to kill Moon Knight so he could be loved. Then, the third I.E.D. went off and exploded next to Black Spectre and injured him. When Trent was asked who was he supposed to be, he presented himself as Black Spectre. Moon Knight ripped off his mask and explained to him and he did not want to be loved, because all those close to him suffered and died, and that because he worked alone he had always won. He then left Black Spectre and departed. [12]
Robert Plesko
In Moon Knight #24 (2021), Morpheus reveals there is a new Black Spectre who was responsible for recent events. [13] The following issue reveals that this Black Spectre has created a twisted version of the Midnight Mission where they will take care of a favor in exchange for a future debt. This same issue establishes that this is a different version of the character as Carson Knowles remains dead and Ryan Trent is shown to be in prison with the villain Zodiac. [14]
Black Spectre's true identity is revealed to be Robert Plesko of the Shadow Cabinet. After trapping Moon Knight on the roof of the Midnight Mission, Black Spectre wounded Moon Knight and revealed his plan to make the city go mad and kill itself. After Moon Knight died saving the city, Zodiac blamed Black Spectre for killing Moon Knight before he could as he plans to give Black Spectre the full experience of atrocity up close. [15]