Scarlet Scarab

Not to be confused with Scarlet Scarab (DC Comics).

Scarlet Scarab
Layla El-Faouly / Scarlet Scarab. Textless variant cover of Moon Knight: City of the Dead #4 (October 2023). Art by Liu Xiaotong.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	First: The Invaders #23 (December 1977) Second: Thor #326 (December 1982) Third: "The Goldfish Problem" Moon Knight (March 2022)
Created by	First: Roy Thomas Archie Goodwin Frank Robbins Second: Doug Moench Alan Kupperberg Third: Jeremy Slater Mohamed Diab
In-story information
Alter ego	First: Abdul Faoul Second: Mehemet Faoul Third: Layla El-Faouly
Species	All: Human mutate (empowered by the Ruby Scarab)
Abilities	Both: Superhuman strength and durability Fire concussive bursts of mystical energy Ability to sap the power from others on contact Flight

Scarlet Scarab is the name of three characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, and Frank Robbins, Abdul Faoul, the first Scarlet Scarab, made his first appearance in The Invaders #23 (December 1977). The second Scarlet Scarab, Mehemet Faoul, was created by Doug Moench and Alan Kupperberg, and made his debut in Thor #326 (December 1982).

May Calamawy stars as Layla El-Faouly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Moon Knight (2022), with the character becoming the Scarlet Scarab in its final episode while predating her being introduced in the comics as the third Scarlet Scarab.

Development

Concept and creation

According to Roy Thomas, the Scarlet Scarab, like the Silver Scarab in Infinity, Inc. , was an homage to the Dan Garret incarnation of the Blue Beetle "about whom I had written my second professional comics story back in 1965." ^[1] The creators of the Ruby Scarab were named Garret and Dann.

Publication history

The first Scarlet Scarab first appeared in The Invaders #23 (December 1977), and was created by Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, and Frank Robbins. The character also appeared in The Invaders #25 (February 1978).

The second Scarlet Scarab first appeared in Thor #326 (December 1982), and was created by Doug Moench and Alan Kupperberg. He received an entry in the original The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #9.

A third Scarlet Scarab, based on the MCU incarnation, debuted in Moon Knight Vol. 9 #25 (September 2023) from writer Jed MacKay and art by Alessandro Cappuccio, Alessandro Vitti, and Partha Pratim. ^[2] She appeared in the 2023 Moon Knight: City of the Dead series. ^[3]

Fictional character biography

Abdul Faoul

Abdul Faoul was a famous archaeologist during World War II. ^{[4] [5]} He unearthed the Ruby Scarab, an artifact that was originally created to battle the Elementals, around 3500 B.C. When Dr. Faoul touched the mystical power-object, he became the Scarlet Scarab and became a champion of Egypt during World War II. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Dr. Faoul worked as a liaison between the Allied Forces and the Egyptian government, and led the Human Torch and Namor to a recently excavated pyramid in search of the fanatic nationalist group, the Sons of the Scarab, which was actually led by Faoul. ^[9] He tricked the heroes into opening the vault where the fist-sized ruby was kept. As the Scarlet Scarab, he first ousted the British, and then the Nazis, from Egypt. Scarlet Scarab continued to battle criminals after the war until the ruby simply disappeared in the 1950s, .^{[ citation needed ]}

Dr. Faoul had not realized that the gem's crafter, a powerful pre-dynastic Egyptian sorcerer named Garret, had placed an enchantment on it that the ruby returns to Garret's tomb whenever it had used up its stored mystical power. Faoul searches for the ruby for twenty years, not realizing it had returned to where he had found it. Eventually, the Elementals sent N'Kantu, the Living Mummy to fetch the ruby. The ruby changed hands a number of times after N'Kantu recovered it, going from the Living Monolith, a thief named Daniel "the Asp" Aspen, the Elementals, and an extra-dimensional traveler named Hecate. ^[10] Meanwhile, Dr. Faoul continued searching until his death. As his dying act, he requested his son Mehemet to continue his quest. ^{[11] [12]}

Mehemet Faoul

Mehemet received from his father the strongbox he had used to store the Ruby Scarab. Inside was the costume he had worn as the Scarlet Scarab, a journal of his exploits, and a photo of the ruby. Mehemet considered it his duty to continue his father's quest, searching for years as his father had. Finally, Mehemet came to the gem's final resting place. Holding the ruby, he gained the powers of the Scarlet Scarab, and decided to become the new champion of Egypt. One of his goals was to protect the priceless ancient artifacts of Egypt. In one mission to recover some stolen artifacts, the Scarlet Scarab encountered Thor, who mistook his intentions and the two fought to a standstill. ^{[11] [13]}

Layla El-Faouly

Layla was the daughter of a famous scholar who grew up and became a mercenary who made numerous criminal connections. She joined the Karnak Cowboys consisting of Marc Spector, Jean-Paul Duchamp, and Dr. Robert Plesko. Layla and Marc would fall in love, gaining a reputation for arguing like a bickering couple. During a mission against Hydra, Layla lost her life, turning Marc down the path that would turn him into Moon Knight. ^[14] Years later, Marc as Moon Knight would journey into the Duat to the save the life a young boy named Khalil, where he encountered Layla who following her death, was judged by the Goddess Taweret. Finding that her heart evened out on her scales, Taweret turned her into Duat's champion the Scarlet Scarab. Layla and Marc teamed up to rescue Khalil from the Legion of the Unliving and Marc's brother Randall who had been transformed into the Jackal Knight. Following the heroes' victory, Marc returned to the land of the living with Khalil and shared one last kiss with Layla. Unbeknownst to him however, Layla also materialized on Earth, promising to see Marc again soon. ^[15]

Powers and abilities

Abdul and Mehemet have superhuman strength and durability, the ability to fly at high speeds, the ability to fire concussive bursts of mystical energy, and the ability to drain the power from anyone who touches it. ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} Abdul needed to maintain contact with the Scarab to use its power. ^[20]

In other media

Miscellaneous

• An original version of Scarlet Scarab, Layla El-Faouly , appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Moon Knight , portrayed by May Calamawy. This version is an archaeologist, adventurer, and Marc Spector's wife, as well as the daughter of an archaeologist who was murdered by one of Spector's associates. ^{[21] [22]} El-Faouly's backstory is based on Marlene Alraune, Spector's wife in the comics, who was changed from white to Egyptian at the suggestion of director Mohamed Diab. ^{[23] [24] [25] [26]} El-Faouly becomes the Scarlet Scarab in the sixth episode, "Gods and Monsters", after choosing to act as a temporary avatar of the deity Taweret. ^{[27] [28] [29]} Diab noted he had not connected her to that character from the comics, explaining, "Sometimes Marvel picks a name and then gives it to the character that is developed." He pointed out that at the moment, she did not receive her powers from the scarab, but ultimately felt what the character represented was more important than her name. ^[29] The character was later adapted into the comics.
• In 2022, Funko released a Layla El-Faouly / Scarlet Scarab Funko Pop figure inspired by the MCU incarnation of the character. ^{[30] [31]}

References

1. Thomas, Roy; Ordway, Jerry. "The Secret Origin of Infinity Inc". Alter Ego vol. 3 #1. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
2. Schedeen, Jesse (April 19, 2023). "Moon Knight: The MCU's Scarlet Scarab to Make Marvel Comics Debut". IGN. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
3. "The Scarlet Scarab Comes to Marvel Comics in 'Moon Knight: City of the Dead'". Marvel.com . April 19, 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
4. Grant DeArmitt Contributions from George Marston (2022-05-04). "Scarlet Scarab - the obscure Marvel Comics history of the new Moon Knight superhero". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
5. Li, Michael (2022-05-07). "Moon Knight Introduces a New Take on a Classic Marvel Character". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
6. Li, Michael (2022-05-07). "Moon Knight Introduces a New Take on a Classic Marvel Character". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
7. Farley, Lloyd (2022-05-06). "'Moon Knight': Scarlet Scarab, Explained". Collider. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
8. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (5 May 2022). "Scarlet Scarab: 'Moon Knight' finale's biggest twist is a historic MCU first". Inverse. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
9. "Who Is Scarlet Scarab? Are There Two Versions Of The Same Superhero?". Fossbytes. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
10. Supernatural Thrillers Vol 1 8-15
11. Thor vol 1 #326 (Dec, 1982), w. Doug Moench.
12. Farley, Lloyd (2022-05-06). "'Moon Knight': Scarlet Scarab, Explained". Collider. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
13. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (5 May 2022). "Scarlet Scarab: 'Moon Knight' finale's biggest twist is a historic MCU first". Inverse. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
14. Moon Knight Vol. 9 #25. Marvel Comics.
15. Moon Knight: City of the Dead. Marvel Comics.
16. Grant DeArmitt Contributions from George Marston (2022-05-04). "Scarlet Scarab - the obscure Marvel Comics history of the new Moon Knight superhero". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
17. Farley, Lloyd (2022-05-06). "'Moon Knight': Scarlet Scarab, Explained". Collider. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
18. Craig, Jo (2022-05-04). "Who is Moon Knight's Scarlet Scarab? Layla's transformation explained". HITC. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
19. Bruce, Amanda (2022-04-26). "Moon Knight: Who Is Layla's Father?". Game Rant. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
20. "SCARLET SCARAB". Marvel Comics . Retrieved May 16, 2022.
21. Buhlman, Jocelyn (March 23, 2022). "Meet the Chaotic Cast of Characters in Marvel Studios' Moon Knight". D23 . Archived from the original on March 24, 2022.
22. Graves, Sabina (April 6, 2022). "Moon Knight Is Starting to Reveal More About Its Mysterious Antagonist". Gizmodo . Archived from the original on April 6, 2022.
23. Vary, Adam B. (March 30, 2022). "How 'Moon Knight' Sends Marvel Studios Into the Unknown: 'We're Creating a Whole New Thing'". Variety . Archived from the original on March 31, 2022.
24. Flint, Hanna (April 20, 2022). "May Calamawy Is Doing Moon Knight Her Way". Elle . Archived from the original on May 6, 2022.
25. Jeremy Slater [@jerslater] (April 22, 2022). "It's a great profile about the amazing May Calamawy, but I do want to clear up one inaccuracy. Marlene was never a part of our show. Diversity was incredibly important to our writers room, and Layla was created our very first week. (Although she was originally named Zayna Faoul.)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
26. Brown, Tracy (April 6, 2022). "The mysterious Layla makes her 'Moon Knight' debut in Episode 2. Here's her backstory". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on April 8, 2022.
27. Paige, Rachel (May 4, 2022). "'Moon Knight': May Calamawy is The MCU's First Egyptian Super Hero Scarlet Scarab". Marvel.com . Archived from the original on May 6, 2022.
28. Paige, Rachel (May 4, 2022). "'Moon Knight': May Calamawy and Sara Goher on the Magic of Bringing Egyptian Super Hero Scarlet Scarab On-Screen". Marvel.com . Archived from the original on May 4, 2022.
29. Vary, Adam B. (May 4, 2022). "'Moon Knight'Director Mohamed Diab on the Season Finale, Oscar Isaac's Return and the MCU's First Egyptian Superhero". Variety . Archived from the original on May 6, 2022.
30. Leishman, Rachel (May 6, 2022). "Funko Unveils 'Moon Knight' Pops for Khonshu, Ammit, and Layla's Scarlet Scarab Suit". Collider . Retrieved 2024-08-01.
31. Lacey, Kellie (May 10, 2022). "Funko Debuts a Glorious SDCC Limited Edition Moon Knight Pop!". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-08-01.

External links

• Scarlet Scarab at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Scarlet Scarab at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• The Ruby Scarab at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe